2004 4.4 Should I buy it?

spmd11 · #1 09-29-2008, 09:27 PM

Hey guys! I'm new to the board. I did a search and couldn't find the specific info I'm looking for.

I have a 2008 535 Sport (mine), a 2008 135i (wife) and a 2002 325i (son). We just also sold our 2007 Yukon Denali through a lease assumption. I'm looking to replace the Yukon and I am shopping for a used X5.

1. Do you guys think that the X5 is a good value?
2. Is is reliable?

Someone traded in a 2004 X5 4.4 today and I just happened to be at the dealer at the time it came in. It is loaded with every option possible, including Navigation, Comfort Seats, Premium Stereo and a BMW DVD movie player that folds down out of the ceiling. It is not a factory option, but it says BMW on the face of it and it appears to me like it was a BMW accessory added after initial sale.

It is certified from the previous owner, serviced at our dealership.

39,000 miles.

The car has not even been into service yet but I can tell that it at least needs new tires. I guess that it will have to be re-certified?

What do you guys think a fair price would be? Unfortunately, it is a 2004 so I can't take advantage of the current certified interest rate special.

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fs_wheel · #2 09-30-2008, 01:50 PM

I have an '04 4.4i, premium, cold weather, sport that I bought used (CPO) 18 mos ago. Have put on 25k (mostly highway) miles and have no problems. Replaced Michelin Diamaris' @ 36k with Michelin Lattitude Tour HP, IMHO a much better tire.

You have quite the BMW fleet and the only 'complaint' we have is on longer roadtrips - wife would like to have more room. I traded an Expedition (EB) and she was spoiled with all the room it had, but I wouldn't give up and go back given the BMW performance / road characteristics. You will see lots of posts here concerning window regulators, transfer cases, etc. But, I have to believe that if you get a CPO and you have some knowledge of the service history you should be in good shape.

spmd11 · #3 09-30-2008, 03:05 PM

Yes, that is the debate within our family now. We'd rather have another BMW. But for trips, the three kids in the back have to sit shoulder to shoulder, vs. the large width and room in bucket seats in the GM Truck/SUV line.

This X5 I'm looking at has 12 months left of warranty and the maintenance program

fs_wheel · #4 09-30-2008, 03:51 PM

My advise, for family peace ... forgo the X5, get another full size SUV.

spmd11 · #5 09-30-2008, 09:27 PM

You have a point. Because the interior room of the X5 is no bigger than my 535...

ca911 · #6 09-30-2008, 09:40 PM

it sounds like a pretty solid car, I would prefer it to be a year newer for the psychological reasons and the financing, but sounds not too bad to me.

as far as price goes, I would say low 30s for CPO on an 04 from a dealer. If it was private party you could probably get it cheaper, but given that it is tricked out and is a 4.4, I would personally think low 30s or high 20s is pretty reasonable.

If the car is in a good condition I would go for it, you will love the way it drives for an SUV, much better than a Yukon. As far as reliability just give a search on the boards but they are pretty reliable all around, a few common issues and you need to stay on top of services like any BMW, but there are people on the board with well over 100k (I think the highest I have seen personally is somewhere around 160K).

Also, you didn't say how old your kids were or how many you had? If one of them is driving, and you don't have a bunch and they will all fit and they are old enough to not fight in the back I would go for it. But other than that it may be nice to have a third row or get a little bigger car.

spmd11 · #7 09-30-2008, 09:49 PM

Thanks for the reply. I was able to contact the previous owner and he told me that he received $18k for the trade-in! Ouch! So, it will be interesting to see what the dealer wants to retail it for.

fs_wheel · #8 09-30-2008, 10:36 PM

Ouch is right ... should have been able to get another $5k for the trade. BUT as we all know, the dealer can 'play games' between the new car invoice and the trade. Don't be surprised if the listing # is in the upper 20's.

TwinsPoppa · #9 10-01-2008, 01:13 AM

Yeah, I would guess if CPO the dealer will retail for about $10K more. I say bargain hard because there are plenty of stock available. I'd even mention that you know what they got for trade-in.

On a related note, used car dealers are actually running out of stock of cars that get good mileage - smaller cars (at least in my area). For obvious reasons, people are holding on to these cars longer and so less are also being traded in.

The market for SUVs here will probably pickup a little heading into Fall/Winter but not much I don't think.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spmd11

Thanks for the reply. I was able to contact the previous owner and he told me that he received $18k for the trade-in! Ouch! So, it will be interesting to see what the dealer wants to retail it for.

bcb1 · #10 10-01-2008, 10:29 AM

spmd11,

I went from an '00 Yukon to an '05 X5. Well...actually I still have the Yukon, but my daughter will be driving it soon. Anyway, I can give you my thoughts:

1. The X5 is long on sport, short on utility. You'll miss being able to throw anything and everything in the back. But you probably already figured that much out.

2. X5 is a "drivers car", much more throttle responsive than a big clunky SUV. It feels like driving a big, safe tank. A tank that can go really fast.

3. My X5 had some squeaks and rattles, I've fixed them now but I have to admit that it really surprised me that an expensive car is plagued with such annoyances. My old trusty Yukon had nary a squeak or rattle, ever.

4. Is it a good value? Well, it depends on your definition of value. They're probably as "cheap" as they'll ever be since the market isn't very hot right now. And the finance rates with BMW are very good. The Acura MDX in the '04 or '05 model year would be cheaper, provide more utility, but it wouldn't have the same appeal as the BMW. That's a decision only you can make.

For me, I was kinda tired of driving a big full size Yukon around, and wanted a change. BMW had always interested me, so I figured what the heck. I paid less for my '05 CPO X5 than I did for my new Yukon back in 2000. At least, that's how I rationalized my purchase

Will I keep it forever like my Yukon? Maybe...maybe not. I like it, but more than likely next time I'll probably go with something a little bigger. Maybe slightly bigger like an MDX, or even back to a full size like a Tahoe.

I'll enjoy it for the next couple of years and see what happens. If you do decide to buy the '04, good luck with it. As long as it's a CPO unit, that takes a lot of the repair worries away.

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