New member saying hello

[Bottomfeeder]

After having lurked here for about a year now, I thought I'd take a minute to say hi. I think what prompted me to check in is reading the "Should I buy an older X5? Answer NO" thread and realizing that I might have some sort of untreated, possibly incurable, problem.

I bought a used 2002 X5 3.0 last year. I had previously owned an 05 X3 with the same M54 engine (bought that one new) that went to 267K before we sold it. Still running great when we sold it, I might add, and it had been a great car in all respects.

After that I went with a Honda Pilot (for practicality and kid transportation purposes!). It too has been a wonderful car, but as it approaches 400K we're keeping it mostly as an around town car.

As I started looking for a new car, I found myself wondering if there were any low mileage 3.0 X5s from the same era as my old X3 out there. Which leads me to the 2002 X5 I found, which was a one owner car with - not kidding here - just under 20K miles on the clock.

After spending some time with the 02, my wife decided she wanted one, too. I told her that if I ever find another low mileage one, we'd consider it. Just so happened that within a WEEK of that conversation, I found a one-owner 05 X5 3.0 that was traded in at the local dealer with just under 18K on the clock (all maintenance done at that same dealer since new).

So I either have great luck, or am totally cursed. Time will tell. But that's how I come to currently have two old E53 X5s in my garage right now. I also have a long history with BMW motorcycles, but that's a whole 'nother untreated illness.

I do most maintenance myself, and look forward to taking advantage of the collective wisdom of the group. I'm going to need all the help I can get to keep these old gals purring along. :-)

Cheers!

Chris