You can't count on any answer to be what you will experience. The best takeaways are the suggestions how to minimize the risk prior to purchase----PPI, Maintenance history, clean Carfax, buy as low mileage as you can find, be much more picky if you can't DIY, don't get emotionally involved in the purchase, search out low mileage southern vehicle as risk of higher cost repairs goes up quite a bit after 100,000 miles, look for an X5 that shows that owner valued the vehicle more than just as transportation, one or two owners---go overboard on due diligence. Regardless of how great the find have an annual budget for repairs.These are old vehicles in the stage of their lives where they are more prone to get sick. IMO I will wear out before long before my 4.6 does.

I think the most important point made is that forums are scary if you inhale all the negatives and expected to hear anything remotely close to a balance of positives.

I am one of those that has had a great experience with a 4.6 I bought new. I have 118,000 miles racked up and it looks and drives like new. I am a very happy owner.

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X5 4.6 2002 Black Sap, Black interior. 2013 X5M Melbourne Red, Bamboo interior
Dallas