2001 X5 4.4 Sport with 16k miles... Buy a EXT warranty?

[B Feelgood]

I am possibly about to purchase a 2001 BMW X5 4.4 with sport/premium packages. It only has approximately 16,000 miles on it and one previous owner. Just from poking around on this site, I am somewhat concerned about the reliability of this particular year/model. Cooling system problems, window regulators, tranny problems etc. I called my local BMW stealership and they offered me a 3year/30k $0 deduct bumper to bumper for $1,750 or a 6year 60k $0 deduct for $2,700. Do the problems mentioned usually start occurring with higher mileage X5's or have they appeared in lower mileage ones as well? I usually don't keep my vehicles longer than 2 years but one of these ext warranties might be a good incentive to the next buyer.

I only plan to put around 5,000-7,000 miles a year on the car because I have a F355 that I drive in the summer. I previously owned a 2004 Infiniti FX45 then a 2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo and now I realized I don't need such an extravagant/expensive vehicle for just beating around town and for use in the winter time. The X5 seems like it shouldn't lose much more value over a couple years especially if I keep the mileage down. I am knowledgeable with working on cars and usually do my own repairs but don't like to get into extensive ones as much as I use to. Plus I know a BMW tranny can be quite expensive.

The previous owner just replaced both front window regulators and said that the only issue was with the dashboard. Sometimes not all of the pixels show up in the information center. Is this an expensive fix?

What do you guys think? Warranty or no warranty? Sorry for the long post!

[tonycajjo]

yes, regardless of the miles. the plastic / rubber / cork / what ever else is still 8 years old and most likely dried out and i think a warrantly would help when a gaskets starts to leak or hose bursts.

search for dead pixel fix. its tricky but possible. your best bet may be to buy one on ebay. if its the radio its easy to remove and replace. (i dont think it needs any programming or anything.)

[jst2878]

the dead pixels can be repaired by BMW for about one hour labor(100). you will not be able to drive your x in the winter because of the bad engineering of the oil seperator. I would get something different or wait to get an 04 x5 or better. i have an 01 and its not good in the winter up north

[TaMbALoLoNg]

Considering everything you mentioned, I wouldn't, unless its just money you dont have any use for.

[BlackE32_SilverE53]

I have the same year X without all the issues you read about. As Tonycajjo stated the rubber in that X is still 8 years old and no matter how may miles it is still 8 yearsa old, since the miles are so low there is a big chance that a lot of the rubber is dry rotted, including the tires... But you be the deciding choice on it... If you want the X go for it... I am in hot climate all year round oso I really do not know about cold weather issues with the X5, so that could be a issue.... mabye not...

Agian, everything you mentioned are complaints people posted because they experienced them.... most do not post about their trouble free driving, so just because you see it on the forum do not take it as gospel.... my X has 110K on it and I love driving it the same (maybe a little more) as the first day I drove it...

[realchef]

I have an '01 4.4i etc... 49k. No major items, driven regularly, but low miles. 1 FSR, 2 regulators, 1 lock actuator, brakes/rotors. 1 cv boot.

Edit: Both engine and tranmission software upgrades.

Here are a few highlights. I am sure further comments will be made.

For the winter in PA. You will need to use the Low Temp washer fluid.

Don't idle the motor to warm it up. Start it, let it build pressure and lubricate then drive off patiently until the motor warms.

Read up on Oil Seperator Valve. (CCV/CVV) Driving only short trips will kill it and the motor; you should update it. If you drive longer trips in the winter (over 20 minutes) allowing the motor oil to thoroughly heat up, it will be ok. Now being in Canada or farther North, you should get it changed.

Spray the locks (internal workings) with silicone lubricant. In the fall, clean your door gaskets/door mating surface. Silicone them to prevent any oddly occouring frozen doors. There are a few good threads on this here.

Performance wise-HOLD ON, this baby moves. You will need proper tires, Vredestein Wintrac 4 (good all year), Blizzaks, Pirelli ice/snow etc... This was my first winter driving it regularly. Ended up being very impressed. (years of winter experience)

No car is perfect. Maintenace is the key.

You'll be hard pressed to find any car that can drive through a block wall almost effortlessly, clear 140 effortlessly, plow through the snow and still pull .85g on a skid pad.

[waywayoutwest]

I just bought a 2002 3.0 and since then I have had $4400 worth of parts and labor done to the vehicle. Thank God I bought an EXT warranty - out of pocket expenses $400.

[XCinq]

I had a 2002 X5 with 95K km on it and spent about 5,000 euros on it over the course of the last 12 months.
Brake pads, Disks, tyres and almost all rubber bits in the front suspnesion.
The rubber parts started to perish and break up.
Back suspension was fine, just front one started to go bit by bit.

Like the picture above. Not sure when driving through block walls would come in handy, but good to know.
What does one do in a situation like that, reverse back or continue through?

[motordavid]

B Feelgood, if the extended coverage that the local dlr is offering is really as they say, (read the fine print before you buy, looking for what's not covered;
and will that coverage "work" at another dlr), and you feel an $1800 safety net is good for your piece of mind, then cop it.

Otoh, you may or may not bump into 2Gs worth of repairs over the next three years.

I would shop on this site, for a set of winter wheels/dedicated snow tires for Pitt area, as suggested.

That really low mileage is good in some respects, as the hose/fittings damaging heat process has possibly not been lengthy yet. Otoh, time is not kind
to vehicles, either.

Have the key "run" at the dlr to see a print out of what's been done to the car, service-wise, by any BMW dlr...
It is a helluva car, as mentioned. If it's in decent shape you should get a few to several years of fun service out of it.
My 50 cts...
GL,mD

[BGM]

Originally Posted by XCinq

I had a 2002 X5 with 95K km on it and spent about 5,000 euros on it over the course of the last 12 months.
Brake pads, Disks, tyres and almost all rubber bits in the front suspnesion.
The rubber parts started to perish and break up.
Back suspension was fine, just front one started to go bit by bit.

Like the picture above. Not sure when driving through block walls would come in handy, but good to know.
What does one do in a situation like that, reverse back or continue through?

Brake pads, discs and tires are normal wear and tear on ANY car.