Just wanted to add my own experiences with Bimmer Motors and Bay Diagnostic: BOTH THIEVES!!! Big time.

Specifically, Bimmer Motors located my 5er for me, sourced from an auction, and only AFTER I had the financing secured, jacked their commission by $500!!!!!!! I had no choice, but to pay it, and I've managed to get them to do some work for me for free for it. But this was a TERRIBLE move! Second time I was there was for a cracked wheel - overpaid ($175) and received the wheel back. When I looked at the weld - it was awful. As bad a job as could be - I'm amazed they were able to balance it!

Bay Diagnostic - similar story. Quoted me a number, that turned out to be $300 more than what was originally agreed upon. This came out at the time when the work was already done, so there was no recourse. Also, I know a guy from 5series.net, who had his clutch and flywheel replaced there for twice the money it should have cost. Oh and they also quoted me 400 bucks for a throttle body replacement job PLUS the part! What are you nuts?! On N52 throttle body is a couple of torx screws away!!!!!!! Total scum!

Both these shops claim to use BMW-specific equipment and original parts, but trust me NOBODY uses original parts, unless you bring in the parts yourself and WATCH them put the parts on, or go to a dealership. There is an indie shop on Queens Blvd, near where Rayco/Big Boys Toys tint install place is/used to be - I believe it is called Emigrant (possibly Immigrant - and possibly with one or two M's - don't remember). The guy who runs it, Michael, is a stand up guy and will do an honest job. You may have to get BMW parts yourself, but at least last time I saw Michael, he had an X5 4.8i himself, so he knows the cars and is a fellow BMW-head.

Since I had moved from Queens to Brooklyn, I use a local indie here, but I buy my own parts (online with discounts and from the dealership, also with discounts - my buddy owns a body shop, so he lets me use his account). I've now saved probably in the neighborhood of 10-12 grand on mods and repairs, over the course of the ~3 years of my BMW ownership. I'm a newB to X5 scene, but feel free to PM me with any questions - if I know the answers, I'll be more than happy to help out!