High mileage repairs...
 

Ok guys and gals the long list of repairs and costs have dome down to this:

I have an 01 3.0 sport package with 92k miles on it.

Since Jan 2nd, I've already dumped 2grand into the X. These may be some of the problems some of you may experience at higher mileage or may experienced already.

Valve cover gasket ($520 dealer)
Oil seperator ($450 indie mechanic shop)
Frozen door latch ($500 dealer)
Drive Belt and AC Belt ($163 indie mechanic shop)
Tow truck to the dealer ($140)
Slid on ice into a fire hydrant to avoid a car that suddenly stopped in front of me on icey roads ($250 insurance dedtuctable for new front bumper, right front fender, and new 20'' rim)

And now here's some more:

CV boots (outer) ($570 at indie mechanic shop)
Rotors, pads, sensors ($603 both sides in front, indie shop)
Valve cover cracked somehow was leaking oil and smoking = not good ($450 at indie mechanic shop)
Exhaust Cam sensor ($200, indie shop)
Thrust arm bushings ($350, indie shop)

Yup another 2 grand or so..Making the total spent in the last month and a half around 4 grand.. Sadly, I have come to a crossroads, I may sell my X in the next few months after this. I dont think it can handle another winter. I didn't let her go without a fight, But 4 grand in just under 2 months is getting out of hand. It would have been close to twice that if I did everything at the dealer.

astronomical prices.

Its unbelievable...the X has become so unreliable its ridiculous. I had it break down on the freeway in 8 degree weather when the valve cover gasket blew. Then yesterday it was smoking from the hood and I drove it strait to the shop for a cracked valve cover. This shouldn't happen on a luxury automobile of this magnitude. But it does, and I fear it will continue if I hold on to it..

It's an almost 8-year-old vehicle. What do you expect?

You could have saved $140 on the tow if you joined AAA.

Expensive parts and German Cars go hand in hand...

If you really dont want to dump the money on maintenance, then get a toyota 4runner or highlander. I myself have debated whether my recent purchase of an 05 4.4 was such a good idea given that i could have gotten into a new highlander with zero miles and full warranty and fantastic toyota reliability.

Of course it doesnt drive quite the same but the running costs and minimal rate of depreciation really make it a smart buy in comparison.

If you already dumped the money into the car, it looks like you are really set for the next 20,000 miles or so. I'd say keep the car and enjoy it as you have thus far. Everyone has to fix things in their cars from time to time. Don't let that ruin your experience of owning a fun to drive car.

Second M, 7 year old car costs you $2,000 in repairs....ahh..not bad.

I'm looking at the repair list, and minus the insurance ded for avoiding a car, the X seems to have normal car wear items: brakes, rotors, cam sensor, bushings, CV boots, belts....the only oddity would be the valve cover leak but at 90+ thousand miles, that isn't uncommon.

Bottom line, 7yr old luxury vehicle....pay to play :)

Now watch out for the trans to stop working....ouch.

Having a luxury nametag doesnt obstain it from faults, infact bmw's and german cars are known for their electrical problems amongst other things.

A car under any make and model will have this happen when its either abused or maintenance neglected. take your pick... This is not to say that a well maintained car wont break down due to manufacturing defect but the chances are far less. It all goes down to how lucky you are as well...

Think you need to take some time and relax :)

Blown valve covers are not uncommon at all, on any model of vehicle with miles on it. While people tout the Highlander and such, these are POS if you want any form of luxury. We routinely get one when the Bimmer is having work done and every time I can't wait to get back to the BMW. There is no BMW in existence that is a 'good buy', they are all over priced for what they are...vehicles. And yes, you could have bought something else that probably would have lasted longer. And if you happened to buy it used without a warranty...which I don't know is your case...your bad.

Well put, Exactly I agree, I'm just a little heated by it. You're right, I bought the X because of luxury. My Qx4 is nice and reliable, but it handles like crap, it drives like crap, and doesnt look nearly as good as the X. Its ok on the luxury end, Infiniti does a decent job in that aspect. But you're right, its nothing compared to the X. I'm going back and forth in my head about selling it. If I didn't love my X so much this would be an easy decision. But its not!:thumbup:

I wouldn't sell it over 2G's....

Now if the trans goes out followed by a blown motor....dump it :rofl:

:iagree: why sell it when you already put all the $$$ into it?at one point I was thinking the same about selling my X ,but end up keeping it .as the owner of 12th BMW seen i was 18 year old till now, i know its costly to drive the BRAND name luxury cars and will not drive any model beside BMW.

:iagree: All vehicles are going to start costing money the older they get. Its just with these vehicles the parts and the labor are going to cost a little more. I just spent $3-5K in the past year on mine with 130K miles on it (plugs, O2 sensors, cats, CV boots, crankcase hoses, fuel pump, fuel sending unit, water pump, t-stat, belt) - just so happened I had a few items needing repair about the same time I decided to do maintenance items. But now it runs great and I plan on putting many more miles on it. Only thing I am dreading at this point is any tranny repairs/ replacement. On the other hand, my last vehicle was an F150 that I had to replace the tranny TWICE within 175K miles.

I agree with all that had been said at this point you have the potential of a trans failure and few other items due to age. The car is a luxury that will go other 100,000 miles but the cost of repairs is costly. I pay about $600 a month to lease mine, you will probably have similar costs over the long run.

:iagree:

There is a reason a used 2001 X5 costs about 30% of what it did when new.

Get out! Really? It's 30% of original even with 92k miles on it?? That actually sounds pretty good.

Don't know how tight the OP's budget is, but if it was me I'd take the 30% (whatever it amounts to) and use it as a down payment on a new X5!:bmw:

Your lucky only spending 2k.
I've replaced a tranny 8k
Alternator 1k
Redid all 4 brakes $1200
TPS $300
Ice & snow tires $2500
New summer tires $1800

Ive had it for 2 years and only put on 40000kms
Its a 2001 4.4 sport
And it currently has 145000kms (90000 miles)

Thanks for the headlight tip.

My 2000 (4.4) just turned 92k. Bought it 4 years ago at 42k, with new tires. During that time, 3 window regulators, brakes all around, both rear taillight assemblies, radiator (synthetic), 1 set of tires, all pretty normal. Just recently (post 88k), CV axels (not just boots because they cracked, leaked, and the axels themselves wore out), lower control arms, ball joints, new tires. It adds up, but the Germans drive these cars for 250k miles before they give up (yes, cheaper to fix over there). I love the 4.4, but know other people that have has transmission problems, which worries me. The one big thing that happened was my front differential failed. It was within 25 miles after having the CV axels replaced, by a BMW dealership. I had never heard of an X5 front dif failing, and nobody on this website had either. I have an inside friend at BMW parts, and he said the same thinge. I (politely) argued my point over a 2 week period while my car sat waiting for the new dif (they don't stock them because they never fail!) that they must have installed the CV axels wrong, which caused the fluid to drain from the dif (it was all over the underside of the car), which led to the dif failing. In the end, the dealership charged me $0 for a $3k+ repair that was not under warranty.

My wife drives a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is much cheaper to own, and has all the bells and whistles.... but nothing drives like my X5.

jaypete..No prob on the headlights. Hope it works out. Wow, Sounds like you've been through alot with your X.

To all the other posters...I've spent 4k not 2k on my car in the last month and a half. Just to clarify...Sure, some of that is routine maintenance. But other's are not....As far as keeping it or selling it. I haven't made up my mind yet, still back and forth...

Your only feeling this way because you just put 4k out.
Give it some time and youll feel better.
Dont sell your X.

Thanks for the advice...You may be right. To all the other posters thanks for the responses. I appreciate the input...

Um... huh??

I was with you until that sentence... can't make out what you are trying to say...

you could get a beater for the winter months. I'm in upstate NY and drive my old Isuzu Trooper when it gets brutal outside.

No offence, but eight years is nothing (or should be) these days.

I parked my Isuzu because it has a loud valve tick and I don't have time right now to look at it. Other than the alt, clutch and starter, I have needed NOTHING but tune up parts. It is 13 years old with 165K miles. If my $20K Rodeo (which is reputed to be a so-so vehicle) can achive this level of service perfomance, then a $70 BMW should be able to do it too.

Similarly, my 19 yo, 210K RX7 Vert has also been trouble free.

In fact, the last car I had that needed (almost) as much attention as the OP's car was my '71 Pinto. And I purchased that with 129K miles on it and drove it another 100K.

BMWs are nice cars. I like my X, but there is no excuse for such poor quality performance in a vehicle this young, and this expensive.

If you accept (and make excuses for) [poor quality] from BMW, you give them license to continue to produce [poor quality].

If someone built a vehicle that drives and handles like my X5 and is reliable and cheap to fix as a Honda, let me know, I'll be the first one in line to pick one up.

Obviously none of you have ever owned an Audi product. :tsk: