New (2nd hand) car time

[davrostavros]

Im about to hand back my current car that was on a PCP and am finding myself looking at BMWs again.

I dont have a huge budget but I have seen plenty of cars in my price range.  I was looking at 5 series as Im needing a car that is big enough for a growing family (SWMBO and three kids).  I have been looking at E39s, particularly the 530 but saw a couple of E60s coming in and then up popped a couple of X5s and a couple of X3s when I upped the money.

Now as little as possible is the answer on how much do I want to spend but can push it a bit for the right car.  The main thing is getting rid of the £150 monthly payment.

I think the running costs of an X5 in my price bracket are enormous and looking at very high miles.  The X3 is an interesting proposition.  Saw one at £3500, a little more than I wanted to spend but fairly low miles and I think it would do the job. 

So, looking for some advice on whether or not to scratch the X3 itch and spend a bit more or perhaps stay looking at the 5 series'.

Thanks and I look forward to the discussion

[Horizon]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
If it was my money I would go with an E60 5 series. Having owned both, an E60 5 series and now my present one is an E83 X3 3.0d.
I like the X3, it has better internal space than the 5 series, also a good driving position, handles well, great grip, pulls my caravan very well.
But for your budget I would avoid one like the plague. Too many out there have been run on a shoestring, incorrect tyres which risk transferbox failires, 2.0d's eat turbos, etc etc.
If you get a well cared for 3.0d, they are a good car, but most need money spending on them at that price range.
I had a 04 plate e60 3.0i which was an Ex BMW staff car, fully loaded with comfort seats, satnav etc, it was a good car to drive  but a tad thirsty, so look for a 530 d, my mates got a 2007 520. D  it had the turbo seals go and it ran on its own oil and revved itself to death at the side of the motorway ( runaway they call it )

Good luck with the search


I've also owned an E53 X5 3.0 D, but with your budget, again they may need money throwing at them

[graemeX5]

Hi
As horizon said you could end up with a car that could cost you later with that sort of budget especially if an X5, but you can be lucky and find a nice X5 or X3 but do check it carefully there is a very good X5 buyers guide in the E53 section and I think the are some very good posts in the X3 section which are worth reading as well.

However, personally with that sort of budget I would be tempted to look at a 3 or 5 series estate petrol or diesel depending on the mileage you are doing as you would get a better car for the money.

The reason is a good X5 is great, a bad one can be a money pit as a couple of forum member have found out which was a painful experience.

Graeme

[CondorX5]

I agree with Graeme, for your budget it is going to be a real gamble as to whether you get a decent X5 or a complete shed. The E53's , even the youngest of them, are pushing 12-13 years old, the early prefacelifts are 16 years old already.  Cars of that age (and I own a few aged ones!) really start to cost heavily in terms of random electrical and electronic failures. Maintenance costs are still the same as for £50k cars, which they were when new - many have been run by multiple owners wanting the prestige badge but no interest in spending on servicing and maintenance. 
Be very very careful on such a low budget -you could get lucky but decent E53s are getting more and more difficult to find. Lots of trash out there of course.  At that budget and older E60 might be a better bet, even if its a pterol one, that engine was pretty bombproof and the E60 withstood abuse better than the E53 X5 or the E 83 X3. 

GOod luck with your search.........

[Huxsta]

Well here's my 2p's worth. I own a 530d e39 m sport on an 03 plate. I bought my wife 2yrs ago an e83 x3 2.0d  m sport on an 07 plate as she said she wanted one having had a bloody good galaxy at the time. I sold that just over a year ago as it was just too small for us, with 2 kids aged at the time 13&10. I traded the x3 for an e70 4.0d x5. My wife was sceptical at first as she liked the x3 but understood when we wanted a nice day out with a picnic etc, it didn't accommodate the family like our old galaxy did. The newer x5 is .......wow, huge boot & luxury refinements and that's about 18months later. Don't get me wrong it's a lovely car but costs to run. 4 new star marked  tyres, that's upwards of £900 sir...... mpg.....the previous weeks driving  average today was reading 26.6 mpg when I got in it earlier.
So that brings me back to my very own e39.  I've owned it now about 8 years, it never misses a beat and 4 new tyres ......£320 even them being 265/35/18 and 235/40/18 staggered to fit the m sport rims. 3.0d on a run returns above 44mpg  with wife and kids on board. You show me any car 14yrs old and weighing in around 1800kg that comes close with a huge boot and certainly  bigger than the x3 has.
However good e39's will be hard to find (no plans on mine going anywhere soon!!) early e60's would fit your criteria and budget I feel more so than an X model!