To fix or not to fix

[adhesivo]

So my car is 10 years old, 90K miles. I thought it was in pretty good condition (no rust, no crashes, car feels powerful).
Today I took it for a full inspection at a good independent BMWshop. It turns out it needs new control arm bushings, inner boots, radiator hoses and most important, it's leaking oil from the valve cover gaskets.
If I add up all the repairs the joke turns out $4K. Then put new tires in the car, sparkplugs and oil and we are at $5K to keep the car running. Which is a lot of money for a car that is not worth a lot anymore. So I could:
- let it stay (not safe but cheap until it dies)
- fix it (expensive and we haven't even really touched the engine -valve stem seals?- or transmission)
- sell it (get rid of it and get a "better" X5)

What would you guys do?

[Kristophe]

You could DIY everything but the new tires for around $600

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by adhesivo

So my car is 10 years old, 90K miles. I thought it was in pretty good condition (no rust, no crashes, car feels powerful).
Today I took it for a full inspection at a good independent BMWshop. It turns out it needs new control arm bushings, inner boots, radiator hoses and most important, it's leaking oil from the valve cover gaskets.
If I add up all the repairs the joke turns out $4K. Then put new tires in the car, sparkplugs and oil and we are at $5K to keep the car running. Which is a lot of money for a car that is not worth a lot anymore. So I could:
- let it stay (not safe but cheap until it dies)
- fix it (expensive and we haven't even really touched the engine -valve stem seals?- or transmission)
- sell it (get rid of it and get a "better" X5)

What would you guys do?

Its been good to you. Fix it and ride on. A newer vehicle will require more cash outlay.

[adhesivo]

$600 plus a garage lift you mean? ;D
I'd probably be able to replace the boots and radiator hoses myself, but the gaskets... too much for me.

Another option: find a cheaper shop in LA area...

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by adhesivo

Which is a lot of money for a car that is not worth a lot anymore.

What would you guys do?

I would consider the question as not the current value of the car versus what it costs to maintain it. The question is the cost of its replacement and the costs to maintain it.

I did something very similar in 'upgrading' to a 2004 4.8is from my 2004 3.0. After I sold my 100k 3.0, I spent another $15k on a 12k mile 4.8is. It would have cost me about that much for a roots style supercharger and all of the bits I'd need to call it done 'well'. $15k for 130 factory HP, loads of torque, and a nearly brand new car isn't bad.

As for the maintenance, I probably would have spent as much keeping up the march to 160k miles with my 3.0 as I have obsessively maintaining the V8 to its current ~73k miles. Maybe more? $15k more? Not likely. The cost difference for me was all about mileage and power.

But for you, the difference is a high repair bill for the devil you know versus the price and maintenance of the devil you do not yet know. It's a slippery slope. The devil works in mysterious ways and will have you doing sh!t that you'd never otherwise do. Ask crystalworks.

Now, throwing out all of the no fun logic allows for the fun questions...

• Do you *like* your current car?
• Do you *want* something different?
• Newer? Faster? Slower? Different options? Lower miles?

Those questions get fun bc they slide around on scales that are individual to each person. You just gotta figure out your scales.

[adhesivo]

Thanks for the answer PropellerHead, really well put together and you have some valid thoughts.
Lets see if this helps:
- I haven't had the car for very long
- I am happy with the car in general. It needs some work though. If I was to sell this one I would not be looking for something different. I would probably get another X5.
- I don't need more power, I don't need more space and I don't need a newer car
- I do need a reliable car though

If the repairs were lets say 2grand, and those would guarantee me lets say 30K problemfree miles then I'd say lets do it! But 5 grand plus who the heck knows what else could happen next month is scary.
Sure, buying a newer car probably won't fix much as it will also show age related problems. Perhaps buying an X5 that has already been serviced in the major things that we all know are going to end up failing?

[Kristophe]

Originally Posted by adhesivo

$600 plus a garage lift you mean? ;D
I'd probably be able to replace the boots and radiator hoses myself, but the gaskets... too much for me.

Another option: find a cheaper shop in LA area...

I assume you have a V-8? No need for a lift for this.

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement Procedure (long) (No 56k!)

[adhesivo]

I watched this clip and man, this looks too difficult for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Tqpk90gU0

[Kristophe]

Originally Posted by adhesivo

I watched this clip and man, this looks too difficult for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Tqpk90gU0

OK

[adhesivo]

Is the 4.8i more reliable?