We may have a winner, might have found an E53...

[davrostavros]

Handing back my PCP car tomorrow so have about four days to fine me a car.  I have been looking at cars for while and came across an X reg X5.  It is a 4.4 petrol with an LPG conversion sport with 150k on the clock.

I had just been to see an E60 530d and although the car was decent the bodywork was on the rough side although they indicated they would be flexible on price.  I then found the X5 and since I was out I was able to go and see it to get a feel of how they were but not particularly looking at this one.

Bodywork was decent bar a slight scratch that would tcut out.  The alloys would need refurbed at some point as well.  I have been reading up quite a bit on the cars, especially as Im looking at the lower end of the budget scale so wasnt expecting much.  That said mechanically there has been an absolute tonne of work, everything I could think of seemed to be sorted including the gearbox and even an lpg conversion a couple of years ago with loads of receipts and MOT'd for a year.  The guy was telling me loads of stuff that had been done - he is a mechanic and all the preventative stuff seems to have been squared away.

Its not perfect and it is 17 years old but I think mechanically it is sound.  I have ready the guide and all of the things that are in the guide seem to be done.  Anyone offer any advice on the contrary?  Am I being hypnotised by the V8 through the powerflow exhaust?

Any advice much appreciated in advance.

[lezmtaylor]

You don't say how much they want for it, what the spec is is.
I have had lpg on my 2002 4.4 fitted at purchase in 2006 (car was 4 years old and AUC from Cotswold, Gloucester. I told them I was having lpg fitted and it did not affect the AUC warrantee.( Had to have new gearbox, instrument pod(pixel problem) in auc period).
Get equiv of 35mpg approx, well pleased great car now done 93K.
Mind you 150K is a high mileage regardless and it is alright to say he has a shed load of invoices,
I wonder why, has it had a hard life?

Anyway others will be along soon to comment, and have you read AW8 right up on ownership and all you need to know.

Regards,
Lez

[CondorX5]

One of the forum mods, AW8, owned a 4.4 for around 10 years and despite scrupulous maintenance he ended up having to scrap it /sell for spares /repairs a few months ago with major, major problems.  17 year old car with 150k mileage is more or less at journey's end, unless you are fully aware of new /refurb engines or gearboxes etc being fitted in recent years.  You really do not get bargains at low budgets, just other people's problems being passed on...........

[AW8]

At 150k the main big bill item ideally sorted will be timing chain guides replaced properly. If on original box with original fluid be very careful  & don't expect  lack of issues if keeping it more than 5 mins. Rocker gaskets need sorting by 75k with failure often accelerated by pcv hoses going soft.

Just because something has been sorted at 75k doesn't mean the repair/replacememt will last indefinitely. A car that has had rocker gaskets at 75k will likely need them at 150k especially if pcv hoses have gone bad again.

For anyone else reading this relates to M62 lump.

Brake pipes will need attention on most E53's by 100k unless garage queens &/or dry use cars.

[AW8]

My last post ironically typed  and posted before I read Condors post.

My timing chain guides failed. A decent fix using an indy who also owned a 4.4i was north of £1500. Factor n a service and fresh tyres & I would have had little change from 2.5k......that for a car on original box and with an optimistic private sale value of 3- 3.5k absolute max.

Shame as it was a clean and tidy car with plenty of supporting invoices for work way beyond oil changes.

A qualified mechanic bought it.....stated he was going to fix up & keep.......Still miss the car some months on !



I viewed a 1 owner 4.6is this week 85k and fsh (some dealer and some unknown all make indy). History & mileage verified by me .HPI clear.

I stopped doing the repair maths at 2k !  The reality could be far north of that depending on who fixed up what.

No under tray
Suspected leaking crank pulley seal.
Wet transfer box case
Evidence of old atf leak
Evidence of header tank coolant leak
Soft rearmost pcv hose
Nav screen white lined and not working
Audio not working
Suspension noise front and back
Minor cosmetics (paint) needed to both bumpers, rims marked, needed extensive machine detail,  Interior scruffy but not damaged. Oddly no dents to metal paintwork.
Drivers door mirror glass leaking
Drivers window switch not auto lowering. Seemed to have skipped a second Insp 2 so plugs needed. Didnt check brake and coolant change history......(slaps own wrist).
Engine & box nice & tight, brakes & tyres ok. Short Mot. Rear brake pipes ok. Prior advisories rear suspension bushes. Power was better than last 4.6is I drove. 3 fault codes on my OBD code reader.

Total inspection/viewing/test time 90 mins to include paperwork plus an hour of online checks and phone calls/email exchanges with BMW.  All time totalled with some cross checking probably best part of a day.....(& I was being very task focused),....this for a car I came to see as worth £2.5k absolute max as a project. I would have bought it but at a price to reflect work required.

I walked away.......the trade seller wanted 4k minimum. Probably worth 5.5k if fully sorted maybe more if sorted to useable near concours....(purely down to one owner on V5 & mileage). Would need a reputable BMW indy stamp & fresh MOT to restore confidence due to the later history with omitted Insp 2 being of lesser provenance in the service book.

And remember.......this was a 1 owner car ! (I saw the V5 & hpi checked it myself).

All above purely IMO albeit based on me having some understanding of issues & used market on these.

I know my E53's very well (particularly the petrols)......Potential used buyer(s) please be very careful !

[Ryoken]

and yet here we are still driving them ,  and yes still ploughing £££ into them ,
i wonder why ?.
i would put my list of  "repairs" and  bits ive had to buy, but i dont think my fingers would cope

[AW8]

[quote="Ryoken"]
and yet here we are still driving them ,  and yes still ploughing £££ into them ,
i wonder why ?.
[/quote]

Because it is a solid car with metal front wings, it goes around corners well and has character....(despite it's tendancy to sometimes empty bank accounts).

[Ryoken]

agree, i forgot to put a couple of these in my post :)
plus the v8's do sound lovely ,
110 £ a fill up to get 340 miles , yeah  that hurts

[davrostavros]

Picked it tonight. Ended up getting it for £2k so pretty much as low as these go. Mechanically I think it's in pretty good nick but I've came across a couple of problems. The two offside regulators have gone, very annoyed at this, some dash pixelation and the remote for the DVD player seems to have gone missing. Can't workout how to turn it on but the guy shows me yesterday.

Hopefully not a sign of things to come, although from you guys posts above it may well be. Bloody love the car and v8 noise is awesome

[Huxsta]

Have you looked behind the front seats in the pockets?

[graemeX5]

Hi

I've put a link for the Panasonic unit on your other post but here it is also

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/19193 ... v1500.html
Graeme