Opinions Needed- Selling my 2005 4.4

[X5_Rob]

Folks- Please chime in.. I have my 2005 X4 4.4i up for sale.. I've had it listed for around a week or so on both Autotrader and Craigslist.. Not much action.

It's mint inside and out- except for two issues... I've got the "4x4" light on the dash and an airbag light... Both lights have been on for a couple of years no issues... The 4x4 issue is a module that needs replacing.. The airbag code shows driver side door bag resistance below specs and pinpointed to the wiring harness.. both repairs are estimated at around $1,400 each.. I've clearly pointed out both issues in the write-ups of the ads with estimated cost of repairs.. I have the car listed at $13,800 which from reviewing other vehicles, etc. is way below market and inline for the additional cost of repairs for what I consider a mint condition car minus the two noted issues...

Should I simply get the repairs done and reprice/relist? Lower the price as is? Thoughts?

Thanks,
Rob

[TerminatorX5]

years ago i had a clunker, a Chrysler E-class... the thing was dead on arrival... lol... i tried to sell it 6 months into having the car... no takers even though it was priced at $600-500... finally, it was inspection time, the car did not pass, called for about $150-200 worth of repairs... i took to an auction, no luck... so, i went ahead, got the inspection repairs done, got a new sticker and took it to the auction again... i got a $1000 for the clunker...

my point is, remove those problems first...

check the rubber boot in the door hinge area, to see if there is any chaffed wires...

check for the module - i can't believe a SLS module would go for $1400 - is there anything else wrong?

[TerminatorX5]

EDIT: you say 4x4 light not SLS - sorry, I am getting old...lol..

even an ABS module repair can be around $300... what is wrong with the module?

[X5_Rob]

Not sure what is wrong with that module but both the dealer and a local reputable BMW repair shop simply stated I need to replace and program the "ABS Control Module". Dealer wanted north of $2k.. Indi wants $1,400.

I had assumed the electronics inside it were bad.. Nobody has mentioned repairing it.. both shops wanted to simply replace it... Is is "rebuildable"?

[TerminatorX5]

there are services that rebuild those modules from $150 to $300, and if not rebuildable, they will not charge you, only the shipping of the unit... and, if not fixable, they can sell you a used one for a couple hundred bucks... but you need to make sure it is themodule itself and not something else (granted, the other guys told you it is a module, but we all know, they like throwing parts at a problem, at customer's expense)

some of the rebuild services run specials, like a $99 for the repair... I need to dig up some of the links... I wish RickyBobby reads this thread, he had links posted somewhere, maybe he has them handy...

[OptimusPriM5]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

years ago i had a clunker, a Chrysler E-class... the thing was dead on arrival... lol... i tried to sell it 6 months into having the car... no takers even though it was priced at $600-500... finally, it was inspection time, the car did not pass, called for about $150-200 worth of repairs... i took to an auction, no luck... so, i went ahead, got the inspection repairs done, got a new sticker and took it to the auction again... i got a $1000 for the clunker...

my point is, remove those problems first...

check the rubber boot in the door hinge area, to see if there is any chaffed wires...

check for the module - i can't believe a SLS module would go for $1400 - is there anything else wrong?

+1 on fixing. Buyers want to be sure that these issues arent masking a possibly more costly issue.

Regarding repairing the module I am unsure if and how that can be done but the default by most is to "replace", its less hassle and way more money for them.

[TerminatorX5]

check this out... most of them are legitimate sellers...

bmw abs module repair | eBay

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

there are services that rebuild those modules from $150 to $300, and if not rebuildable, they will not charge you, only the shipping of the unit... and, if not fixable, they can sell you a used one for a couple hundred bucks... but you need to make sure it is themodule itself and not something else (granted, the other guys told you it is a module, but we all know, they like throwing parts at a problem, at customer's expense)

some of the rebuild services run specials, like a $99 for the repair... I need to dig up some of the links... I wish RickyBobby reads this thread, he had links posted somewhere, maybe he has them handy...

Ask and you shall receive!

Bosch 5 7 ABS Module Repair Service | eBay

Highly regarded service on the E39 forums, but are you sure the module is the 4x4 module, or the ABS module? the ABS module is usually the one that gives problems. If there is a separate module controlling 4x4 than I have no dice, are you talking maybe about the transfer case actuator motor being $1400? You have Xdrive so that might be the problem.


either way, yes, get the issues fixed first. Or sell it so cheap that no one will care to fix it themselves (at just under 14k ask, I don't think that the price is lowered enough to overlook the 2 glaring issues you know of when buying the car)

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Ask and you shall receive!

Bosch 5 7 ABS Module Repair Service | eBay

Highly regarded service on the E39 forums, but are you sure the module is the 4x4 module, or the ABS module? the ABS module is usually the one that gives problems. If there is a separate module controlling 4x4 than I have no dice, are you talking maybe about the transfer case actuator motor being $1400? You have Xdrive so that might be the problem.


either way, yes, get the issues fixed first. Or sell it so cheap that no one will care to fix it themselves (at just under 14k ask, I don't think that the price is lowered enough to overlook the 2 glaring issues you know of when buying the car)

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by OptimusPriM5

+1 on fixing. Buyers want to be sure that these issues arent masking a possibly more costly issue.

Regarding repairing the module I am unsure if and how that can be done but the default by most is to "replace", its less hassle and way more money for them.

I think tendency of potential buy is also to suspect the vehicle was not taken care of and this is just an indication of many other problems there will be down the road.