Such a dilemma

[Anhelenuk]

I just sold my 02 4.6is with 81k miles two owners and full service history from new for $8500 as a point of reference. I probably could get more if I waited but it's wasn't critical for me. These are sure not m5 money or desirability in any way. Numbers being thrown around of over $15k are highly optimistic.

[smokeyyank]

Keep it!

[lo_jack]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

Maybe if you put $12k cash in the front seat you could sell it for that money. Else, no way in hell on ~125k miles. My 4.8is was a bit more than that 6 YEARS ago with 11k miles.

A 4.8is example recently posted here with less than 60k miles wouldn't move on Ebay for $14k. That's a fine target price of a really clean example that wants to wait awhile before it's sold.

These are not classics. They are not relics, either. They're just old cars. They're old BMW's with a poor reputation for major service issues over 100k miles. We may like them, but a pretty big part of that is already having one. For the next many years, the older the E53's get, the less expensive they get. Plain and simple.

OP: Set your price and wait. If someone wants it, they'll buy it. Then again, like any of us, if we don't really want to sell it, whether we realize it or not, we might just price it so that we won't sell it. And that's ok except for the wasted effort.

So true, and high/fast depreciation imports on top of all that. We have crossed the point where low miles versus time matters...all these BMWs are just getting too old, even if they are some of the best they made. Values--even in great shape--reflect that.

[motordavid]

+1 What PropellerHead & lo jack posted...

Any of us with older E53s, and other older cars/m'cycles often wonder what the hell do I have all of these for?

In our case, we use all 3 cars to some degree, the '01 X is not worth much imo, even being a 3 pedal and in 'very good condition', and our Geezer age insurance is minimal.

But, keeping up with 3 and 3 is a partial time job and not a fun one for someone staring 70 in the face, in terms of DIY, "hey, let's wash and wax all the vehicles this weekend", etc.

tmv, your car is very fine and it probably would find a good home, and none of us can really know your situ, your needs and your attachment to it. If you do toss it, I wish you a 'good sale' to a good enthusiast.
GL, mD

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

It might be worth contacting EAG to see if they have interest in the X.

Enthusiast Auto Group Cincinnati Performance BMW Center

These guys get top dollar for the "best of the best" BMWs (Like the 2002 E39 M5 priced at $65,000 currently). You could see an acceptable offer from them.

EAG typically picks the low mileage vehicles so that they can ask the high mile price.

[14thbmw]

I also experienced low prices and for now we are keeping ours. One factor not mentioned is that it is hard/expensive to get financing for a car this old (and worse if the X5 generic value is used by the lender instead of something specific to the 4.8is), which limits the buyer universe to cash buyers. They, of course, have a lot of choices.

We drive ours less than 2k miles per year now. But it is still awesome, to us.

[crystalworks]

Tam, going to be a tough sell... but the buyer is out there. Just list it for what you want, wait, enjoy the vehicle, and eventually it will sell... or not no big deal.

I was one of those buyers... I paid $14500 for mine (@90,000mi) and it is not as clean as yours. Granted the red heads do fetch more $$$ it seems.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by motordavid

+1 What PropellerHead & lo jack posted...

Any of us with older E53s, and other older cars/m'cycles often wonder what the hell do I have all of these for?

In our case, we use all 3 cars to some degree, the '01 X is not worth much imo, even being a 3 pedal and in 'very good condition', and our Geezer age insurance is minimal.

But, keeping up with 3 and 3 is a partial time job and not a fun one for someone staring 70 in the face, in terms of DIY, "hey, let's wash and wax all the vehicles this weekend", etc.

tmv, your car is very fine and it probably would find a good home, and none of us can really know your situ, your needs and your attachment to it. If you do toss it, I wish you a 'good sale' to a good enthusiast.
GL, mD

Sentimental value, plus the wife lost the titles for the two Lotus during our last move 18 years ago. LOL

[mikesoops]

TMV - i think where you're located will effect the pricing a bit by a grand or two.

im in los angeles and have been shopping for e53s for the past two months. i've ran across a few very clean 4.6 and 4.8 with aero kits. those all averaged to have around 120k-140k miles on the odo. average pricing i've seen for a quick sale on these is $8-10k. $10-12k is about the average "all day" price, even on some special edition trim ones. for yours id say $14k+ on the high end and eventually it will go. may take some time against the competing prices. but yours is super clean and really loved for. i think at this point i would keep it for sentimental value but shouldn't be much longer till they gain a rise in popularity. i think also the reputation for the 4.4L and up motors is that the torque eventually breaks down these motors at around +120k and a lot of the more pricey maintenance procedures are due. so seems like there are buyers that are trying to avoid that as well as owners trying to ditch them at the same time. haha

with that said. .. i ended up settling for a super clean 120k mile 2006 3.0L for $6k that drives like new and am now in the process of making all the cosmetic mods. took it to the dealership for a pre purchase inspection and all they said was to replace the vc gasket. which i already had expected anyway. i'm pretty content with my purchase and super excited to get it together to show you guys. although i kinda wish i bought this one

edit: i want to mention i was only searching for 2004-2006 facelift models.

[OrangeFurious]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

I was one of those buyers... I paid $14500 for mine (@90,000mi) and it is not as clean as yours. Granted the red heads do fetch more $$$ it seems.

Our cars really are twins. It's getting creepy. $14,410 @ 88,000mi.