looking to buy 04/05 x5 4.8is

[new2bmw]

Hey BMW addicts , I’m new to this website and have some questions relating to the purchase of a 2004/05 BMW X5. This car is actually for my dad (he doesn't know much about cars) who's 60+. We've been looking around for a while now and have no idea which SUV would suit him. He currently drives a 1999 ML320 which be bought when it was first released in 1998.
I stopped by at BMW to check out the X5 4.8is. Walked in and wasn't approached by a single salesman. So I went to check out a 4.8is in lemans blue, but it was sold. I actually went up myself to the sales guy to ask him if he had anymore. Mind you, I already knew they had two at the dealership because I checked the inventory before heading out. So he starts saying the lemans blue is the only one and it was just sold earlier in the week, and I’m like no... you guys had two on your lot. He's like HOW DO YOU KNOW? It's called inventory. So he's like nah man, we don't have anymore. I really wanted to see it for myself and maybe get to drive it, but he was real rude in the beginning and wouldn't answer my questions. So I finally convince him to check out the database and whaddya know?? There's a black one on their back lot. He was real embarrassed... and now decided to treat me in a fairly well manner. Well he's like okay let me see if I can get it...so I wait for a good 10-15min checking out their other cars. BTW, the new 3 series is amazing. My sisters going to trade in her 03 Accord for one after she saw it .
Anyways after waiting for 15min I'm like screw this...I don’t need this horrible customer and right when I was about to walk out the guy pulls up front in a brand new 05 X5 4.8is. WOW!!! It looked amazing...it sounded amazing...it was amazing. So he shows me around the car and I ask him to start it up so I can hear what exactly is so good about the 4.8 engine. Haha, the startup was enough for me to know exactly what kind of SUV this is. Anyways after 10min just looking at it my brother asks the salesman if we can test drive it. Mind you my brother is 18, and I'm 20, (look quite older than that) and he's like sure. So he goes and sits in the back w/out even asking for my driver’s license (Mitsubishi asked for it when I test drove their evo). I'm like don't you need my drivers license...and he's like nah. I'm like here just take it, i don't want any problems. So off we go and damn...this thing handles like a car. The suspension is kind of rough coming from an ML but can you do. Dad went in later that day and actually really liked it, but thought it might be a little too sporty for him. I’m like if you want to feel like you’re 30 again this is the SUV, if you want to feel like your age then the Lexus lx470 is the way to go. Engine is absolutely amazing and the sound was phenomenal. Drove it around for 10-15min, didn't actually pull it hard because I wanted to respect it, and if we did buy it, wanted to follow through with the break in period. Anyways sorry for the long post, but man am I excited. My dad is really confused!!! One day he wants an SUV, the next day a sedan (750li).
So here’s the question. Should my dad buy one brand new ordered from the factory/or exchanged from another bmw dealership, or should he buy an O4 4.8is with all the options, 6k miles, for about 60g. IMO, I told him to buy the used one for many reasons. The previous owner took the majority of the hit, it's only got 6k miles, it looks amazing, and it's the color he wants (lemans blue)...what do you guys think? new or nearly new? He doesn't care about resale, but i'm like why not just save 13g (maybe upgrade it a little more), and get the used. Don't know what to do. What would you guys tell your dad (put yourself in college and imagine your dad asking you in choosing his next car)...thanks in advance for the replies...hopefully we'll have 2 bmw's in the garage within the next month. a 330i and a 4.8is.

[LeMansX5]

There are only few options to choose on 4.8..nav, retractable load floor and sport or comfort seats and off couse the heated steering wheel. It depends on what he wants. I wanted a new one when I bought my 4.8. Is he leasing or purchasing?

[AutoXer]

Personally I would take the used one with 6k miles, and save the $13k. But that's me.

[new2bmw]

purchasing. yeah we're getting all the options with the comfort seats. He doesn't know what he wants himself, that's the problem. It's not my money, it's his, so he makes the final choice. I just need to convince him a little more that the X5 is a great SUV.

[somewhereinla]

I would start with which color does he likes the most blue or black...

[JJF]

I would get the best deal on the new one that you can arrange.

[B-Line]

The price difference really isn't $13K unless you pay MSRP..
You can haggle it down. Find some other 4.8is in the area and make the dealers work against each other.

On the other hand, nothing wrong with a pre-owned. Is it dealer held? Will they give you a certification on the car?

- Also, you might want to consider putting him into the 4.4i. Also an amazing car. My stepdad drives one and he prefers it. Not as stiff as the 4.8is. (obviously deleting the sport suspension) For us young guys, we want the sport. For the older crowd, nothing wrong with a little cushion for the backside.
I will admit, the 4.8is is hard on bumps etc. but I like that. The 4.4 non sport seems to glide over everything..

Good luck and let us know what happens.
B

[wheeze]

Where are you located?

[foursixis]

Go for it. 4.8is are hard to find used and 60K is a reasonable price for a car that usually sells for MSRP.

[froogleyankee]

PLUS: certified pre owned gets you up to 6 years & 100,000 mile warranty.
That's a HUGE upgrade in addition to the $savings.