New guy looking to buy an e53
 

New guy here looking to buy an E53 with manual transmission, for my daughter to learn to drive on on.

Is there a combined list of common problems listed anywhere?

I previously owned an e46, so I''m aware of window regulators and water pumps. What else should I be looking at prior to purchase?

Any help would be much appreciated.

I saw a thread last year with the context of "I just bought what did I get myself into" which answers most of the maintenance questions. Search xo for that thread.

Good luck finding a manual shift though might as well be searching for a diesel in the USA. (It can be done though I'm not being sarcastic just actual luck)


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The CCV failing if not being driven regularly at highway speed can be a huge issue if you are living in a cold climate. Can at best, hydrolock your engine, or at worst, like me....detonate your engine causing me to install a new one. HUGE money! Another issue can be the yaw sensor..not hugely expensive but required a removal of half the interior to replace. Another issue is the sensor pad for the passenger airbag can fail. Some were under recall, some we're not. Mine was not but I found a emulator system that was cheap and easy to install that still allows the bag to deploy but will also deploy if nobody is in the seat. I've heard of cooling system issues here and there. Have not had any other major issues otherwise. Great car, safe and comfortable..a huge gas hog, however. Taught my boys on a 2004 Saab 9-3 manual. Good luck.

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Im in Alabama too and I spent a year hunting for a manual version and ended up settling for an automatic. No regrets. In all honesty I think the automatic was a better fit seeing as I wanted to creep up my driveway which was in bad condition and the automatic was much better suited for that. Plus when we had that ice/snow storm last year the automatic was definitely better suited for that vs the manual.

Last plus for the automatic is the odds on finding a manual trans x5 at ALL are slim so you will have to take what you find.

Going with an automatic allows you to find one that has all the other options you want and to focus more on the overall condition since you wont be settling for what few if any manual ones you may find.

All good info above...I would find some other brand of manual trans car/semi-beater, for your D to learn on.

E53 manuals are like unicorns, though I have our '01 since new.

Other than the higher up seating position, they are heavy, lumbering cars esp for a new driver/slow speed steering/learning the pedals situ, imo.

I am going to teach our 16+ yr old Grand D to drive our VetteVert 6 Spd, so I get your goal.
GL, mD

Still looking for that thread, but I appreciate path to follow.

If you are looking for a manual SAV, consider the E83 as well. They came in manuals too

https://www.bmwcca.org/ads/207991

That one is overpriced by a lot but you get the idea.

I'd consider the E83 maintenance woes to be less than E53. Having owned both, the E83 was very reliable! Same motor as the E53 3.0i as well (up until 2006 I believe)

Much appreciated with the CCV and sensors info. That's the type of things I'm looking for. In hindsight, I wished I had kept my e46...

As far as a gas hog, my wife's AWD 5.7l Durango and my S/C'd Tacoma 4x4 are just as bad. That's the price we pay for wrapping our kids in plenty of steel and having enough room for several sets of golf clubs.

I'm insistent of a manual for several reasons and may end up with a X3 or e90. She's not 15 yet, so I have time to look.

There are a few around and I'm going to look at one in Phoenix next week. I just have to weigh the shipping cost into the purchase price.

Bottom line, if I don't like the way it drives, I'll look into a different vehicle. With that said, if she can learn on a X5 MT, she can probably drive anything in the future. Plus, I don't have to worry about any of her friends asking to borrow her car... :D