XSeries-forum

Hola Amigos

I am looking to get a used X6 and just need some advice so that I don't get screwed with a lemon or by a dealership.

I am going to be exporting it to Tanzania where I work, hence I do not want to look at models from 2011 onwards as I will get screwed with import taxes and such. The older the car the less Tax you pay basically.

Anyways, Im hunting for a Alpine white including body trim i.e. the black plastic trim in white as well. Or in Black but in this case dont care if trim is in plastic as not visible. Interior wise im looking to get oyster nevada leather.

Questions I have are:
1) Are there any model years like for example 2008 x6 to avoid because they have inherent such and such problems. Or all year models are reliable.

2) What is the consensus on 30d vs 35d? I definitely want 35d but mostly I can only see 30d with the color, mileage and options I want. Should I just be patient and wait for the right 35d or just get a 30d.

3) Maximum mileage I am looking to get is up to 50,000, bearing this in mind the cars I go and see what should they have had replaced i.e. brakes pads, belts, or gearbox/ clutch services etc
What should I be worried about if buying at this sort of mileage? i.e. I dont want to be buying it and then soon after having to replace a turbo or gearbox, is what I am asking.

4) When viewing cars any particular areas I need to check to spot signs of trouble, oil leaks, rust patches etc

5) From reading on forums I understand I should definitely get dynamic pack, what are the other mandatory options? There seems so much price difference between same year cars with same mileage by 2k to 3k. I am assuming this is due to the extra options. From what I can gauge these include:
Automatic Boot closing, Soft closing doors, Sun roof, roof rails, and foot rails, Xenons.
Rear Entertainment, Tv, Sat Nav, Rear parking sensors, Head up display.
Some list in adverts options include Air conditioning, cruise control, rain sensor --- surely these are standard on all X6 since its a premium car or is it not.

What options would other members recommend having as important.

6) I definitely want to get xenons, so if I buy a car with out xenons is it a case of changing bulbs to HID bulbs or changing the entire headlamps.

Sorry for being so long and thank you all in advance for helping me out. Dont want to get screwed like my last car Mini Cooper after buying finding out that I missed out on certain options and bought the wrong year Cooper with gearbox problems.

Thanks

Nav

Hi
You'll probably get a good answer from X5sport on this as. He has a 40d and know an awful lot about those models,

I know some later ones have the 5 seat option over the 4 seats,

The later LCI cars I think facelift ones have the 40d have 8 speed boxes and a bit more economical if you can use that phrase for 2.5 ton beast

I eould got for a later model and best spec as poss for you budget whatever the engine size/power

Graeme

The first question has got to be can you maintain it using local dealers?

The versions used in Africa are different and have different heating & cooling systems because of the climate difference.  I think it is bigger radiators/fans for the engine and gearbox oil cooling.  Worth checking with a BMW Dealer exactly what the differences are in case it becomes a deal breaker.

No one on the forum has reported anything other than routine service items, most of which will not be done until at least 60,000 miles.

35d is more powerful as it has the twin turbo, but otherwise is the same engine as all the other versions.  It is also rarer than the 30d so you may just have to be patient.  You will need to check what colours were available in your years of choice as not all were.  Black was, and Oyster leather was.

Yes air con, cruise control were standard.  Sat nav, HUD, roof/foot rails, TV, rear seat entertainment auto boot, soft close, TV, DAB, adaptive lights, memory seats, heated seats, Nappa leather, Bluetooth, USB connection, phone prep, climate control, radar cruise control etc were all cost options, though some got included on the 40d.

Adaptive suspension not available beyond the 35d, not even an option on the 40d for some unexplained reason.

Only 4-seat option up to 2011 (MY2012) on all models

X6's all come with Xenon headlights by default, but not adaptive.

Gearbox and running gear are the same as the E70 apart from the torque distribution rear axle fitted to the X6 and X5(M) only.

To give you an idea, I added £15k of options to mine to get it up to a standard I wanted.  That car would cost over £80k today - was £64k back then.

Media streaming is not available until the later CIC iDrive introduced in 2010.

Thanks Graeme and X5 Sports.

That's really good advice. I actually did not think about the climate difference. That is very true need to do more research in that department first.

In terms of maintaining it over there, should not be a problem we have a BMW dealership will just get it maintained there and I travel quite alot between UK and Africa so should be able to pick up parts here and take them back.

Problem there is shortage of used luxury cars in good condition, most are used Japanese SUV's imported from Japan with high mileage and no idea of its history.  Buying brand new is not even a close option as they would normally cost triple the price, what you would pay here in the UK.

That is fantastic news to hear that they are very reliable cars. I would love to get a 40d but I am just more worried about taxation. Thanks for listing the options now I can easily compare different cars with what each has.

Just confused about the xenons as you mentioned they come as standard but I have seen X6 on the roads and they have the halo's in the dull brown color. Is that part halogen and xenon? What I prefer is all white lights the circles and the main head beam. I am also planning once I have bought it to change the interior lights to white LED lighting, and removing the Fog panel to a Day light Running light panel like the 2014 models have that straight line instead of a circle fog light.

Once again thanks for shedding some light and alerting me to the climate conditions I will email BMW and see what they say regarding it. If its just a replacing intercoolers, oil change etc can just get that done in Tanzania to the African spec.

Halos were always halogen bulbs until the F16, so always yellow.

Headlights themselves were HID.  Note that the Angel eye halo source bulb is where the main beam is so that projector is a fake lamp.  Only the outer light is real, the other (inner) one is purely cosmetic.  Angel eyes also became DRLs from 2010 (MY2011) though you can turn them off for front and rear.  LED front option was never fitted to the E71 unless you had the full LED headlight option ((from MY2012 onwards).

Updating to full LED adaptive lights is seriously expensive!  It involved new light units, power supplies, control modules, loom, LCM, camera.  Last time I checked the retrofit kit was £6,000!!!

There is a retrofit kit to add Philips 'LED 'bar type' DRLs.  You can get the same kit much cheaper away from BMW.  The kit should be listed on Realoem for most BMWs before the LED Angel eyes appeared.

oh i get it now, that makes sense. Nope dont want to spend 6k on lights but due to your explanation been able to find a alternative called Lux Angel Eyes. I have emailed BMW regarding the climate conditions once I get a better understanding of that situation will pull the trigger, I cant wait now, exciting times always been a huge fan of the X6 actually prefer the older shape to the new one.