The Used E53 Odyssey - Replacement after Total Loss

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Yes some people fail to factor in "marginal utility"

Is that like Alternative Facts???

[ylwjacket]

We stayed away from the 4.4 because I didn't feel like doing those guide rails. plus, she doesn't need that much power.

That said, I had a 2000 4.4 back in the day - special ordered. That was a great car.

[Anhelenuk]

I agree with crystalworks mine 2002 has features that some cars only are getting now not to mention driving pleasure or passing power. I figured if it lasts past three years it will be free to me compared to leasing mid level sedan.

[ylwjacket]

Well, just got the car back from the shop. They replaced:
- oil pan gasket
- oil filter housting gasket
- valve cover gasket
- transfer case
- driver's side c/v axle

So, I also added:
- new belts
- lower radiator hose
- coolant temperature sensor

So, thusfar, those are the prior owner catch up fixes required to get us back on the road with this car.

[Ricky Bobby]

It's sad that people under 25 probably have zero idea of what he just posted. Too busy giving out participation trophies and offering grief counseling post election.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

It's sad that people under 25 probably have zero idea of what he just posted. Too busy giving out participation trophies and offering grief counseling post election.

Yes so true. very funny

[ylwjacket]

Well, just to keep the fun going, a few more updates.

Daughter was driving yesterday, coolant dumps out, and she pulls over. I have it towed home to sort it out.

Turns, the brand new lower radiator hose that I just put on slipped off. Ok, that's a head scratcher.

After looking at it more, I realize there is 4 inces of sway in the radiator/electric fan assembly. There is almost nothing holding it place, so I surmise that loosed the lower hose.

The clip on the hose was slightly bent and popped out. I fixed that, reinstall hose. From a prior E53 radiator replacement, I happen to have (almost) all of the hardware needed to hold it in place, so I install that, and all is good.

I did notice two rear tires look bad. One is worn, the other low. Go to the tire shop, and the low one has a sidewall puncture, that had some sort of liquid rubber fix-a-flat stuff on it. So, two tires installed. I still need a spare, because the spare that came with it is crap - I wouldn't even put that on the car. The two replaced were so bad, that neither could become the spare. Two fronts were new.

So, now I need a jack, and a spare. May call around to a few salvage yards to see if I can find those items.

Just for grins, I checked the air filter. Gross. Will replace that this week, along with plugs.

I am aghast at the condition the prior owner drove this thing around in, and that the "dealer" would sell it in.

Oh yeah - after filling with coolant yesterday, I noticed the water pump is dripping. If I wasn't an idiot, I would've replaced that while it was totally out of coolant anyways. As is, I'll do it this week, so all the coolant I bought yesterday was wasted.

I hope that soon we can actually just drive this car a bit w/o a daily repair.

We are having to cover the prior owner's pathetic maintenance.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by ylwjacket

Well, just to keep the fun going, a few more updates.

Daughter was driving yesterday, coolant dumps out, and she pulls over. I have it towed home to sort it out.

Turns, the brand new lower radiator hose that I just put on slipped off. Ok, that's a head scratcher.

After looking at it more, I realize there is 4 inces of sway in the radiator/electric fan assembly. There is almost nothing holding it place, so I surmise that loosed the lower hose.

The clip on the hose was slightly bent and popped out. I fixed that, reinstall hose. From a prior E53 radiator replacement, I happen to have (almost) all of the hardware needed to hold it in place, so I install that, and all is good.

I did notice two rear tires look bad. One is worn, the other low. Go to the tire shop, and the low one has a sidewall puncture, that had some sort of liquid rubber fix-a-flat stuff on it. So, two tires installed. I still need a spare, because the spare that came with it is crap - I wouldn't even put that on the car. The two replaced were so bad, that neither could become the spare. Two fronts were new.

So, now I need a jack, and a spare. May call around to a few salvage yards to see if I can find those items.

Just for grins, I checked the air filter. Gross. Will replace that this week, along with plugs.

I am aghast at the condition the prior owner drove this thing around in, and that the "dealer" would sell it in.

Oh yeah - after filling with coolant yesterday, I noticed the water pump is dripping. If I wasn't an idiot, I would've replaced that while it was totally out of coolant anyways. As is, I'll do it this week, so all the coolant I bought yesterday was wasted.

I hope that soon we can actually just drive this car a bit w/o a daily repair.

We are having to cover the prior owner's pathetic maintenance.

I am sorry that you are having a terrible experience with this X5 but lets be honest the level of miles that you bought this X5 at would qualify it for the wholesale lot were it would then end up at shady buy here/pay here type of dealer. These dealers are not concerned about integrity of repairs or condition of vehicle. Second the only way this X5 is going to start returning the utility that you are expecting is to run through it with a fine comb on all the maintenance, preventive maintenance and use of quality repair parts. Then you know what you have.

[ylwjacket]

No need to be sorry - just trying to give folks an idea of what to look out for when buying a high mileage E53. We knew it would need some work when we got it. We are having to work through all of the areas of neglect from prior owner. Honestly, as I've seen upallnight say, if you can't do some of the wrenching, you can't afford to own it.

I will say that I am pretty surprised at the level of disrepair that the prior owner allowed. I could never drive a car with all of these issues.

Good news is that I just found a box of 6 spark plugs I had bought for the other X5, but never installed.

In news of the weird, I also found a set of valve cover screws, and two oil filter housing gaskets. No clue where those came from. No telling what's in my "odds and ends" car parts box.

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

I am sorry that you are having a terrible experience with this X5 but lets be honest the level of miles that you bought this X5 at would qualify it for the wholesale lot were it would then end up at shady buy here/pay here type of dealer. These dealers are not concerned about integrity of repairs or condition of vehicle. Second the only way this X5 is going to start returning the utility that you are expecting is to run through it with a fine comb on all the maintenance, preventive maintenance and use of quality repair parts. Then you know what you have.

[crystalworks]

Sadly, this is nothing unexpected. At the shop I was at we would VERY frequently have customers come in after purchasing a BMW from a dealer as you describe. They always complained that BMW is a terrible, unreliable brand... we always told them that they hadn't really paid for their BMW yet. Also reminded them we do PPI's the next time they wanted to pick up a car from one of these dealers.

You can't get a reliable BMW for $3000 that needs nothing. Expect to put at least that into it after purchase if you are having someone else do the work to make it something worth driving. That's just a general statement ylwjacket, not directed at you. You are bringing this X back from neglect which can often be a rather frustrating process of repair this and wait for the next issue to let itself be known.