Purchase Advice - Pre '08 and Post '08??

[Sit]

Evening,


Looking for a bit of advice if possible, I am in the market for an E70 and found two!

One is a '57 3.0d SE, Dynamic Pack, Privacy Glass, Xenons, Folding Mirrors, Blue with Cream leather (not heated), updated 20" Y alloys, 3 owners, FBMWSH with 62k.

Second is an '08 3.0d SE, Privacy Glass, Xenons, Folding Mirrors, Space Grey with black leather (not heated), sat nav, 1 owner, FBMWSH with 64k.

Now apart from the tax difference are these cars/engines the same?

Does either one stand out more than the other?

'07 is Sytner supplied, '08 is independent dealer.

Any thoughts most welcome!

Si

[Sit]

Another question, the blue one at BMW dealer has just had a brand new Bridgestone fitted on n/s front due to chunk missing on MOT - should the o/s front have been changed as well irrespective of wear?

I am sure I read somewhere they should be changed in pairs??

Si

[X5Sport]

Same engine.  The earlier one has a slightly better spec.  Both are pre-LCI (2010).

The tyre question will be answered by the tread difference left/right and front/rear.  It should be minimal in both cases or the risk of trouble increases.  BMW will only change one, not both due to the cost (£250+) and AUC probably not approving anything else.  You could always challenge it as part of the deal?

As far as the dealer difference goes, what kind of warranty is being offered?  The AUC one is pretty good.

[Sit]

Thanks that sort of squares it away in my mind, the AUC car is more attractive for that very reason, the other car despite being 1 owner and FBMWSH is only third party warranty and it looks less 'together' compared to AUC which has had all wheels refurbed, few minor cosmetic repairs so it is in very good condition for a 9 year old car.

I am also falling in love with Monaco Blue paint and cream leather combo!!!!

Si

[graemeX5]

Hi Sit

For me one car appears is you have gone for the SE rather than an M Sport, the M Sport seems to be more popular although a lot of SE are better spec'd in some instances heated seats front and Rea and pan roofs etc.

I would not buy an X5 without Sat Nav, which when you come to resell people expect it to have and so knock you on the price. The other is the emissions would put people off, so the lower emission cars are preferred due to the lower road tax bracket, but again your choice

Also the car with the dynamic pack should drive better but it depends what you want from the car. Also the size of the wheels with 19" they are more comfortable than the 20" wheels are firmer but run flat tyres area lot harder generally. I would go and test drive both and look at a lot more, it helps you decide what you want.

Remember problems and retro fit items if the car doesn't have that feature are costly to do on the E70 cars as there are modules and coding etc etc. So best advise is to buy the best condition car with the best spec'd car with history whether main Dealer or franchise.

The tyre is a worry as it can case probs with the diffs especially on the earlier cars but it has also happened on. The E70 and the tyres need to be matched and star rated (see separate threads), so if a new one was put on one side and the others were say less than 1000 miles with little wear it should be ok I would ask them to give you the depth reading of all and go from there.

For me personally having had cars with leather seats and they weren't heated and in in winter leather is cold  I would expect that on any car I get, again other buyers look at that also.

Panoramic roofs are nice but can cause probs, there also can be water leaks in rear footwells. Again do the usual car checks,

From my experience I found was a lovely good spec'd M Sport in Carbon Black light interior 4.0d which was £36k from bmw but I'm sure it had door and rear damage and so walked away, it took me about 12 moths to find a good car and my spec changed over that time also.

To start with I would make a list of what is essential and what is preferred, and go from there but remember that a lot of features on the cars are options
I.e Budget,  History, Model SE or M Sport, engine size, sat Nav, heated seats front, foldy mirrors essential in narrow drive ways like mine, electric seats, phone prep /Bluetooth, car Colour outside and inside the light oyster colour looks good but can show shows marks easier than a darker colour.

BMW dealers generally keep the nicer cars with full BMW history but not necessarily, and have a lot of  the better spec'd cars, but generally cost more although they have a good warranty than the non franchise dealers who with good s/history and also a warranty can make a good purchase.

Also use BMW website for their approved cars across the country to find others link also below. Also before purchasing a car it's worth having a read of the attached links

Hth and sorry for the long post.
Graeme

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,6350.0.html

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3960.0.html

http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/home.aspx

[Wacko74]

Hi Si
Sounds exactly like my predicament
I have been to look at a grey M-Sport today in the midlands
If it's the same one (got a private) don't bother
All four tyres odd and one is too narrow and it knocks it's bag off when you turn right

Good luck with the hunt

[Sit]

Vary massively eh! Well today I have reserved the Monaco Blue example at Sytner so Tues sees a 2 1/2 hour trip to view it, if all is good and a deal is done they have agreed to deliver it to me once it's been prepped (alloys refurbed etc) to say I am excited is an understatement.

In the end the AUC aspect of this car won me over, fingers crossed!

Good luck Wacko, they are out there bud - can send you a link to the Space Grey one I was considering if you want??

Si

[Wacko74]

Don't mind if you do
Many thanks Si

By the way is the blue one at the dealers in Nottingham

[Sit]

Will send it over bud standby......

Yes the blue one is in Nottingham - please don't tell me you have looked at it and it's rubbish.....

Si

[Wacko74]

Hi Si
I haven't looked at the one in Notts yet, it was next on my list
Hope it as good as it looks

Got the email aswell mate, I will keep it in mind

[Sit]

Hoping it's a good one, 5am start for me tomorrow to look at it!!! They have listed another but no pics so worth a look again perhaps 

Si

[Sit]

Couple of pics -



M



Si

[Sit]

Watch this space, E70 X5 hopefully on the drive shortly!

Si

[Wacko74]

Nice find Si
When you picking it up