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Hi all, yet another newbie !!

Introduce yourself, (and post a photo if you have one).
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535dboy
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 5491
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:38 am
Location: East Sussex

Re: Hi all, yet another newbie !!

Post by 535dboy » Sun Dec 23, 2012 7:44 am

Good luck with the search

I have nothing else useful to add!
Currently :
2012 Audi RS4 (B8)
2012 Porsche Boxster S (981)
2008 Lotus Exige S (a bit modified!)
2015 Nissan Leaf twin turbo with Nitros

Previously :
2008 BMW X5 3.0sd MSport
2005 BMW 535d MSport

Barney
Member
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Posts: 299
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:42 pm

Re: Hi all, yet another newbie !!

Post by Barney » Sun Dec 23, 2012 10:44 am

Thanks  :)

graemeX5
Snr Member
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Posts: 1927
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:01 pm
Location: Hertfordshire

Re: Hi all, yet another newbie !!

Post by graemeX5 » Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:15 am

Hi and welcome, you'll find a lot of helpful advice and there are buyer guides as well, and when you find one people on here will be happy to look at pics and point out any issues etc.

For me, like you I wanted a 4.8i and put a deposit down, but it was a nice engine but had a lot of electrical issues but was only car with a working sunroof without any clonks.

I spoke to an bmw Indy garage and asked how much to fix the sunroof and also front air suspension and both were expensive between 1500 -2K. So I gave up on that one. I had physically looked at 10-12 cars up to 15k without much joy.

In the end decided sunroof good but a cost and also air front was a poss problem that I didn't want although all X's have air rear so ended up with a facelift 4.4 at low money, so I could fix any niggles, and there were a lot and have since added the 4.8 bits wheels, arches,front bumper, etc.

Best advice is to get one with good history /maintenance, poss with warranty, getting inspected before buying, poss off a member or someone you know who has looked after it as these cars were 50-60k for a reason and repairs can soon mount up.

Ps I' m in Hertfordshire as well and I know a few garages and the quality of cars they get and brother in law is in trade round here and knows most of the dealers.
Now: E70 X5 in Blue, 3 Minis Cooper S R53, JCW R56 & Cooper S Roadster R59 :drive:

Prev: Abarth 595C & 500C, E53 X5 4.4i, E88 135i M Sport, Audi TT Mk1 V6, 3 Smarts, 8 Vauxhalls, 4 Fords, 2 Triumphs, 1 Mini & Bikes

Barney
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Posts: 299
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:42 pm

Re: Hi all, yet another newbie !!

Post by Barney » Sun Jan 06, 2013 1:23 pm

Having looked online at many E53 4.8's it's becoming clear that there are many poor examples for sale out there and it's going to be difficult to find a good one with decent miles and no issues.
I'm realising that if I look at the E70's they are younger and there seems to be more choice and reasonable mileage on them and less of them appear to have been owned by boy racers, and by increasing the budget to £20/25K I might actually be able to land a good one.
As I want one to last for a good few yrs and don't change my cars often then I think spending a bit more from the outset on a newer model would be the way to go rather than going cheaper only to plough a fortune into it later.

Anyway, these are my current thoughts. Another idea I'm toying with is selling both my current cars, adding some and getting an Aston Martin DB9  :)

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