Well it is official, I listed the Audi to continue my search for my E53.

[TwinTurboGTR]

So to remain dedicated to my search, I decided to sell my A6 today and free up some space in the garage. So hopefully that goes well and I can sell the A6.

In the meanwhile, I have been going nuts trying to find the right E53. What I really want is a 2004-06 E53 4.4i With Sport, premium, and cold weather packages. I'd also like to have SAT NAV since I am used to a factory in-dash unit now. I'd like to find it in Black, but it is hard to find the color combo of black on black. Why do so many prefer black on tan??? Anyways, so I couldn't find a Jet Black on Black but found a 2004 4.4i loaded with 71K on the clock and from the pictures, it looks good and is in Sterling Gray Metallic on Black and is priced at $17K. A 2005 with 76K on the clock in Titanium Silver and Black priced at $18K and is loaded, a Jet Black on Black 2004 has everything but no sports package and has 86K on the clock and offered at $17K, and a 2006 Titanium Silver on Black loaded with 95K on the clock and no sports package and that is offered for $15K.

Now I have only seen the 2006 Titanium Silver one because it is only minutes from the house. It was in rough shape. Needed some work and the mileage scares me a little. Plus looking at the carfax, the X5 fell off the grid from 2008 til now which makes me a little bit worried. This X needed $1500 in work to get it the way I liked and those are just maintenance items.

The nicest one which is the 2004 Sterling Gray looks very good in photos and has the least mileage, but is out in Staten Island, about 1hr 45 mins away.

Now a question for the veterans out there. What are the subtle differences between the 2004 MY and 2006 MY? The only difference I see is in the 2004 MY, there is no button for TPMS on the dash, which the 05 and 06 do. Anything else that I am missing? Maybe no Dynamic Xenons on the 2004? I been going nuts trying to find the differences, but they lump the differences as a whole, meaning pre-facelift vs. post facelift (Dynamic Xenons, new front design, XDrive...)

So if anyone can help me out, that would be great.

Thanks Guys, still excited about the new purchase to come!!!

[ninjabmw]

i would prefer the 2006 since im a 2006 X5 4.4 sport utility owner i would suggest get 06 one because it looks for of like new and u get the xenon lights i dont think the 04's come with xenon's. Other then that the inside door handles light on the 06 i dont think the 04's have it. That is all for know

[JWMich]

Feature differences are miniscule. My feeling has been that 2006 was the best year for E53 build quality.

[SlickGT1]

I agree with 06 part. You would hope all the kinks are out by then. Plus more mileage in less years, means highway car, which is better that a barelly used car, or a traffic light racer.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Yeah I mean I would rather have the 06, but just the amount of issues, it just worries me a bit. Thats the one I had explained looked like it had went off roading. I still can't figure out that whistling sound coming from the motor. Doing a search on here suggests either a vacuum hose, Aux fax, Intermediate levers, or it is completely normal. Problem is I don't have another N62 motor to compare it to. Plus with the leaking diff, valley pan gasket, and it being off the grid for 4 years worries me too. So I don't know. The Xenon is also shot on the passenger side and the CFL's dont work, so i don't know if that is something electrical or not. I mean don't get me wrong, I love wrench time, but not every other day.

[dkl]

All the post face-lift are pretty much the same feature-wise, that is, if you start counting from the late '04s. They had a mid-cycle change for the '04 starting from March that gave you dynamic Xenon, Panoramic Roof, TPMS, etc that all the post face-lift had. All face-lift is xDrive.

I wouldn't worry too much about falling off the carfax grid too much since that may be a good thing (no accident). My car is very well maintained by a few independent mechanics and it too fell off the grid since '08 when my factory warranty/maintenance expired as it never saw a dealer since.

[SlickGT1]

Nah that example is not good and seems to have been abused, and not maintained. Pass. I would just say keep looking and buy the newest you can.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Yeah that is what I am thinkin' bud. Now if the dealer says ok, you can have it for $10 flat, then I would do it. Then fix it then flip it and get the 4.8is and then wait for the tranny to blow up. lol

[SlickGT1]

Lol yea. If the trans blows, yea it happens, and it's not the end of the world. If mine ever goes, I'll do it myself most likely. The guys on here know their shit. And as long as there is such a great comunity here, it will all be fine. But you already know this.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Yeah I hear ya. I mean get me anywhere with a car. Motor is shot? I'll tear it all down and put that sucker back together. Car is shaking, suspension sucks, I got no problem yankin bearings, suspension parts and all that good stuff. But put me in front of a tranny. My brain goes dead and I go... Hmmm tranny problem. Now what??? lol.

You know what I really hate? So I have contacted 4 different dealers yesterday. They all needed to get back to me with some info. I love how they don't follow up. I guess they don't need the business.vThe search continues. I don't know if this is anyone else, but when I'm ready to buy a car, the world stops spinning and I just focus on getting that new whip. I'll forget to eat because I'm in front of the computer to find my new ride, lol