Considering purchase of '11 X5, 37K miles, engine replaced!

[bawareca]

You guys are going way over your heads here.Since when putting a BRAND NEW BMW engine in a car is bad and unproven?It is not like someone repaired it,they put a brand new one.Engine fails for a many different reasons and there is at least one known problem with this one,the VANOS DEATH.I really cannot figure out how a first owner will abuse this X5 to destroy the engine.Not an easy task

[ard]

Originally Posted by bawareca

You guys are going way over your heads here.Since when putting a BRAND NEW BMW engine in a car is bad and unproven?It is not like someone repaired it,they put a brand new one.Engine fails for a many different reasons and there is at least one known problem with this one,the VANOS DEATH.I really cannot figure out how a first owner will abuse this X5 to destroy the engine.Not an easy task

Does he know this unequivocally, for a fact?

Like a BMW work/repair order stating "new engine"...not carfax, not 'dealer said'.

Not remanned, not shortblock, etc, etc. All new factory engine?

Question: If this brand new engine has no warranty, you still think this is a good move? New engines are always good to go?

OP is going by a lot of TALK. He should stop asking verbal questions and get stuff in writing from the shop that did the work- not the P dealer; not carfax.... Everything that is SAID to him cannot be relied upon. If carfax turns out to be wrong he has zero recourse. (other than a branded title)

Unless OP can get a written document proving the scope of the work, that the work was done by a BMW dealer, and that there is a 2 year warranty, I would pass.

JMHO

[bcb1]

I talked to the SA at the bmw dealer that actually did the engine replacement. He knew the car and he knew the people that owned it. It was a VANOS failure. He said the people were very careful, very meticulous in maintenance but they drove the car after the engine light came on and ended up ruining the engine. This was before the VANOS recall. So the entire short block is new.

So that's the scoop on the engine replacement. According to the SA at the dealer that did the replacement, the engine would be good for 2 years unlimited miles warranty.

[ard]

There you go.

Still nothing in writing, but might be the best you can get.

[bcb1]

Now I'm just crunching numbers to see if I want to make the deal work or not. I've got a completely problem free Chevy Tahoe right now. No drama, it never breaks down, it's just not nearly as much fun to drive as my '05 X5 was.

Other than the X5 the only other vehicle that really appeals to me is the VW Touareg. Not sure if it would be more trouble free than the X5? Price wise they're a little cheaper. I like the styling of the X5 more than the Touareg but I could live with either one.

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by ard

Does he know this unequivocally, for a fact?

Like a BMW work/repair order stating "new engine"...not carfax, not 'dealer said'.

Not remanned, not shortblock, etc, etc. All new factory engine?

Question: If this brand new engine has no warranty, you still think this is a good move? New engines are always good to go?

OP is going by a lot of TALK. He should stop asking verbal questions and get stuff in writing from the shop that did the work- not the P dealer; not carfax.... Everything that is SAID to him cannot be relied upon. If carfax turns out to be wrong he has zero recourse. (other than a branded title)

Unless OP can get a written document proving the scope of the work, that the work was done by a BMW dealer, and that there is a 2 year warranty, I would pass.

JMHO

See,the story turned out good I did not say:"Go and buy this car no matter what.".I was wondering what is bad to buy a used car without warranty,but with a brand new engine.Even if it is has no warranty,it is still a brand new engine from BMW.For how many failed NEW engines did you hear recently?

Originally Posted by bcb1

Other than the X5 the only other vehicle that really appeals to me is the VW Touareg. Not sure if it would be more trouble free than the X5? Price wise they're a little cheaper. I like the styling of the X5 more than the Touareg but I could live with either one.

I would not advice that at all,but many people are happy are happy with Touaregs.However, [newer] VAG group cars are terrible and expensive for repair and the reliability is not better than the BMW.

[ard]

Originally Posted by bawareca

See,the story turned out good I did not say:"Go and buy this car no matter what.".I was wondering what is bad to buy a used car without warranty,but with a brand new engine.Even if it is has no warranty,it is still a brand new engine from BMW.For how many failed NEW engines did you hear recently?

Yep. 100% agree. Once we determined it was in fact a used motor from BMW installed by BMW, the risk drops. But prior to his post the pedigree of the repair was a bit uncertain.

Sometimes (ok, ok...all the time ) I find myself taking an extreme position just people understand the range of risks they are facing- it is so easy for people to confuse advice that is "probably the most likely" for "what I can count on in my situation".

[PAX5]

Originally Posted by bawareca

See,the story turned out good ... For how many failed NEW engines did you hear recently?

... the first engine that was in the car originally ... when IT was NEW ...

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by ard

Yep. 100% agree. Once we determined it was in fact a used motor from BMW installed by BMW, the risk drops. But prior to his post the pedigree of the repair was a bit uncertain.

Sometimes (ok, ok...all the time ) I find myself taking an extreme position just people understand the range of risks they are facing- it is so easy for people to confuse advice that is "probably the most likely" for "what I can count on in my situation".

I understand your extreme position and I always try to "enlighten" people close to me for some dark sides of life.But getting into a used car,modern BMW especially, is so much risk that facts like new engine,new transmission,few details replaced or painted,doesnt change anything anything in the equation.Plus the fact that whatever one thinks he may know about the car may be small or huge part of the real picture.I have seen cars salvaged for a scratch or lost key,and I have seen clean title cars put together with spit and hay wire.But generally,buying cars from the first owner is a safe bet regarding how the car was treated.

Originally Posted by basora

... the first engine that was in the car originally ... when IT was NEW ...

Yup,I am not good with the math,but you can make some calculations to tell us the percentage of failures.So,between all the people here on the forum,between all the cars sold in US(with than engine if you like)that is the first terminal failure I personally heard of.And it is mentioned that the driver ignored the oil light,may be true,may be not.Plus BMW definitely got the things under control and fixed the problem by now.They cannot afford to replace or fix every engine,it makes much more sense to eliminate the reason and be done with it.BMW cars may have many problems,but they are known to fix the problems over time and that goes.That is why usually first years of a new model are junk and the last years are usually bulletproof.
Now you tell us is it better to have the original engine in a used car or one that is brand new and has been installed 3 years later by BMW

[ard]

Originally Posted by bawareca

.But getting into a used car,modern BMW especially, is so much risk that facts like new engine,new transmission,few details replaced or painted,doesnt change anything anything in the equation.

Plus the fact that whatever one thinks he may know about the car may be small or huge part of the real picture.I have seen cars salvaged for a scratch or lost key,and I have seen clean title cars put together with spit and hay wire.But generally,buying cars from the first owner is a safe bet regarding how the car was treated.

+1

Good point.

People think that the harder they inspect the more assurance they have of eliminating all risk.

Another way to look at is would be this...

Take NEW cars. What would you do to a new car- inspection wise- to ensure you will not have failures in the next 4 years. (Irrespective of warranty cover). Nothing. There is a spectrum of reliability that naturally exists in the population, you cannot inspect your way out of it.

So with used cars you check for the big stuff, the easy stuff, the 'baling wire'...but then it is (un)luck of the draw.