FS: 2005 6M/T 3.0i: Alpine White/Black + 4.8is + OEM Euro Clears + etc.
 

I so hope you can find the right buyer for this perfect looking vehicle. Honestly this is the manual transmission E53 that I had dreamed to find when I was in the search for mine a year ago. The Euro clear headlights are an amazing touch, so rare to see in the states.

Alas, a year has passed, my extra money has gone into our house and wedding, and since taking delivery of my Triumph, I would never be able to sell my current X and have extra money to buy yours.


It's sad because all that hard work and money spent will never be gotten back, why are you giving up on the project when it is so close to completion?

I hope one of the forum members buys this car from you and gives you a fair price, obviously it would have to be a TRUE manual transmission enthusiast, 95% of the general public would scoff at this car because "you can get 4.6/4.8is loaded and in pristine shape for that price"

I see the value in it, and if I had the money, this is the E53 I would buy and would drive for another 10 years.

Dude, go put some miles on it!

glws

Wow, I admire the effort.

Now. I am a manual trans enthusiast, and have beep looking for a 6 speed for a second car for a while. Hard to buy a clean one, but for that price, I can buy a real 4.8is. And still have money to buy a manual 3.0.

White on black. Nice. I love that combo... Maybe bc I have that combo.

Ok, no more looking, I am getting jealous of the 4.8is kit on white....

GLWS.

Exactly why I sold my 2nd car this summer and bought my Triumph, my Volkswagen GLI was in pristine shape, tastefully modded and had low mileage, I had a buyer pay what I was asking, fly out from Michigan with cash and drive home same day, sight unseen.

I took that cash, bought my Triumph, and still had 7k left to put into our Air conditioning installation in the house (built in 1952 and the old lady never installed AC lol, so that was our first big spend). For myself, it was a win win because the "money pit" was gone, the wife was happy because we had extra cash for our house, and I was happy because I was "back in the saddle again" to quote Aerosmith.

I know what its like to want to have money for other things, or just to stop throwing it in the "money pit". I realized my VW would never be the fulfilling project I wanted it to be, and plus I was also at that point spending time and money to keep my 03 5-speed in pristine shape, since I bought that in 12/11 it wasn't up to my standard. Plus, I sold my old cycle to buy the X (needed a daily driver that could go anywhere, a 3 inch lowered VW is not that), and I was literally depressed for the first time in almost 5 years not having a motorcycle makes you feel very trapped.


Enough with my story though, GLWS, I know you put a lot of blood sweat and tears into this, honestly though, a good replacement suspension, a set of staggered OEM 20s, and reupholstered pillars (easy fix) would have this car on the road to a buyer. Although not compelte by your standard, it would sell.

Like I said, you just need a purist, and a BMW purist at that. I'm hoping you can get in the 20s for the car with what you put into it, but like i said most are looking at it and expecting 2 more cylinders, or at least a blower on it.

Asking $32,750 ?:yikes:....... I can buy a real 4.8IS and respray it and still come out cheaper then your asking.

Any how....GLWS.

A conversation for another day, but thanks for the kind words about mine and the CEO's home. Built in 1952, I definitely feel like builders cared a bit more back then, the house is definitely solid. We just do the updates we can and its all mostly cosmetic, we are definitely happier fixing up an older home than dealing with nightmare shoddy building quality on a newer home. And like you said, they have soul.

Believe it or not the house has been the most nervewracking thing of the past year, getting married was a breeze :)


GLWS

Some More Pictures
 

More Pictures:

Two More:

Needs exhaust tips and 87 wheels and would be PERFECT.

Again, GLWS.

Does exhaust fit a 4.4??

Yes it does.

So you are asking roughly twice the Kelly Blue Book private party value for this car? Dream on. I don't care HOW good your bodyshop is...a total respray does NOT add value to a car, it reduces value considerably. Nor do any of your custom touches add resale value.

I do wish you luck, but I'd be very surprised if you even get the $20k you paid for the car up front.

See below.

beautiful work, 87s or 168s and it would be absolute perfect.

only thing missing on this car is Sport package in my opinion (i'm a sucker for 3 spoke steering wheels and black headliners)

I think a set of better 20"s will complete the look that much farther....

still wishing best of luck with sale no interior pics though? might help.

Nice color combo. If it wasn't manual, I might've entertained you with an offer.

GLWS nonetheless!

The 6 speed is the best part....

x2 unless you are buying it to be driven by your wife the manual trans I could never see being a deterrent lol!

GLAD TO HEAR IT!

Glad you could keep your baby.

Best thing you could have done is keep it. No other way around it is when you have your mind on doing something your way the unfortunately reality is that it is "your way" and no one else's. So no one but you can appreciate the time, effort and money that you have put into it. Slap some Style 87's on them and call it a day.

Pumped to see the pics!

Car is back on the market. Priced to sell.

So sorry to hear it Ricardo!

Why the price is so low now? .. Too much salt in the water? No bite????

Price is so low because I just want to get this thing out of here.

I finally decided that I just need to give up on the project. There are other things I want to accomplish and, every day that goes by, those things are taking more and more importance and the car less and less.

I'm paying to store and insure it right now and I'm just tired of all the bills when my heart isn't into it anymore.

I need to sell this thing.

Thanks.

Offer away, Gang.

I have to move this thing.

Thanks! :)

PS. I received a couple of PMs on another site about the condition of the interior so I've updated the first post with that information.

Ricardo I hope to help your sale, but you might want to edit your post as your car is not equipped with Sport Package, the gray headliner material and 4 spoke steering wheel is not indicative of Sport Package, sorry just wanted to point that out.

Ran your VIN and this is what comes up:


S1CAA SELEKTION COP RELEVANTER FAHRZEUGE Selection of COP-relevant vehicles
S321A EXTERIEURUMFAENGE IN WAGENFARBE Exterior parts in vehicle colour
S386A DACHRELING Roof railing
S402A PANORAMA GLASDACH Panorama glass roof
S430A INNEN-/AUSSENSPIEGEL AUT.ABBLENDEND Interior/outside mirror with auto dip
S437A EDELHOLZAUSFUEHRUNG Fine wood trim
S441A RAUCHERPAKET Smoker package
S442A GETRAENKEHALTER Drink holder
S459A SITZVERSTELLUNG, ELEKTR.MIT MEMORY Seat adjustment, electric, with memory
S461A SITZLEHNENVERSTELLUNG IM FOND,ELEK. Electric seat backrest adjustment, rear
S488A LORDOSENSTUETZE FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Lumbar support, driver and passenger
S4NAA INNENSPIEGEL MIT DIGITALEM KOMPASS Interior mirror with digital compass
S521A REGENSENSOR Rain sensor
S522A XENON-LICHT Xenon Light
S524A ADAPTIVES KURVENLICHT Adaptive HeadlightsS534A KLIMAAUTOMATIK Automatic air conditioning
S555A BORDCOMPUTER On-board computer V with remote control
S639A KOMPLETTVORB. HANDY USA/CDN Preparation f mobile phone cpl. USA/CDNS650A CD-LAUFWERK CD player
S676A HIFI LAUTSPRECHERSYSTEM HiFi speaker system
S785A WEISSE BLINKLEUCHTEN White direction indicator lights
S8SPA COP STEUERUNG Control unit COP
S926A ERSATZRAD Spare wheel
S945A BERUECKSICHTIGUNG PREISABHAENGK. Dummy-SALAPA


https://www.parts.bmwgroup.com/webetk/images/minus.gif Standard equipment S249A MULITFUNKTION FUER LENKRAD Multifunction f steering wheel
S2KBA LM RAEDER V-SPEICHE 130 BMW LA wheel, V spoke 130
S302A ALARMANLAGE Alarm system
S354A GRUENKEIL-FRONTSCHEIBE Windscreen, green-tinted upper strip
S645A RADIO-STEUERUNG US BMW US RadioS661A RADIO BMW BUSINESS Radio BMW Business (C43)
S692A CD WECHSLER I-BUS VORBEREITUNG Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus
S845A AKUSTISCHE GURTWARNUNG Acoustic fasten seat belt reminder
S853A SPRACHVERSION ENGLISCH Language version, English
S876A FUNKFREQUENZ 315 MHZ Radio frequency 315 MHz
S992A STEUERUNG KENNZEICHENBEFESTIGUNG Control of number-plate attachment

Thanks, Ricky. I've updated the post. I'm not sure why I wrote that.

I will try to take some interior photos and also post them up later today.

Thanks again.

You know by saying you will take it back to stock and giving it to CarMax people will ask you what CarMax is offering. :) vultures. Haha

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

I have a fairly good idea of what Carmax will offer me. Obviously, I won't even bother with offers below that amount. Now, offers ABOVE ... that's a different story.

Would be such a shame to have this sit on a Carmax lot :(

Did you think about trading it on a different BMW? Maybe a BMW dealer would give you a fair value if you worked another car into the deal.

^Yeah, it would be. It's the last thing I want to do but I can't justify having another "get around" car. I already have a DD E53 and the only other thing I would trade this for would be a "project car" for which I don't have space at the moment. Add insurance and storage and I'm paying around $400/mo. for a car I don't even use. Forget it. The costs I'm incurring just to keep it aren't worth the value I'll lose on an outright sale.

Carmax won't keep this car on its lot - it will auction this car to some small, private dealership. If I can't move this thing on the BMW forums, you think Carmax will be able to shift it? Most people going to Carmax are trying to get an SUV for their wives - how many trophy wives do you see who even know what a manual transmission is, much less know how to operate one?

Put that beast in storage coverage... $30/month. Park it under a cover somewhere... free. At least it sounds easy on paper, easier than taking a huge loss.

You might as well DD your M/T X and sell your auto. At least you can enjoy the $ you put into it.

Unfortunately it's a bit more complicated than that. Trust me, I wish I didn't have to do it this way. Alas.

For gosh sakes I hope you aren't selling to CarMax with the exhaust and Euro clear headlights attached Ricardo!

Told my friend about it. Since her E53 broke a timing chain and when I helped her get it fixed two valves are bad. Another $2500 to put into it and I said don't do it.

She doesn't know about a 6 speed. I would do it but I think she would tire of it she said. She knows to drive one at least. :)

GLWS. I will let others know.

Thank you very much, Ricky and Alpine.

Alpine, I have returned your PM.

I have not yet reverted the car back to stock because I was speaking with a potential buyer. I have not heard from the buyer in a few days so I'm giving this until the end of the week before swapping it back to stock.

Motivated to sell. Please don't hesitate to PM me your offers. Very willing to negotiate. Very motivated to sell.

Thanks!

Seriously? No one's interested?

Car's being sold to the dealer or CarMax on Monday morning.

Send me you last ditch or pity offers as you please.

Thanks.

More:

GLWS! If I had the money I'd take that beautiful exhaust off your hands, I'm sure one or two members would be interested in the euro headlights as well.

If your car had Premium/Sport packages I'd probably put my '03 Topaz up for sale because at 10k that's almost even for what mine is worth, and you have a flawless paint job on there. I just have too many options that I like on mine that I'd miss.

Could you not swap the Premium/Sport package options over? I could give you a good deal with all the 4.8is kit and exhaust too if you're serious. PM me to discuss further if you'd like.

I'd love to see this thing go to an enthusiast rather than to CarMax... I'm not kidding - PM me and I'll see if I can work with you (and, of course, with your CEO).

I hit you back via PM, the long and short of it is that if I didn't spend a shitload over the past year and a half of ownership on my '03 to get her in tip top shape, I might consider. But the work involved in the things I'd like to swap over as well as the time and effort to get my '03 sold, not gonna happen.

If you have parts still up for grabs after getting rid of it I will definitely shop your thread though :)

GL!

Man! At $10k no takers? What other sites do you have it listed on? I'm selling mine here in the F/S section and I'm way overpriced

^Yup, no takers.

Anyways, for any one who is wondering ... the car was put back to stock trim today. The OEM 4.8is parts and Euro headlamps and etc. are listed for sale in another thread.

The first offer over $10,000 takes this car in stock trim. Otherwise, it's going to CarMax on Thursday.

Do you have it listed anywhere else? because heres my reasoning... anybody on these boards in specific probably already has an X5... I mentioned this in my post... You tryna sell ice to eskimos here...

Yes, I have it listed on 3 other non-X5-specific forums (one is a non-BMW forum). I haven't even gotten thread responses there. I've only gotten 2 PMs out side of this forum.

Many people sell their X5s here - and fairly quickly. It's the small motor and manual transmission that are hurting me. I'm not, as you say, "tryna sell ice to Eskimos;" I'm trying to sell a car in which (for reasons difficult to accept) people generally are not interested.

With that, I'm sorry to have to say you may not find luck here. You're effectively selling a much older version of my car with one less gear. Try auto trader. You may wind up at CarMax like I have.

Carmax after all?

After all, yes.

And here is a picture of the check receipt in case there are any doubters.

If you squint closely, you can see the sale date and amount in the bottom left corner. Sale date is yesterday (May 30) and the sale price is, as I said before, $10,000.

I don't mean to post this in a self-pitying way. I mean to post this to show that that I'm not the type to exaggerate to obtain sympathy. I do what I say.

Well congrats on your sale and thank u for helping to shed a realistic light on what one should expect in terms of a sale.