About to pull the trigger - 2004 6 Speed MT - High Miles

[tonycajjo]

About to pull the trigger - 2004 6 Speed MT - High Miles

Been looking for one and this one kinda fell in my lap. I've been wanting to get back into a e53 for some time. The roads around here in CT are not good for my e46.

The vehicle has 150K, its Black, grey interior. Drivers seat is worn, not torn just really worn.

has tint's but they are turning purple.

looks like a little oil leak at the pan. (the front jack mount was a little, shall i say, moist.

The front shock tower mounts were replaced not too long ago it seems, but shocks look original.

Looks like a lot of the Hoses have been replaced at one time. (not recently, but they are not from 2004)

the bushings looked OK but it's had to tell by looking. It drove well. A little shimmy at the wheel under hard braking once... I only felt it when i first applied the brakes hard. (may need tie rods)

Brakes are on their way out.

Shifted very well.
Tires are in decent shape but kinda cheap
Manual Air Con (odd, but i kinda liked it)
No sun roof.
Base Hi-Fi Audio S676A (best for upgrading i guess.)
BMW style 131 Rims (the 5 starts with the Y at the end)

Few dings on the drivers side, ugh.

lower front bumper was replaced and when put back not lined up correctly. (easy fix)


Nervous about the high miles, i know i can keep her going for much longer even if i have to swap an engine.

It felt a little slow. I'm coming from an 330Ci ZHP 6 speed so my butt dyno may be way off but it felt sluggish, like nobody has opened her up in awhile.

Thoughts? I'll post the vin decode in my next post.

They are asking over 8K which is high but how high?

[tonycajjo]

Vehicle information

VIN long 5UXFA13554LB09029

Type code FA13

Type X5 3.0I (USA)

Dev. series E53 ()

Line X

Body type GEFZG

Steering LL

Door count 5

Engine M54

Cubical capacity 3.00

Power 170

Transmision ALLR

Gearbox MECH

Colour SCHWARZ 2 (668)

Upholstery LEDER DAKOTA/GRAU-(WAR TITANGRAU) (LCTT)

Prod. date 2003-09-28




Order options
No. Description
1CA SELECTION COP RELEVANT VEHICLES

2LB LT/ALY WHEELS Y-SPOKE 131

226 SPORTS SUSPENSION SETTINGS

255 SPORTS LEATHER STEERING WHEEL

321 EXTERIOR PARTS IN BODY COLOR

330 SPORTS PACKAGE

386 ROOF RAIL

441 SMOKERS PACKAGE

442 CUPHOLDER

459 SEAT ADJUSTM., ELECTR. W. MEMORY

464 SKIBAG

481 SPORT SEATS F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER

494 SEAT HEATING F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER

502 HEADLIGHT WASHER SYSTEM

521 RAIN SENSOR

640 CAR TELEPHONE PREPARATION

650 CD PLAYER

676 HIFI LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM

775 INDIVIDUAL ROOF-LINING ANTHRACITE

785 WHITE DIRECTION INDICATOR LIGHTS

8SP COP CONTROL

926 SPARE WHEEL

945 CONSIDERATION OF PRICE DEPENDENCY




Series options
No. Description
249 MULTI-FUNCTION FOR STEERING WHEEL

302 ALARM SYSTEM

354 GREEN STRIPE WINDSCREEN

645 RADIO CONTROL US

661 RADIO BMW BUSINESS

692 CD CHANGER I-BUS PREPARATION

845 ACOUSTIC BELT WARNING

853 LANGUAGE VERSION ENGLISH

876 RADIO FREQUENCY 315 MHZ

992 NUMBER PLATE ATTACHEMENT MANAGEMENT

[Ricky Bobby]

Considering the issues and miles yes its high. I'd be looking at 8k for less miles and in substantially better shape. Sports Package is nice.

PDR and bumper alignment - $200-300
Brakes on 4 corners and flush - $500 if DIY
Thrust arms and most likely other front suspension parts, alignment - $400
Oil leak is most likely VCG or OFHG, hopefully not rear main - $150 for both
Seat reconditioning - $200
Tint removal and/or new tint - $250
Tires (how old) bushing a grand


Just off my rough estimates you probably could put about 2k into the truck easily once buying it. At 6k its a good buy, the M54 can take high miles no problem at all, but you will need to do some maintenance in order to keep it in tip top shape since its over 150k.

a 6MT, in black, with Sports Package is extremely rare at the end of the day, and as long as its not hammered, it could be a great DD

[tonycajjo]

thanks for the feedback.

i dont think it was the rear main, if it is i can get to it and maybe service the clutch while in there. but that's a job i would have someone do, i dont feel like taking off the trans.

either way, thanks, i'm a little more confident in my offer now.

i figured around 6 my self. i might come in a little lower but dont want to insult them.

but they have 4 bimmers, and definitely dont need this one.

[bcredliner]

Any maintenance records?

[stackz]

Its high because they know what they have...a manual x5 with baseline a/c and stereo. Stick = omfg I want. Base a/c works perfect and super easy to service. base stereo = go nuts on a budget yourself. 150k really isnt that bad but right where u need to do the maintenance. I bought mine at 138k and started knocking it out piece by piece and keeping warranty receipts and records bu I do this for all my cars.

Ive already been keeping an eye out for a spare engine or two in the upull yards and such. Kinda nice with the interchange once you get into the blocks and heads

[EH6TunerDaniel]

Wow, That seems like an awesome truck. I would trade my 02 with 120k for it straight up. I wouldn't be afraid of the miles at all since its a reliable engine and I know enough about them to keep it going. I say offer 6 and settle on 6500-7k.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by tonycajjo

About to pull the trigger - 2004 6 Speed MT - High Miles

Been looking for one and this one kinda fell in my lap. I've been wanting to get back into a e53 for some time. The roads around here in CT are not good for my e46.

The vehicle has 150K, its Black, grey interior. Drivers seat is worn, not torn just really worn.

has tint's but they are turning purple.

looks like a little oil leak at the pan. (the front jack mount was a little, shall i say, moist.

The front shock tower mounts were replaced not too long ago it seems, but shocks look original.

Looks like a lot of the Hoses have been replaced at one time. (not recently, but they are not from 2004)

the bushings looked OK but it's had to tell by looking. It drove well. A little shimmy at the wheel under hard braking once... I only felt it when i first applied the brakes hard. (may need tie rods)

Brakes are on their way out.

Shifted very well.
Tires are in decent shape but kinda cheap
Manual Air Con (odd, but i kinda liked it)
No sun roof.
Base Hi-Fi Audio S676A (best for upgrading i guess.)
BMW style 131 Rims (the 5 starts with the Y at the end)

Few dings on the drivers side, ugh.

lower front bumper was replaced and when put back not lined up correctly. (easy fix)


Nervous about the high miles, i know i can keep her going for much longer even if i have to swap an engine.

It felt a little slow. I'm coming from an 330Ci ZHP 6 speed so my butt dyno may be way off but it felt sluggish, like nobody has opened her up in awhile.

Thoughts? I'll post the vin decode in my next post.

They are asking over 8K which is high but how high?

Never saw a US Spec X without a sunroof. Does the X have roof rail? If not it might be an import since US spec X came with roof rails. I have the manual AC in my X along with a manual passenger seat which has been replaced with an electric control seat with heat (wife like her bums warmed in the winter time).

[bmwman528e]

$7,000 seems more than fair if they agree to it. Hard to get into a 6 speed for less than $10,000.

[Joshdub]

Mine had the same miles. Really 150k doesn't even make the m54 sweat. Plus you don't need to worry about manual transmission problems.