Advice... help... reassurance...... UPDATE

[X5Sport]

Absolutely the right choice given the circumstances, and yes there will be a better one just waiting for you to find her.....

Sorry if the answers you got from the group were somewhat less than encouraging but you had the cojones to ask, and we hate to see a potential Xer have a bad start...

[Lee_thefirst]

Hey, I appreciate the honest answers... after all you guys have far more know how and experience with the X5 than myself.

[x555]

Agreed with the rif raff above defo right choice.If it don't feel right walk there's plenty out there and top man for walking away as it can be hard sometimes when getting exited about a new car.
I remember when i bought the one i have now ....i couldn't wait to get out the garage and then i noticed that there wasn't a rear parcel shelf/load cover so told the seller and he came out with one and i chucked it in the boot and was off.
It wasn't untill i got home (about 200mles away )that i realised that the one he gave me was for a pre facelift like i had before it looked right so i didn't even check as i didn't know that the new ones were different.
Anyway good luck in the hunt for your next one you made the right decision even if it does feel like one got away.

[AW8]

I think you did the right thing.

Still plenty of non Cat D recorded cars out there needing attention & doubtles some in worst ciondition than some Cats D cars.

From what you say it wasn't the condition but rather the price relative to the Cat D staus & lack of history.

I wouldnt reject a good Cat D car but only for the right money.

Good Luck in your hunting.............Plenty around to test your legwork & negotiation skills.

[Lee_thefirst]

So if the value of the car was 7900..... then I found out it was a CAT D (back in 2004)..... how much is the car now worth??

[CondorX5]

Lee, I would think the lack of history, the Cat D plus the possible repairs judging from strange noises when car is running.....perhaps £5 000?

Even so,I would still balk at the complete unknown quantity unless I had phoned and checked out history with BMW as well. Personally, I'd walk away and look for a better one with a clear history and no cover-up efforts from the seller!!!!

[Lee_thefirst]

I have 100% walked away and 5k is the exact price I offered.... I was just curious.
I am looking at one on Ebay at the moment.... 2001 black, V8, 80k, full service history, present owner has owned for the last 5yrs... wanting 7.5k.
I did really want one with LPG but the more reading up I do.... it seems to be a 50/50 split of peoples views whether it is a good or bad thing to have.....

[CondorX5]

Its a hugely emotive issue, the LPG thing, causes many an argument Personally, I would never, ever do it. My Rangie, which I've owned for over 6 years, is still superb and the engine is ticking over beautifully, while the same cannot be said for many many other similar age LPG converted Rangies. Maybe it was just the relative intolerance of the Rangie 4.6 V8 to the higher operating temperatures, but it was a huge problem, whatever the saving may have been fuel wise, replacing engines cancelled that out quickly. Add to that the fine layer of rust in the boot near the donut tank and other issues......I've never regretted my decision, then or now. However, there are members on here (lezmtaylor and others) who are really happy with their conversions. The X5 for me is a complex, finely tuned beast and I have no desire to disrupt its equilibrium - if I can't afford the petrol then I can no longer afford to run such a car and I shouldn't be driving it anyway, IMHO. A personal decision really!!

[Lee_thefirst]

As you know I am looking for a V8... I am always checking Autotrader, at the moment 1613 X5s are for sale and only 17 are LPG converted.... I guess that says it all really.