I need your help on buying my X5!

[Hansel]

Ok long story short.. i totalled my 03 350Z in a flood here in the freakish rains in so cal in feb. then i got an 02 boxster S, 4 days later i totalled that (this time it was more my fault, and the bald tires) SOoo, now insurance basically wont let me get another sports car.. for obvious reasons.. so my next car is clearly gonna be an X5 4.4.. which leads me to my questions for you guys..

a freind of mine has a 2000 X5 4.4 loaded w/ nav.. only 32k miles on it.. i can probably get it under 30k

or i've found some 01-02's for a little under 35k.. is it worth it to get the newer 02ish models rather than the 00? is there that big of a difference between those 3 years? i really want navigation and they all have it but i noticed the 00 model navigation is a lot smaller than the 02's..

also sport package? can someone give me a quick rundown? im going to be towing a ski boat with it.. the dealer said it has air suspension but didnt go into much detail.. i test drove one and i LOVED it.. you guys are lucky.. someday soon hopefully i'll be joining you! thanks in advance.

[PapX5]

I would go with an 01/02 if you can...for the couple thousand dollars more that you will spend...you will be getting better value for your dollar. I have an 02 and its incredible. Go with the Sports Package if you can...19inch wheels are much nicer than the smaller ones and I think the overall look is nicer. Ride is a bit stiffer but performance is top notch

As far as the NAV goes...don't have it... you'll have to get some advice from the others.

[UCrewX5]

Noted differences between the 00 and the 02 are:

- widescreen nav in the 02 (BMW changed from 4:3 to 16:9 screen in April of 2001). The widescreen can be retrofitted, though. I upgraded the original 4:3 screen in my 2001 to a 16:9 widescreen unit several years ago.

- Automatic headlights

The 00 was the first production year for the X5, and the perception is that model year may have a few more bugs then later years. However, that's more perception then fact, and is vehicle specific. There are lots of 00's out there that have been totally problem free. Best thing to do before making any purchase is get a CarFax report and also get the service records from the dealer. If it's spent more time in the shop then out, steer clear. If it's been relatively problem free then chances are you will have an enjoyable ownship experience.

Good luck with your search.

[Chris F.]

The guys have given you the info you needed....welcome to the board. I am surprised your insurance company didn't dump you after the Boxster incident! Seems like they can do whatever they want these days...

[Hansel]

thanks for the help guys.. so the 02 sounds like the way to go.. i cant get over how nice the interior is.. compared to the boxster its night and day..

-what are the automatic headlights?
-how much was your widescreen nav. retrofit? or could i just go w/ aftermarket such as an eclipse/alpine if i get a pre-02?

as for the insurance.. im suprised they didnt drop me either after paying out over $70k in 2 weeks.. but my dad has our business', home, boat, and 3 cars under it.. so i dont think they can just drop me for running the porsche into a tree.. but who knows.. i may be dropped and not even know about it yet.. even though i think that they would have told me by now no?

[Curious Joel]

The auto headlights are lights that turn on automatically when it gets dark out... That, along with rain-sensing wipers, are two features that sound excessive, but they really simplify everything!

[JV]

Not to sound like the lone dissenter here, but SUV insurance for a young dude ain't much easier to come by than for a sports car. Better hope the insurance company lists the X5 as a WAGON and not an SUV or truck!

Ask them about listing you as 5 or 10% driver and your pops as the 90-95% driver. You're scammin the hell out of the insurance company, but it might save you some dinero. Good luck.

JV

[pepatrick]

I think you might wanter consider a 3.0 liter...sounds like you may not be able to handle the V8...

[Hansel]

JV.. im pretty sure that's the plan.. my dad's gonna be the primary driver but im still insured under it..

im paying for the X5 myself.. i dont want you guys to get the wrong idea, that im a spoiled rich kid or something.. i wish i was!

more questions:

if i plan on upgrading the wheels anyways.. is the sport package really worth it?? i found one that has everything i want except the sport package.. but if its worth it, i'll keep looking for one with it.

[Hansel]

also, can someone give me some insight on the "air suspension"??