Upgrade E53 4.4i to E70 i35d

[Unit107]

My 2001 4.4i I've had since purchasing it new in Sept '01 has finally produced a repair bill more than the KBB value of the vehicle. With over $5K in repairs needed to keep it on the road, I think its time to put emotions aside and let it go.

I love driving this truck and I also love not having a payment for the last several years, which has justified some of the more recent repairs. However, the current $5K in repairs also don't take into account what may happen next (Still on original transmission and Rear Air shocks, neither included in this bill).

Anyway...I was thinking of selling it for whatever I can get for it and replace it with a later model E70 (2009 or newer). I thought I would pop over to the E70 forum to get an idea as to what I might expect from this generation X5. I was specifically thinking the 35d (Yes, the diesel).

I was hoping I could get some input from the 35d owners (or past owner) on their experience with this model and what I might expect from a 3 to 4 year old vehicle. Specifically what I might be up against buying a high-mileage (70,000+) vehicle.

Any input would help.

[Lubehead]

My 2010 purchased new just turned 108k today. Aside from the recent failure of # 5 injector ( documented as a potential issue on other cars due to water leakage) and the EGR Cooler and valve replacement, all of which just occurred at 107k, it's been troublefree ( oh yeah, air springs replaced at about 90k). I replaced rotors and pads at about 80k and all fluids were changed on transmission, drive axles and transfer case at 75k.

[seattle]

Originally Posted by Lubehead

Aside from the recent failure of # 5 injector ( documented as a potential issue on other cars due to water leakage)

Are you talking about this thread?

Originally Posted by blue dragon

That is the exact issue, number 5 and 6 injectors getting shorted out because of the back plastic partitions leaking.

[primeral]

I am enjoying my 2009 35d. I have put 8000 miles on it since I purchased it in November. At 62k and one week after I bought the X5, I was not amused when I learned I had to replace the rear air springs on mine. Still, the replacement parts were only $400 (I did the pair, as recommended) and they are lifetime warranty from Arnott. I have taken the SAV on multiple trips (Houston to Austin, Houston to Dallas) in good comfort and minimal problems.

Last week, however, at 70k miles and on the way to Dallas, I got the message saying AWD and DSC was malfunctioning. I forgot what software I used on my Android, but it said no faults found. I turned the engine off and turned it back on, and it was back to normal. I hope to not see it again.

The electrical and mechanical systems on these cars are so incredibly complex and I expect a glitch or two. Still, paying to maintain a German car makes me cringe. To be fair, however, my previous daily driver was an E39 M5 and I loved that problem-free car for 100,000 miles.

Should this X5 prove to be unreliable, I'll come right out and say I'll be trading it in for a Porsche Cayenne diesel.

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by primeral

Should this X5 prove to be unreliable, I'll come right out and say I'll be trading it in for a Porsche Cayenne diesel.

Now that will be dead reliable

[primeral]

I've heard from a few people that the Cayenne have less problems than the X5. I don't mean to spread rumors if this isn't true, so if there's anyone who can provide hard numbers I'd like to see them.

The majority of problems that i read about with the X5d have to do with clean diesel.

[dubsesd]

Originally Posted by primeral

I've heard from a few people that the Cayenne have less problems than the X5. I don't mean to spread rumors if this isn't true, so if there's anyone who can provide hard numbers I'd like to see them.

The majority of problems that i read about with the X5d have to do with clean diesel.

my friend is a a service manager at bmw and says the x5 with the least problmes are the diesel models. very rarely in for problems comapred to the gas turbo models and the 4.8. my mom has a cayenne s and its trouble free at 100k km, but they are known to have more issues than the x5. any cra you choose will have its share of issues, just choose something in good shape and maintain it

[Lubehead]

Unit107, the replacement of the injector was $1500.00. The EGR cooler was quoted at $1500.00, but I evidently made a good case to the dealer that when they replaced the EGR valve, they apparently did some damage to the cooler. I was told that cannot be as they are two separate items. A meeting with the SA accompanied by a printout of the REALOEM drawing showing that the two parts are actually connected, resulted in the dealer replacing the cooler at no charge.

I give credit to the dealer for stepping up, but it bothers me that a person with a lesser understanding may have replaced all of the injectors at a cost of $3700.00 ( which was the dealer's recommendation) as well as the EGR cooler, and that person would have been none the wiser while the dealer was enriched by over $5k.

Message- it pays to question the recommendations and learn about what is being told to you. I can only assume that there is a certain percentage of BMW owners who just accept the recommendation/diagnosis and just pull out the CC, thinking, it is a BMW after all!

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by Lubehead

Unit107, the replacement of the injector was $1500.00. The EGR cooler was quoted at $1500.00, but I evidently made a good case to the dealer that when they replaced the EGR valve, they apparently did some damage to the cooler. I was told that cannot be as they are two separate items. A meeting with the SA accompanied by a printout of the REALOEM drawing showing that the two parts are actually connected, resulted in the dealer replacing the cooler at no charge.

I give credit to the dealer for stepping up, but it bothers me that a person with a lesser understanding may have replaced all of the injectors at a cost of $3700.00 ( which was the dealer's recommendation) as well as the EGR cooler, and that person would have been none the wiser while the dealer was enriched by over $5k.

Message- it pays to question the recommendations and learn about what is being told to you. I can only assume that there is a certain percentage of BMW owners who just accept the recommendation/diagnosis and just pull out the CC, thinking, it is a BMW after all!

Everything that you wrote is a great advice,but i wonder how a single injector replacement would be $1500 and 6 for $3700.One reman injector is less than $450.They used to be close to a grand a few years ago.

[Lubehead]

Originally Posted by bawareca

Everything that you wrote is a great advice,but i wonder how a single injector replacement would be $1500 and 6 for $3700.One reman injector is less than $450.They used to be close to a grand a few years ago.

Yes, the labor was $1100, the injector was $400. The labor to get at the injectors is about the same whether it's 1 or all 6.

To seattle, yes that is the root cause of the injector issue which I learned because I posted here a few weeks ago.