Purchase of a E53

[fender]

Hi everyone this is my first post so please by gentle with me.

I'm thinking of buying a E53 but just got a few questions

1. How many keys should the vehicle have? see them advertised with 2,3 or 4? When I bought my Z3 there were 5 keys.

2. Can someone with a E53 supply me with the size of the boot ie the height from the floor to the ceiling and the distance between the wheel arches. I would like to see if my wife's powered wheelchair will go in the back.

3. Is the MPG between the 3.0 and the 4.4 really that similar in the real world, as I like the idea of the V8 and as I do not intend to do a lot of miles wonder weather to go for the 4.4

That is all I can think of at the moment but I'm sure to be back on this forum when the purchase has been made.

Many thanks 

[X5Sport]

Have a look on the Buyer's Guide on this forum for a lot of what you need.

New E53's should come with two keys and a plastic 'valet key'.

I take it wheelchair cannot fold, being a powered unit?

Fuel figures are probably similar due to the 3-litre petrol having to work that much harder to shift two-tonnes of metal.  The 4.4 is less stressed but of course bigger.  Most sales in the UK were diesel.

If you are looking at an older version then make sure you do all of you homework and any you look at you need to check absolutely everything.  Twice!!

When these cars break, they're luxury models with an appropriate price tag for some parts.

Oh, and 

Richard

[Horizon]

Hi and welcome to the forum. The boot space is not that big on the E53, also a powered chair weighs a fair bit.
The load height is 800mm. The max floor length  at the boot floor level is 900mm, width between wheel arches is1100 mm, with the slope of the rear seats intruding into the boot , the space is reduced to 750 mm from the seat backs at  the top of the bottom tailgate, this space then gradually reduces to 200mm at the top of the rear glass/ tailgate.
As for petrol or diesel its a personnel choice, as X5 Sport points out, these motors can be a money pit, especially as they are getting on a bit now and come with luxury size bills
Good luck with the search whatever you decide on, also mine came with 2 keys ans a valet key, they can come with up to 4 workable keys/ fobs

[fender]

Thanks for the reply guys I have read the buyers guide on this forum with interest. Also I am in no rush to buy one just keeping an eye on eBay and auto trader etc.
Hopefully get one in the next few months

[andym3]

Hello and welcome.
My previous X5 was the 4.4 V8 and I averaged 17mpg every day driving. My cousin used to have the 3.0 petrol and that was only 0.5mpg better!  )
I now have the 3.0d & im averaging 25mpg in that! So all depends how much you will be using the car! Large fuel tanks to, costs £120+ to fill the tank!  )

Also something to think about is the auto gearbox, these tend to go bang at around 100k miles unless they've been looked after (gearbox oil & filter changes). Around £1800 to have these rebuilt as well  :-[

Hope this helps & good luck with your search! 

[X5Sport]

If you need the space, try to find one with electrically adjustable rear seats.  This allows the seat back rake angle to be changed to almost vertical which can make a significant difference.

Good luck with the hunt, and you're always welcome here to ask questions...

Richard

[dpbayly]

Welcome,

I recently picked my first X5 up it's the 4.4 I looked at a 3.0 petrol but it's not got the grunt that the V8 has so it's almost a no brainer seeing as the mpg is practically the same.

The other thing to consider is is LPG thats what mine is and im hitting around 17mpg but a gallon on LPG costs me £3.17 where as a gallon of petrol costs £6.17 makes the running costs of the V8 cheaper than the average petrol saloon, obviously its works out cheaper picking up a motor with the conversion already carried out on only thing is it will take some searching to find one with reasonable miles on it due to people converting them then stacking the miles on them....

Mine came with 2 keys plus the valet key.

Whats your price bracket?

Mine was really low price for an X5 (especially a LPG example) I was seriously lucky to be the first to call on an advert and picked up an awesome example.



Good luck with your search.

[fender]

Thanks for the reply I'm looking to spend about 5 or 6 grand. As you say the fuel is about the same on the 3.0 or the 4.4 so might keep my eye out for one of those.

But if a good 3.0 comes I'll definitely have to consider it 

[fender]

Are all sports seats on an E53 heated?

[andym3]

[quote="fender"]
Are all sports seats on an E53 heated?
[/quote]
No 

[glmec]

Having had a 3ltr sport previously and now the V8 I would advise 100% going for the latter. As you point out the mpg differential is of no consequence and for the massive grin factor the burble alone brings just go for it.

The only thing I would add is do not discount the 4.8. I got really lucky by getting a beaut of a motor off this very site with pretty much every extra. There aren't so many of them about but I do think sometimes they get overlooked. Granted I have no data comparisons between my 2 x5's but during my ownership 4.8 seems no worse than the 3ltr.

Also I really like the subtle body styling changes that come with the v8's.

Good luck with you're search.

Cheers. Gav.

[CondorX5]

Well I have owned both -  the 3.0i and currently the 4.8is.  If you do not want any regrets, go for the V8. My 3.0i had lots of extras, performed well and was a nice drive, but the 3.0i engine just seemed that bit underpowered for the big beast the X5 is especially when towing trailers etc. and the fuel consumption is the same as the V8.

Problem with the V8s is that they were once very pricey cars and some repairs on the Alpina based IS models can be pretty expensive if you are unlucky as there things like oil coolers and suchlike to factor in, also as they are getting on a bit now, may have had several owners by now who have not had the funds to spend on the maintenance but wanted the high performance,expensive when new, car.

Check the provenance of the V8 models very very carefully and walk away from poorly maintained. (Or worse, mo history available at all) vehicles. 

I have a 4.8is, BMW AUC, one owner, only maintained at dealer, under extended warranty, and it still gives its fair share of issues- new alternator, new oil cooler, gear box leaking seal, split cv gaiters, pano roof issues, parking sensors, bluetooth module changed, etc, engine mounts, in addition to normal maintenance.  Several 1000 £££££ worth there already, mostly covered by the warranty, luckily.    They are not cheap cars to run and maintain albeit you might pick one up cheaply these days due to the crazy anti-V8 attitudes.  There are still great single owner or enthusiast maintained vehicles out there,  usually not on ebay though! 
Be wary, look for history and condition, and depending on your budget, I would be looking for the 4.8is, they usually come with lots of extras as standard.  Check that all the extras work before buying though!!!

Good luck!

[Imy]

Get the V8. I currently have the 3.0 and while it is adequet for London driving I do wish I had a 4.6/4.8, however insurance purposes means that I am limited to have a 3.0!

3.0 has minimal torque, was rather embarrassing when recently I was unable to out-do a Prius!

[fender]

Thanks again for all the info I know what glmec means when ha said smiles for miles, as I have a Z3 2.8 and I have a smile on my face every time I drive the car.

[fender]

I've seen a car but the seller states that there is a cracking sound coming from the speakers even when the car is turned off He states it could be a faulty amp?

Is this an easy fix or expensive and I should walk away?