The Story so far....

[Ubatoid]

Just thought I would detail what the old girl has roughly cost me over the past three years of ownership just to give potential purchasers a heads up of what they may getting into buying an old BMW.

Week after purchase the first door handle mechanism £60
followed by (in no particular order)
CVS valve and piping £90
Recondition gearbox and torque convertor £2500 - yoinks !
Rear air springs £200
Valve block £30
Pump seal £25
Second door handle mech £60
Window mech offside rear £30
Window mech nearside rear £30
Water pump £90
Thermostat £55 (first one that failed leading to overheat 300 miles from home)
Second thermostat £55
BM 54 radio module £98
Rear ball joint bushes £60
Top arms rear £98
Rear tyres - see above £250
Off side cat blocked (removed FOC)
Handbrake ratchet (FOC deft use of cutting disc to cut new teeth)
Radiator - £95

Still to do.........(exc planned upgrades)

Rocker gaskets £40 ?
Aircon fan - approx £150
front control arms £150
Possible heater core (awaiting firm diagnosis before removing dash)

I think thats it from memory, I havent included unecessary bits like headlight and halos or the trip into Huliangan land ( and the return )  the
flappy paddle gearshift and Intravee.
So in retrospect its been quite tough, but Ive learnt a lot along the way and still love the motor just as much as when I first bought it and look forward to keeping and modding for a few more years yet.
Still keep eying up the E70s though... 

[RoShamBo]

What mileage had your car done when you bought it Ubatoid ?

Looking at what you've paid for already and upcoming - you must be approaching what the car is worth ?

Gearbox is a killer aint it ? I have a 2003 4.4 (90k miles) and just had gearbox and converter reconditioned. Paid a bit less than you did and they have done a great job, but I am still walking funny from the £2k bill !

I can mirror your repairs to a degree - gearbox, water pump, thermostat, ball joints, front control arms, rocker gaskets...all been done on mine now. Plus steering column, starter motor.

Eyes wide open is what I would say to anyone thinking of buying an E53 with 70k+ miles on it.

Ro.

[X5Sport]

A useful mail for any prospective E53 owners.  Mine was just as bad from new.  It is rare when all this happens, but when it does it can be pocket burningly expensive.  Eyes open indeed.....

....and as above, still a lovely car.

Richard

[Ubatoid]

She had 130k on the clock when I bought it now just clicked over to 150k  Still smooth as silk.