Test Drive Fails -- Found a good one

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Riggodeaux

I think the OP is getting good information out of this thread, just the kind of cautionary advice the DDs and CCs [as well as more sophisticated posters] can give from their own experience. As with any vehicle, its 'buyer beware,' and the OP is wise to come to this valuable resource for info before buying. Personally, I would not advise anyone buying an E53 [or any 9+ y/o bimmer, or most vehicles, for that matter] who is expecting bulletproof reliability/no problems or even the same problems you can expect from a 2-3 year old Honda Pilot/Toyota Highlander. At this stage, these are enthusiast vehicles, best owned by folks willing to accept frequent [and sometimes confusing/expensive] repair/maintenance issue in return for (1) a lower initial purchase price and (2) the aesthetic benefits [in terms of appearance/relative performance/handling] that an E53 gives. Most all the valuable contributors here [including in this thread] fit this category.

As for me, I'll spend most of my Sunday this weekend [having already invested some hours in research/diagnosis/parts search] replacing a secondary air pump valve, spark plugs, O2 sensors, valve cover gasket, and oil change while also inspecting for other issues. It will save maybe a thousand bucks or so over having a dealer/shop do the same, and can also be therapeutic! On Monday, I'll fight the traffic in an ultimate driving machine, making the commute a little more tolerable. I hope others here do the same!

A lot of the NOOBS that comes on this forum and other car forums just brought their first BMW and they believed in all the marketing hype about the car being German engineered (sorry to disappoint them but Land Rover did most of the heavy engineering on the first gen of Xs) and that they are buying a better car. They lack the knowledge to fix their X when it is broken and they lack the funds to bring it in to get it fix.

I know how to fix my fleet of cars and when I can't fix it I have the funds to bring it in or donate it to an organization and just buy something else.

My advice to first time buyer is if they aren't a DIYer and the car doesn't have a warranty, a used BMW, PORSCHE or LOTUS is not the right car for them. Better to have a running car then a car park on the driveway.

Here's a good example as to why a NOOB should have come here first and asked questions before buying a BMW.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ml#post1026647