Possible 4.8is Purchase... Help & Info Request

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Joshdub

Sounds like you re pretty much committed now!

Sure am. I am trying to remain calm... and not get too excited until I see and touch the vehicle. But man does it ever look good in pictures.

Originally Posted by Ven

Congrats, how much was dealer processing fee, like 499 something?

Thanks! Not sure yet, waiting for the dealer to email/Fed Ex purchase agreement. There shouldn't bee a doc fee (or should be minimal) since they won't have to deal with Cali's DMV.

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Yeah you are going to have to pull the trigger on this one sight unseen if you want to get it. Your obviously starting with what appears to be well maintained unit. These 4.6is and 4.8is are rare. Id say go for it. Even if you were to put a deposit down on the vehicle some of these dealers will sell the unit outright to another that walks into the door.

Yep, that's what I thought too. From the pics and talking to the sales guy... it seems well maintained and cared for. He said they smogged it so I think that means the valve stem seals, vanos, and valvetronic are in good shape. Hard to pass Cali's smog with any of those failing.

Fingers crossed for me guys... feels so weird buying a vehicle sight unseen, and it's not a feeling I relish. The excitement for this particular vehicle is there but being overshadowed by the "butthole puckering" which won't end until it makes the 1000 mile journey back home and is sitting in my garage fault free. *nailbiting*

Originally Posted by jopecasa

Nice Imola!

I had almost the same situation, wanted the car so badly and couldn't sleep......kept tossing and turning at night.

I finally bit the bullet and transferred funds.

A day later she was there in "living glory".....my heart and mind went crazy.

Moral of the story.....you just have to take the risk and have to trust people!

Cheers!

Gotta risk it to get the biscuit! Yeah, I'll have quite a drive to get to know her in all her glory. I don't know if I would trust a shipping company to get it to me since I would not have been able to see the condition it was picked up in personally. They could say any damage was there already and that I had no claim since I hadn't ever seen it in person.

[Ven]

Glad it went to an enthusiast and on the Forum! Good luck with next steps

We'd love to see pictures once its in your possession and can't wait to see what you do add to it.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Sure am. I am trying to remain calm... and not get too excited until I see and touch the vehicle. But man does it ever look good in pictures.



Thanks! Not sure yet, waiting for the dealer to email/Fed Ex purchase agreement. There shouldn't bee a doc fee (or should be minimal) since they won't have to deal with Cali's DMV.



Yep, that's what I thought too. From the pics and talking to the sales guy... it seems well maintained and cared for. He said they smogged it so I think that means the valve stem seals, vanos, and valvetronic are in good shape. Hard to pass Cali's smog with any of those failing.

Fingers crossed for me guys... feels so weird buying a vehicle sight unseen, and it's not a feeling I relish. The excitement for this particular vehicle is there but being overshadowed by the "butthole puckering" which won't end until it makes the 1000 mile journey back home and is sitting in my garage fault free. *nailbiting*

Okay dont take this the wrong way but you should prepare yourself that there may need to be a few things done on this vehicle even though it looks great on the surface. We all know that these engines leak oil on the front (valve covers, front timing cover, power steering hoses etc), thrust arm bushings go quite frequently, axle boots up front rip. All of these things are not a problem for someone like you that has had a number of BMWs and an E53 X5 already. I would also recommend that you ship the vehicle back to you. Reason being that if you have a coolant leak or faulty thermostat it could leave you hanging on a 1k drive back to TX. I have purchased BMWs from florida and Georgia and in each case I wanted to fly in and drive it back but to be safe I transported them back. Nonetheless I think you have found a great X5 to own.Can't wait for the stories to hear on your new X5.

[edogg]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Okay dont take this the wrong way but you should prepare yourself that there may need to be a few things done on this vehicle even though it looks great on the surface. We all know that these engines leak oil on the front (valve covers, front timing cover, power steering hoses etc), thrust arm bushings go quite frequently, axle boots up front rip. All of these things are not a problem for someone like you that has had a number of BMWs and an E53 X5 already. I would also recommend that you ship the vehicle back to you. Reason being that if you have a coolant leak or faulty thermostat it could leave you hanging on a 1k drive back to TX. I have purchased BMWs from florida and Georgia and in each case I wanted to fly in and drive it back but to be safe I transported them back. Nonetheless I think you have found a great X5 to own.Can't wait for the stories to hear on your new X5.

This is good advice here. Though, shipping the car will likely be a couple thousand bucks. I looked into having one shipped from Idaho to Seattle, in doing the math with the dealer, fuel costs alone would have been about $500.

You've found a gorgeous car! And I bet it's going to be fun to drive! Did it have a clean Carfax and AutoCheck too?

[525iT_Feen]

I bought mine sight unseen and drove it 1500 miles before getting back to Boston. It had some surprises but none that made me regret the decision.

Good luck and welcome to the club (hopefully)

[X5only]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

<snip>

Yep, that's what I thought too. From the pics and talking to the sales guy... it seems well maintained and cared for. He said they smogged it so I think that means the valve stem seals, vanos, and valvetronic are in good shape. Hard to pass Cali's smog with any of those failing.

<snip>

Verify the above before committing. Leave the car idling for an extended period (20+ minutes). If it smokes when you rev hard, you may want to reconsider. Can this not be verified somehow before you travel?

[PropellerHead]

Hawt Imola...

How hawt? I can count the number of times I have noticed an Imola E53 on the *other* side of the interstate.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Okay dont take this the wrong way but you should prepare yourself that there may need to be a few things done on this vehicle even though it looks great on the surface. We all know that these engines leak oil on the front (valve covers, front timing cover, power steering hoses etc), thrust arm bushings go quite frequently, axle boots up front rip. All of these things are not a problem for someone like you that has had a number of BMWs and an E53 X5 already. I would also recommend that you ship the vehicle back to you. Reason being that if you have a coolant leak or faulty thermostat it could leave you hanging on a 1k drive back to TX. I have purchased BMWs from florida and Georgia and in each case I wanted to fly in and drive it back but to be safe I transported them back. Nonetheless I think you have found a great X5 to own.Can't wait for the stories to hear on your new X5.

I agree with all what you said... lol. The only time I feel 99% comfortable is when purchasing from an enthusiast with full service/maintenance history. I am sure it will need something... there is a reason it was traded in after all I'm sure. I'm leaning towards the $$$ quote the PO got for upper timing covers, valve covers, and maybe lowers. I can deal with that.

Still going to risk it for the "experience" of it. Going to fly a buddy there with me and we'll drive it back together. We've done this before with a New York trip, and other than being in an M52 swapped e30 with no heat in winter... it wasn't too bad. Oh, and we won't drink NEARLY as much before flying this time. LOL. That was a hilarious evening...

Originally Posted by edogg

You've found a gorgeous car! And I bet it's going to be fun to drive! Did it have a clean Carfax and AutoCheck too?

Yep, both came up clean. Not that they catch everything... but I'd rather have it than not.

Originally Posted by 525iT_Feen

I bought mine sight unseen and drove it 1500 miles before getting back to Boston. It had some surprises but none that made me regret the decision.

Good luck and welcome to the club (hopefully)

Thanks! Hoping our experience is as "uneventful" as yours was. Should be a fun, if not sobering one. LOL

Originally Posted by X5only

Verify the above before committing. Leave the car idling for an extended period (20+ minutes). If it smokes when you rev hard, you may want to reconsider. Can this not be verified somehow before you travel?

Well, considering mine has needed VSS since I bought it... I'm not overly concerned with that. As long as it isn't smoking off of stop lights, I'm fine with that. Takes mine 15 minutes or longer and now using 20w50 it takes a really long time before smoking. Will take a few quarts of oil on the journey with us though... and check level frequently.

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

Hawt Imola...

How hawt? I can count the number of times I have noticed an Imola E53 on the *other* side of the interstate.

My feelings exactly... whether on a 4.8 or M3... I always notice it. I'm sure cops do too. I don't speed though (anymore) so I'm not worried about that. I've given away enough money to our local municipality in my younger days.

[crystalworks]

Update: Vehicle is mine... purchase agreement has been FedEx'd and will be here tomorrow.

I'm not going to lie... excitement is slowly creeping in. *rubs hands in anticipation*

Flights are being booked for Monday of next week. 1700 mile trip home... will be taking the DSLR with us and documenting the entire trip from taking delivery to putting her in the garage.

Thanks everyone for their words of encouragement, wisdom, and of course caution. It's all appreciated. This vehicle will be mine... probably forever now, even if it needs a heart transplant. Especially if it is an actual Dinan S2 X5, if there was such a thing.

[blackbeast]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Update: Vehicle is mine... purchase agreement has been FedEx'd and will be here tomorrow.

I'm not going to lie... excitement is slowly creeping in. *rubs hands in anticipation*

Flights are being booked for Monday of next week. 1700 mile trip home... will be taking the DSLR with us and documenting the entire trip from taking delivery to putting her in the garage.

Thanks everyone for their words of encouragement, wisdom, and of course caution. It's all appreciated. This vehicle will be mine... probably forever now, even if it needs a heart transplant. Especially if it is an actual Dinan S2 X5, if there was such a thing.

Congratulations