to buy or not to buy

tommyinboro · Post by **tommyinboro** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 1:57 pm

Hi guys this is my first post on here as iv been thinking about getting a x5 for a while and one has come up which seems cheap what do you guy think i should steer clear or give it a go the details are,

52 Reg,3.0d,Black,120k on the clock reconditioned gear box,face lift alloys,black leather, satnav, he wants Â£6200 for it but they is some faults,

1, The self level suspension inop light is on the dash he said he has had it checked out and it needs a sensor on the back left if he is telling the truth are these a diy fix and how much,

2, The radio has no sound he said it needs a new amp again if he is right how much are these.

3,The boot switch is disconnected as the battery went flat the other week the garage said this was faulty so he just use the remote on key

So what do you guys think.

Woofer · Post by **Woofer** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:09 pm

If those are cheap faults to rectify why has he not got it sorted prior to sale? Price would be ok if car was A1 with FSH and no faults IMO

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:22 pm

And to think I sold my 82k 2005, 100% fault free and show room condition for only Â£10k

Dealer sold it on the same day I traded it in ...

graemeX5 · Post by **graemeX5** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:34 pm

Defiinitely worth getting an X5 from my view comfort refinement and a quick car and even I'd you only have it a while it will be worth it.
If the repairs are so cheap to fix why did the person do it. Usually because it costs more. Worth getting prices from an independant garage to fix and or part prices from BMW and then you can knock him down.

Remeber thy there are a lot of x5 about.

tommyinboro · Post by **tommyinboro** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:40 pm

yep iv wanted one for ages had a few bmws my last one been a e46 330d 184bhp.

Are the pre face lift ones still quick is they much difference from face lift regarding speed.

iv read i could send off the amp to get repaired for about Â£150

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:04 pm

Facelifted Diesel comes with a 6sp auto and 218bhp engine. Up from 5sp and 184bhp. Certainly feel the difference. Watch the models from 2006 as some get clobbered for much higher car tax as the bands changed. If registered post change date it adds about Â£200 a year.

We've still got our E46 330CD Convertible with the 206bhp diesel engine version from Juy 2005 and that pulls like a train...

With those faults the one you are looking at is overpriced. If it isn't the sensor then it could be big bucks to fix. Boot switch is a fault I had and was done under warranty. It was still expensive though. I suspect the owner may be trying to do a 'dump & run' as the repairs are too costly - IMHO of course..

tommyinboro · Post by **tommyinboro** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:37 pm

what do you think a good price for it would be.

what is the solution to fix the boot switch.

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 4:11 pm

Boot switch will most likely be a replacement required. No idea on current cost as mine was done 4 years ago. The boot lock was well over Â£100 OEM via Dealer for just parts then. No idea what non-OEM would come in at.

Air Susp could go over Â£1k if it isn't the sensor but is a compressor/system fault.

If it were me, I'd want all the faults fixed at that price, or walk away. There are plenty of X5's about, so the market is yours, not the seller's.

I'm almost suspicious of a leak in the boot given so much trouble is located at that end of the car. Probably well worth having the spare out and a good look for signs of water. There are a lot of control modules as well as the battery back there, and water leakage could lead to all kinds of very expensive failures.

Bargain Bucket · Post by **Bargain Bucket** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 4:38 pm

Boot lid motor (which caused the same fault on my 5) is Â£220 + VAT retail. I got one 2nd hand for Â£60. Easy fix.

Amp about Â£150 to fix.

Can't comment on the suspension issue but I'd be knocking off Â£200 for the amp and Â£220 + VAT for the boot motor for starters.

tommyinboro · Post by **tommyinboro** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 4:57 pm

it was up for Â£6700 to start with think he was just trying his luck with that price.
im keen to get it as it has the satnav, facelift alloys and the black leather i hate the sandy leather with fake wood trim that seems to be popular.

its also got what looks like a v8 4.4 exhaust back boxes on that looks nice.

do the sensors fail,is it a common problem, i no i can fix the boot and amp for a few hundred quid just the suspension that is worrying me a bit as x5sport saying it could be over 1k

Black X5 · Post by **Black X5** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 5:18 pm

Sounds a bit expensive TBH.

BTW - the wood isn't fake- it's real wood veneer from real trees!!! Granted some of the colours are a bit iffy, but it's real wood nonethless. I had the silver trim in my E53s and that was the nicest option IMO.

dirtymonkey29 · Post by **dirtymonkey29** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 5:42 pm

You can always get a set of alloys cheap off eBay. A few of us have a second set with winter rubber on. I'd shop around if I were you.
There's one on autotrader at mustang London motors ltd, 2002, 97,000 miles, got facelift alloys and angel eyes. Grey leather and wood trim... Although I'm not keen on that colour of wood trim it can be removed and painted or wrapped in carbon fibre or anything else you want to do.

Raj · Post by **Raj** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:34 pm

Tbh, I'd walk away unless they are happy to repair everything. If its only small. Heap items as they say then they won't mind doing them.

As for the extras, seriously just buy a decent example and then put your own mark on it. I for example have a nice set of X6 rims with brand new tyres for sale. You can get the tips done again for not silly money and even the trim will be available at some point on eBay or the like.

shadrack · Post by **shadrack** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 8:26 pm

i would just offer him 4.5-5k and take the chance, is the car sat right and driving right with just the suspension in act light on? total gamble could cost Â£300-Â£1500 to mend, when i had my m3 i was faced with a potentially costly problem which occured on the test drive so a further Â£1200 off the arranged price, and i took it, luckily it cost me a day and Â£32 to fix!! so i won that time, but i said to the seller i will leave it then after a few tears he sold me it for at the time nothing!!

tommyinboro · Post by **tommyinboro** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 9:06 pm

Some good advice there guys cheers.

It's a private sale not a garage.

Iv priced the sensors up at a local Bmw spares place they sell new and used parts they said a sensor would be about Â£40 they said they can plug it in to the computer and see what the fault is but that would be after I bought the car.

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