HELP in Decision on New purchase of 2002 X5

[VANX5]

I am having a hard time to decide on 2 2002 X5 both 4.4 with Sport to purchase, What would you choose?


I am located in Vancouver,

The first X5 is comming from Alberta with 60000KM Or 27000 Miles it has everything with 8 months remaining on Balance of Warranty and 2 years CPO. I have no further information all I know is the local BMW Dealership in Vancouver bought it from a wholesaler (auction). The price is $46000 CDN

The second one is located in Toronto with 34000KM or 15450Miles, the owners wants out of his lease, He also has the body kit as well, I have attached a photo of it below. There is 20 months left of the balance of the remaining warranty, it will have no CPO on it as I will be buying out his lease. I was able to check on his VIN and found many Warranty issues on it. also dealer wants $3500 to extend the warranty to 4 years from the day of the sale or 120000km whichever comes first. $43500 here is a list below.

63kms Washer Bottle replaced
1044KM Washer reservoir sensor
7452KM NFC, Replace Brake bulbs, Empty out Gas tank replace gas tank sensor, Fault 97?, Battery Replaced
14089KM Replace air Sensor
20000km Replace lower control Arms, Drivers door panel,rear brakes replaced
30000km Replace battery again, Window acutuator
32000km Brakes replaced by owner
Anyone know what fault 97 is?
He has also reported a slight vibration at high speed, the Service recommend a wheell alignment and new tires. Any suggestions on this, I will not be able to see this car till I have paid and it is delivered here to Vancouver.

What is really weird is that the battery has been replaced twice in 2 years, has anyone experienced this before?

Does sport models have the air suspension?
Does anyone know if there is someone in Vancouver BC who can install PDC?
Thanks for you input

Allen
Hope to officially join this board with my first BMW.

[maj0rglitch]

To pick between just the two you mentioned Ill get the one with CPO and extend the warranty for 2 yrs if you can.

[ChristopherM3]

Sounds like the 2nd one has had some problems - too many to deal with later - probably some front end damage if the lower control arms have been replaced. It probably had front damage, then he put the aero kit on when it was fixed........who knows.........it looks good, but too many problems.....

I'd go with the 1st choice.........

[somewhereinla]

60000km=37.2k miles and 34000km=21.1k miles
would go with number1

[ds0709]

1 it is!!! Too many issues with the other!

[SILENTx5]

from what i've read, the first choice seems to better BUT find out more info on the first choice before making the purchase. See if the first choice has any problems on it as well. good luck.

[VANX5]

The one is comming from Calgary is from a wholesaler, from my experience and information when a vehicle comes from a wholesaler it usually means it is a vehicle usually not worthy of selling it on the buyers lot and therefore sent to the wholesaler to get rid of it quickly. I will be checking on it first prior to making my decision. I was able to talk to the service department that looked after the car in Toronto and they told me the present owner of this car was very picky on insuring his car ran as new and if something was not right he would send it in to be checked on. The reason for his battery dying is that he rarely drives it as he work out of town for great lengths of time.

[BMW X5]

the battery should have a shelf life of roughly 3-5years now i cant see how not driving the car would cause the battery to die, granted it doesnt get the charge but that would mean something in the car is eating at it just my .02cents

[footsurg]

Originally Posted by BMW X5

the battery should have a shelf life of roughly 3-5years now i cant see how not driving the car would cause the battery to die, granted it doesnt get the charge but that would mean something in the car is eating at it just my .02cents

It is correct that a battery should have a long shelf life when it is not hooked up to anything that will be drawing current. When a battery is left in a vehicle that is not being used it is constantly undergoing a small but steady current draw. This draw is coming from the NAV Computer, Radio, and Clock modules. Furthermore if the vehicle is parked in a hot garage the loss is even greater as the ambient temperature rises surrounding the battery. I have read that a fully charged battery can lose up to 4% charge per week as it sits hooked up in a car with lots of electronics when the temp is >90 degrees. So 16% per month times 3-4 hot months. Thats over half of the charge right there. When a battery becomes 80% or more depleted that is considered to be a deep cycle discharge. An average 49 or 47 group battery like what is in the X5 is supposed to be able to withstand anywhere between 20-50 deep discharges before it can no longer be recharged again. With each deep discharge the battery supposedly becomes even weaker when recharged and the 4% per month number can rise to 8-10% per week when left sitting. In closing, yes a battery can easily be ruined by leaving it in a rarely used vehicle. This can happen in a shorter time than you think. I had to change the battery in my rarely used Boxster S after only 11 months because of this very scenerio. I did not think it was possible. After I did some research on battery life and behavior I found that it is very possible and likely if you leave a car sit. The moral is, if you leave it unused then put a maintainer on it. Even if you're not going to use it for a couple of weeks.

[JCL]

I am not sure what your specific wish list is for configuration, but my experience has been that it is worth picking a dealer first, and a vehicle second, particularly as you may see them in the future for service.

I would be cautious about buying a used X5 sight unseen from the east.

Not sure who you are dealing with now, but if you were to pick Brian Jessel in Vancouver, on Boundary Road, you could get a black 3.0 with premium, activity pack, sunroof, PDC, 2003 with 35,000 km, for an asking price of 46,900. Includes CPO. If sport is important, I would consider non-sport with a plan to change wheels/tires later. You could also them to find you another vehicle.

http://brianjessel.bmw.ca/en/pub/products/preowned.aspx to browse their inventory.

If you do go in to Jessel, ask for Valentino.

Jeff