IMO it depends on how well the X5 has been cared for along the way. I buy BMWs either new or with less then 25,000 miles, usually certified with complete dealer history. I bought my X5 new and have done lots of work on it but very little of the expense and time has been stuff that broke or wore out. Folks that buy any vehicle with around 100,00 miles and 10 plus years old and don't know the complete history are inviting a bad experience. And if they don't DIY they are begging for one.

+1 on the DIY and older x5. In conversation about my X5 when I bump into people at gas station etc, the most common theme is is it expensive to maintain, and I reply no, but only if you can do the repairs yourself. Mine had averaged $40/mo for about three years and about 10,000 miles per year, that's crazy reasonable in my opinion but my last big repair of rear brake lines cost me under $100 including the bubble flare tool where the dealer quotes for that repair were coming in at about $1200 USD.


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Where you finding E53 X5's with less than 25,000 miles????

Back in 2006 etc.


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First portion of post is about purchasing a used vehicle in general. Second portion is about E53s and reasonable expectations of a vehicle with 100,000 plus miles especially if there is no history, don't do a PPI and can't DIY.

E53 w/ no PPI and can't DIY = FUBAR

The E53 has been getting a bit long legged for me...I think I've hit a plateau where I don't want to sink more money into it or time. It's one helluva beater though. I get hit up with offers on it all the time. Nothing new still drives like the E53......if I had to say, maybe I do need to buy a diag tool though instead of hitting up the Indy now to get codes read proper instead of me chasing my tail on parts

NT-510. Best bang for the buck

I am with every poster. I see them every time I take a drive. On Sunday morning I saw at least 5. All 3.0 engines. Even one with failed rear ball joints suspension parts as the rear wheels had over 20 degrees of Negative camber. Just another owner driving the old X5 to the bitter end of lack of maintenance and unaware or not caring. Sad but us posters are dying off every month.
Lack of patience, $$, time, or fallen to the siren's call of the next shiny object. "Its got streaming audio, blue tooth, back up camera, etc etc". Electronic driver entertainment soon to be surpassed by the next wave of technology.
Welcome to the new wave of transport. Sit back and enjoy your latte while technology does the rest.....

:iagree:+1 as I have one also, great little scanner/tool.