Looking at buying a 2009 X5
 

So my 740il had a timing chain failure, and my other car is in the shop from being rear ended. I drove a 2011 x3 yesterday, and have an appointment to drive a 2009 x5 with the v8 today. I will probably buy one of them. Don’t know much about the x series. Anything to look for or check? The x3 is at my local bmw dealership, the x5 is at an independent dealer. Both are with in $100 of each other in price. The x3 has 113k Mike’s the x5 has 105k miles. Thanks for the help.

Can't comment much on the X3 - IMO is small for my needs....

Re. 2009 X5, coming from a 740il you should know already about the maintenance demands and cost of BMW v8's repairs (you can search here about common v8 issues); now, you do not mention mileage and unless the car has a verifiable and complete maintenance history I won't even look at it, plus strongly recommend to do a good pre-purchase inspection

Thanks, I did all the maintenance on both of my 740ils. Water pump valve cover and timing chain cover gaskets etc... the x3 has 113k miles I think, and the x5 has 105k miles. I don’t know ther service history on the x5 yet, but the x3 had pretty much everything.
I thought the x3 was small, but maybe doable as our 2nd car. Other is a large Yukon. From reading through the forums here and doing as much research as I have been able to in the past 16 hours, I am leaning to the X5 even though I haven’t seen it yet. Unless the V8 in the x5 is junk, or has a similar failure like plastic timing chain guides in my 740. Thanks

Well that x5 is not happening. It has a lot wrong with it. Need new front struts and springs. They are broken. Needs valve cover gaskets and vent tubes, rear power hatch is broke, the list goes on and on. They said they were just going to auction it off.

Sounds like a mess. Smart move passing on it. Probably only good for a parts car if it's reasonably optioned.

I did find a X5 xDrive35i SAV local. It is 15k though. 8xk miles on it. How are the 6 cylinders motors in these vs the v8?

I have not driven an I6. But from all reports, they aren't "slow" by any means. At least not the turbo ones (N54 I believe). The original I6 naturally aspirated one (N52) seems like it would be a little anemic in such a heavy chassis. The I6 are certainly better from a maintenance stand point. Much easier to find a good I6 one vs. a V8 one because at the age the E70 platform is at, the 3rd or 4th owners have neglected maintenance or botched it once they found out how expensive paying someone to maintain the V8 can be.

$15k is on the high end of the spectrum, but if the vehicle is really nice and passes a PPI, I would have no problem paying the premium. Good luck on your hunt.

Thanks brought it home for the wife to see. It is an M sport with the twin turbo. So far I freaking love the car

It is going through service and PPI now. They are putting new tires on it and detailing it after a full fluid change. Getting it out the door for $15500

Congrats and can’t wait to see those pictures ;)