dealership had x5 on lot for 2 years

[lovinthex5]

I have been looking for a used x5 for a few months now. I just found one but the carfax is showing this dealership has had the car for 2 years and only registered about 16 miles in the past 2 years on it. It had been serviced about 5 times within that two year period at the particular dealership, all service has been done at this dealership. I ask the sales guy and he said that they have had it for that long and some cars just don't sell. He said that he has new cars on the lot that have been there for 2 years.

I have not looked at the service log but the sales rep plans on showing them to me. I have negotiated a price but have not gone through finance yet.

So, my question is, whats up with this car? Is it possible for the dealership to have the car on the lot for 2 years and not sell it? Its a 2001 with 70xxx miles on it.

[dsm2925]

yes... this past year has been hard for dealer.

[jst2878]

2001 is a hard year for owners wallets....i know. save up for a 2004 or better

[motordavid]

What kind of "service" would that sitting car have received, "5 times",
in that period? Is this a BMW dlr or the corner lot?

I would pass; tires may be quite flat spotted, things congeal in that
time, battery is gonna be suspect, etc. All, imo.
GL,mD

[lovinthex5]

I don't know what kind of "services" it needed. I will find out soon and post. So a 2004 is more reliable? Other than being 3 years newer than a 2001, how is that so? This IS a bmw dealership. All service was done there too. It says so in the carfax.

[vinuneuro]

2003 is pretty much the year reliability improved. I wouldn't go for an 01 if I were in your position. We had one a few years ago, and I think it visited the dealer something like twenty-five times in the 80k miles we had it.

[motordavid]

Well, ours is an '01, and it has been quite reliable over its 7 1/2 years and
71K miles...but, I agree with vinuneuro to look for a newer MY.

And, I still would pass on that X that has been sitting for 2 years, regardless
of what lot it is on.
GL,mD

[m5james]

It's the same engine, so what are some of the problems that go wrong w/ 01's?

[BGM]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Well, ours is an '01, and it has been quite reliable over its 7 1/2 years and
71K miles...but, I agree with vinuneuro to look for a newer MY.

And, I still would pass on that X that has been sitting for 2 years, regardless
of what lot it is on.
GL,mD

Mine is an '01 as well with 88K miles and not many problems over almost 8.5 years. But I agree look for something newer.

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by m5james

It's the same engine, so what are some of the problems that go wrong w/ 01's?

Two or three water pumps, thermostat, ignition coil, rear hatch squeak issue, few control arms, radiator, evap valve, fuel level sensor, power steering line, final stage resistor, wheel bearing, oil separator, swaybar end links, door lock actuator, steering column bushings(?), belts, etc etc.

This what comes to the top of my head, probably because most of this stuff is common. Ours was a 3.0, Jan 01 production. Had Warranty Direct after factory warranty.

We're on an 05 3.0 CPO now, at 51k miles now. It's been much better. So far only the panoroof, belts and vanos oil line have had to be replaced. It does need to go in soon for control arms and water pump.

Whatever the case, these are not vehicles to own outside warranty unless you can do the work yourself.