New skiddish X5 owner
 

Hey everyone! Have always wanted a BMW and finally found a decent deal on 2000 X5 so I jumped on it. It was leaking a little antifreeze so I took it to the dealer and $1600 dollars later it was fixed. Does anyone have any good stories about the 2000 model or did I buy a money pit. Thanks, Lee

Congrats on the new purchase!
Whether or not you have a money pit depends on a lot of things, most important, the condition of the X5, what kind of care it was given by previous owners, and most of all, if you can do any of the work yourself. Your $1600 repair bill could have been $500-700 in parts (new radiator, water pump and a few hoses) and a few hours of not-too-difficult labor if you had done it yourself.
There's lots of good info on DIY on this site.
If you have to take your X5 to the dealer for every little thing, then yes, its probably going to be a money pit.
Do you have any previous service info on your new ride?

Thanks AK. I love the ride, and you are right. If I keep it, I am going to have to become a mechanic. $1100 of that was labor. I dont know much about the service history. Seems sound, and it has been garage kept. Just a few minor annoyances that probably should be expected with a 7 year old car with 60000 miles. I am just kind of in sticker shock and worried that the next thing will be 3 or 4 thousand. Like I said, Im just skiddish. I am hoping for some good stories about people having good luck with the 2000 model.

:xoutpost: :wavey:

:xoutpost: Also find a good independant mechanic.

Read through some of the articles on the homepage, they address alot of the common minor things that happen.
I have an '01, which is basically the same as the '00 model. No major complaints.
There are a few things to watch out for: window regulators (roll all your windows down and up at least once a week to 'exercise' the regulators), front outer CV boots (tend to rip), water pump and radiator failures (sounds like you have one or both taken care of already: ALL BMWs have water pump and radiator problems :confused:), and a few misc electronic glitches. And if your battery is original, its past the end of its service life and should be replaced right now. Most major parts stores, Costco and Sam's Club all sell replacement batteries for the X5. And if you have any of the pixels on your dash display not working, BMW will replace the instrument cluster for free, you just pay an hour labor.
And yes, if you want to own a used BMW, you either need to pony up the cash for an extended warranty, be prepared to get fleeced at the dealer, or, do what a lot of people on this site do, turn a few wrenches. Most of the stuff that goes wrong with used BMWs are minor and not too complicated to fix, especially with all the infomation available here as a resource.
Good luck! :thumbup:

I DO have bad pixels in the dash display. Can you give me more details about getting it replaced? I Did get an aftermarket warranty and it will help with the major items if they arise. This is a great sight. I feel like I am part of the family now. Thanks

Here is the thread for the pixels.

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...ht=dead+pixels

Welcome:xoutpost:

Thanks DJBOCK and AK. Just called BMW and a rep is going to call me back. Sounds too good to be true.

Welcome Lee! The best thing to do before purchasing a used car (especially one that is very expensive to repair) is to have an independent mechanic give it the once over. If you did that, perhaps you could have talked the seller into lowing the price a bit to get that repair done. Did you get a warranty with your X5? Regardless, you've come to the right place. If you're interested in becoming a pro DIY'er, there are lots of folks here who can help. Congrats on your X and post some pics!!!

I also have a 2000 and the only problem, knock on wood, was a cracked end tank on my radiator. Cheap to fix since I did the work myself. This site in like a BMW handbook. Anything and everything can be answered on here. The knowledge is unbelieveable!!! Also the Pixel Replacement program works. Just had to pay for labor! Welcome to the site and just relax and enjoy the X....

:xoutpost: And ditto what the others have said. Learn to do simple stuff like oil and filter changes yourself at least, and then read the DIY stuff on the homepage to see if you can handle anything else that might crop up. And find a good independent BMW shop.........and by this I don't mean your local gas station.

Yup, figured you did. I got my instrument cluster replaced last month. $95 in labor total out of pocket.

You can also buy just about any part needed for a BMW from independent parts houses on the web. Do a google search, and also search this site for recommendations. Often for less money than dealer, and as an added bonus, the UPS guy drops the parts on your doorstep. And don't be afraid to ask everyone's opinion of a shop before you buy if you are not sure.
:xoutpost:

You bought a first model year X5, hope you have deep pockets as it is probably no longer under a factory warranty. First year runs ALWAYS have problems, I didn't check to see if you posted mileage but I'm guessing it is high. Keep some dollars in the bank as with any 7 year old luxury car, things may go wrong. Not to say they will but don't be too shocked.

First, Congratulations! You will enjoy your ridfe!:thumbup:

Second, I have a 2000 X5 4.4 Production Date 11/99. 70,300 miles.

I am the second owner - the X came off a lease when I bought it and it had 23,000 miles.

No major problems to report. The following have been replaced:

2 window regulators (1 replaced under warranty)
Cluster (replaced under warranty)
Battery (replaced under warranty)
Radiator
Cam Position Sensor
Expansion Tank
Coolant Fluid and Coolant Cap
Several (4) Cooling Hoses
Drive belts

Maintenance:
Synthetic oil changes
2 sets of brake pads (no rotors yet although, it needs them)
1 set of Diamaris Tires
Refreshed Power Steering fluid
Wiper Blades

The X drives tight and strong. The only thing that worries me is the transmission - hopefully it will last another 3 years. I do plan on keeping the car for as long as it keeps on going. My overall experience is that if you maintain your car it will last a long time - just depends on you! I

I hope this info helps.

:iagree: 10,000% welcome to the best BMW site in the world. :thumbup:

Was this done out of warranty? I have a 2002 and have a few dead pixels that are an annoyance.

...and an interesting family it is. You've only experienced the tip of the iceberg! Welcome aboard and thanks for your first post. :thumbup:

See post #8, there is a link to all you need to know.
It is a 'goodwill' warranty by BMW. Doesn't matter if your X is out of warranty or not, they will replace the part, you just pay the labor. :thumbup:

If you know how to turn a wrench and follow instructions, you'll solve most of your problems without emptying your bank account with the helpful posts found on this site. I have an '01 and most of what has gone wrong on mine was remedied by buying the parts and doing it myself with the help from the gracious people here.

Good luck, most of the problems the X5 has can be fixed in your garage and they're usually much easier to fix than you would expect. Good luck, I'm sure you'll find all the advice you need here.