That's pretty lucky. Good for you.

I guess my experience with a $1500 purchase of a "needs engine work" X5 should fall into the "your life is a warning to others" category. I think I am the 4th owner. Bought it with 127k miles or so.

I bought a 2001 X5 4.4i knowing that it needed engine work (engine had been pulled). The timing guides were _really_ worn, but nothing was broken. I rebuilt the engine then started trying to get it back together. The rebuild was fun and what I was expecting. I replaced all the hoses, cooling parts, wear parts, etc. and completely solved head gasket leaks and main seal leak in the process. The entire vacuum and CCV system was occluded by sludge. Yuck!

Discovered these thrills along the way:
1) Every drive axle had at least one torn CV boot (made me learn how to reboot a CV axle!).
2) DSC module was bad and the "trifecta" lights had been pried off the instrument cluster. Made me wonder how many previous owners ago that had occurred (there was no need to do that to sell a car with the engine out...).
3) Needed usual cluster pixel repair
4) radiator had been punctured by the monkey(s) who removed engine. Same monkey(s) also broke the secondary air pump, auxiliary water pump and crimped the engine wiring harness.
5) At least one ball joint/connecting rod/etc on each corner of the car failed inspection for a torn boot.
6) A bad rear air spring was causing a slow list overnight.

I am not complaining about this. Well, ok, I will bitch about the $%#$! who pried the dsc&brake warning lights off the instrument cluster. By the time it is done, I have a 2001 X5 4.4i Sport w/leather, a rebuilt engine that doesn't leak or ooze, all new rubber, all new suspension and the pleasure of knowing how to replace just about everything on it!

__________________
David.X5
2001 X5 4.4i Sport
SOLD! at 160k miles