Buying a 4.8 is

[wonkabx4.8]

e70 are cool but also suffer from the valve seals if you're looking at the V8. And while the 4.4 and 4.8 may share the same type of engine they don't share the same power and the trim is different. IMO if you can get a 4.8is that has been well maintained and already has the valve seals done and some of the other issues taken care of, the truck will run well into high mileage. It's all on how the truck has been maintained. I love my 4.8is and over the past 2 months I've spent about 3k doing the seals, air suspension, control arms and regular maintenance and she runs beautifully, and I plan to keep her for a long time. Mine only has 106k and I drive her maybe 2x a month.

[Here4bizness]

Thanks for the advice

[OptimusPriM5]

Originally Posted by Here4bizness

Thanks BMW tuner

This is really a rough decision for me. Some people say I'm better off with the 4.4( which has the same engine as the 4.8 but the intake is different)
I even thought about getting the e70 chassis 4.8 2007-2013 x5 which I'm not to sure if that's a bold move or not but, basically don't want my x5 to be a money pit!! Any suggestions on which is the safest route besides the 3.0 which has good fuel economy but very limited on power.

This made me LOL.

Looking at the lists of parts replaced its nothing much out of the oridnary for used cars and most over 100k...one thing I didnt see mentioned are the pano roof failures. Those can be very expensive and I dont see those as maintenance items like some of the items people have noted previously.

[Here4bizness]

Wow this car really is a money pit , but at the end of the day as long as the car lasts...it's all worth it. Hell I heard they're built better than the e70s

[wonkabx4.8]

It's a money pit but it's really fun to drive and what's money when something makes you happy.

[jsoto]

Here4 -

Do you wrench yourself or are you planning repairs/maint item with a Indy/Dealer.
IF it's the 2nd option, I would just consider what you upfront budget will be cumulative and then decide from there....

[BMW_TUNER]

I too have been contemplating an e70. My main concern is valve guide seals. I am a pretty good diy guy and I have diagnostic and coding ability. I am just not sure if an older e53 is better that an e70.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by jsoto

Here4 -

Do you wrench yourself or are you planning repairs/maint item with a Indy/Dealer.
IF it's the 2nd option, I would just consider what you upfront budget will be cumulative and then decide from there....

+1

And to put an even finer point on it... Think of it like buying a DSLR camera. The body is just the point of entry. The real money comes as you begin buying lenses. So, consider your entry cost as about the same as you'll spend across the 1st couple big issues.

And then be ready to do that all over again.

And then again.

And then, just when you're ready to sell it, be ready for it to need the same $ poured in. Whether you do that (again) or sell it for 1/2 of what you bought it for is up to you.

By the way, this exercise works for 10-20 yr old used purchases of pretty much any luxury brand. But so does the fun part of driving them!

[Anhelenuk]

Make sure you got $10k set aside for unexpected repairs and have a second car available. It's all fun and games until something goes wrong and drains your account.

[BMW_TUNER]

Originally Posted by Anhelenuk

Make sure you got $10k set aside for unexpected repairs and have a second car available. It's all fun and games until something goes wrong and drains your account.

Truth