Quote:
Originally Posted by SammyD
Thanks Ricky Bobby, I'm definitely digging your Topaz Blue X5 as well!
2003 BMW X5
White on Black
5-speed
Sport / Premium / Cold Weather Package
PDC
76K miles
I had been looking for a while for this combo (almost gave up) and came across one in Oregon about a month ago while travelling (total coincidence and thought it was meant to be...didn't care if I had to ship it across the country). I inspected it in person while there and it definitely needed some TLC (160K miles). Unfortunately, the owner was very difficult to work with and did not have the title in hand so I respectfully walked away.
I was really disappointed but a few weeks later I found the one I purchased in pristine condition in your neck of the woods (New Jersey). The previous owner meticulously maintained it and was great to deal with (best automobile transaction I've ever experienced). So, I sent a deposit, had BMW inspect it (found a few things..mostly maintenance), settled on price and booked a one way train ticket with my wife to pick it up and drive it home. The rest is history 
Happy to be here to learn and contribute! |
Wow Sammy that is a great story, where in Jersey did you end up? That would be funny if you bought it in my backyard lol! The options are perfect too, you are going to LOVE the truck, the sports package makes such a difference. Looks like the only thing on mine that is different compared to yours is I have the 4 corner air suspension, which is a blessing and a curse in a way since I had to spend about 1500 bucks to get it working after I bought my X!
I would have loved white but as you know these 3-pedal X5's are hard to come by and you don't have much choice when you find one! In the end I'm extremely happy with Topaz Blue, I spent about 8-9 months looking for mine, along the way I was either finding manual trans X's with very high miles, or they would be in non-desirable to me colors like silver, beige, gray, etc. When I found my X in Yonkers and it had the options I wanted and low miles, and was a color that wasn't run of the mill, I knew it was "the one for me"
You have low miles which is great, there are very few of us who have low miles on these vehicles, mine currently just turned 68k miles (I don't drive it that much, my wifes car gets written off for business so we tend to take hers all over since we write off gas, etc) and I'm impressed yours is low mileage too!
What did the BMW inspection say it needed? I'd say if the brakes look good I would literally just change fluids and drive it until you need to fix something.
Flush brakes, clutch, coolant, change front and rear diff fluids and transfer case, change transmission fluid, drain and refill power steering fluid, give a nice synthetic oil change and you'll have a nice base for years to come! The only thing is that even though you have low miles anything rubber like the bushings in the suspension will tend to have worn and dried out from age, so you may need to do some suspension work.
I recently replaced thrust arms, ball joints, control arms, front sway bushings, rear sway bar bushings and end links, and am preparing to do outer CV boots (preventatively since I will have components apart) and my front wheel bearings, previous owner lived in Yonkers which I think took a toll on my suspension. After that I'll have basically a new front end suspension.