X5 Purchase Advice

[X-Pilot]

Hello fellow board members! I'm sorry this is so long and thank you in advance for reading / commenting.


I am looking at the purchase of a friends 2002 X5 3.0 with 107,400 Miles... asking price of $11,500 The car is very clean inside and out, I can't believe it's 10 years old. As this is a friend of the families X5 they suggested I take it to the shop they have been using to have a pre-purchase inspection done. I am not a complete idiot when it comes to repairs but I am also not very adventurous when it comes to repairs.. I would probably be able to handle a window regulator but would stay away from anything bigger than an oil change or plug change in the engine bay... who knows maybe owning this will drive me to be more adventurous.


I am looking for advice on if those of you who have dealt with this vehicle for some time see any red flags and if it sounds like a good buy?


It is a 2002 X5 3.0i with Sport/Premium/HID/Rear Climate/ afermarket headrest TV's with DVD gray on gray and... wait for it.... 20” DUB Trump Spinners (they will be the first thing to go!) They were on the car when my friends purchased it several years ago and they never replaced them, just locked them in place to keep from spinning. It has 107,400 miles and all of the lights in the dash are working (no pixels out). The radio / BC does have some pixels going but that doesn't scare me. All windows currently working :-)


The results from the Independent BMW shop pre-purchase inspection:


1: Inspection II Recommended $695
I might be willing to tackle this on my own if there is a good DIY on pulling / replacing plugs... seems straight forward (might as well buy a service manual)


2: Cooling System (Estimate Approx $1400)
There is a “seep” at the thermostat housing and mechanic recommends replacing entire coolant system (Thermostat, water pump, radiator, and hoses... I'll ask about the valley pan) as he says it will just start failing one part at a time with this mileage and it is better to just get it done and save the labor (I'm not sure I want to tackle this on my own so I think the shop will be doing this)


3: Front Brakes: States Pads are at 60% but rotors were not done at same time and he can feel a vibration when braking (warped rotor) .. I can't feel the vibration.


4: Front Right Strut is leaking: Stated he would put this last on the list as it will be fine for some time and not a big deal.


5: Scanner test with the following failures: DME,EWS,ABS,SRS,IKE,ZKE,AIC,SM,LWS,MID he stated he would just clear the failures and drive for 500 miles and then rescan to see what is really going on... stated could be something as little as power interruption that caused the “failure” codes.


Other than that he says it is one of the cleanest X5's he has seen and there are no oil leaks from the engine, transmission, or differential and the cv boots are all good. Everything works as it should. I do know that the power steering pump and some hoses were replaced within the last year.


My view is that with the exception of the replacing of the cooling system everything else is basic maintenance required of any car. Should I pull the trigger and do the deal or would you back up on the price to cover the coolant system... I'm not sure they would take $10,000, maybe somewhere inbetween?

Thanks again in advance for everyone's input!