Need some advice, keep it or part it out

[squidzilla]

I own a few bmw's right now and have owned various models (several purchased new) over the past 19 years. The cooling systems and gaskets are the weakest points in general. The cv boots are weak on all of the e53 and e46xi models. I could go on but I think you get the idea.

[NewX5girl]

Originally Posted by squidzilla

I own a few bmw's right now and have owned various models (several purchased new) over the past 19 years. The cooling systems and gaskets are the weakest points in general. The cv boots are weak on all of the e53 and e46xi models. I could go on but I think you get the idea.

Yet you continue to buy them, something is redeeming in them. So in your opinion should I keep it or no. I am not afraid of maintenance, but I am deathly afraid of a money pit. I can't figure out which way to go that has the least amount of bleeding.

[dkl]

Originally Posted by NewX5girl

Isn't this true of all cars or just bmw's? I own a 99 Mercedes and it does not give me a lot of trouble. I was always told German cars had longer lives...it that not true for bmw?

True to some degree. It's difficult to describe without getting technical. One example is the expansion tank design on the X5 and most BMWs, which is pressurized - so it can achieve a higher maximum operating temperature. BUT the expansion tank is made of a composite materials, which is prone to leak or burst with age. It's also part of the radiator, so when it burst, all the coolant may be lost. On a lot of Japanese cars, this isn't the case - the expansion tank is simply an overflow (not pressurized) and therefore doesn't have this additional point of failure. So, whenever I start to see a weep (or smell coolant) from the expansion tank on the X5, I need to change it out ASAP. But on something like a Honda, I can live with a slight leak on its expansion tank for quite sometimes before needing to replace it. This is just one example.

Originally Posted by NewX5girl

Do you guy's have other cars that are as much work? Or is it just the x5.

The MCoupe is more of a fuss than the X5:
1. It needs a valve adjustment every 25K-30K miles.
2. Vanos hub tab(s) that can break - catastrophic if not caught.
3. Vanos hub bolts that can sheared off - catastrophic if not caught.
4. Rod Bearings may wear prematurely - need to do an oil analysis every oil change to monitor this - catastrophic if not caught.
5. Diff that makes noise if not using the BMW unicorn juice
etc...etc...

It's a matter of what you tolerate for the enjoyment of driving it.

Originally Posted by NewX5girl

Yet you continue to buy them, something is redeeming in them. So in your opinion should I keep it or no. I am not afraid of maintenance, but I am deathly afraid of a money pit. I can't figure out which way to go that has the least amount of bleeding.

This is a tough question. I've owned my X5 for its entire life (over 12 years and 114K+ miles). I won't even try to predict if and when it will become a money pit. It's paid off. So, I'm happy if maintenance runs less than $1.5K or so a year (on average), which is a lot less than a new car payment! I'm doing a lot of the fairly easy stuffs myself and know someone who can do the tougher things so I can keep the cost down.

[NewX5girl]

Originally Posted by dkl

True to some degree. It's difficult to describe without getting technical. One example is the expansion tank design on the X5 and most BMWs, which is pressurized - so it can achieve a higher maximum operating temperature. BUT the expansion tank is made of a composite materials, which is prone to leak or burst with age. It's also part of the radiator, so when it burst, all the coolant may be lost. On a lot of Japanese cars, this isn't the case - the expansion tank is simply an overflow (not pressurized) and therefore doesn't have this additional point of failure. So, whenever I start to see a weep (or smell coolant) from the expansion tank on the X5, I need to change it out ASAP. But on something like a Honda, I can live with a slight leak on its expansion tank for quite sometimes before needing to replace it. This is just one example.



The MCoupe is more of a fuss than the X5:
1. It needs a valve adjustment every 25K-30K miles.
2. Vanos hub tab(s) that can break.
3. Vanos hub bolts that can sheared off.
4. Rod Bearings may wear prematurely - need to do an oil analysis every oil change to monitor this.
5. Diff that makes noise if not using the BMW unicorn juice
etc...etc...

It's a matter of what you tolerate for the enjoyment of driving it.



This is a tough question. I've owned my X5 for its entire life (over 12 years and 114K+ miles). I won't even try to predict if and when it will become a money pit.

Oh my, that was it...it was my expansion tank. (I could not remember what my mechanic said...to in shock from the ordeal)

So if I understand what you are saying, the bmw is not a money pit by nature and I could get many years of enjoyment after my new engine lol.

[dkl]

Originally Posted by NewX5girl

Oh my, that was it...it was my expansion tank. (I could not remember what my mechanic said...to in shock from the ordeal)

So if I understand what you are saying, the bmw is not a money pit by nature and I could get many years of enjoyment after my new engine lol.

I'm still enjoying mine after 12yrs+ and hoping for many more to come

It seems to need more TLC than other cars

[Joshdub]

Around here a sub 3k X5 is salvage territory. Assuming the worst and you pay 3k to have a good used engine put it you'd still be under the average cost for a good condition E53 around here.

I wouldn't expect any car for just a couple a grand to be anywhere near reliable. At that price the previous owner is just giving shit away really, meaning it's probably falling apart.

You can easily find a running m54b30 locally for under a grand as BMW used them in pretty much everything. Swap the oil pan over and you should be good to go.

[squidzilla]

Originally Posted by NewX5girl

Yet you continue to buy them, something is redeeming in them. So in your opinion should I keep it or no. I am not afraid of maintenance, but I am deathly afraid of a money pit. I can't figure out which way to go that has the least amount of bleeding.

I continue to buy them because I like "E" BMW's. They are true drivers cars (unlike the watered down F's). I am willing to learn to work on my cars as a hobby and also have a good connection for a 65.00 an hour master tech that can bail me out if need be. If you are going to be PAYING for maintenance you more than likely will end up with a money pit with any BMW. If you DIY it is not bad in most cases.

The cooling system in one thing you want to stay ahead of since that high pressure system will force out most of your coolant in under a minute if you burst a hose or an expansion tank.

[srmmmm]

After living in PA, MI, OH, OK and TX as a car owner, I'll take mechanical repair requirements any day over rust repairs. Having said that, if the vehicle has a sound body, clean interior and good paint, I'd put an engine in it.

Here's how I've kept an '02 model going for more than 300,000 miles:

On a regular basis:

> Rotate tires, inspect pads & Rotors, CV boots, general lookover every 5000 miles
> Oil / Filter change every 8000 miles
> Brake fluid flush every 30,000 miles
> Replace belts and clean CCV every 100,000 miles
> Replace differential and transfer case fluid every 100,000 miles
> Replace sparkplugs every 120,000 miles
> Replace expansion tank, coolant and hoses every 150,000 miles
> Replace bake pads every 163,000 miles (Akebono ceramics)
> Replace rotors??? (241,000 miles on current Brembos)

My unplanned repairs have included:

> Front axles at 60,000 miles (Prior owner didn't maintain CV boots)
> FSR at 78,000 miles
> Two sparkplug coils at 124,000 miles
> Alternator at 126,000 miles
> Front driveshaft at 136,000 (used a salvage transfer case for cost savings)
> FSR (again) at 159,000 miles
> Thermostat at 176,000 miles
> Rear differential seal at 200,000 miles
> Secondary air pump at 224,000 miles
> Rear suspension bushings and upper control arms at 242,000 miles
> Thermostat (again) at 245,000 miles - at least it was warranty this time
> Steering column double U-Joint shaft at 245,000 miles
> Valve cover gasket at 245,000 miles
> Both fuel tank sending units, fuel pump and canister at 245,000 miles
> Aux fan when the harness got chewed up in the mechanical fan and shorted out at 259,000 miles
> Pre-cat O2 sensors at 260,400 miles
> Water pump at 262,800 miles
> DISA Valve and MAF at 263,800 miles
> Thermostat (again) at 299,00 miles (don’t know what’s going on with these)

The "Expected" replacements have been:

> All four window regulators
> Driver door handle carrier
> Front axle outer CV boots (each side one time)
> Front tension struts

All in all, except for the front driveshaft job that cost $4200, I have really been happy with the vehicle. It doesn't get babied, but I do monitor and maintain it. I think a lot of my good fortune is due to four things: I live in Texas with short winters so I don't have a lot of the CCV condensation problems, my daily commute is 60 miles so the engine oil always reaches full operating temperature, I run the "M" series viscosity engine oil from May through September when I my driving includes 3000 miles of towing a 1400 pound Waverunner and trailer, and I stick with Shell gasoline.

Additionally, I don't change the transmission fluid! I'm a firm believer in leaving it alone and simply installing a full re-manufactured transmission if it ever becomes necessary.

With that, I'm off towards 500,000 miles!

2002 X5 3.0 304,150 miles
2014 428i 19,000 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

1970 Firebird - Under restoration

[TiAgX5]

I'm with srmmmm on "I'll take mechanical repair requirements any day over rust repairs". Having seen a few Audis, a Trans Am, a CRX and a Jeep "rust away" in NY/NJ.

The $4500 I've put into my X to get from 100k miles to 200k miles (all repair parts/mods/tires/brakes), would have cost around 5X that amount for a non-DIYer.

My X has not rolled into a service/repair shop in the 6 yrs of ownership. Even wheel alignments are done in my garage (Bosch construction lasers and basic trig).

[nebilex]

Hey OP sorry to hear about your X5. I can only imagine the headache you have to deal with right now. Regarding BMW's being money pit, I think Srmmmm and others have said it. How well the car was maintained in the past makes a huge difference. So if you look at Srmmm example of $4200 over the life of the car vs Tiag's $4500 over the 100k miles vs mine which is about $6500 over 100k miles. Now i try to do most of my maintenance but I've been caught off guard where the x5 broke down (Powersteering pump ($800) and Alternator and other stuff ($900). But this also includes Tires, rotors, pads, CCV, Electric fan, cooling system overhaul, axles to name a few. Rookie mistake i made was buying the car without any maintenance record, it was 1 owner and had 95k miles on it. So as someone said it earlier, i typical put aside $1-1.5k/ year. There has been years i spent it and other times i didn't have to do anything more than an oil change.