Quote:
Originally Posted by crystalworks
Then you were well on your way to owning a great example of an E53. All of those problems were because the owner before you did not care about the X5 and passed the expense on to the next owner. Pretty standard used BMW story. All of the repairs you listed above can be performed for less than $2000 doing the work yourself.
Don't blame the truck for being neglected. BMW's need regular maintenance beyond an oil change every 6500 miles. They need full suspension every 100k-120k. Full cooling system every 100k-130k. Plugs and coils every 100k-150k. Trans flush every 60k (despite what BMW says). DISA valve every 100k-120k. Oil seals (valve covers, timing, OFHG, etc) every 100k. Plus other known foibles like window issues, door handles, etc. All of the above can be done as preventative stuff... I don't usually wait for something to break. People ride in my X5 who don't know BMW's think it is a MUCH newer vehicle than it is.
^Yes, that makes them high maintenance. They are also more fun to drive than a Honda, Toyota, or almost anything in the same price brackets. I do not make excuses for them, they are high maintenance chicks, but if someone doesn't educate themselves to that fact before a purchase... I don't blame the vehicle, I blame the buyer.
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Amen crystalworks!
Early BMW owners seem to love the BMW ride and prestige and sadly, some of these early owners are unwilling or unable to give them the maintenance that they require when approaching the 100K mile mark.
Many of these E53s are well into 100K mile territory now and if they had one of the unwilling or unable early owners, the new owners will either have to Cowboy Up or run the thing into the ground with more unwilling/unable maintenance.
Like you, people get into my E53 and also ask what year it is. It has an excellent exterior and interior and everything works and rides as designed.
Yes, I have a maintenance log book for all my vehicles and since 2014 (at ~78K miles) I have logged quite a few maintenance items for my E53: including full front and rear suspension makeovers, sound system upgrade, brakes & rotors, driveline fluids flush, trans fluid flush, brake fluid flush, SS brake lines, AGM Battery, new airbags and strut/shocks all around, every belt and pulley and idler and water pump/T-stat and water hose in the engine as well as a seized alternator replacement and blower motor "hedge-hog" resistor and driver seat module.
For me, a vehicle this luxurious and agile with no monthly payment will give me years of trouble free/low maintenance cost service, being just at 100K miles now.
Blame the prior owners for poorly caring for these machines, not the machine designers and engineers.
Mike