Buying new X5 help

[gavp84]

Hello again,

The guy has spoken to bmw who looked at it today and has two oil leaks one from the transfer box which is heavy and the other from the gearbox sump.

How bad are these?

Thanks

[X5Sport]

Not good, I would avoid like the plague!  It's either been abused, had a bad gearbox change carried out poorly, or just not looked after.  I can't remember anyone reporting those sort of issues in 7 years of being a member.

Depending upon the cause, you might need the transfer unit replacing and it isn't cheap.  Not many places do servicing as most go straight back to BMW for investigation and remanufacture.

I would walk away as this one sounds like a money pit.  Warranty will not cover either of them as they would usually class both as wear and tear - even if not - and you would have to prove non-wear failure at your expense.

[AW8]

I am going to be contraversial. Minor leaks in a 13 year old car are not a rarity. i have not heard of a transfer box leak on here before but I have heard of leaks from ATF sump gasket.....I know this because I had signs of minor ATF leak a few years back. I got main dealer to check level was ok & re-torque bolts.The senior tech at main dealer at time advised against  a fluid and filter change as my leak was discovered before ZF allegedly advised owners could change ATF in gearbox between 75 & 100k miles.

A used transfer box can be sourced for under £100.....according to ebay

If it were me I might be so bold as to NOT reject buying the car but would want assurance the leaks were sorted, see a written confirmation & invoice for work done or a relaitic quote from a main dealer of decent bmw independent outlining full costs which you can consider using to offset sale price......dont be fobbed of with tales of a mechanic allegedly saying all is well.

It is imperative that you properly road test the car cold and warm, changing gears auto, sport auto and steptronic manual.

If car has comprehensive history, seller seems generally decent & happy to sort issues or discount for same then I might be tempted to proceeed to negotiation albeit with some significant caution.

If the gearbox & transfer box are both in need of replacemement the car is probaly worth a fraction of asking price....maybe £2k max possibly less.

Don't knowingly buy a lemon but IMO a shame to reject a decent car perhaps due to a couple of minor leaks from original gaskets. I will  be so bold as to say many cars of 13 years or older will not have been bone dry all their mechanical lives...... Case in point example.... have had PAS hose, rocker gaskets & ATF leaks on my near full bmw historied 2002 car - I have also had a replacement PAS pump, header tank alternator & water pump)

Keep us posted.

[henrym3]

AW8 some excellent advice, your comments virtually mirror my ownership of a 4.6 and as I said somewhere else it took me some time to get a dry V8, all minor but irritating. You just seem to have the ability to put it on paper.

[strummer]

You pays your money you makes your choice 

[Themoog2]

Sounds OK to me. Bit of tinkering. I might buy it - where is it?

[dazzasgotav8]

Sounds OK to me. Bit of tinkering. I might buy it - where is it?

think you will need a time machine this post is over 2 years old

[Themoog2]

Chuff me.. Never noticed.