Advice on 4.8is

[nate13]

Hello Xoutpost!

I'm reaching out for a sanity check... I've recently decided that I'd like to keep and restore my e39 M5 after winning the battle with the VANOS system earlier this year. With that done, it's painful to think about putting in any re-conditioning work while driving it in our brutal North Dakota winters and I really do love the car.

In a perfect scenario, I would add a 06 4.8is to the stable, which would serve as a winter driver as well as giving me flexibility to take on bigger projects on any of our cars. My wife drives our 2005 3.0i e53, and while it's not totally neglected, I haven't been able to stay ahead of the maintenance with the M5 occupying my free time. She would like to eventually transition to an 06' X3, so I'm billing a 4.8is as part of the transition; buy the 4.8is, fix up and sell the 3.0, and get a (green) X3.

I've identified two on the market that fit my list (black exterior, OEM trailer hitch, good condition), but both are quite different maintenance wise:

- 06 with 139k miles, 3 owners, valve stem seals complete, air suspension refreshed, and quite a bit of preventative maintenance. Only option difference is comfort seats. For sale by owner for $10.5k.
- 06 with 82k miles, 2 owners, valve stems seals have not been replaced, and unknown if any preventative maintenance. Sport seats. For sale by dealer at $11k.

I'm leaning towards the lower milage option, considering that the valve stem seals are not out of my comfort range, and almost 60k miles difference is significant in other components (drivetrain, transmission, etc).

Thoughts?

[BimmerBreaker]

The 06 with freshened air system and preventative maintenance is a no brainer (the other car is just at the mileage where it will prob start needing that air suspension stuff...). Just having maintenance records tells you a lot about the owner imo (that they care, that they are organized, that they can afford to fix it when it breaks, etc) so that's a huge plus for that car. Plus the comfort seats are AMAZING. I thought I wanted sports seats, until I sat in the comfort seats. You have the E39 M5 for sporty driving and it's sporty seats. The X5 is fast but also comfortable, and it being an SUV you aren't likely to corner it the same way as a sports sedan so you don't need all that bolstering to keep you in place in the corners, so imo the comfort seats fit the nature of the car.
Plus its cheaper and no taxes as its for sale by owner, bet you can even get them down on price a bit.

[nate13]

Thanks @bimmer breaker... that’s opposite of my thinking, but those comfort seats really have me second guessing! Thoughts on transmission life?


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[SlickGT1]

I agree. That 80k miles one with unknown everything is something I would worry about. That’s the mileage shit starts needing to be replaced.

On the comfort seats. Let me tell you a story. I bought a set of sport seats from a member here. He smashed his car, but the seats were mint. I got them home. Put them in. And hated them two hours later. Those comfort seats are no joke. You can make them as sporty or comfort or whatever you want. Trust me. Comfort seats are the way to go.

[StephenVA]

COMFORT SEATS = a nice and happy back and butt

[Qsilver7]

Ditto in regards to the comfort seats...unless you fall into the small minority...the comfort seats usually win hands down as the best seat choice.


They have 2-way electric headrest, 4-way lumbar support, and the 2-way articulating upper back...these things combined with the usual 10-way electric seat features gives the occupant an incredible range of seat adjustability. Unless you have extremely long legs & thin body frame...the 2-way thigh extension feature and the slightly larger side bolsters won't compensate for the extras the comfort seats give.

[nate13]

Since there’s so much on Comfort seats, I _could_ swap in CS to the lower mileage X5. I’m still trying to get over buying a car with more miles than my current X... and the conversation with the wife!

[crystalworks]

If the suspension arms/bushings/ball joints have been done as well... I'd also go with the 139k one. He saved you $3000+ in parts/tools by doing VSS, air suspension, and other maintenance, plus hours and hours of labor. Offer $10k and you'll have a nicely sorted X5 that shouldn't need attention immediately after purchase. The other one will, trust us.

[BimmerBreaker]

Originally Posted by nate13

Since there’s so much on Comfort seats, I _could_ swap in CS to the lower mileage X5. I’m still trying to get over buying a car with more miles than my current X... and the conversation with the wife!

Miles are just a number. Sounds like the higher mile car is in much better condition... dont get caught up in #'s. Ive seen low mile cars in MUCH worse shape than 200k+ examples. Numbers dont mean anything. Buy the best condition you can

[nate13]

Hey team, update on my search. The maintained version noted above got pulled off CL and went silent, while the 82k mile dealer truck had smoking after idling and some other concerning indications. I’ve just been going back and forth on moving forward.

I was contemplating on pulling a low offer on the dealer offering when I spotted this on CL: https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/6964082422.html . Messaged right away (posted for 4 hours), Owned by a car enthusiast couple who have extensive maintenance records. They’ve owned 3 other 4.8is and had good answers to all questions. Records for water, fuel, power steering pumps, air suspension, various other fixes. I’m heading out next week to pick up.

Pics if the CL goes down:



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