2002 BMW X5 4.6is in Imola Red over Black Leather/Alcantara
 

2002 BMW X5 4.6is
125K Miles
5UXFB93552LN79101

In it's day, this was the fastest and most powerful SUV on the market. Back then, BMW didn't have the nerve to put an "M" badge on it, but the X5 4.6is is essentially an "X5 M" in every way except the name.

While it may not be truly rare, the color combination of Imola Red with a black leather/alcantara interior and Imola Red interior trim does make it unusual and hard to find. Overall it's in very good, but not perfect cosmetic condition. There are a few minor scuffs and dings that would be expected in a vehicle of this age.

It has had the major servicing and maintenance that the 340hp M62TUB46 Alpina V8 engine requires. This includes the dreaded timing chain service performed at 109,750 miles. The timing chain guides, all three timing chains, tensioners, camshaft sealing rings, and every associated seal and gasket were replaced. For good measure, the front crankshaft seal, crankcase vent/oil separator, spark plugs, and all vacuum hoses were replaced at the same time. Naturally the valve cover gaskets, upper timing cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, and lots of assorted smaller gaskets and o-rings were also replaced at the same time. This is probably one of the few BMWs with an M62 that doesn't have any oil leaks!

At 109,250 miles it also received a comprehensive cooling system overhaul. All of the usual suspects were replaced. This includes the radiator, expansion tank, water pump, radiator hoses, water pump, serpentine belt, belt tensioner/pulley, valley pan, coolant manifold gasket, intake manifold gaskets, auxiliary water pump, and OEM coolant.

The transmission fluid/filter were replaced at 116K miles with the proper (and crazy-expensive) Esso LT 71141 ATF. Both differentials got new Red Line oil at 108K miles, with the transfer getting new Red Line D4 ATF at the same time.

It has a new battery, Bosch Premium Rebuilt alternator (unrelated to the new battery), front right inner/outer CV boots, VDO throttle body, and flex disk (guibo) on the front driveshaft.

Lots of other items have also been addressed during my ownership: Routine oil/filter changes with Mobile 1, window regulators, washer pump motors, and the like.

I have the receipts for all of the above and they will be included with the X5.

It does have a few minor issues that shouldn't surprise anyone: The rear window shades and cargo privacy cover are inoperative and the headliner is beginning to sag in the cargo area. There is a crease in the rear bumper, courtesy of the previous owner, and the clear coat is peeling a little on the front bumper. It will need front tires in the next few thousand miles, and some of the suspension bushings will need some love soon.

It's 100% rust-free thanks to always having lived in the Southeastern US, completely stock and unmolested, with the exception of installing a MediaBridge Bluetooth module in place of the CD changer, converting all of the interior lights to LED and the addition of an E46 M3 steering wheel with FUNCTIONAL paddle shifters. The navigation computer has also been updated from the original MKIII CD-based system to the MKIV DVD-based version.

Over 60 more photos are available upon request. I have the clear Georgia title in hand and am asking $8,750. You won't find a nicer and better maintained one for less than that, but I'm open to reasonable offers. No trades, though.

Very nice! Surprised there hasn't been any inquiries on this. Best of luck!

Thanks, sidneyj!

I reduced the price to $10,500.

How many owners? Any paint or body work?

I'm the third owner. To the best of my knowledge, there has not been any paint or body work.

Absolutely beautiful truck... GLWS :thumbup:

Thank you!

Would you be able to forward me the additional photos?
[email protected]

Sure can. I sent you a link to a DropBox with photos and a couple videos of the engine running.

Beautiful X5. I've got (2) E38's and used to have an 01' X5 (sold with 198k on it and guides done for $5800)- and miss it a bit. One E38 is undergoing an S62 / Six speed swap, and the other is the daily driver (1998 750iL w/73k) - which I keep thinking about selling and replacing with an X5 for the sake of difference. This would be ideal since you've done so much legwork to get it right. Ahhhh...itll probably be gone by the time I shuffle...but GLWS, Ill keep an eye on it. This or estoril blue is the way, and style 87's are a must!

An E38 with an S62/6MT swap would be incredible. If it also happens to have the Sport package and be Imola over black, well, all I can say is Take My Money Now! I toyed with the idea of converting this X to a 6MT and even started to work on a parts list. But somehow logic prevailed and I decided not to start cutting into it.

It'd been a pipe dream for awhile, then I decided I was at a point to leave it alone and buy something newer or amp it up. It's a 01' Dinan 7 Sport in Stratus Gray. Inside was all tan, so I found a black interior and swapped out the carpet, had the headliner and pillars covered in the knit, and replaced the dash and some other trim pieces so it looks factory. Having the top edge of the door panel dyed to match as well as the carpet inserts. Early in the year I retrofitted the nav with the NBT from a 2016 BMW, glass screen. Thats been a joy.

The donor car for the swap was just luck. A guy in CA was planning in the swap and lost momentum, so he'd assembled a lot of the parts. So I bought it from him and here we go. I had blackstone do an oil analysis to be sure the engine was good, and it was perfect. 2003 M5 with 84k miles was the donor and my car has 89k miles on it, so it was a great mileage match. Even got the M cluster and a UUC front sway bar in the deal. Hopefully itll be done before Christmas.

Excited.

@scotthduke on instagram for some pics along the way - swap starts in a week. Interior and other stuff I just finished mostly.

What’s the vin? Any aftermarket mods/bolt ons, tunes, retrofits etc??




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VIN: 5UXFB93552LN79101

No mods, bolt-ons, tunes, or retrofits with the following exceptions:

• E46 M3 steering wheel with paddle shifters (fully functional)
• Upgrade from MK-III CD-based navigation system to MK-IV DVD-based system
• When I did the timing chain guide service I also performed the VANOS update as a preventative measure. It wasn't showing any symptoms of VANOS problems, but I figured I might as well take care of it "while I was in there".

Everything else is stock/OEM

New price: $9,500

Man....I do like that red...and the fact that an enthusiast has obviously cared for it. Hmmmmmm.....

Thanks! Imola is definitely my favorite.

In about a month I'm going to lose my secured indoor storage. If you're thinking about it, now would be a great time to make an offer. Otherwise I'll have to leave it outside or pay for storage somewhere else. Neither option is particularly appealing to me!

I love this color combination... I wish I could trade my black/black 4.6iS for this one.

Price lowered to $8,750. Man, I'm giving this thing away!

You're going to have to find an enthusiast unfortunately... and we all usually already have an X5 here. To the average buyer you're still above KBB and at high mileage. Those things mean nothing to an enthusiast... but it's not helping you move the vehicle on unfortunately. In another 5-10 years we might start to see these things start to climb in value as nice examples become harder to come by and they are considered enthusiast type vehicles.

Good luck with sale. I hope someone here picks it up from you as it's priced great for a truck that has had chain guide service and is in that color. That rear bumper damage hurts to look at though.

You are correct, sir. To the unwashed masses, this is just a pretty but overpriced SUV. Only fellow enthusiasts understand the importance of things like the timing chain guide service and why it's a big deal, and why this particular example is somewhat special.

Somebody is going to get a helluva deal on this thing!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/362546034742

Good luck with sale. Hope the bidding is in your favor. If only I were in the market...

Sale pending! I'll be closing the eBay auction later today.

I have been following this closely, as I'm in the market for 4.6is. Mechanically this is the type of car I've love to have, but I wanted Estoril Blue. However, this Imola looked stunning and I was thinking about it... Then just saw it on eBay and my jaw dropped at the price. Someone is getting one helluva deal and one helluva X5... Hope it all works out.

Back to my Blue 4.6is searching...

Man, this thing looks so good:drool: Tempting, very tempting...

It is sold. The new owner flew in to Atlanta, took an Uber to me near Macon, then drove home to Michigan.

Sounds like a great ending!! Lucky new owner, hope it keeps on truckin'!

Your buyer from 'that state up north,' as my Ohio relatives would say, made a great deal. Smart to fly down here and pick it up. Hopefully he/she will post on xoutpost on his new wheels .....

He's a member on BFc, but I'm not sure about here.

And yes, he got a hell of a smokin' deal. Brings a tear to me eye just thinking about it.

Congrats on the sale brother. I know it was tough to watch her leave. Such a rare combo. My old one still rides around Atlanta, so I get to see it with some regularity.

OMG im so sad i missed this. i am about to purchase sight unseen 2006 X5 4.8IS with black leather comfort seats and 109k but for 12k... would loved to have picked this up with the alcantra interior didnt mind the 126k miles and M62 instead.. arghh.......



congrats on the sale finally, was a very beautiful example.


any ideas on where the alcantara sport interior can be sourced?

I know this thing is sold but did this have shift paddles??
 

I know this thing is sold but did this have shift paddles on the steering wheel.



If so is there a link or instruction for the modification.

I just finished my install the other day.... not too hard all considered. I didn't bother making the "reverseable" harness. Just soldered right into the existing harness. This thread was the most useful for me:
https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...ions-pics.html

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The "shift paddle mod" is pretty straightforward. You need a steering wheel from an E46 M3 with the SMG transmission. On the particular wheel I had, a previous owner had swapped out the standard plastic shift paddles for ones made from carbon fiber. They had no effect on function - they're purely cosmetic. If you're modding a pre-facelift 4.6is or another X5 with the Sport package, the E46 M3 steering wheel uses the same airbag. So that's a direct swap. The only other part you may need is the slip ring, or "clock spring" assembly. This is the interface that connects the various buttons on the steering wheel to the car's electrical system. I say you may need to replace it because yours may or may not have the electrical connections for the paddle shifters. My X5 did not have the connectors so I had to buy a new part. I waited until I caught one on sale and got it for around $130.

Once you have the parts, the only thing you have to do is run wires from the back of the slip ring down to the center console and tap into the wires for the Steptronic shifter. IIRC, there are 4 wires on the connector and the two in the center are the ones to tap into.

The finished result looks like a factory install. Many people claimed that this mod eliminated or reduced the slight lag when using the console shifter to manually shift. I didn't notice any difference, but it is a lot cooler to use the paddles!

Quick question...

Did the cars that came with the alcantara interior have special versions depending on the paint color??

Like did imola cars have seats that had reddish toned material behind the perforated sections while another car had a different color?

I noticed that your seats have reddish tones but other seats I've seen in other cars that weren't imola had normal looking seats.

I just bought a complete set of eBay but I noticed the seats dont have any red tones at all and look more neutral in the middle behind the black perforation sections.

The only other colors I've seen besides red for the alcantara inserts are blue in Estoril Blue X5s.

so i bought these but i take it i got the wrong ones then. these dont look like imola or estoril inserts they look cream colored.

i was trying to get the right parts to make the car have OEM period correct pieces. the seats are nice but look like they may have been from a non imola/estoril car then.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E53-X5-...72.m2749.l2649


bummer.

hopefully i can unload my black comfort leather interior to recoupe some money for them.