Hi everyone,

I'm Steve and I find myself in a unique position. I am shopping for a car and have recently found the process of buying a car in 2022 to be... appalling. So, I have decided to forgo purchasing a brand new car or a slightly used one that cost as much as a new one and look for something I can buy with cash. While there are a few Toyotas and Hondas out there that will be reliable, I find myself drawn to the luxury and style of the E53 X5.

So my question to the forum is, is it crazy to buy a 18 year old BMW for a daily driver and road trip car? I have found a couple candidates in my area with roughly 100,000 miles. They are all facelift models with the M54 inline 6-cylinder. This car will mainly be a commuter, but occasionally tow my utility trailer on runs to the hardware store for the house and road trips that will range from 600 - 2000 miles round trip.

I fully expect to do the following things after purchaser to hopefully ensure reasonable reliability. This is a car that I'd like to drive for the next 2 - 3 years and probably put sixty to eighty thousand miles on.

In summary, is it worth it to daily an E53 and will it be reasonably reliable?

List of work I plan to do after purchasing the X5
- Oil Change (x2 within 500 miles) to flush the engine
- Transfer case fluid service
- Diff fluid service (front and rear)
- Engine tune-up (plugs and coils)
- PCV valve and hose replacement
- Alternator
- Brake flush
- Belts and tensioners
- Entire cooling system replacement
- Transfer case repair (plastic gear)
- Wipers, bulbs, other miscellaneous items
- Inspect brakes (replace if needed)
- Inspect CV axles (replace if needed)

Thanks for your help!