Newbie wants to buy, need advice please.

[billy in slo]

Hi Folks, long time bimmer owner retiring in May and want to buy an e53 3.0, prefer white with tan, tow package, auto, service history. Not too much to ask?
Anyway, what are the best resources to find my dream car? The obvious? Craigslist and I have a Car Guru search that shoots me emails but I'm new to the X5 so I don't know the most active forum classifieds. This seems like the most active forum but I didn't find a lot of rigs for sale.
Thx in advance.
billy in slo
76 2002 (sold)
80 528i m535i Clone (sold)
84 528e
86 325es
90 535i
e39 540iT wishlist
e53 3.0 wishlist

[RFaber]

we all like to keep our rides!! otherwise this would be the x-swap forum!!
craigslist is a good start, but you would have to do your own due diligence to find a decent example! keep looking , even we have to sell sometimes!!
good luck with your search!

[Brandon002]

I found mine by googling car dealerships in my area.

Managed to find it at a local, small, euro car dealership. I like buying from dealers as it's much, much easier to negotiate the price.

They had my 2004 4.4i listed for 13.5k... I walked out the door with it for 9k, including tax, title and plates.

[Brandon002]

I found mine by googling car dealerships in my area.

Managed to find it at a local, small, euro car dealership. I like buying from dealers as it's much, much easier to negotiate the price.

They had my 2004 4.4i listed for 13.5k... I walked out the door with it for 9k, including tax, title and plates.

[Riggodeaux]

Since the newest E53 is now 7 years old, you may have to travel to find a white on tan 3.0 with features you want, and, unfortunately, craigslist is 'local'. Do 'no mileage limits' searches on cars.com and traderonline, if you really want to find color/features. For example, just for grins, I did a search for 05-06 4.8is a few days ago and found 28 listed in the US. And you can add a trailer towing hitch/wiring, though the hitches can be bit hard to find. If you find an auto where the tranny has already been replaced, all the better

[motordavid]

Not a used car buying maven; haven't bought used since the '60s.
But I agree with posters above...

If I were looking:
-I would hit the BMW NA site, plug in parameters/filters and search in your acceptable geographical area.
-With all your BMWs you may be a BMWCCA member. Look at the ads in the back of the monthly Roundel Mag. Most ad placers there have lofty ideas of their cars' value, but worth a look.

Both of above will offer the best chance of some kind of 'history', too. The average used lot, want ads etc, is really a roll of the dice imo.

This site isn't CL, so few cars show up 'for sale'.
GL, mD

[Riggodeaux]

I did a quick craigslist search here in ATL. If you can take blue, the first, one owner, service records, might fit your bill; two white on tans at local dealers:

2002 BMW X5 3.0i Single Family Owned Since Brand New. Amazing Cond blue/tan service recs $6490
►2001 BMW X5 - 6-Cylinder White► dealer
2006 BMW X5 3.0I *GUARANTEED FINANCING*100% APPROVAL* dealer 05 white/tan, low miles - might be worth a look, too.


So: they are out there.

[Riggodeaux]

The last I listed, the O5 at Crown in Lawrenceville, GA shows its carfax: 2 owner Fla car, second owner bought as a bmw certified in 08. If its inspection checked out, this could be a nice car. I expect you can find similar in Cali .......
CARFAX Vehicle History Report for this 2006 BMW X5 3.0I

[billy in slo]

Thank you to everyone. I wanted to make sure there was no obvious answer I was overlooking. Some of the older bimmers are best found on SIG sites from enthusiasts owners, that's what this site looks like. Nice to know most of you want to keep your rides.
I am surprised to hear the auto box comment, thought by the X5 BMW would have had those things sorted out. I have gone through multiple trannys on my kids' fivers (I drive a manual!).
X5 will be for wife and trailer towing so auto is needed.
White x5 in Hotlanta looks great, I am not adverse to traveling for the right rig-Road Trip!!
Thx again.
billy

[Riggodeaux]

Billy, when I ran a cars.com search, I saw quite a few white/tans or truffle brown. One kicked up in Glendale, CA you might look for, less than 100k on the odo, 06, I believe. As in all 'ought' year bimmers, the auto trannies are a risk, especially now that the E53s are at least 7 yrs old. That said, I id'd a 2001 with only 80k or so on it with an auto my stepson bought, and he loves it; multiple mechanics advised against any tranny fluid/filter change on it. I'm of the 'drain and change filter' school, but there is a clear split of opinion on that. If you get serious about an X5 in Atlanta, research it and let me know where it is by PM and I may be able to stop by and eyeball it for you, and recommend an indy shop to inspect.