Pre purchase advice

[neumanngroup]

Hello,

I am new here and would like to ask a question of the fellow BMW X5 owners.

I am looking at (2) X5's and would like to ask which one would you purchase.

Here are the details:

Car A - $20,000
2006 X5 4.4i
Premium Pkg
Sport Pkg
Cold weather Pkg
Rear heated seats
Hitch
70,000 miles


Car B - $23,000
2006 X5 4.4i
Premium Pkg
Sport Pkg
Cold Weather Pkg
51,000 miles


Car B does not have a hitch. I need a hitch to tow my pop-up camper and I will only do an OEM dealer-installed hitch after reading so many posts on here. Car B does not have rear heated seats (not a big deal).

Is an increase in purchase price of $4,000 worth it to have almost 20,000 less miles? That would be $3,000 cost difference plus an estimated $1,000 hitch install by dealer.

That is where I am stuck. How much are miles worth?

Thanks!!

Eric

[SF2000x5]

Car (A) with a warranty.

[thunderX]

Car B. Go for the lower mileage. At 70K you need to replace all the coolant lines, water pump, radiator, suspension front/rear... and you're also 2 or 3 years closer to having to do valve cover gaskets, valley pan gasket, upper timing chain gasket, and replacement of tranny, diffy, and transfer case fluids.

At least you'd get to drive the X for 2 years before having to do the maintenance.

[Dan Fowler]

Originally Posted by thunderX

Car B. Go for the lower mileage. At 70K you need to replace all the coolant lines, water pump, radiator, suspension front/rear... and you're also 2 or 3 years closer to having to do valve cover gaskets, valley pan gasket, upper timing chain gasket, and replacement of tranny, diffy, and transfer case fluids.

At least you'd get to drive the X for 2 years before having to do the maintenance.

At 259000 miles I have done none of the above except fluids. Take your pick as a gamble on how either vehicle was drove.

Good luck !

[DallasGV]

+1 car (A) with a warranty. If the exterior and interior colors between the two are a wash to you, definitely (A). Irregardless which you choose, get a warranty.

[_XS3C_]

"B "

[thunderX]

Originally Posted by Dan Fowler

At 259000 miles I have done none of the above except fluids. Take your pick as a gamble on how either vehicle was drove.

Good luck !

Zero maintenance for 1/4M miles? That is quite a gamble!

[CTSportX5]

Need more info. Color combos? Does either have maintenance history? Lower mileage is usually better, but in some cases it could mean it was in the shop more, therefore driven less. Plus 70Kmi is still good (not like 50K vs 100K).

[neumanngroup]

Color combos are the same. Black on black.

It appears that Car A has been sold.

However, the advice you have provided is very valuable. I will do my best to check service records when purchasing.

Thanks again for your help!

Eric

[weekend camper]

I would suggest also getting a second/third opinion on its condition from indy mechanics (hopefully at least one with BMW expertise.)