Bought a X5 for $2000.00

[davesx5]

Here are some pics

No rust at all

[LVP]

Beauty. Can't go wrong for that price and such good condition.

[admranger]

Nice work! I love it!

[dykstra]

Congrats!!

[jel]

Great buy.

[kwalk]

Who fixed your instrument cluster? Was it only pixels or did it need resetting the gauges?

[davesx5]

Originally Posted by kwalk

Who fixed your instrument cluster? Was it only pixels or did it need resetting the gauges?

It was only the ribbon strip for the pixels.
I used these people Best Pixel Repair from Ebay
BMW E38 E39 E53 M5 x5 Land Rover Instrument Cluster Pixel Repair Service | eBay

They were middle of the road on price, good reviews, and close to me.
They did a pefect job, the repair was made the day they received the cluster and also shipped out the same day. The turn around was very fast. They also offer cluster upgrades.

[Z@T]

Congrats! Sounds like a great deal!

Originally Posted by davesx5

......Let me tell you. I was looking for some thing newer like the E70
Looking to spend at least 10K or so, I kept coming across this add for a 2002 X5 “needs engine work” $3250.00 153,000 miles.....

I did not know that e70 dropped that much in price.

Last time I checked there were totaled e70 still mid 10k.

[David.X5]

That's pretty lucky. Good for you.

I guess my experience with a $1500 purchase of a "needs engine work" X5 should fall into the "your life is a warning to others" category. I think I am the 4th owner. Bought it with 127k miles or so.

I bought a 2001 X5 4.4i knowing that it needed engine work (engine had been pulled). The timing guides were _really_ worn, but nothing was broken. I rebuilt the engine then started trying to get it back together. The rebuild was fun and what I was expecting. I replaced all the hoses, cooling parts, wear parts, etc. and completely solved head gasket leaks and main seal leak in the process. The entire vacuum and CCV system was occluded by sludge. Yuck!

Discovered these thrills along the way:
1) Every drive axle had at least one torn CV boot (made me learn how to reboot a CV axle!).
2) DSC module was bad and the "trifecta" lights had been pried off the instrument cluster. Made me wonder how many previous owners ago that had occurred (there was no need to do that to sell a car with the engine out...).
3) Needed usual cluster pixel repair
4) radiator had been punctured by the monkey(s) who removed engine. Same monkey(s) also broke the secondary air pump, auxiliary water pump and crimped the engine wiring harness.
5) At least one ball joint/connecting rod/etc on each corner of the car failed inspection for a torn boot.
6) A bad rear air spring was causing a slow list overnight.

I am not complaining about this. Well, ok, I will bitch about the $%#$! who pried the dsc&brake warning lights off the instrument cluster. By the time it is done, I have a 2001 X5 4.4i Sport w/leather, a rebuilt engine that doesn't leak or ooze, all new rubber, all new suspension and the pleasure of knowing how to replace just about everything on it!

[bcredliner]

Looks great!