Did I just buy one of the rarest E53s?

[Bayerische E53]

Hi All,

I just made (what I consider to be) the sweetest purchase.

Specs:
2005 3.0i X5 (1-Owner, 69,000 Miles, Full History/Documentation/Original Window Sticker)
Alpine White
Full Black Leather (Not Leatherette) Interior
Panoramic Sunroof
6 SPEED MANUAL!!!
Absolutely No Paintwork - everything is original.
Everything else is quite nearly brand spanking new.

To the best of my knowledge, Alpine White 3.0i cars pretty much came with tan interiors unless they were specially ordered. Well, at least every Alpine White 3.0 I looked at over the past two years had a tan interior. Much less with three pedals! Am I incorrect about this?

Needless to say, I'm very excited. I will snap some pictures when it is delivered in a couple of weeks.

Just an aside - I'm not boasting, I'm just really excited!

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[Bulk]

Sounds like you got a custom one there (I've seen a few white with black leather). The manual thing is very rare. It's a pity that most of the people with all the benjamins to buy these new have no idea so you find yourself looking at some pretty ugly combinations when buying used....

[Bayerische E53]

Originally Posted by Bulk

Sounds like you got a custom one there (I've seen a few white with black leather). The manual thing is very rare. It's a pity that most of the people with all the benjamins to buy these new have no idea so you find yourself looking at some pretty ugly combinations when buying used....

I agree with you - a total pity. That being the case, I almost feel like I have a moral obligation to keep this thing in absolutely top form. I'll take that, though.

I was able to get a couple of pictures, too...

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Bulk

(I've seen a few white with black leather). The manual thing is very rare.

White on black- I've seen a lot of them as well. I would bet the manual is as rare as the color- making it just as rare to find a white on beige manny tranny as white on black.

Now, ya want a rare 3.0? Check the E53 hockey edition. Only 30 made. I'd love one of these.

[Phr3d]

welcome to the M/t club (check manual trans registry thread).

Yes, they are diff to find and yours looks to be top condition.
Did you do a PPI? The sunroof is wonderful if it is problem free.

We shopped for a face-lift 6sp for months before deciding to go with our '01 5sp - which is to say the ONE 6sp we found was priced a Bit precious and we have not seen an Oxford, sport, cold 6sp in our M/T list, so whoever bought it hasn't found X-Outpost yet, heheh.

EDIT: yeah, if there is a M/T Hockey, That would be the Cup of rares..

[Bayerische E53]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

White on black- I've seen a lot of them as well. I would bet the manual is as rare as the color- making it just as rare to find a white on beige manny tranny as white on black.

Now, ya want a rare 3.0? Check the E53 hockey edition. Only 30 made. I'd love one of these.

Not the case - in the past two years (and I've been searching actively) I've seen less than 10 manual alpine white cars for sale - all with tan interior and all pre-facelift. This is the first facelift alpine white manual car I've come across - and it has black interior. Just based on personal experience, I would say that this COMBINATION (facelift, white on black, and manual) has got to be one of the rarest...

I dunno, that's just what I was thinking.

Haven't seen the hockey edition before now. Although it's not my cup of tea, it's still pretty cool.

[Bayerische E53]

Originally Posted by Phr3d

welcome to the M/t club (check manual trans registry thread).

Yes, they are diff to find and yours looks to be top condition.
Did you do a PPI? The sunroof is wonderful if it is problem free.

We shopped for a face-lift 6sp for months before deciding to go with our '01 5sp - which is to say the ONE 6sp we found was priced a Bit precious and we have not seen an Oxford, sport, cold 6sp in our M/T list, so whoever bought it hasn't found X-Outpost yet, heheh.

EDIT: yeah, if there is a M/T Hockey, That would be the Cup of rares..

It's definitely in top condition - I drove across the country to check it out.

Yes, I did a PPI which checked out perfectly. Also, the sunroof is working fine as are the window regulators. This is actually my second X5 - I've got a 2003 3.0 right now and I've already changed all 4 regulators and a million other things on it. This ain't my first tango with the E53 - just my first tango with XOutpost

I can understand how you ended up going with the 5-speed - I was getting VERY demoralized on my 6-Speed search. There were two pre-facelift manual cars I almost bought but I was unhappy when I went to see them in person. I ended up looking at everything in the E53 range. I was also very close to buying a 4.8is on two separate occasions and a 4.4i on another.

This gal came along by PURE CHANCE. Needless to say, I'm incredibly pleased I kept searching.

I'll check out the manual transmission registry thread. Thanks!

[Ricky Bobby]

Where are you located? I would have killed for an alpine white 6-speed with your mileage and condition in December when I bought mine, my trouble was finding a 3-pedaled X local to Jersey that wasnt beat to hell.

I got lucky and am very happy though with my '03 5-spd Topaz Blue on black leather X, it ended up being loaded with sport, premium, rear climate, cold weather, and dual axle air suspension (basically everything but nav), and low mileage like yours at 58k when I bought it (64k now). Bought from an enthusiast in Yonkers who picked up an '06 Imola Red 4.8is and decided to sell his 3.0 to recoup some costs. Couple repairs on leaking air struts off the bat, but other than that it's a solid truck.


Great find, and good luck with it! Definitely rare to find a 6-speed! And please post up in the registry (search for it) so I can get you added, it's my way of giving back to Xoutpost! You'll find us manual trans owners are few but dedicated to our rides!


Can't wait to see more pics after delivery, any modifications planned?

[PersonaNonGrata]

Alpine White/black is a great color combo. I think you found the perfect X5 because it is perfect for you.

I see some mods in your future. :

[Bayerische E53]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Where are you located? I would have killed for an alpine white 6-speed with your mileage and condition in December when I bought mine, my trouble was finding a 3-pedaled X local to Jersey that wasnt beat to hell.

I got lucky and am very happy though with my '03 5-spd Topaz Blue on black leather X, it ended up being loaded with sport, premium, rear climate, cold weather, and dual axle air suspension (basically everything but nav), and low mileage like yours at 58k when I bought it (64k now). Bought from an enthusiast in Yonkers who picked up an '06 Imola Red 4.8is and decided to sell his 3.0 to recoup some costs. Couple repairs on leaking air struts off the bat, but other than that it's a solid truck.


Great find, and good luck with it! Definitely rare to find a 6-speed! And please post up in the registry (search for it) so I can get you added, it's my way of giving back to Xoutpost! You'll find us manual trans owners are few but dedicated to our rides!


Can't wait to see more pics after delivery, any modifications planned?

Being that you're from the northeast, you're not going to like this. I'm located in Florida. I found the car in Massachusetts - quite near you. Ironically, the car is a Florida car. The dealer bought it a couple of months ago in Florida and it's been sitting on his lot since. It's never seen a northern winter. I'm bringing it back to Florida haha.

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

Alpine White/black is a great color combo. I think you found the perfect X5 because it is perfect for you.

I see some mods in your future. :

Mods? Here's a hint: I'm not taking delivery of the car; my body shop is. Interesting, especially because it needs no body/paint work whatsoever.

One more thing, it isn't coming out of the body shop looking like an M54-powered car.