CPO Year Recommendation?
 

Done my research and going for CPO manual X5 to add to the Audi allroad already in garage. (Love German AWD) Is there any year to avoid? Have driven 02 and 05 and really like the new car feel of low mileage 05 model. Willing to spend $30k to $40K so I can get an 05 with a few options and low mileage at the higher end. How are the 03 and 04? Any big differences? Any service items to look for? If anyone knows of a low mileage manual with Nav and Premium Package please point me there; there are none at WWW.BMWUSA.COM right now but they come up from time to time. Great board you have here; thanks in advance for the advice.

Regards, Thom

Well 2000-2001 have issues but if your CPO'd it wouldn't really matter. For your price range you're probably looking at a 03-04 X5. 2004-2005 models are pretty much identical.

Saw quite a few 3.0 options in your price range on autotrader.com. Not sure if any have Nav, but a good amount have very low milage and other options like rear climate and premium sound. You may have a hard time finding Nav - not sure if it's true, but I heard that only 10% of X's hav NAV.

I believe MY 04 and on, gets you XDrive, which is a much smoother and effective use of AWD, if that's a "winter consideration" in your Jersey area. MY04 is also the facelifted model, if that matters.

I would generally go for newer, but the conumdrum is price with newer, which may equate to less options/stuff on your pick, price-wise.

As for that "manual" feature! I like our 5 Sd but it has its own constrictions...I've driven the newer 6 Spd manual and it's "better", espc. at highway cruising speeds. Neither are "fun" in stop and go...my Vette is a dream by comparison, gear box and shifting-wise. The real prob will be finding one. But, if you do, I would hammer the crap outta the dlr or priv. seller, as the demand for manual trans X5s is Very low, imo.

Also, you didn't mention it, but I'd rec'd Sport Pkg for the firmer susp. and better handling, at the trade off of firmness/choppines. Go to a BeamER Stlr and drive both sport and non-sport for comparos.
GL, in your search.
BR,md

I beg to differ...the CPO warranty hasn't protected me from hardly anything that has gone wrong with my 2001 X5 - I would recommend leasing a new one and having everything covered under the factory warranty the whole time.

If budget allows I'd go for '04 and above if not look for an '03 production.

Sorry to hear that. CPO has covered EVERYTHING on my vehicle so far (knock on wood) - including replacing door handles due to excessive scratching.

Just curious what has gone wrong on your CPOed X5?