Looking to buy a used X5

[IanP]

[quote=""weirdfish""]Let me throw another one in the mix, the 4.6is lpg. [/quote]

Love mine
Didnt love having to rebuild the poorly designed engine

[Shez1878]

[quote=""Shez1878""]What do we think guys?

http://www.lakesidecarsltd.co.uk/used-c ... 2474019573

Bit high mileage-wise....trying to get him down on price currently.[/quote]
Still negotiating. Looks a goer this.

High miles and fact it was previously owned by Network Vehicles Ltd is putting me off.....slightly!

[weirdfish]

What ever spec/model you decide to go for, and there are many to choose from, go have a look at a few before you open your wallet, you will find the condition/ history etc is not always as you would expect, or, as described, and make sure you examine any history that comes with the car, call any garages that have supposed to have serviced it, check mot history on line, ( vosa website ).
If you buy from a dealer then negotiate a really good warranty, not just time wise, but claim wise, a lot of warranties don't cover essentials on cars such as these, and by law now dealers have to supply a warranty, ( someone correct me if I'm wrong ).
A lot of us actually get the BMW check done prior to buying, it is what they do before issuing a auc warranty on cars they sell themselves, at least this should highlight any issues, and it's a good haggling tool, plus it only costs a couple of hundred quid at most, but could save you a fortune.
This is a good site for research, so take some time to read about any issues of any particular model that you are thinking of buying.
Good luck.

[X5Sport]

If you want to know the full spec of any 'target' cars then see if you can get the last 7 characters of the VIN - you don't need any more than that - and then follow this very useful thread (and Denis O's post particularly) to pull up the full spec 'as built' from BMW. You need to click the 'Options' button once into the system.

This will give you a list of all the options on the car as fitted at the factory. Some Ad's don't give you everything, but this does. Just explain to any seller exactly what you want the details for. Should be two letters followed by 5 numbers. It's what the BMW dealers use to look up parts for a specific car. You can then compare 'as built' against 'as advertised'.

And as suggested, don't be afraid to ask on here either...

wierdfish is right, get a good warranty with an upper claim limit of at least £5k. A gearbox rebuild will be around £2k - the most likely issue if there is one. If the car has a clunky/lurchy transmission then leave well alone, as that's probably why it's being sold!

[Shez1878]

Guys - big thanks for this. Advice has been invaluable.

About to close the deal with Tim @ Lakeside - anyone dealt with these boys before?

Ive checked VOSA and HPI'd it - everything has come clear.

Ive checked out the trader's history of the car - all tallies up.

Car was bought brand new by Network Vehicles as a lease car.....mechanically its been well looked after (by all accounts). Lease cars are often tatty and worse for wear, Tim assures me this isnt the case and the pics look spot on?

Been owed by a private buyer for past 2.5 years.....

[Shez1878]

£500 refundable deposit placed - wish me luck!

[AW8]

I have had a good look at the advert & pics. On face of what I can see I would buy it if the money & provenance was right assuming it came up to buyers inspection.

It seems a very nice example & if I was loooking for a facelift 3.0d it would be on my shopping list. For me it's the right colour inside & out. It seems to have full comms pack with upgarded Hi-Fi ( see small speakers in top of rear doorcards), & heated front seats. Xenons also in the advert listing.

The only option I can see missing that I would like on my shopping list is the chimney/panoramic roof. Though desireable it can't be ignored that the full pano roof can be problematic & very costly to repair.

Being a 2005 car it wont currrently attract the significantly higher tax band for cars registred after 3/06.

Obviously I can't really adsvise on condition without seeing the car but certainly from pics the bodywork doesnt seem to be showing any obvious horrors. Near impossible to evaluate from images as minor panel gap discrepancies & evidence of fresh paint can seldom be seen from online images.

The only negative comment I would make would be that there seems to be a little evidence of wear on the leading edge of the drivers seat bolster, perhaps a little more than I would otherwise expect for a car that has covered just 60k miles.......Certainly mine with 110k whilst having some very minor wear isn't that obvious to the eye. Perhaps the image might make it look worse than it actually is. I certainly wouldn't reject the car for this as one owner with a particular manner getting in/out can cause more wear to same than others. That said......Like with other cars I would want to scrutinise the V5C, history book, MOT's, any service receipts etc & would check against BMW Customer Service info, MOT check online, HPI & ideally if time permitted by speaking to or cotherwise contacting the last registred keeper(s).

Don't be too concerned with my above advise on mileage verification I am more cautious/cynical than some especially with cars around this mileage. I say that because whilst you consider 60k to be high this is in reality avergae/good for the year. Trade used to reckon on age mileage of 12k p/a then it changed to 10k, (assume 70k for a 7 year old car) I feel that clocked cars brought this figure down or cynically it served to allow trade to under bid. In reality Diesels with a decent sized engine often do more than 10k p/a in early years so a 7 year old car 3.0d with just 60k is IMO quite a good find. Just make sure that 60k is genuine as trade know many seeking cars around 6-7 years old will be motivated by mileages around 60k or less.

Must stress not suggesting for one minute the car is clocked or hiding anything - it's just worth checking for reasons mentioned. 

Finally re the history/servicing check to see when next service is due and be prepared for a few bills ahead
such as rear subframe bushes ( can let go from 70-90k), tyres/brakes & other normal wear/tear stuff.

More obvious you have alredy mentioned the maths & as with any car it is in your interest to secure the best final sale price maybe starting negotiations asuming no p/x ( avoids your cr value being in equation) & on finance (many motivated by this due to comission), before fine tuning the deal to suit. Ideally you need to think whats the real cash cost of the actual metal you want & buy not the cost to change. If it has a mickey mouse warranty in the sums I would try to avoid paying OTT for this & would instead look at buying my own warrany direct cover as you still have, (or legal grounds for), sale of goods act recourse for any defects found within 1st 6 months assuming seller doesn't dispute defects occured after point of sale, ( in reality many sellers will dispute assisted by sales invoice likely to say you have tested the car & all equpiment & found it absent of faults at point of sale).


I hope this helps.......meant to reply yesterday but time did not allow for doing this properly.

Good Luck

[AW8]

Posted the above without seeing deposit placed. In relation to the seller the only online chat I can see re the seller is hearsay & posted on another foum here

[Lee4.8is]

Looks a really nice motor to me & i dont think the mileage is bad at all considering the year aswell, good luck with the purchase & i hope all goes well & keep us all updated. 

[Shez1878]

Thank you for taking so much time out. Terrific advice.

So the latest is I didn't buy the car

Lakeside Motors are re-inforcing the poor reputation many used car dealers I have.

I spent over an hour asking questions about this car yesterday. Very good condition they said. Terrific condition inside and out. One scuff on rear bumper, that's it in the ENTIRE car.

So 250 round trip later....the car is covered in scratches. No problem I think, I can polish them out. Then I start seeing minor dents on the car. One by the petrol flap, one on bumper and one on the bonnet.

I was told tyres had ample tread. Wrong! All need changing and didn't even look like the right tyres. They were Yokohoma's and looked like 'bubble' tyres. Ones you normally find on Vitara's.

Inside wasn't much better. The 2003 X5 I sold with 100,000 on the clock was pristine in comparison.

Then came the excuses. You can't expect a 7 year old car to be immaculate. We've only had the car 2 days, no time to check it or make it look nice.

£13,000 for that? No chance!

£500 back in a account....well better be....will check again in the morning.

The search continues.....

[Lee4.8is]

[quote="Shez1878"]
Thank you for taking so much time out. Terrific advice.

So the latest is I didn't buy the car

Lakeside Motors are re-inforcing the poor reputation many used car dealers I have.

I spent over an hour asking questions about this car yesterday. Very good condition they said. Terrific condition inside and out. One scuff on rear bumper, that's it in the ENTIRE car.

So 250 round trip later....the car is covered in scratches. No problem I think, I can polish them out. Then I start seeing minor dents on the car. One by the petrol flap, one on bumper and one on the bonnet.

I was told tyres had ample tread. Wrong! All need changing and didn't even look like the right tyres. They were Yokohoma's and looked like 'bubble' tyres. Ones you normally find on Vitara's.

Inside wasn't much better. The 2003 X5 I sold with 100,000 on the clock was pristine in comparison.

Then came the excuses. You can't expect a 7 year old car to be immaculate. We've only had the car 2 days, no time to check it or make it look nice.

£13,000 for that? No chance!

£500 back in a account....well better be....will check again in the morning.

The search continues.....
[/quote]
Sorry to hear of your wasted time & effort with the long journey, i am sure a great X5 will turn up for you, good luck for your continued search.
Thanks for the update.

[X5Sport]

As above, but it seems to be happening far too often these days - even some AUC cars have had issues.

The right car will come along though..... .

[AW8]

Sorry to hear of this..........very annoying especially when car misdescribed on back of you specifically asking re damage.

It is hard to see bodywork defects via images unless multiple close up & high resolution images taken.

I too have prior asked sellers to list every dent damage or repair & been let down.

If considering a car some distance away it's worth asking if someone sensible local to seller can look for you....maybe for a beer token or two. 

Maybe ask seller(s) for multi panel by panel high resolution images, get email confirmation of every panel dent/scuff/rerpair & ask specifically what brand tyre in each corner and minimum tread depth. Some trade sellers won't entertain this & may even be rude. I am sure many of us have heard traders say  "It sounds to me like you are after a brand new car not a used one."  I never fail to be amazed by the sheer arrogance of some traders when trying to justify selling misdecribed or poorly prepped cars.

If a car is not prepped properly, does not have manufaturers new or used warranty, is not good value price wise then it has nothing going for it over a private sale other than giving you sale of goods rights which are only as good as the good will of the trade seller or an argued/disputed small claim.

Annoying so many in trade expect significant margin for little or no prep outlay/work.

Whilst the right car may exist the reality is many buyers have to make cars right once sourced.

I don't mind sorting stuff so long as the price genuinely reflects what's required to sort issues.

[weirdfish]

Very annoying, car dealers are a breed unto themselves, they think they can waste people's time travelling up and down the country viewing cars that are not as advertised, ( obviously there are some honest ones ).
As I said before, you really have to see a few before deciding, it's the reason I actually bought my present one for the second time, I new the car and as long as it had been looked after it was going to be ok, and of course the previous owner had been kind enough to fit LPG.
Keep looking, the right one will come up.

[Shez1878]

[quote="AW8"]
Sorry to hear of this..........very annoying especially when car misdescribed on back of you specifically asking re damage.

It is hard to see bodywork defects via images unless multiple close up & high resolution images taken.

I too have prior asked sellers to list every dent damage or repair & been let down.

If considering a car some distance away it's worth asking if someone sensible local to seller can look for you....maybe for a beer token or two. 

Maybe ask seller(s) for multi panel by panel high resolution images, get email confirmation of every panel dent/scuff/rerpair & ask specifically what brand tyre in each corner and minimum tread depth. Some trade sellers won't entertain this & may even be rude. I am sure many of us have heard traders say  "It sounds to me like you are after a brand new car not a used one."  I never fail to be amazed by the sheer arrogance of some traders when trying to justify selling misdecribed or poorly prepped cars.

If a car is not prepped properly, does not have manufaturers new or used warranty, is not good value price wise then it has nothing going for it over a private sale other than giving you sale of goods rights which are only as good as the good will of the trade seller or an argued/disputed small claim.

Annoying so many in trade expect significant margin for little or no prep outlay/work.

Whilst the right car may exist the reality is many buyers have to make cars right once sourced.

I don't mind sorting stuff so long as the price genuinely reflects what's required to sort issues.
[/quote]

Great advice about getting someone local in the area to check the car first but the challenge is finding someone trustworthy that is willing to do it. I would happily pay them for their service 

It's certainly going to be a challenge finding the right one. Not sure I've budgeting enough to get what I want