Is it worth keeping my X5?
 

I've got a 2008 3.0d X5 which has done 93000 miles. I've had it for a few years now and it's never gone without anything but it's starting to develop a number of issues:
1. EGR value and pressure sensor need replacing
2. Turbo is whining at low speeds - possibly needs replacing?
3. Lower control arms need replacing.
4. Comfort seat base has too much play and needs replacing.
5. Transmission fluid needs changing.
6. Oil sensor needs replacing

I also hear rumours the DPF can need replacing around 100k too.

Do I spend the £3-5k resolving the issues and look to run it for another few years or put that money towards buying a new X5?

Ideally I'd like to fix it and keep it but I don't want throw good money after bad keeping it on the road.

What do you guys think?

Id put the $ into maintaining this car. Hypothetically 3-5k and you will get 2 more years..youd spend FAR more on 2 years of car payments.

Turbo likely fine, look for air leaks...might be repalted to EGR and pressure sensor codes 9did someone actually diagnose these or just guesses based on codes?)

Control arm is probably just a $60 bushing, whole arm can be replaced the next time.

I just went through this myself. My 2009 35d has 96k on the clock and had some emissions and check engine light issues.

I was ready to call it a day and put in a order for a new. 2016 35d .... Until i finally got around to driving one ;-)

I hated the new steering and the overall ride. In order to get the equivalent of what i have now, i would need to spend $80K and even then i still hated the vaugue steering and overally complicated ride settings.

I ended up deciding to keep my current x5 going simply because i liked it better than the new x5s .. And saving myself a boat load of money whilst im at it.

The emission and check engine light issues were relatively minor, ... And under $300 to fix.

I'm kind of at the same point. My '08 is just shy of 90k. I've had to shell out a few thousand since 50k miles to replace most of the cooling system and a head gasket. Got me thinking about selling it and buying a new model to avoid future repairs. But like the poster above, then I drove a few. Nothing all that special, steering a little less substantial feeling, and interior feels almost identical. Combine that with the more minivan-ish looks, and I'll stick with my '08 for a few more years. I love the way it drives and looks.

Yes handing over cash to your mechanic does sting a little. But even if you spend 1k-2k/year on maintenance...you're still miles ahead of what you'd spend on a new vehicle. And if you can do some of the basic maintenance yourself...

I used to have a gas guzzler ford exploder. However I had no payment. Accounting for the no monthly payment and liability only insurance it worked out that I got an effective 80mpg not the actual 15. It takes a LOT of repairs to make up for a payment. I bought two old (01) x5s this year and paid cash so again no payment. Our "payments" are in the form of $100-200/mo between the two in random broken parts (window wiper arm, cam shaft sensor, door latch). Since I can DIY like nobody's biz they are perfect. I can't imagine driving a non x5 now so am always keeping eye open for a replacement in the case mine gets totaled in a crash.


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Bout to spend 2500-3500K to bring my 2005 4.4 Back up to snuff.
At 115,000 it's time to get a handle on lots of small stuff before they
gets out of hand. But I set aside the coins to make it happen.

Looking at a new one with all my decided bells and whistles will set me back $75,000.
So in my view it only makes sense to try to keep it. The decision as to weather to
put money into it is a personal one based on what I have compared to what I
would get buying new. You decide.

sometimes it kind of works the same way. u can try to sell the car, but get 3-5k less than what it worth because it needs repairs

A lot of those are maintenance items though. I've done my lower control arms already, along with the boost pressure sensor, the transmission drain and fill, both differentials and transfer case. Its just par for the course if you want long term reliability. (no major engine or transmission failure).

Sensors wearing out are a part of life, I've had to change the DEF injector, the glowplug control module, and I'm only at 80k miles

Thanks for all your comments guys. To bring this full circle - I debated trading in my X5 for a newer model but couldn't justify the extra. I've bitten the bullet and instructed BMW to undertake all the required work, excluding the transmission drain. Should have the car back in a few days and I should hopefully have a good few years more motoring.

I'm looking at taking the car to ZF in Germany to change the transmission fluid.

Why going to Germany?Cannot be done in UK?