X5 4.4 engine swap worth it?

[Rockit]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

FYI-seldom posts anything other than something similar to the above yet still has and X5.

Why are you being a DICK- 2nd attach on me.

I've spent 20k alone on my 2002 4.4 in aftermarket repairs. Your doing drugs my friend or drink a lot if you think these cars are good.

OP..search all the complaints with these cars.

Most here will not admit the money the spent keeping these POS running. I was a loyal BMW disciple since the 80's....these E53-X5's are shit. My 5's and 7's were among the best machines made.

[Plattus1000]

I think they're great cars personally but I certainly wouldn't spend $20k on a 4.4. More money than cents is a phrase that comes to mind.

Let us know in 13 years how your Macan turbo is doing.
My 7 was awesome once, then became a gaping hole in which cash flowed. The 5, still fun.

[dizmo]

Thanks for the replies everyone! A lot of useful information. For some reason I didn't get any email updates about the thread, otherwise I would have replied sooner.

It was going to be a personal vehicle, not a flip, and I was looking at backyard BMW mechanics, hence the low price for labor. No real time limit. X5's are extremely common out here (an 06 with a blown head gasket just sold for $2200), so it wasn't like it was someone elses failed project; just something they didn't want to deal with.

Anyway! I've decided to pass, for now. If they're still there in a couple months I might consider it, but I've found a killer deal on an 06 Rabbit that needs a new power steering rack and I'll be getting that instead. Though the X5 would suit my needs a lot better.

Also, the multi reply doesn't work for me. Otherwise I would have been more specific with my thanks!

[Rockit]

Originally Posted by dizmo

Thanks for the replies everyone! A lot of useful information. For some reason I didn't get any email updates about the thread, otherwise I would have replied sooner.

It was going to be a personal vehicle, not a flip, and I was looking at backyard BMW mechanics, hence the low price for labor. No real time limit. X5's are extremely common out here (an 06 with a blown head gasket just sold for $2200), so it wasn't like it was someone elses failed project; just something they didn't want to deal with.

Anyway! I've decided to pass, for now. If they're still there in a couple months I might consider it, but I've found a killer deal on an 06 Rabbit that needs a new power steering rack and I'll be getting that instead. Though the X5 would suit my needs a lot better.

Also, the multi reply doesn't work for me. Otherwise I would have been more specific with my thanks!

Smart move on the rabbit...Good luck.

[Rockit]

Originally Posted by Plattus1000

I think they're great cars personally but I certainly wouldn't spend $20k on a 4.4. More money than cents is a phrase that comes to mind.

Let us know in 13 years how your Macan turbo is doing.
My 7 was awesome once, then became a gaping hole in which cash flowed. The 5, still fun.

The Macan turbo is a 3 year lease so I'll never know

I love the BMW brand. I've had many over the years that were older and with more miles than my X5's and they just had common wear and tear repairs and held up just great....better than any other car I've had have. and at the time I was in the auto business.

The X5 is a beautiful looking car. I paid 6K cash for mine and used it as a winter car only at the time. It always ran fine, in the first 2 years I had to make 4 repairs that totaled about 20k. Each time I was like that should be it and well I thought ok this should not need anything else. When you start it one day and hear the timing chain go with 70k miles you tend to get pissed. So it went down hill from there. The truck has no miles on it yet the entire and I mean the entire cooling system has been replace once and some parts twice. The entire front and rear suspension had to be replaced and some parts twice.....I can go on and on.

Sometimes you have to much invested so you keep it hoping to get a return.




I

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Rockit

Why are you being a DICK- 2nd attach on me.

I've spent 20k alone on my 2002 4.4 in aftermarket repairs. Your doing drugs my friend or drink a lot if you think these cars are good.

OP..search all the complaints with these cars.

Most here will not admit the money the spent keeping these POS running. I was a loyal BMW disciple since the 80's....these E53-X5's are shit. My 5's and 7's were among the best machines made.

The is no attack in a comment that identifies a post as a standard operating procedure. An attack is when you call someone names or make comments intended to offend them such as those you have just posted. Or, send them a PM that can easily be construed as a veiled threat.

I think most members have a very realistic perspective of the plus and minuses of an X5 and are very candid about their experiences. Since you still own 2 X5s, I find it difficult to include you in that group but my logic could easily be flawed. Your X5s are both a POS, one has already cost you $20,000 in repairs and you are still inviting daily pain and suffering? Did you spend $20,000 or was it four repairs of $10,000 to $15,000 each on a $6,000 purchase? I'm not a financial advisor but my guess is there will be no return on that investment.

By the way, like the color of your X5, great looking POS.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

The is no attack in a comment that identifies a post as a standard operating procedure. An attack is when you call someone names or make comments intended to offend them such as those you have just posted. Or, send them a PM that can easily be construed as a veiled threat.

I think most members have a very realistic perspective of the plus and minuses of an X5 and are very candid about their experiences. Since you still own 2 X5s, I find it difficult to include you in that group but my logic could easily be flawed. Your X5s are both a POS, one has already cost you $20,000 in repairs and you are still inviting daily pain and suffering? Did you spend $20,000 or was it four repairs of $10,000 to $15,000 each on a $6,000 purchase? I'm not a financial advisor but my guess is there will be no return on that investment.

By the way, like the color of your X5, great looking POS.

A return for most car owner is that you will get a couple of more years out of the car without anything major breaking down again. Sometime you invest money and time into a car project because that is what you like to do.

I did a complete body off resto project on one of my Lotus. The only out source item was the machine work on the head of the engine. Everything else was done by me including the body work and painting. It was one of the cars featured in the SCCA exhibit at the Chicago Auto Show in 1986.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by upallnight

A return for most car owner is that you will get a couple of more years out of the car without anything major breaking down again. Sometime you invest money and time into a car project because that is what you like to do.

I did a complete body off resto project on one of my Lotus. The only out source item was the machine work on the head of the engine. Everything else was done by me including the body work and painting. It was one of the cars featured in the SCCA exhibit at the Chicago Auto Show in 1986.

I agree, and I have done so, usually based on how many payments that amount would be on a new purchase and when I really like the vehicle. However, if I am faced with putting $20,000 into a vehicle that I believe will not make it two years without another major expense and see it as a POS, seems to me it is time to cut my losses and stop hitting myself in the head with a hammer. I will already have invested more than the vehicle is worth and it is only going to get worse.

I can imagine your satisfaction with SCCA feature of your Lotus. Well done! When it is a labor of love there is always a return on the investment.

[TiAgX5]

I kind of see the comment about those not admitting being overwhelmed with HUGE repair bill (AKA-liars) as a dick move.

I picked up my '03 4.4 Sport/1 owner/clean PPI/full history/never hit/never seen snow/100k miles (TT&L, $15k) almost 6 yrs ago.

Total cost to get to over 200k miles (with towing between TX & FL, and a track day pounding), $4k (excludes aftermarket wheels/oil & fluid changes/gas). That $4k includes tires and brakes!

In 6 yrs, the X has not rolled into any Dealer or Indy shop! Wheels/tires are dropped off at dealer for mounting/RF balancing. Alignments are done in garage with Bosch construction lasers and basic trig, looooooooong tire life!

Sooooooooo, $15k (with TT&L) is under $13k purchase price on X, $4k on maint/repairs added is, wait for it.......CHA-CHING.....under $17k, to go over 100k miles.

I couldn't have gotten off that cheap buying a new Civic.

Your $20k, or 4 bills totaling over $40k is nuts. You need to ditch that thing.

[Joshdub]

I don't even know what you would spent 40k on. Let alone how it could be a POS afterwards. But what I do know, I DIY 99% of my things and dont shop at the dealer.