The Elusive Manual E53

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Joshdub

...Are the panoramic sunroofs thats hard to deal with? I have read that they leak and when they do the entire assembly has to be replaced. I will do some more digging. ...

I have never dealt with a dealer before when buying something not CPOed, do you guys think it'll be possible to have a local shop do a PPI is is it SOP for dealers to tell you to jog on?
...

The "official" pano sunroof leaking issue was only up to the 11/2005 build date (see "inadequate draining" in common malady info below).

As far as the PPI...make it known upfront that this is something that you will require to have performed. If the seller is a BMW dealership...then you'll probably be stuck with having them do the PPI. If it's a used car dealership...then still let them know...and YOU'LL need to set-up the PPI with the local BMW dealership or local INDY...and iron out the details & make sure that YOU get the final results (which is why you should make it known that you'll be paying for this service). If they pay for the PPI, then all the information actually belongs to them.

[cn90]

The 2004-2006 has "better" transfer case.

[Ricky Bobby]

Xdrive transfer case may be better per se as in its more advanced, but the NV125 transfer case is not unreliable by any means. Driveshaft problems are well documented here on the NV125 for higher mileage vehicles.

ATC500 has actuator gear issues and needs the "BMW magic fluid", it has its own set of problems trust me, I don't think one is better than the other when it comes to reliability.

[cn90]

I agree each system has its own problems.

However, the xDrive issues are easy fix:
- The BMW fluid is expensive $38/qt for the GL4 fluid! But I only do this once every 50K, so not that bad.
- The plastic gear is easy fix.

The NV125 repair is more involved, mechanically speaking.

[motordavid]

That Moresville, NC car is not sport: those are 17s on the car.
"Sport" was a few cosmetic items, but also included different suspension.

Our '01 3.0 5 spd Sport is getting softer at 13+ years and ~96k miles; I would think that NC car is as soft as an old minivan by now, but yes suspension is replaceable, and dumping those 17s is easy, or save them for winter tires.

If our X was for sale, it would fill nearly all of your req's...however I still like ours and am keeping it another few years I suspect.
G
L on your search. The very rare 6 spd is even more of a goal, imo.
BR, mD

[Joshdub]

Originally Posted by Riggodeaux

You can certainly have it PPI'd elsewhere, I have when looking at dealer cars, and you should, and get the details on the reported accident. NE cars do face salt issues - RB can explain to you how that effected his install of a UUC short shift kit. These puppies are rare, worth a closer look when you see one like this. My pano has had no problems, but search here for the usual problems and fixes. The pano is very nice to have on a sunny day [when its not too hot].

That is good to hear about the PPI. I am looking for a reputable shop close to there. Ill try to find some posts by Ricky Bobby about his SSK install. I have to worked on my buddies A4 which he picked up from the rust belt and it wasn't too bad. Mostly just the suspension bits and exhaust were rusty. That is also good to hear about your pano.

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

The "official" pano sunroof leaking issue was only up to the 11/2005 build date (see "inadequate draining" in common malady info below).

As far as the PPI...make it known upfront that this is something that you will require to have performed. If the seller is a BMW dealership...then you'll probably be stuck with having them do the PPI. If it's a used car dealership...then still let them know...and YOU'LL need to set-up the PPI with the local BMW dealership or local INDY...and iron out the details & make sure that YOU get the final results (which is why you should make it known that you'll be paying for this service). If they pay for the PPI, then all the information actually belongs to them.

Oh that is good. I missed that part when I read through that the first time.

I will for sure make the PPI desire known. It is a dealer but not BMW, maybe they will be helpful. Looking at their reviews online leaves a bit to be desired in rating but I have never known a dealer to get very good reviews.

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Xdrive transfer case may be better per se as in its more advanced, but the NV125 transfer case is not unreliable by any means. Driveshaft problems are well documented here on the NV125 for higher mileage vehicles.

ATC500 has actuator gear issues and needs the "BMW magic fluid", it has its own set of problems trust me, I don't think one is better than the other when it comes to reliability.

So the ATC500 is the tcase for the newer ones? I am not too scared about getting in there and fixing things. I read through the tcase chain thread and while like CN90 was saying, it is mechanically involved, it looks very straight forward and not something I could not handle.

Originally Posted by motordavid

That Moresville, NC car is not sport: those are 17s on the car.
"Sport" was a few cosmetic items, but also included different suspension.

Our '01 3.0 5 spd Sport is getting softer at 13+ years and ~96k miles; I would think that NC car is as soft as an old minivan by now, but yes suspension is replaceable, and dumping those 17s is easy, or save them for winter tires.

If our X was for sale, it would fill nearly all of your req's...however I still like ours and am keeping it another few years I suspect.
G
L on your search. The very rare 6 spd is even more of a goal, imo.
BR, mD

You are absolutely correct. That white one looks to be pretty much the base of bases, but I liked the price and the miles. Now though after seeing the other one for the same price, but more miles, this white one seems kind of meh. And I bet it is very squishy to drive around. Suspension is usually one of the things I go through when getting a new car so that doesn't worry me too much. But that one just doesn't get me going like the Toledo ones does. Thanks for the luck.


So now I am on the hunt for a good local indy shop for a PPI, and figuring out the logistics of getting over there and back. Unfortunately (or fortunately from a behavior stand point) Archer (my pup) is going under the knife tomorrow to get his manhood removed. So that ads some difficulty schedule wise.

The one thing that does worry me is that it is a fair amount under book price. I am hoping that it is just having a hard time selling a manual one.

[Riggodeaux]

motordavid, those do look like 18" wheels on the 2006 blue with truffelbroun sportsitze, as mine has. Agreed, the Mooresville [Charlotte] white five speed rides on 17s.

I'm not as excited as the OP, but it is kinda fun to find these hidden treasures! We can always use more members in the three-pedal E53 mafia ...

[Ricky Bobby]

Hey man mamoraneck is about an hour from me why not just have me do the ppi? I can scan the car and see if it's throwing codes and go over it with a fine toothed comb for you if needed.

I appreciate you fixing Archer as my wife and I are dog people ourselves, I don't know if you called the dealer yet but they might want a hold on the car until I can get up there if you're serious about it

[Ricky Bobby]

It's probably at 10k bc it's at a Toyota dealer, and has 127k miles.

Sport package equipped facelift 6 speeds are rare as Riggo can attest to, I am noting in the pictures I've looked at is that the passenger front inner door panel has a bit of loose leather (fixable, just need to tuck it and hot glue from inside), seats look in good shape and all pixels are intact on cluster.

Probably all highway miles, have you ran a VIN check yet?

[ny x5 guy]

Well, I can share with you fellas how I stumbled on my X5. I had my heart set on a manual transmission 2011 328i xdrive wagon. I wanted under 50k miles, leather, xenon, just a mint vehicle. Well, they came up for sale from time to time, but sold quickly for $30-35,000. So, I have a baby and 3 pugs and knew it wasn't even really big enough, then Istarted looking at manual transmission X3's mainly 2010's. But even then they didn't do anything for me, and were still a bit smallish.

I looked almost every day on bmwusa.com certified pre owned nationwide, carsdirect.com, autotrader.com, and cars.com. I must have been looking for at least 6 months. You can search say category wagon or suv, manual transmission and make bmw. So one day I was searching bmwusa, under suv and manual checked, nationwide search and low and behold there was my little beauty, I couldn't believe it:

2003
X5
Born 9/25/2003
Entered service 1/08/2004
titanium silver
grey leather
loaded with premium package, rear climate package, and cold weather pkg
totally mint not even a scratch, unreal lack of wear on exterior or interior
45,000 miles
5 speed manual transmission
no accidents
1 owner
bought at the same dealer where it was being sold at
serviced every year at same dealer, brake fluid flushes, fuel injection serviced, power steering flushes, just every preventative service done according to factory schedule all at the dealership
even brand new Michelin tires

So, btw it had only been for sale 1 lousy day. I just looked at it on the computer and I was like OK, I have to buy this. Tried calling my wife at work, she wouldn't answer her phone for 3 hours. Finally she answers and says OK, you should buy it. Then I decide OK, let's get a pre purchase inspection done, so arrange that. Then call the dealership to say I want to get a ppi done. Guess what, the salesman tells me it's already sold but will take my name and number. So I call back wife, pissed, and tell her it's her fault and next time answer the f@#king phone when I call you. Not very nice. Baby crying. I stay at home all day wondering if maybe, just maybe, he'll call back. And he does. The salesman tells me the guys credit application fell through and that I was his next in line guy, but that as we were speaking, other salesmen were on the phone with people about this very car. I believe him. I believe him since I had a different car ( 2011 rwd, manual wagon with 48,000 miles, 1 owner for $22,000) also fall though my sweaty fingers so this time I was itching to buy it. OK, I said fine I'll buy it but contingent on passing ppi. The man said OK, b/c it would pass the ppi. So I bought it. Just got it street legal a week ago. LOVE this car or truck or sav. I love driving it and love the manual transmission and the silky smooth motor and the lovely ride and the hulking svelte look of it. The guy at the inspection station said he'd never seen a manual x5 before, my doormen said it was clean, clean, clean, just one question: how much did I pay for it. $13,000 was my answer, but really I paid $12,851. Plus $1,100 to ship it from Newport Beach, California.

Panning for gold my friends, look hard, look often, check the bmwusa.com site b/c you never know. Check the other sites too. Don't settle you'll find your dream ride, then you'll be happy as a clam.