The Used E53 Odyssey - Replacement after Total Loss

[ylwjacket]

So, to update the odyssey. Quick recap for those who missed it:

We had an '05 X5 3.0 with 178k miles that my daughter rolled over coming down a mountain road. 5 occupants - one had a cut on her leg because she was not seatbelted and was cut by shattered glass. All others were fine. Took some effort, but got a fair insurance settlement.

So, for the past few months, we have been looking for a replacement. It has been pretty hard, because we had the following search criteria:

- clean inside and out
- doesn't need too much work - some is ok
- <$5k
- silver outside, with gray leather
- year/mileage wasn't critical, though wanted to stay under 200k miles

We looked at a bunch, and they all either had dents, rust, trashed interior, or a myriad of mechanical problems.

After 3 months, we narrowed in on one. The next post gives the Odyssey of the New (to us) X5.

[ylwjacket]

So, we finally find one. It meets all the requirements. It's an '02, 212k miles.

I go to test drive it, and before starting it, I look under the hood - coolant pooled to the right side. They pull the car, replace the upper radiator hose. They note that the radiator is brand new (I don't know if they or previous owner installed).

I go back the next day. Look underneath - looks good. No oil or coolant. Axles look newish - not brand new, but recent. Look under the hood - looks good. Go for a test drive - shifts well, power delivery is smooth, but there is a small clunk upon moderate acceleration coming from, I thought, right front area.

I figure motor mount or subframe bushing.

[ylwjacket]

I bring the kid back the next day to test drive it. It is going well, until a coil quits, it ruins hard. We pull into nearby autozone - misfire on 4. We go back to dealer. They pull code, and replace coil.

We test drive again, and decide to buy, knowing that we are going to have to deal with the clunk.

Also - door carrier on front passenger is broken, and rear passenger window needs clips on the regulator.

We figure that, for the bargain price, we'll do it. I'll fix the handle/carrier, as I am well practiced on those from the prior X.

[ylwjacket]

The dealer is 40 miles from home. About 10 miles out, whammo - main belt snaps. We tow it the rest of the way home, since it's late. I'm PO'd, but it's cheap and easy - oh well. I'm an idiot for missing that.

Next morning, we replace both belts. We notice coolant on the lower hose where the temp sensor is. We replace hose and sensor, and are good to go.

After 2 days, we notice oil on the driveway. Swell. I look at it, and figure it could be oil filter housing, but I didn't have time to really look at it. I'll get to it in a few days. She uses it for about 2 days to commute to school, it's not leaking much, and all is good, until.....

[ylwjacket]

She is leaving campus, and all of a sudden there is white smoke coming from under the hood. It has not overheated, but she pulls over immediately, and looks underneath. There is coolant near the expansion tank, and she is disabled. I am not anywhere nearby, so we have it towed to a shop near home.

We recently moved about 40 miles away from the indy we've used for 6 years, so we figured we'd give a new place near home a try - bad idea.

So, the new radiator was installed w/o bolting it in. So, it wobbled around in there, and kicked the new upper hose off. The fix at this place, to pay a diag fee, order screws, refill coolant, etc: $285. What robbery.

Service advisor also gives the following news:
- valve cover gasket - $380
- oil pan gasket - $1050
- transfer case shot - replace with used unit w/60k miles - $2600

The advisor (she) then rants about BMW's are crap, and I should sell it immediately. She tells me basically that I should buy an American car because they are so much more reliable. Why the heck did I decide to try this place.

We remember that we did get a 90 day warranty, that covers transmission, engine, seals and gaskets. We didn't know it had a $1500 max payout. Warranty company agrees to pay $1500 towards repairs.

Our net: $2600.

At this point, I am hating myself for not checking it better prior to purchase.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by ylwjacket

She is leaving campus, and all of a sudden there is white smoke coming from under the hood. It has not overheated, but she pulls over immediately, and looks underneath. There is coolant near the expansion tank, and she is disabled. I am not anywhere nearby, so we have it towed to a shop near home.

We recently moved about 40 miles away from the indy we've used for 6 years, so we figured we'd give a new place near home a try - bad idea.

So, the new radiator was installed w/o bolting it in. So, it wobbled around in there, and kicked the new upper hose off. The fix at this place, to pay a diag fee, order screws, refill coolant, etc: $285. What robbery.

Service advisor also gives the following news:
- valve cover gasket - $380
- oil pan gasket - $1050
- transfer case shot - replace with used unit w/60k miles - $2600

The advisor (she) then rants about BMW's are crap, and I should sell it immediately. She tells me basically that I should buy an American car because they are so much more reliable. Why the heck did I decide to try this place.

We remember that we did get a 90 day warranty, that covers transmission, engine, seals and gaskets. We didn't know it had a $1500 max payout. Warranty company agrees to pay $1500 towards repairs.

Our net: $2600.

At this point, I am hating myself for not checking it better prior to purchase.

200K+ for an X5 and for your daughter to drive is a risky proposition. Bad proposition.

[Anhelenuk]

you are a brave man to buy one of these that vintage with over 200k miles and god knows how many owners.

[ylwjacket]

Well, the thinking was that the last one was solid with 178k miles, and I think would have gone another 100k had she not wrecked it.

OTH, I bought that one CPO, with about 40k miles on it, and I had maintained it since then.

The hope was that we could find one with some minor needs in the price range, that fit the other criteria, and not have to do too much to it.

We'll see how it plays out. The kid is already saving for a potential engine or transmission replacement. In her mind, if the engine or transmission goes real bad, she'll replace it with one with half the miles, and drive it all through college, and even beyond.

She really loves this car, and wants to keep it a long time.

I hope not to deal with that, but we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Originally Posted by Anhelenuk

you are a brave man to buy one of these that vintage with over 200k miles and god knows how many owners.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by ylwjacket

Well, the thinking was that the last one was solid with 178k miles, and I think would have gone another 100k had she not wrecked it.

OTH, I bought that one CPO, with about 40k miles on it, and I had maintained it since then.

The hope was that we could find one with some minor needs in the price range, that fit the other criteria, and not have to do too much to it.

We'll see how it plays out. The kid is already saving for a potential engine or transmission replacement. In her mind, if the engine or transmission goes real bad, she'll replace it with one with half the miles, and drive it all through college, and even beyond.

She really loves this car, and wants to keep it a long time.

I hope not to deal with that, but we'll keep our fingers crossed.

The key here is you know the maintenance and care from 40K to the 178K miles and that says a lot. You buy a 200K unit and you have no idea how it was maintained. The signs of maintenance, or signs of neglect were already there once you checked out the 200K unit that you purchased. Now with the right kind of work the 200K X5 can be made solid for some more miles to come but unfortunately it is probably going to exceed your price you paid for the vehicle.

[ylwjacket]

we'll see how it goes. it may exceed what we paid, but we didn't pay very much. we figured with this one, we could put a little into it, and still come out ok relative to all of the other ones that we looked at.

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

The key here is you know the maintenance and care from 40K to the 178K miles and that says a lot. You buy a 200K unit and you have no idea how it was maintained. The signs of maintenance, or signs of neglect were already there once you checked out the 200K unit that you purchased. Now with the right kind of work the 200K X5 can be made solid for some more miles to come but unfortunately it is probably going to exceed your price you paid for the vehicle.