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Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Introduce yourself, (and post a photo if you have one).
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Dimsum
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Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by Dimsum » Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:19 pm

I have been a BMW fan for years now having had an E30, two E36's and a brace of E39's of most engines. I can normally be found over on the forum.bmw5.co.uk under the same user name. (My V8 woes are well documented!)

I sold my last 535I in March and bought a Chrysler 300C CRD instead as I needed something with a little more space and less V8 thirst.

Unfortunately a young lad in a Corsa decided to park his car at speed into the back of the Chrysler whilst parked so last week it was written off.

The Insurance company gave us an XC60 in the mean time and both my partner and I agreed that we loved being high up so I started my hunt.

I saw a few X3's and an XC90 but they didnt click with me.

yesterday I drove a 2003 (2004 facelift) X% 3.0d Sport and I put a deposit down straight away!

It was lovely and I pick it up this weekend.

Sapphire black with 107k on the clock and one owner from new until 2010. The last owner had it over in Northern Ireland for the last year and now its mine!

It has 4 dealer stamps and a few indys in the book but it also had a main dealer print out covering 2004 through to 2010 showing all the occasions it had been into a main dealer. About a dozen times in all.

I cant remember the first dealership but the second was Vines in Redhill. I spoke to them over the phone and they confirmed it had been with them for various things over the years, from a new stereo flap cover to investigating a gearbox fault with 2nd gear. Apparently it was jerky. They investigated and found a leak from the box and repaired it.

If I pop over to them with proof of ownership, they will give me a copy of all previous work done.

Is that a common thing?I really want to get all the paperwork in order as I am a fussy sod!

I have heard that ringing the BMW customer services line direct is the best option? Could anyone else confirm this for me?

Any way.. She drove lovely and I was surprised at the poke from the engine!

She seems to be totally standard as far as equipment goes, (I have now had a look at one of the sticky threads on this forum for pointers and it seems that the aluminum running boards, the leather interior and the badge delete were the only option boxes ticked) although a previous owner has fitted screens in the back of the front headrests and a DVD drive in the boot. My 10 year old will love that!

I do have a couple of niggles though....

It has the BMW business audio with tape player but no CD changer in the boot.. I have not looked yet to se if the wires are present. If they are I assume its just a plug and play affair?

The other thing it lacks is a luggage roller cover thingy... I need to remedy this asap as the boot will be full of the babies buggy etc... Does anyone know where I can find one at a reasonable price?

I shall put up a thread in the wanted sections over the weekend.

Pictures to follow when I have picked her up!

:)
Last edited by Dimsum on Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

graemeX5
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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by graemeX5 » Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:45 pm

Hi & welcome to the forum.

It sounds like you have found a nicely looked after car.

Re your niggles

the wires should be there, then it will be a case of getting a 2nd hand cd changer, alternatively you could go the intravee route which I believe gives you the iPod option, if you do a quick search you can get info on the intravee.

Re the cover they are usually for sale on eBay, or sometimes int he of resale section, its a big roller cassette unit on the facelift model and it slots into the recesses each side of the boot, not sure how much.

Ps look forward to the pics
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

graemeX5
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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by graemeX5 » Wed Jun 19, 2013 6:15 pm

Load cover on ebay in grey not exactly cheap though

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-E53-20 ... 232bb100af
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

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Dimsum
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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by Dimsum » Wed Jun 19, 2013 6:31 pm

Hi Graeme!

Thanks for the link... Mmmm... I didnt want to pay that sort of money!

I take it that the facelift E53 had a different load cover design than the pre-facelift?

I can see this is going to be a pain in the back side.. Thanks the lord for privacy/tinted glass!

I have had a look at the intravee and I know it is a very popular upgrade on the E39's over on the Forum5 site.

I think it will come down to if the wires are there for the changer or not. If they are then i will go the simpler route and plug a 2nd hand unit in.. If not, then I might as well go the intrvaee route.

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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by X5Sport » Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:06 pm

Welcome aboard.

Yes the Facelifted load cover is a different design and retracts into a removable 'cassette'.

Richard
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Dimsum
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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by Dimsum » Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:08 pm

Thanks Richard. A bit like the E39 touring then..

Raj
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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by Raj » Thu Jun 20, 2013 12:13 am

Welcome aboard.

Sounds like a nice purchase.

You will find the E53 is well pre-wired for nearly all options making retro fits a lot easier. Wiring for cd should be there so purchase of an interchanger or as you say an intravee of the like as other options.

For the load cover, what colour interior as I have a good contact that is breaking X5's so the load cover may be a possibility from him.
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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by Reusch » Thu Jun 20, 2013 11:39 am

Raj has your mate got the arches and alu running boards ?.
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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by Dimsum » Thu Jun 20, 2013 12:52 pm

Hi Raj

Thanks for that!

Iinterior is black.

James



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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by Dimsum » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:12 pm

Well I picked her up this afternoon from Maidenhead and its first challenge was to suffer 3 hours of crappy M25 traffic!

Didnt skip a beat.. pics will follow this weekend.

:)

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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by Dimsum » Fri Jun 21, 2013 10:11 pm

Pic from the dealer web site...

:)

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Last edited by Dimsum on Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by t1m130 » Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:01 am

Hi there and as many have said, welcome to the forum.

I too am in a similar position to you (and only 3 miles away in Dartford!) - been a BMW fan for years but always had Audi Company Cars.

Always fancied an X5 and been looking for months when finally last month I found a facelift 77K mile, 04 plate 3.0i for sale with 1 previous owner, a full BMW history from new, and all the toys - sat nav, tv etc.
Did all the checks as you did and have history of everything done.

Had her for a month now and i've gotta say, it is the best car I have ever owned - absolutely love it!

Yes, there are some minor 'niggles' but nothing that detracts from the overall ownership and as with yours, I don't have a load cover (why are there so many for sale without a load cover?) and looking on ebay for one at a decent price so i'll race you for it  ;)

One good tip for you, the best Independent dealer and an X5 specialist is where you live - D & T Wise in Bexleyheath. I got them to check her out when I first bought and was happy to get anything done that they advised. When they did the inspection (free of charge) they happily told me nothing was required and she was perfect - you won't find many dealers who will offer that level of honesty without trying to charge you for something!

The only thing I have had done, after reading many forum posts, is change the auto box oil and filter which D & T did for me. The box was perfect but the key thing with an X5 is preventative maintenance - if you wait till something starts to go wrong, it's usually an expensive fix!

Also had a couple of wheels stripped and repainted as they were showing the classic BMW corrosion and bubbling - insprayration in Rochester.

I'm going to fit a boot mounted DVD in the next few weeks and TV in motion as I spend a lot of time travelling in Europe and at least my misses can watch TV on the move.

Welcome to the club and enjoy her - i'm sure i'll see you driving around the area with a big smile on your face and if you wan't any tips or advice, drop me a message.  :)

Tim

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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by Dimsum » Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:22 pm

Hi mate!

Yes I have used D&T Wise for years, even back when they were BM Wise.

I popped in and chatted with The owner today actually!

The X5 (Or Barry as we have named him) is booked in for this Thursday for an Oil service, replace the crankcase breather with the updated version and a thorough once over!

Im still on the look out for the load cover but with the privacy glass it takes the urgency off it for the moment.

New bonnet badge should be arriving soon too.

Then it will be a bit of detailing, wax/polish and probably a wheel refurb too. No damage or corrosion on the outside but there is some bubbling on the insides between the spokes.

:)

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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by t1m130 » Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:59 pm

Hi James

Agree on the parcel shelf - got the same privacy glass myself. I'm one of those people that wants my car to be perfect and have eveything genuine BMW but the prices being asked for the covers are ridiculous!

Insprayration did a great job on my wheels and gave me 10% off as a June special - top lads.

I think i'll name mine Casandra after an ex girlfriend - fantastic condition for her age, great to look at, well upholstered and really great ride ;)



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Re: Hello from Sunny Bexleyheath!

Post by Dimsum » Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:35 pm

I like the name!.... See who can guess why we named ours Barry, full name Barry White...

He's big, black and so smooooooooth.....

;)

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