I am considering selling my E53 (due to bumpy ride). What is it worth please?

[sallyjc]

Hi

I don't have the best roads where I live and the bumpy ride is a bit annoying. By the way BMW checked it and said the ride was normal. Anyway I am therefore thinking about changing the E53 for something a bit more comfy!

Please could someone tell me what my E53 is worth? Here are the details

• Registered Dec-2005
  3.0 Diesel Sport Estate with 19" tyres
  Automatic
  63k miles
  3 former keepers
  Full BMW Service History
  Purchased as an AUC from BMW in Sept-2012
  I have the official BMW (Mondial) Comprehensive Warranty which I pay by direct debit. I am guessing this is attractive to a buyer?
  Sterling grey
  Full black nappa leather with silver trim (no wood)
  Heated front seats and heated steering wheel
  Heated automatic holding mirrors
  Auto lights and wipers
  Panaramic sun roof
  Xenon lights
  BMW aluminium running boards
  SAT NAV
  Bluetooth
  CD Autochanger
  Privacy glass at the back

It runs very well. Only two problems since I have owned it:  a new motor for an electric mirror (replaced under warranty) and a new door handle inside plastic catch which snapped apparently (thanks to a friend who was too rough with it!).

I don't think there are any marks on it. There were a couple of tiny stone chips when I bought it but BMW removed them for free.

Please let me know if you need any more info to allow you to calculate a price.

Thanks very much!

Sally

[fenj66]

hi sally sorry to hear your not happy with the ride of your x5.
i assume yours is a sport model  and has 19 inch wheels on with sport suspension?
i believe the SE model had softer suspension together with 17 inch wheels which gives a gentler ride.
ive often wondered , as the x5 has rear air suspension instead of coil springs, if it can be set to give a softer ride by recoding the software for less air pressure?  if not you could try changing your wheels for a set of 17 inch - the higher sidewalls should help iron out the bumps a bit more. ( your spare wheel should be a 17 incher).

did you not notice the firm ride on your test drive? i suppose its something you realise more after time though.

as for a price for yours, i would guestimate selling privately at £9500??

you could get a quote from webuyanycar.com etc and then add about £2k to their price.

good luck whatever you do. 

[Denis O]

It's well spec'd and low mileage so I'd have thought a little more than fenj suggested. No doubt there'll be a fair number of old nails around the local dealerships that are up for £2k more and they'll probably get it whilst your car will sit around unless you are very lucky, whatever price. Most people don't have the confidence to buy privately.

Will the warranty you have cease when you stop paying the DDR. If not, that may give a private buyer a warm fuzzy feeling.

I'd look at eBay completed listings and also the We Buy Any Crap type operations.

Good luck when you come to sell.

[sallyjc]

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

Yes the car is the sport model with 19" tyres. I am sorry I don't know anything about the suspension!

I'm sorry I did not notice the hard ride on the test drive. I was a bit nervous driving a car of this size and I guess I wasn't really taking everything in.

Re. the warranty, Mondial say the new owner can keep up the direct debit payments. From what I have read this BMW warranty is the best one you can buy, i.e. BMW tend to pay up more often that other Third Party Warranty companies. The direct debit is only £60 a month which isn't bad I suppose.

Thanks for any more help!

Sally

[X5Sport]

If it's the sport it will be springs on the front and gasbags on the rear.

[pvr]

I sold mine 2 years ago now (same age as yours but SE with all the options) for £10k (with 80k miles on it).

I have not kept up to date on the prices since then though, but it will give you an indication of what a dealer would pay (guessing - 7 - 8 ?).

[shadrack]

why not just buy a set of 17" se wheels if thats the only thing

[max]

Those figures seems bit on the low side to me.
Desirable colour, FBMWSH, option to carry on BMW warranty, good options, low miles. Ours is similiar and I would not be looking to sell for £10k. I'm sure a member here had a EB one with 80k+ miles which he recently sold for £10.5k? It might take a bit of time but people still class the E53 as a desirable car and some want to buy the best available.

A set of standard sized 17" alloys should be relatively cheap to purchase and try. People seem to remove the spare 17" alloy and sell them on eBay, as lots of unused singles seem to appear quite frequently, so maybe an idea to purchase another 3 and see how you get on before going through the process of changing cars.

Just my 0.02p worth
Max

[shadrack]

the problem now with e53 values is the high milage e70s are sub 12k now....

as said if ride is the only reason for change a set of 17s will be £500 tops,

[sallyjc]

Hi

Thanks very much for all the excellent information!

Regards

Sally

[fenj66]

to be honest, i bet there are plenty of SE owners out there with 17 inch wheels who would jump at the chance of a straight swap for your 19 inch sport wheels.

[sallyjc]

Hi

Will changing the wheels to 17" ones really make a lot of difference to the Ride Quality?

Thanks

Sally

[X5Sport]

It might well.  The sidewalls will be deeper and not as stiff so will have more give and a comfier ride.  I have 20" Summers on my X6 and 19" Winters - both RFT - and there is a noticeable ride softening on the 19".  Going from 19" to 17" should do the same.

Didn't the non-Sport come with 17" wheels by default?

Richard

[Woofer]

[quote="sallyjc"]
Hi

Will changing the wheels to 17" ones really make a lot of difference to the Ride Quality?

Thanks

Sally
[/quote]

Will make a huge difference I swapped to 18" with winter Conti tyres and the ride was way way better! less brittle and less bouncy

[sallyjc]

Hi

Thanks - I will certainly investigate then. By the way mine is a Sport (not a non-Sport).

Best wishes

Sally