I want to buy a 2001/02 - 2004 X5 next month and really need some advice please!

[AW8]

Most warranty providers are likely to opt out of an engine related if they can & aftermarket LPG is likely to make it easier for them but do so but by all means do check & if by some miracle they cover engines on LPG cars then get it formally in writing/email at least.

As for the AA fitting non original parts at the roadside the reality is they may provide a temporary fix for say a coolant leak but they I would have thought it more likely they would recover you to an independent garage, main dealer, your home or destination of choice dependant on cover.

You ask re main dealers and independents well an independent is a widely used term used for garages not linked to a brand.  An indepenent ( or indy as often referred to), is typically a garage specialising in certain makes models but the term can also be used for those who service more tahn one make or indeed any makes..............You might pay 40-50 % less per/hour labour at an indy specilaising in maintaining/repairing BMW's compared to the non discounted dealer rate. However in current times some main dealers are going head to head with indy's to take business back. It can pay to negotiate rates wherever you go including main dealers.

[Raj]

[quote="sallyjc"]
I see, thanks.

I have also thought of another question (my head is spinning today). If I secure the BMW Insured Warranty and a few months later want the LPG conversion, will BMW still honour the warranty if I need to claim? And will my local dealership continue to service it??

I will email BMW Warranty tomorrow but in the meantime I was wondering if anybody on this website knew the answers.

Thank you again.
[/quote]

As is the case with any modification, if it can be proved it caused the failure then yes they will refuse to payout. Until I binned off the BMW warranty a few months ago, this was one if the factors for not lpg'ing my 4.8.

[shadrack]

[quote="Raj"]
Who says you can't have what you'd like: 4.8is

Haggle them down on the price...
[/quote]
Great idea raj, I normally get slated when I dare say x5s are cheap now when I see 4.6s etc for under 6k I think 8k is quite achievable for a 4.8is, there are a few on ebay\trader etc at under 10k but some of them are the same ones that have been for sale since was looking for mine in may 2011! So their either dog rough or too expensive, I'm sure a seller would be willing to drop 1k on 9k to get a petrol thirsty monster off the forecourt, we all know their not that bad but you ask the normal motorist to buy a 4.8i and they wouldn't dream of it, also I've had a 3.0i on lpg and it was totally underpowered and gutless, I would deffinately have another lpg car no problem with half price fuel but I would have a 4.8i over the 4.4 because of what raj says earlyier the car is barely any more expensive to buy, run or insure and their absloutly fully loaded!!

[rjkc600]

When i bought my X5 i looked at lots of 4.4's that were £4500 - £5500.  They were all wrecks, all unloved with curbed wheels, scuffs all over the bumpers, interior marks and scuffs, literally we are talking 6 cars, some lower miles (58k) and some higher mileage cars (100k).

I then bought my 4.4 2002 model with 60k, and its in amazing condition, low owners and truly immaculate, cost me £6495.

My point here is that if you look at the lower end of the price brackets on any model, you are likely to have to accept a neglected car, people that cannot be bothered to wash there car or park it carefully to avoid wheel damage are unlikely to have the car serviced properly, in my opinion. 

Sallyjc - i drive 70 miles per day, live in london and drive outwards using M25/M11.  I can  see 28mpg if i cruise at 65mph in my V8.  Normally  i settle for 24-26mpg though at 75mph.  85 mph sees 24mpg on my commute.

in town or traffic i see 17-21mpg.  a 2.2 tonne car shifting through traffic is unfortunately going to drink some fuel, so if you spend a lot if time in traffic or driving in london then be prepared to spend on fuel as consumption is not great in that scenario.

[rjkc600]

thought id add my warranty experience.

I asked warranty direct for a quote, and they then call you for the rest of your entire life to try and sign you up.

The price online was fair at £660 for a 'good' warranty.  HOWEVER, because my car was 2002, therefore 10 years old the warranty payout was limited to a percentage of the labour costs. 

They also wanted to send an inspector prior to the warranty being approved as the engine is over 4.0L.  His job was to inspect that my car has no current faults - this in my mind was a little unfair, as yes a 10 year old car is most likely to have something like a worn bush on the suspension etc, i also had to pay out £75 for the inspector to come and see my car.

They also have a cooling off period which you can't claim in, i think it was the first 2 months or something like that, which in my opinion made the inspector visiting my car unnecessary.

I didn't proceed with the warranty, too many stories of refusing to pay and coupled with the above i felt it was not worth while.  My only concern was if the gearbox fails, but I've accepted that if in the unlikely event it does, i will pay the £1900 cost for the rebuild and continue to enjoy the car for many years.

I had an independent BMW specialist look over my car, and they changed my gearbox oil and filter to hopefully reduce the chance of failure, and i had a few bushes replaced also that were worn.  Overall cost was £300 or so, so i now feel happy that i bought a immaculate low mileage X5, and after a small cost its mechanically perfect.

[shadrack]

[quote="rjkc600"]
When i bought my X5 i looked at lots of 4.4's that were £4500 - £5500.  They were all wrecks, all unloved with curbed wheels, scuffs all over the bumpers, interior marks and scuffs, literally we are talking 6 cars, some lower miles (58k) and some higher mileage cars (100k).

I then bought my 4.4 2002 model with 60k, and its in amazing condition, low owners and truly immaculate, cost me £6495.

My point here is that if you look at the lower end of the price brackets on any model, you are likely to have to accept a neglected car, people that cannot be bothered to wash there car or park it carefully to avoid wheel damage are unlikely to have the car serviced properly, in my opinion. 

Sallyjc - i drive 70 miles per day, live in london and drive outwards using M25/M11.  I can  see 28mpg if i cruise at 65mph in my V8.  Normally  i settle for 24-26mpg though at 75mph.  85 mph sees 24mpg on my commute.

in town or traffic i see 17-21mpg.  a 2.2 tonne car shifting through traffic is unfortunately going to drink some fuel, so if you spend a lot if time in traffic or driving in london then be prepared to spend on fuel as consumption is not great in that scenario.


[/quote]
yeh but alot of people that look after their cars like me price them low so that i sell, when i sell a car i want shot to get the next not have it advertised for months,  when i bought mine it was fairly cheap and very very tidy, i then got 1200 off as if you dont ask you dont get!! personally i think that their are alot of people selling sky high priced x5s that will never sell, theres hundreds of x5s for sale at the minute and petrol is highly priced that makes ideal buying conditions for a good deal!

[rjkc600]

Yeah i have to admit i am the same, i give my cars away once I've decided i want a new one

I just got the impression that lots of regular X5 owners (not us car obsessed lot ) don't actually give 2 hoots about looking after there cars.

[Elwood2394]

Sallyjc, just joined the forum, have you found your X5 yet? I have an '02' 3.0i Sport, Auto, Black with Black leather really nice example, unmarked alloys and paintwork, only 51,000 miles. The front tyres have worn on the outside, they were advisory on the MOT in April but will need changing soon. I really don't want to let him go for less than £6k because I still love him but my other car is a 330d MSPORT coupe and I can't justify having two 3 litre cars on the drive.

[AW8]

Normal forum rules are that folk selling have to be established here before advertising. This is to avoid us being swamped by unknown freeloaders whose sole or main agenda is to advertise unkown items for free.

[shadrack]

[quote="AW8"]
Normal forum rules are that folk selling have to be established here before advertising. This is to avoid us being swamped by unknown freeloaders whose sole or main agenda is to advertise unkown items for free.
[/quote]
totally agree they could be scams or sheds!!