2006 E53 6spd MT, 187,000 miles, keep or replace
 

Last week I had all the brake lines replaced ($1,500.00) and while the
vehicle was in the shop I started my search for new SUV in the next year or so.

I purchased the 2006 as a CPO in 2/2010 and since that time my total repair costs
amount to around $11,000, starter/alternator/radiator/brake lines/etc.

Note: there does not seem to be an increase in annual repair costs over the last few years
(except the brake line costs which messes up my 1k/yr average)

Note: I do not include maintenance items in the $11,000, tires/oil changes/upgrades.

Note: X5 is not my primary vehicle and is used for ski trips/hauling stuff/etc. So maxmimum trips are about 200 miles.

I have narrowed the new SUV down to another CPO X5 or Ford Explorer ST with
an out the door costs between 55k & 60k and this assumes my current X5
is worth no more that 3k-4k.

So the question is should I purchase an new SUV or use that purchase money to keep the X5
running for another 10 years.
I really like the 6spd and really like the idea of not putting up with all of the new electronic beeping devices.

Note: I assume the new SUV would have minimal value after 10 years

Note: Due to the age of the 2006 x5 I am no longer taxed by the local government,
but the new vehicle would be taxed at about $1,000/Year

Thoughts appreciated

I think only key info missing is current miles on X5…

original post updated, 187,000 miles

And if you DO give up your e53, you are required to continue letting us know about good parts on Craigslist! I’m running two sets of 214’s, a set of 87’s and a set of 215’s…and am always interested in finding more for some reason!


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I use searchtempest which will search all craigslists based on miles from zipcode..

I use 150 miles from Rhode Island which works well for me.

Last week I found OEM front window regulators new in box for $80.00 which
is much better than the $500 from supply houses

So, right now, it costs you a grand a year in repairsto keep going. A new vehicle would cost you a grand a year just in taxes, PLUS everything else. And you're not enthusiastic about the new vehicles?

If you want to move on to something new, that's not unreasonable. But it certainly doesn't sound like cost is the reason to do it.

I'm personally quite enjoying my recently acquired 6MT.

Good luck replacing that. There's no direct replacement for a manual trans X5. I can really only think of similar year Porsche suv's that offered it & they would be just as old. Once the new vehicle goes out of warranty, being newer & even more electronics/modules/dealer only serviceability it has potential to get real ugly on the wallet.

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Yeah... I considered a Cayenne MT, bu they are even rarer than X5s AND VWs are way harder to work on.

(Plus I already own or have access to most of the E53/M54 special tools.)

by "replace" I mean get a newer vehicle. which of course would not be a manual.

I've looked at the Cayenne, they have less cubic feet in the back and I
can get at least 1/3 cord of wood in the back of the x5.

Also I think the last manual Cayenne was 2013 or something like that
so it is also getting older and might have repair costs.

The cost of repairs by keeping the X5 you have is a crapshoot as is the cost of purchasing any other used vehicle. Often the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know.

If you decide to purchase a used vehicle the key is to be patient and flexible on color and interior, even the accessories. Look for a vehicle with less than 75,000 miles, with full service and repair records, passes a PPI, clean Carfax, 3 owners or less.

If over 75,000, one that has the major items like a suspension rebuild done. It is always better to find what you really like and then if the crapshoot doesn't go your way you at least have some emotional attachment to lesson the blow.

Lastly, do what you would have done before you asked for opinions.

Another thought. If it’s me…if buying used…I’d see what kind of support forums may or may not be available for vehicle choices. I, for one, appreciate that THIS community isn’t full of a-holes. Sure, a few here and there, but most have moved on pretty quickly.


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I should have watched the video before commenting. You obviously know what you are doing. I enjoyed the video and your daughter is precious. I don't intend to trade in my wife but I would faint if she did anything that had to do with our vehicles.

Welcome!

Only you can decide but if I'm reading your tone correctly, it seems like you're worried about more big $$ items going bad in the near future with this vehicle and not necessarily that you want a big infotainment screen and massaging seats. If that's the case, I say keep the current X5. The cost of newer vehicles is insane, especially with the way the market is right now. You have to reaaaaally want one. There's also no guarantee that a new vehicle will stay out of the shop either and you have a backup car in the event the X5 does go down for any reason.

I did the brake line by myself, it was a real challenege but I ended up with a DIY in this forum.
Cost = ~ $100 including lines and tools etc.

When the car gets to this age > 120K etc., it pays to DIY.
If not, the cost at the shop is insane for old cars...

Just learn the basic routine maintenance and keep the car.

My 2006 X5 3.0i 6spMT has only ~140K or so...

Good thread, good opin posts...

Slightly similar situ here, with our '01 5 Spd Sport E53 with ~129,000 miles.

It is our 3rd car in the garage, used as a very occasional DD and for 2-3 road trips north to NJ to see our adult Kids/fams. It carries/hauls stuff like no other SUV its 'size'. Fun to drive, still looks remarkably 'fresh' for its 2+ decade design age, etc.

Haven't done an audit but have probably spent well under 'a $ thousand' per year the past several years. I suspect I could sell it to a friend/forum friend in a NY Minute, but what does a few grand do for me?!

Still runs well and I would climb in and drive it a long way, with fingers slightly crossed.

Very few SUVs out there in Car Land, new or used, peek my interest. We could afford to pay cash for most any car, but few are on the short list in terms of replacing that E53.

Only the OP can decide his on his conundrum, but for what he states he uses it for, the only downside even for spending X amount of $ a year, is that something goes 'boom' on one of those ski trips.

Our E53 needs a non working gas gauge R&R'd, and it is suffering the long time squeaking/chirping HVAC fan blower symptom, but otherwise it runs like a top...

Many of us are overly attached to our old E53s, including me, but at my age I keep my CEO in a new car every 5ish years, and just keep driving/enjoying my '01 E53 and our '02 VetteVert.

Wishing the OP a rational decision, but I suggest keeping the sumbitch for another couple/few years. :thumbup:;)
GL, mD

^Agreed with mD. Most of us are overly attached to our E53 and occasionally have the same bad thoughts => https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...-thoughts.html

Our 2004 E53 just crossed 150,000 miles and still runs/drives perfectly. Just saw a couple drops of fluid in the driveway over the weekend near the front passenger side tire...needs some more investigation. It didn't needed much (other than basic maintenance) over the past 5 years. But the occasional unpleasant thoughts still lingers...

2006 E53 6spd MT, 187,000 miles, keep or replace
 

They ARE great trucks! Between 92k-141k miles (7yrs) My 3.0i only needed major work from the transmission oil line popping off. Other than that, it was VERY economical!

KEEP IT!!!


The $1500 you put in is only 3 months of loan payments for a CPO vehicle. You get to drive what you have free for another 9 months plus.



Brake lines do rust out on these X5s in the northeast (been there done that in NJ). But once replaced you should be good for another 15 years. And if the shop used copper-nickel lines they should last a lifetime.



"I really like the 6spd and really like the idea of not putting up with all of the new electronic beeping devices." AGREE! I have an 05 6 Speed MT and I recently drove a 2018 X5 and it was full of electronic bullshit which I did not like!

"Note: I assume the new SUV would have minimal value after 10 years" AGREE! It will have the same value as your current X5 10 years from now! NOTHING.

"Note: Due to the age of the 2006 x5 I am no longer taxed by the local government, but the new vehicle would be taxed at about $1,000/Year" WHAT? Where do you live in the Northeast that has ridiculous taxes like that???

the allure of new shiny toys is always there, but I like the less refined feel of older cars for some reason, must be a defect on my side.

We have road taxes here in the netherlands that are even more crazy, and because the X5 is prett heavy it's not cheap. Only after 40 years you don't have to pay that any more...

I'd say try a good testride in the car you fancy and see how you feel about your X5 when you drive home... is it worth the $$$? :D

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1)I normally pay cash for cars, Wife hates payments

2)I'm not sure what type of material the new brake lines are made from, hopefully good stuff (Invoice does not detail material)

3)RI towns currently tax between $35 & $38 per thousand of NADA value.
I think the tax goes away for vehicles valued below $5,000
That tax is suppose to go away in a few years but I've heard fairy tales before.

It's a manual transmission luxury SUV; a market segment that does not exist anymore. It has a massive aftermarket for engine and clutch parts, and it has many parts that interchange with other BMWs. It's from an era that I see as having been the perfect blend of simple old-school engineering, and simple but extremely capable electronics. And due to its age, every issue and electronic module is well documented and can be recoded and reconfigured.

Seats from various BMW chassis will bolt in (E46, E85/E86, E63, maybe more), E38 and E39 use the same gauge cluster, the engine was present in just about all of BMWs model range from that time and can even be replaced with a 2.8l iron block from 96-98, and the Siemens MS43 engine computer has open source tuning software available for it.

It's also one of only 1079 (if I remember the figure correctly) 6-speed manual X5s sold in the USA. Keep it. It's a special vehicle.