High mileage X5 3.0 ?

SAP_Pete · #1 07-27-2005, 10:30 AM

Hi Guys,
I've looked at a used 2001 X5 3.0 at a pretty decent price. It's a little rough cosmetically (a few scratches and dings here and there, steering wheel and driver's seat leather worn) with high mileage (113000 miles).

Mechanically it seems fine, all inspections done on time by BMW dealership. Owner is buying a new X5, and the dealership offered $16K for trade-in, so he's trying to sell it for $17K.

I wish I could afford a lower mileage X5 in good condition, but they run about twice that from what I've seen. I'm not so concerned about the cosmetics, but about buying a 113K miles car with no warranty for still a nice chunk of change.

How many miles have some of you put on your 3.0 X5 ? Opinions / warnings / recommendations ?
Thanks,
Pete

ktulu · #2 07-27-2005, 10:44 AM

This is only my opinion but I would have a hard time buying a newer BMW that is out of warranty. I know that not everyone has the means to get a new one or even a CPO but from what I have seen the maintenance might be a bit more than could be considered enjoyable. If you are able to do the work yourself..such as New brake pads/rotors, fluid replacement, and such than you can probably do alright. We had no problems with our MY02 X but there is no way for me to judge how it would of held up with twice as many miles.

In general BMW engines are very strong and you will see many cars from the 80's and 90s for sale with 150k-250k miles on them and are still running strong. Not sure about all the technology you find in modern bimmers. That could get expense.

Good Luck!

UCrewX5 · #3 07-27-2005, 10:48 AM

Hi Pete, :welcome: to X5world !!

I think the mileage leader here on the boards is Kewl X5, and his X5 has more miles then the one you are looking at. I'll let him pass along his own experiences, but I think he's been very pleased thus far with the reliabilty of the vehicle.

I have a 2001 X5 3.0 with almost 75K miles and other then the typical problems that most experience, it has been a very very reliable vehicle. Typical problems are: window regulators, final stage resistor, peeling door handles, and lower control arms. All of these except for the control arms can be fixed as a DIY for under $100 each. Control arms can be a DIY, but may be a bit more for the parts.

Parts for any BMW aren't cheap, though, so keep a slush fund for any unexpected repairs in case they crop up (this holds true for any vehicle you own that is out of warranty).

motordavid · #4 07-27-2005, 11:13 AM

Hi Pete, What they all said above...
I'd add that some patience and harder shopping/looking may bring you a couple more cars to choose from. Some '01s are floating around in the 20s with either CPO,(not so hot warr.), or the orig owner's Ext Warr of some kind. At the very least have the key "run" at a Stlr to see maint history, etc. While that is not huge mileage, it is certainly getting into the "what goes next" range and repair/parts costs are enormous on a no safety net-bmw.
GL,md

Kewl X5 · #5 07-27-2005, 11:16 AM

If all the proper maintainance has been done, you should be okay. I am approaching 123K miles on my 2001 X5 however, I did do some extra preventative maintainance. For instance, I did change the oil every 7500 miles instead of waiting till 15,000 miles.

Also, I changed the ATF, though some may argue I did it a little later, but I did it somewhere just north of 100K miles. Why? Because, I noticed that BMW's latest recommendation from 2002 models on is that the ATF should be changed at every 100K miles (BMW doesn't say lifetime on the ATF). I also have a Bentley Service manual for the 3-series and they recommend that even the 2000-2001 which originally recommended that the ATF was lifetime fill should have their ATF changed at 100K miles.

Now, the BMW ATF is super expensive and I decided to use Redline ATF D4 (their latest and greatest ATF). I plan on changing it every 60K miles. I haven't decided what to do with the diff oil.

The engine is very reliable. Have the VIN number run at the local BMW dealer to make sure all the recall work was done (there were several) everything from aux. fan recall to brake pedal, etc. You can look them up at the NHTSA website.

Also, some the 3.0i engine had problem with short drives in cold weather....something with the oil and water vapor (I can't remember).....Nevertheless, in the climate I live in, I haven't had a problem and I know UcrewX5 lives in such a climate and I don't think he ever had a problem.

Check the control arms and suspension.....some of them wore out prematurely (I am still on my original control arms)---smoother roads out my neck of the woods and I don't go off-roading.

The weakest point of the X5 is the window regulator (but that seems to be common in most modern German cars).

The potential weakest point on a high mileage X5 3.0i is the Automatic transmission. However, with proper maintainance, you should be able to make it last.

All in all, the only non-scheduled maintainance thing I had to do was replace the Intake adjustor earlier this month ($150 parts/easy labor) and one of the outer CV boot needed to be replaced (it got torn, cheap part $25/expensive labor $200).

Also, since the X5 has over 100K miles, the owner should have replaced both his O2 sensor (yes there are 2 and they are expensive). The fuel filter should have been changed....parts $60 (since the fuel filter has a built-in regulator) and the labor--expensive because it is really hard to get to in the X5 (apparently it is well-protected if ever go off-road).

Good luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAP_Pete

Hi Guys,
I've looked at a used 2001 X5 3.0 at a pretty decent price. It's a little rough cosmetically (a few scratches and dings here and there, steering wheel and driver's seat leather worn) with high mileage (113000 miles).

Mechanically it seems fine, all inspections done on time by BMW dealership. Owner is buying a new X5, and the dealership offered $16K for trade-in, so he's trying to sell it for $17K.

I wish I could afford a lower mileage X5 in good condition, but they run about twice that from what I've seen. I'm not so concerned about the cosmetics, but about buying a 113K miles car with no warranty for still a nice chunk of change.

How many miles have some of you put on your 3.0 X5 ? Opinions / warnings / recommendations ?
Thanks,
Pete

vinuneuro · #6 07-27-2005, 11:27 AM

Kewl, in regards to ATF, i completely agree with you that the ATF MUST be changed out at reasonable intervals. However, my Honda performance shop tells me that often the transmissions that come in for rebuilds are ones that use Redline. Im not sure if there's a big difference between Redlines atf and mtf, but redline tranny fluid and gm syncromesh with friction modifier (mtf) tend to be a little grittier. While in the short-run they provide cleaner shifts, I think they might add more wear in the long run. Have you considered using Amsoil ATF or why not the bimmer atf? I think past 100k, 30k intervals might be better insurance since, bmw trannies often need overhauls when they put on higher miles. All this only IMHO.

Scott in Cincy · #7 07-27-2005, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

Kewl, in regards to ATF, i completely agree with you that the ATF MUST be changed out at reasonable intervals. However, my Honda performance shop tells me that often the transmissions that come in for rebuilds are ones that use Redline. Im not sure if there's a big difference between Redlines atf and mtf, but redline tranny fluid and gm syncromesh with friction modifier (mtf) tend to be a little grittier. While in the short-run they provide cleaner shifts, I think they might add more wear in the long run. Have you considered using Amsoil ATF or why not the bimmer atf? I think past 100k, 30k intervals might be better insurance since, bmw trannies often need overhauls when they put on higher miles. All this only IMHO.

I've used Redline for years with good results, actually. I wonder if the fact that your friends at the shop see more cars with tranny problems with Redline is that the guys swapping out fluids a) are driving the crap out of their cars anyway or b) not using the right oil for their cars in an attempt to eke out that last 1/4 hp from their car?

cimbro · #8 07-27-2005, 12:50 PM

You say that the problem with high mileage could be the automatic transmission. What exactly? How many miles / kilometer around?
Do you know if someone has this problem?

SAP_Pete · #9 07-27-2005, 09:45 PM

Thanks all for the advice. As tempting as it is to own a BMW again (had two 5s and a 7 way back when), I think I'll have to pass on spending 17 grand on a car with no warranty. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any X under 25 grand with any kind of BMW warranty, and since I have to buy some sort of car in the next two weeks, I might go with a beater for now until the right X comes along.

Cheers,

Pete