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  #1  
Old 08-23-2011, 08:03 AM
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Sell or Commit To 2005 X5 85k Miles

Hi All,

I am seeking the advice of the wise and experienced X5 owners on this forum. I have had my X5 for about 30 months. I bought it with 45k miles and it has 85k miles now. It is a 2005, 3.0i, sterling gray/black, sport pack, cold weather, navi, and 6 speed transmission! I really enjoy driving the vehicle. It is my daily driver and its perfect in that its comfortable and roomy.

I went and got my X5 oil changed yesterday and found out the car needs about 1500$ in service near immediately (Power Steering hoses cracked and CV Boots need replaced from leaking) as well as needing new tires for $1300. I am not much of a mechanic so I am kind of stuck with the dealer or indy shop to do any required work.

It is not so much these maintenance and normal (tires) costs that concern me, so much as the overshadowing concern that the X5 is a maintenance time bomb and it could require steady and substantial money to keep up to par. The other thing is I think selling or trading in now while it is in overall good health at 85k miles will bring me much better money than 110k miles and some major issue that I don't want to shell 3000$ out to fix.

So I ask owners what there experiences have been moving forward past 90k miles. Do you recommend I take this opportunity to pull out of the X5 or commit to the longer haul with it?

All opinions and discussions much appreciated. Thanks!

Robert
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  #2  
Old 08-23-2011, 08:28 AM
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Its the age old question of repair vs purchase dollars. If you were considering keeping the current X to around 150K - 175K, which is not unheard of, then there is a greater than 50% probability of repairs in the following areas:

front suspension - bushings, struts, control arms, CV boots (you know)
cooling system - water pump, thermostat, expansion tank, idler & tensioner pulleys, drive belt, maybe radiator if it leaks - these components should be done as preventative maintenance before 100K
transmission - lucky you with a manual! change fluid every 30 - 60K
drivetrain - change diffs & transfer case fluids every 60K

Talk with your mechanic and get a rough estimate for above repairs and compare that outlay with the additional cash you'll have to spend to get into a newer ride after selling of X.

Me? I like my '04 a lot - just like you said - roomy & comfortable. Just clocked 3K miles on it over the course of the last three weeks all over the Northeast - what a great long distance car. Hauls dogs, garden stuff, Sam's toilet paper, you name it. At 90K I've decided to keep it to 200K (hopefully). I plan to invest in the above repairs, and also expect to replace the auto tranny as well. Maybe I'll get lucky like the guy who ran his X over 300K with very little expense?
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  #3  
Old 08-23-2011, 08:42 AM
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Check out Munich West in Decatur Auto Repair Atlanta | Auto Repair Decatur | Auto Service Atlanta . I've been using them for the last 2 years for major work and find them knowledgeable, honest & reasonable.
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2021 X3 M40i Glacier Silver
2016 X5 xDrive 35i Mineral Silver

Gone but not forgotten
2017 X4 M40i Black Metallic
1985 325e Cosmos Blue
2006 330i Monaco Blue
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1986 535is Black (great ride)
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Last edited by skeetjunkie; 08-23-2011 at 08:49 AM.
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  #4  
Old 08-23-2011, 12:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rlipsitz9 View Post
Hi All,

I am seeking the advice of the wise and experienced X5 owners on this forum. I have had my X5 for about 30 months. I bought it with 45k miles and it has 85k miles now. It is a 2005, 3.0i, sterling gray/black, sport pack, cold weather, navi, and 6 speed transmission! I really enjoy driving the vehicle. It is my daily driver and its perfect in that its comfortable and roomy.

I went and got my X5 oil changed yesterday and found out the car needs about 1500$ in service near immediately (Power Steering hoses cracked and CV Boots need replaced from leaking) as well as needing new tires for $1300. I am not much of a mechanic so I am kind of stuck with the dealer or indy shop to do any required work.

It is not so much these maintenance and normal (tires) costs that concern me, so much as the overshadowing concern that the X5 is a maintenance time bomb and it could require steady and substantial money to keep up to par. The other thing is I think selling or trading in now while it is in overall good health at 85k miles will bring me much better money than 110k miles and some major issue that I don't want to shell 3000$ out to fix.

So I ask owners what there experiences have been moving forward past 90k miles. Do you recommend I take this opportunity to pull out of the X5 or commit to the longer haul with it?

All opinions and discussions much appreciated. Thanks!

Robert
what could you replace it with? especially with a manual trans. I think the 3.0 with a manual should be relatively tame on repair costs. Should be cheaper to keep her when you also factor in depreciation and finance costs on a newer vehicle.
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  #5  
Old 08-23-2011, 03:32 PM
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I agree with posters: find that good Indy for a 2nd opin on your current repair needs, and probably better pricing. As for the 'future', none of us can know or predict, though your manual trans eclipses the main/most costly bug that many X owners face.

As for the econ part, strictly from my perspective: a car you know, that's paid for, that may cost a couple gs to get back to shape, and may even cost a grand or two for the next few years, is way fookin cheaper than a new ~$70 G X, or a $40-50G new sumpin' else.

For the lease it and toss it group, or buy something new every few years gang, the above does not apply. But, the cheapest car one can own is the one that is paid for, the one you 'know', and the one that with a few grand spread over a few years, runs for you during that time.
Dad's lecture is over.
GL, mD
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Old 08-23-2011, 03:50 PM
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@skeet that is a really long list of repairs to look forward to....ill give the indy shop a call and see what they think

@c4racer I have been thinking about replacement options. I am actually considering a 2008 FX35 as one of my best options....kind of ugly but for mid - high 20s I can get a CPO one and have warranty and a reliable lux SUV....thats not german haha

@mD and in general - I think I am more of a buy something every few years kind of guy than hunker down and maintain it. Honestly I got a steal coming into the X5 and can get most of money back now and when you factor in the 3000$ in needed repairs I am almost back to how much I paid for it (ie...I have depreciated about 4000$ since buying it in May 09). I really like it, but don't think I can handle the maintenance bills mentally....just the constant risk of 500-1000$ hits hurts too much. I know what you mean about spending it out in depreciation of buying a new car though. I would love a newer CPO X5 or something, but its really just more money than I want in this car. This vehicle really is purely my daily driver that I want to be headache free, comfortable, and relatively low cost. I am trying to reserve most of my wasting of money into cars to my 09 911S Coupe - which is doing a great job at that
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Old 08-23-2011, 04:05 PM
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CV boots and Cracked PS hoses are normal things to go out on our X5's. There is always potential for other things to fail and need replacing.
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Old 08-23-2011, 04:17 PM
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[QUOTE=rlipsitz9;840275...
@mD and in general - I think I am more of a buy something every few years kind of guy than hunker down and maintain it. Honestly I got a steal coming into the X5 and can get most of money back now and when you factor in the 3000$ in needed repairs I am almost back to how much I paid for it (ie...I have depreciated about 4000$ since buying it in May 09). I really like it, but don't think I can handle the maintenance bills mentally....just the constant risk of 500-1000$ hits hurts too much. I know what you mean about spending it out in depreciation of buying a new car though. I would love a newer CPO X5 or something, but its really just more money than I want in this car. This vehicle really is purely my daily driver that I want to be headache free, comfortable, and relatively low cost. I am trying to reserve most of my wasting of money into cars to my 09 911S Coupe - which is doing a great job at that[/QUOTE]

Ah, now I get your situ...my apology for my Geezer/RetiredBum/Fixed & Eroding Income point of view.

With your situ explained, I rec'd getting something you like and feel comfortable with, (eg with a warranty), but an E70 for daily driving would not be my pick, size-wise, mpg-wise, etc. There are a dozen+ good/semi-fun to drive DDs out there, new, for much less than some CPO X, and less costly to operate daily, but few want to hear about that idea, here.
Good Luck in your car selection.
BR, mD

PS: I drove in metro NY area, or NYC, several days a week for almost 3 decades, (in Company Cars, however)...if I had to drive in metro ATL every day, I would prefer a 'tele commute'.
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  #9  
Old 08-23-2011, 05:13 PM
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Looks like the OP is looking for a reason/blessing to trade 'er in for a new whip ...have been in the same boat myself from time to time...and then the rational/frugal/econ side of my brain fires all synapses and slaps me back in line
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  #10  
Old 08-23-2011, 08:06 PM
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OP, your X5 ownership seems almost identical to mine. I have the automatic transmission and the idea of that going scares me. But every time I consider replacing this with another car, say a newer minivan (a better choice for my growing family), just the tax on the new car will be over 3k here in California. That in itself can pay for any upcoming transmission and other maintenance items. Also, consider the annual depreciation in a newer car, and compare it to the cost of maintaining your X5, and you will see it is probably a lot cheaper to keep the current one.

Good luck with your next car purchase though... I myself get the itch every 3-4 years to change cars.
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