XSeries-forum

All
New to the forum.
Currently drive an x1 but fancy getting an x5 4.4 face lift.
Would like some advice
Cheers
Dave

Hello and

No doubt some of the V8 owners will be along to help.

Are you looking at E53 or E70?

Hi
I’m looking for an E53 version.
I did read the buyers guide.
Not many around
I could get a diesel but I’m only doing short trips and I don’t want the worry of all the egr,dpf stuff.
I guess the v8 has its own problems
Dave

Hello and welcome.

I had a pre-facelift 4.4 for some years and loved the motor....mostly. it's a troublesome beastie as the miles increase and can be very expensive to fix ime when things fail... Well its a BMW so big pockets needed.

They're susceptible to oil leaks, especially with miles on them. Cam cover gaskets were done three times (one under parts warranty) on mine and the timing chain cover once. Significant hundreds of pounds every time. The radiator on mine popped as well. Rear suspension bushes are another well known fail with, age/miles, iirc circa £1k at a main dealer. Alternator failure is a biggy too, its water cooled and over £1k from memory.

It's a great engine and still in use currently albeit twin turbos added. But be under no illusions, it will bite you if you have one any length of time and it will hurt your wallet.

I would not buy a high miler.



I noticed this example on eBay yesterday 323850689450 i don't know that its a true "Individual" model though

Hi and welcome, the E53 Diesel has more torque than the petrol 4.4 (500 nm )
The E53 Diesel was never fitted with a DPF, that came with the E70
As mentioned the petrol V8's come with wallet busting problems
I still see loads of E53s on sales pitches, but Beware most are unloved DOGs
I had a 55 plate E53 d Sport facelift car and didn't have any problems, but it was a sub100k car with a faultless maintenance record, it was 9'years ago though
Bought an E83 X3 2009 a couple of years ago and that was a disaster.
The E53 is at least 13 years old at best now, so low mileage good ones are few and far between

Hi all
Always loved v8s, I have a v8 90 auto and I didn’t know the e53 didn’t have a dpf.
There are a lot more diesels than v8s for sale. I would like a less than 90k miles car.
But only have. £4.5k budget .
Big ask I know.
Heart says v8, brain says diesel
Best car wins.
Keep an eye out for me
Cheers
Dave

If you're looking at that mileage level i fear you are going to get burnt, i sold mine at just under 90k and the list of issues above arent even a full summary, there was more! Of course you could get lucky like the guy who bought mine.

I love the V8 motor in pretty much any guise or from any maker, it seems to me though that BMWs of that era anyway, weren't as good as they could and should have been.