The Elusive Manual E53

[Joshdub]

Hey guys,

I am new here and come from the E30 world. I have been on the hunt for a manual X5 for a few weeks now, checking craigslist/autotrader/autotempst from California to the Mississippi, as well as putting out WTB threads on all the BMW forums I can think of. Unfortunately I have come up with squat.

I did find the perfect one in California. It was an 02 3.0 5spd. Only option was the sport package, had 80k miles, service records, clean title, and was just under 10k. I was ready to fly down there with his full asking price asap but he changed his mind about selling. That was pretty disappointing and I haven't found one like it since.

My only requirements really are that it has less than 100k miles, clean title, and be asking roughly around 10k. I'd like the sport package but that stuff is easy enough to add on later. I'd prefer to not have the SLS, nav, or panoramic sunroof (did the 3.0 even have those as options?). I'd also prefer the pre-face lift as it is more in my budget than the face lifts. And no gold, but any other color is okay.

So what do you guys think? Am I chasing a wild goose? I know 100k is pushing it for an 11-14 year old car. Other than that I think I am rather reasonable. There just doesn't seem to be much out there manual wise. Should I just suck it up and get an auto?


And since threads are worthless without pics, here is my E30 and the reason I am on the hunt for a X5.

(89 325is)


Archer, Rottweiler and Border Collie Mix. This was roughly 10lbs ago


Needless to say, the E30 is getting pretty cramped pretty quickly.

[Quicksilver]

This might help Xoutpost.com - Xoutpost.com x5tips.htm

[Ricky Bobby]

First of all, I love Archer! So handsome!

There is a manual transmission registry thread I started in late 2011 in case you do get to join "the club", but as you've found, finding the "right one" will take time, in my case it took me 6 months and I was lucky to find it within an hour.

My wish list at the time was no Silver, under 80-90k miles, Sport Package, and under 17k. I would have preffered a facelift so I could have the 6th cog on the freeway, and the updated front end, but it wasn't required.

I ended up with an '03 Topaz, 59k miles with Sport Package and EHCII, for just over 15k. Little more than I wanted to pay at the time but as you'll find, these aren't the type of X's that you can just "go find another one", so the pricing is in the hands of the seller for the most part.

You most likely will not find one locally (unless you are extremely lucky like me) so plan on a 1 way plane ticket, an out of state PPI done, or a decent road trip with Archer and your significant other to find the right one.

Keep your search nationwide, cars.com/autotrader, search the key word "manual" and be aware that you actually have to physically see the stick in the pictures, most of these idiots putting listings up put it in the description that it is a Manual but it is not correct.

If you're lucky you may have 5-10 choices at any given time on those websites, could be less. But us manual X5 guys tend to have spent a while to find ours, and most of us tend to keep them, so that's why its not as easy to find.


Good luck, as a manual owner I'm here to help

[upallnight]

There was a manual one forsale here recently from a used car dealer. He dropped the price because most soccer moms didn't want a manual X.

[Quicksilver]

Too funny. That's what happens when you glance at a thread and become no help to someone. Sorry......

[cn90]

Go to autotrader dot com and do the advance search for "Manual".
There are some for sales now in the US, but as Ricky Bobby said, you have to see the stick in the photo!

2001-2003: search for transfer case issues
2004-2006: X-drive system

Make sure you know how to wrench lol...

[cn90]

Also, as mentioned, most car salesmen (non-BMW) don't even know the difference between Auto (Shiftable) vs true Manual and therefore list Auto (Shiftable) as "Manual" lol...

2004-2006 models have 6-speed MT, go for it. The 5-sp MT (2001-2003) engine rpm is noisy at highway speed!

[Riggodeaux]

Joshdub, I second Ricky Bobby's advice. I looked for a couple of months last year, and paid for a remote PPI on one in Colorado, before mine popped up in Cincinnati. You will likely have to travel and, at this stage, up your maximum mileage and/or price point. Aside from the big internet sites [kbb, cars, etc.], I suggest checking the craigslists in a few big fair weather cities, including SoCal, and be prepared to travel/inspect on short notice. On the internet sites: it is amazing how ofter autos are described as 'manual'. You really do have to look at interior pictures to eliminate all those PRNDLs out there!

[Riggodeaux]

Example; higher mileage than you want, but a possibility, with a thorough ppi:
2002 BMW X5 STICK!.

[Riggodeaux]

And a second, also perhaps worth a look -
2003 BMW X5 3.0