X5 used buying advice please?

[charlesb]

Good morning,

I have asked this question on the Bimmer forum and have had some excellent advice. It was suggested that I also post here.

I need a 4x4 after selling my discovery 3 (2007) I was contemplating a number of cars and then an X5 came along. I know nothing about this car and wondered if I could get some advice? I think this particular car is expensive but it is very clean

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-Sport ... 1438.l2649

If anyone was willing to have a look and offer some advice I would be hugely grateful. Thank you so much. It's amazing to have these resources. What did people do before forums?

Thanks very much,
Charles.

[X5Sport]

Hello and

You may find this Buyers Guide useful ....
https://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=14489

It looks tidy enough and the mileage is good for the year. It needs a thorough road test, and a question to ask if the Seller is what tyres are fitted and the tread depth? BMW xDrive cars are very sensitive to tyre types and ideally should be fitted with the correct types only. These have a ‘*’ mark on the sidewall and the tread depth should not be more than 1.5mm different between any one wheel and any others,

The gearbox should be carefully checked for smooth changes in all gears and no jerkiness when coming to a halt. The box is (according to BMW) sealed for life. It isn’t! BMWs ‘life’ is three years so you may need to consider a fluid change across the whole transmission if it has never been done.

The Satnav system is years behind current models but it works. Postcodes are unsupported unless the latest firmware has been installed (a DIY job).

All of the electrics need a thorough check to make sure everything works, and carefully check the door locks and handles. They can be a bit fragile as members have found over the years.

As long as everything works and checks out OK in the road then it’s fine. I had Comfort Seats in mine and they are well worth having - rare too as they were expensive as an option.

Bluetooth can be a challenge as BMW had some significant ooopsies back in 2004. Depending upon the actual production month, it is has a TV on board it may be analogue only. Cars made after October 2004 has hybrid versions with Freeview.

If you can get the VIN from the Seller you can run a decode against it that will give you the ‘as built’ factory spec and list everything on the car. There may be a lot more than the advert reports.

[charlesb]

Thank you very much for the welcome and your advice. I think that the tyres are Michelin. what's correct? I always had Pirelli scorpion zero on the Discovery as that was the manufactures suggestion (and I have a friend who works for Pirelli and can arrange a discount) I am very keen to keep cars original and not scared of spending properly on preventative maintenance. The discovery has a terrible reputation but if you keep on top of things they are a very reliable car. I just fancy something different.
I believe that this model has the metal sump and separate filter so it is less expensive to replace the ATF? I assume that the torque convertor should also be drained and refilled? I did this recently on my C class Mercedes which is also 'sealed for life' See the before and after picture below. That's what 100k does to ATF. I think its all the proof anyone would need.

DSC_5350.JPG (18.99 KiB) Viewed 2575 times

[X5Sport]

Pleasure.

Yuck!

The ‘standard’ tyres were Michelin Diamaris. Most of the Premium brands will have an offering so Dunlop, Bridgestone, Conti, Pirelli etc. Not sure if Diamaris are still available, but there’ll be an alternative.

Also useful to have a look at Realoem as it’s a copy of the current BMW parts database on line. If you can get the last 7 of the VIN you can pull up the right version of the E53.

You can DIY the gearbox oil and there is a specific procedure to do it. Videos on line will help. Yes the sump and filter come off and replacement kits are easy to source. You should change the bolts too. The box is a ZF GA6HP if that’s of use.

I was unlucky with mine as it was built between Xmas & New Year 2004, lots of silly but annoying faults that all got fixed in the end, but I loved the car to drive. I bought and still have an X6. Both drive far better than any Landrover I managed a fleet of Discos in the past and they were a nightmare. Something was always broken

[charlesb]

Thanks again. When I said "I changed the ATF" I should have said that my excellent specialist actually did the job. I just provided the sample bottles!
Regards,
Charles.

[Leslie]

I think the seller will get a bit of a shock if they try and trade that car in as the price is very optimistic ( a friend sold a car the same year recently and it was less than a grand but it wasn't as clean to be fair but was driving fine), needed tyres though and you could be in an e70 for not a whole lot more these days than the asking price but to be fair it sounds like a good car although the colour will put most off as its a bit marmite

[sapphireblack]

I think it looks nice enough, though the colour scheme isn't to my personal taste. I agree it seems expensive and the sellers comments i find quite aggressive too.

We all have a choice in whatever we buy, me, I'd prefer a grey one, or any colour other than green

[charlesb]

Probably an old man but I love a green car. That’s what attracted me to it in the first place! I have spoken to the seller. He is a nice chap but I feel rather tired of eBay time wasters. Looking at other cars 3700 seems top money for this. What do we think?
Thanks again,
Charles.

[sapphireblack]

I think 'we' think its expensive. If you like it, its not a stretch to view it, and you can haggle, then its probably worth a look. Plenty out there to consider.

Its been mentioned, depending on your budget you're not far from the later E70 variant. That is bigger, has fresher styling and as an ex E53 owner of many years, i think the E70 is a nicer looking car.

As a curve-ball, have you considered a Touareg?

[Wayfarer]

Worth having a look at the mot history online as it may give a view of its maintenance history, a picture of how maintained, no expense spared or just fixed when broken!

Motorscan is one of the company's on the web offering a free check, but might be worth paying to get its full history if you are seriously considering it.

It looks a nice car from the pictures

[charlesb]

Thanks again for all the help everyone. It’s not far so it is worth a look. I am considering other things and a Touareg is a solid plan. I am going to avoid Land Rover this time. I have had a quiver full of Discovery’s and Range Rovers and I love them but the cost to maintain them preventatively and indeed when problems arise is very significant. I am under no illusion that any quality 4x4 will be expensive to run and I am not on a shoe string. However, I just feel that an X5 might be a touch more manageable. Lots of wood touched, obviously!
With regards,
Charles.

[Wayfarer]

Good luck in your quest to find a replacement 4x4.

I went from having various Land Rover products including Range Rover classics, a freelander, and the last one a new Discovery 4, (well an18 miles pre reg) which suffered from a snapped crankshaft at 20 thousand miles and under three years old, engine replacement fitted by LR under warranty, but confidence in product lost, so it was traded in for an X5, which so far 2 plus years has been superb.

Never thought I would say this, but the x5 is a better tow car than the disco, and more economical, although wouldn't won't to go too far off road with the X5.