Buying a high mileage X5

[vanboosh]

Hi,
I'm thinking about buying an X5 and was hoping to get a couple questions answered first. I've read the buyers guide and done a search and looked around some forums, but there isn't much about high milers around that I could find.
My budget will only allow for quite a high mileage car. I'm after a diesel and looking around my price range, they have around 120k-150k miles on them. How well do they stay together at higher miles?
Are they difficult to work on? I'm used to doing all my own servicing and repair work.
I had a '98 4ltr Range Rover I sold due to cost of running. Should I be worried about the same with an X5? Bearing in mind, Range Rovers are ridiculously unreliable and the engine I had did on average 12mpg.
Thanks!

[AW8]

[quote=""vanboosh""]How well do they stay together at higher miles?[/quote]

Same if not better than most decent cars in terms of trim & body. The buyers guide does make reference to thinks to look out for & typically many of the potential failure items mentioned will relate to cars with higher mileages. Bushes, Discs etc are mentioned. You cant expect an X5 to be immune from needing maintenance & repair at that mileage. Rear subframe bushes can let go from 75k & thrust wishbone bushes can say goodye at 60k. Discs might need changing every 30k of maybe 60k up to 60k on BMW items. The battery wont last forever but you should also expect the turbo on a 3.0d to need or have prior needed some attention, work ore replacement by 150k if not sooner & depending on how thew car has ben used & maintained. GM Auto box on the prefacelift not as sturdy as the facelift ZF unit & some have speculated that aggressive remps on prefacelifts don't help box durability on the prefacelift auto 3.0d albeit no verified evidence of this. Other issues can arise & you should seriously considr costs of exhasust, alternator or steering rack. Window regulators can fail my 4.4i with 102k miles has had two. Outer front CV boots can fail & you can expect joints to follow if these gaitors aren't replaced asap after failure. Air suspension issues aren't unheard of & electronic niggles with radio & communications pack kit can sometimes arise. Make sure you price tyres pads & discs too albeit you can sensibly swap all pads/discs on d.i.y. basis for for around £200 an with some cunning shopping.......expect a dealer to want for up to approaching a grand for discs/pads all around fitted


[quote=""vanboosh""]Are they difficult to work on? I'm used to doing all my own servicing and repair work. [/quote]

Depends what your skill experience is if you say you have done all own repairs then you should be okay I guess. I think most cars are a P.I.T.A to work on & just as on a range Rover some more complicated jobs need special tools, time , patience & a ability. if you look at posts by a member called x555 you will see he has managed to do a lot of jobs on his car that others would perhaps shy from.

[quote=""vanboosh""] I had a '98 4ltr Range Rover I sold due to cost of running. Should I be worried about the same with an X5? [/quote]

Yes, potentially you could spend a fair amount of time keeping a 150k, (& onward in your hands), miler X5 3.0d healthy but I would expect it to be less costly than running a high miler petrol P38. Bad scenarios would involve turbo or box failure (£2k rebuild or used replacement for the later).

Despite all this someone could by an 80k mile car that needs lots of work. The reality is that most older higher mileage prestige cars are cheaper than new for good reason - the prices in part reflect the likelihood of higher running costs than say a brand new X5 with dealer warranty.

If agenda is to have a cheap to run & reliable sizeable 4x4 reliability then maybe consider other alternatives too.

[vanboosh]

Thanks for getting back to me, that was really useful info!

I'm fairly handy with a spanner, so don't mind taking on most jobs. Even a turbo replacement isn't something I'm worried about doing. Its just the few major things that worry me slightly, i.e. gear box. I would prefer an auto, but maybe a manual is the way to go, although looking at the guide, they're a bit harder to get a hold of.

I suppose everything that needs doing at 75k, would probably need doing again a 120k, so double check those items when it comes to buying. I might continue to save for another 6 months, get a slightly lower mileage one and buy closer to Christmas when cars are cheaper.

Again, thank you for the info, and hopefully I'll be a 'full time' member of the forum soon!

[paulbryson75]

I bought mine with 120k on the clock 2 years ago.
Just past 141k last week - only issue since i've had it has been a broken handbrake and a broken rear tailgate switch. Have replaced a couple of wear and tear items and a new battery pre MOT but nothing expensive. Absolutely spot on. Already had the new gearbox fitted when i bought it.
Took out a warranty with AA just in case!
Don't even compare with the old rangie - been there......

[AW8]

Cold spell last winter may mean end of year prices might not drop asmuch as you might hope. Some seemingly good deals on early cars presently -real bargains on petrols.

[jamesturner]

Hi,

I own an 05 plated 3.0d which I bought with 102k on the clock from Big Motoring World. I have had it 2 years and added 20k. So far I have had to have the following done :-

Oil Service
New Air Filter
New Brake shoes for hand brake
New Windscreen Wiper arm (People keep slamming boot down)
1 Puncture Repair
2 Years Tax
2 Mots
20000 miles worth of Diesel.

Make your own opinions on what you expect. I have mine.

Regards Jt

[Giblets]

As above, bought my 53 plate facelift 3.0d Sport on 97k and put a quick 6k on it already.

Needed to regas the air con, replace the battery and the CV joints were split.

A bit early to call it, but the car feels tight, solid and built to last.

34mpg not to be sniffed at either!

[Turks]

[quote=""jamesturner""]Hi,

I own an 05 plated 3.0d which I bought with 102k on the clock from Big Motoring World. I have had it 2 years and added 20k. So far I have had to have the following done :-

Oil Service
New Air Filter
New Brake shoes for hand brake
New Windscreen Wiper arm (People keep slamming boot down)
1 Puncture Repair
2 Years Tax
2 Mots
20000 miles worth of Diesel.

Make your own opinions on what you expect. I have mine.

Regards Jt[/quote]

Never heard anything good about Big Motoring World...

You must have been lucky with this one. Hope the trouble free motoring continues!


Turks.

[Denis O]

I think Big Motoring World become a pain if you have a problem with your purchase and they are asked to help. Their margins are small (look at their selling prices) and don't allow any space for sorting out problems.

Having been there a few times over the years I would say their stock is quite poorly prepared, 1/2 flat tyres, bits of trim hanging off.

As for costs of a 3.0D vis a Range Rover you will save fortunes in fuel certainly. We have one of each; RR on 75k miles and X5 on 112k miles. The X5 is significantly cheaper.