Bought a X5 for $2000.00
 

So I sold my e36 and bought a X5
You ask How does someone buy a X5 for $2000.00?
Let me tell you. I was looking for some thing newer like the E70
Looking to spend at least 10K or so, I kept coming across this add for a 2002 X5 “needs engine work” $3250.00 153,000 miles
I call the seller and ask if it’s drivable? And he answers “sure I drive it all the time”, but it needs work. I made arrangements to go look at it.
When I get there, it looks just like the add. Good condition white car with tan leather interior. I start it up and it sounds fine, but the instrument cluster is not readable and the cel is on.
He goes on to tell me that the dealer wants $3000.00 in repairs, and he’s not going to put that kind of money in it. I take the car for a drive and it runs and feels like new. Offer the guy 2K and he takes it.

What did the car really need?

1 Remove the car from the environment which it was abused all its life.
2 Very good cleaning.(you could not see the symbols on steering wheel)
3 Instrument cluster repair $175.00 didn’t want to try myself
4 Secondary air pump $280.00
5 Oil change $75.00
6 Floor mats $80.00
7 License plate bracket $30.00
8 Misc. parts and trim $60.00
Total $700.00

What motor?

3.0 Motor
HID headlights
No nav
Standard sun roof

Good buy!

Nice score. You need to post some pics :)

Ах ты сукин сын!

Congrats, youll make some money on it if you decide to flip it.

Pics please!

Not bad. I would have jumped all over that. Post pics

So the only problem was the secondary air pump? What was the code for the CEL?

The car had 2 codes
P0491 and P0492
The first thing I checked was the egr valve, good and clean.
I removed the air pump and applied 12v direct. Found the motor tied up. I freed up the motor and it only ran another 5 minutes before tieing up again.
I will post pics as soon I resize them.

I see your in Ohio, how bad is the rust?

While shopping the FL/TX market, I saw a few northeast transplant Xs that were rotted out.

Here are some pics

No rust at all

Beauty. Can't go wrong for that price and such good condition.

Nice work! I love it!

Congrats!!

Great buy.

Who fixed your instrument cluster? Was it only pixels or did it need resetting the gauges?

It was only the ribbon strip for the pixels.
I used these people Best Pixel Repair from Ebay
BMW E38 E39 E53 M5 x5 Land Rover Instrument Cluster Pixel Repair Service | eBay

They were middle of the road on price, good reviews, and close to me.
They did a pefect job, the repair was made the day they received the cluster and also shipped out the same day. The turn around was very fast. They also offer cluster upgrades.

Congrats! Sounds like a great deal! :thumbup:


I did not know that e70 dropped that much in price.

Last time I checked there were totaled e70 still mid 10k.

That's pretty lucky. Good for you.

I guess my experience with a $1500 purchase of a "needs engine work" X5 should fall into the "your life is a warning to others" category. I think I am the 4th owner. Bought it with 127k miles or so.

I bought a 2001 X5 4.4i knowing that it needed engine work (engine had been pulled). The timing guides were _really_ worn, but nothing was broken. I rebuilt the engine then started trying to get it back together. The rebuild was fun and what I was expecting. I replaced all the hoses, cooling parts, wear parts, etc. and completely solved head gasket leaks and main seal leak in the process. The entire vacuum and CCV system was occluded by sludge. Yuck!

Discovered these thrills along the way:
1) Every drive axle had at least one torn CV boot (made me learn how to reboot a CV axle!).
2) DSC module was bad and the "trifecta" lights had been pried off the instrument cluster. Made me wonder how many previous owners ago that had occurred (there was no need to do that to sell a car with the engine out...).
3) Needed usual cluster pixel repair
4) radiator had been punctured by the monkey(s) who removed engine. Same monkey(s) also broke the secondary air pump, auxiliary water pump and crimped the engine wiring harness.
5) At least one ball joint/connecting rod/etc on each corner of the car failed inspection for a torn boot.
6) A bad rear air spring was causing a slow list overnight.

I am not complaining about this. Well, ok, I will bitch about the $%#$! who pried the dsc&brake warning lights off the instrument cluster. By the time it is done, I have a 2001 X5 4.4i Sport w/leather, a rebuilt engine that doesn't leak or ooze, all new rubber, all new suspension and the pleasure of knowing how to replace just about everything on it!

Looks great!

Yeh I lucked out on this one.
Not like my last E36 that "just needed the engine put back together"
After dumping 2K into a $600 car that needed nothing.
When I sold it, it still wasn't up to my par but it had to go.
So far after driving this one 2 weeks the only things I want to do is repair the drivers seat bottom and do a little recoding. One thing that I havn't found yet is the "clunk" from the back end. I don't think it's the tailgate, it's sounds like its lower.