New member - X5 4.8 V8

[4.8v8]

Hello all, just bought a 55 X5 4.8 "exclusive edition". Picking it up tonight then looking forward to stretching its legs driving to Finland in it at the end of the month to get married there! Will be poking round the site and no doubt asking a few stupid questions...

[lezmtaylor]

Welcome, car looks great and all the best for you and your wife for the future.

Lez

[4.8v8]

Thanks Lez!

[Denis O]

Welcome.

Keep an eye on the dipstick as there are rumours that 600 miles per litre of oil is not unheard of for these cars; and BMW will tell you that's acceptable.

[Greydog]

Nice looking car Enjoy

Safe journey and congrats to you both on the wedding

[cooa99]

congrats on both accounts.

Will it not be cheaper to fly?

considering it will be the 1st month of ownership, wont it be risky for that lengthy drive since you don't know the car .... like the back of your hand?

[4.8v8]

Thanks all for the best wishes!

Yeah to be honest I have left it far too late to buy the car but was dithering on what to buy - hopefully I dont live to regret it. Ideally I would have had more time with it to properly assess it. But anyway it adds to the sense of adventure!  We wanted to have a road trip over there. And we are setting of one week before the wedding so should leave us time to get there in the unfortunate case of something bad happening.

Im sure it would have worked out cheaper to fly (if I had booked the flights early - just looking now and BA want £650 per person). But we want to take a few things for the wedding and things back again. Once you factor in hiring a car in Finland (which is expensive) etc I guess it is not that much more expensive. But only time will tell.... Plus we want to trial the run over for future when travelling with a dog (wife-to-be is Finnish and I used to live there). Should be a nice trip hopefully, up through Denmark, Sweden and then overnight ferry to Finland.

Cooca - I see you are nearby (I live in Greenwich). Can you recommend any good garages in the area to give it once over by I go?

[4.8v8]

sorry cooa not cooca!

[4.8v8]

Thanks Denis - will pack some oil. Anything else that could be worth taking with me?

[Reusch]

Don't forget breakdown cover and congratulations on the wedding.

[4.8v8]

Cheers Reusch. Will get the AA European cover. Just booked it in for a brake fluid change and wheel alignment check at BMsport in Bexleyheath

[AW8]

If bmsport not changed ownership  your car should be in safe hands. I would perhaps call them again and ssk if they can also  give it once over and check for codes based on neepw ownership and forthciming trip.

Lovely looking car - I like the sport exclusive models, the 4.8is and of course the colour.

[4.8v8]

Thanks AW8. I told them about the trip and they recommended the wheel alignment and the brake fluid change based on when it was last done and will give it a once over

[4.8v8]

They also replacing rear brake pads & discs and a front tyre...

[AW8]

Good - got that.


Re tyre if repairing no issue but if replacing start thinking about working towards a matching set it at least same type on each axle. Mentioning this now so you avoid a significant spend on one that might be fine on its own but at odds with other rubber.