So long, X35D...
 

After tallying up how much the services to date would have cost me (F+R brakes and rotors, EGR cooler, pass. seat airbag sensor, IAT sensor, and other stuff I can't even remember over the past two years), I decided to part ways with my 2010 X5 while the miles were still low.

Next up: a Nissan Murano SL AWD. I'll miss the massive torque, I won't miss paying higher-than-premium for diesel. The Murano is very nicely appointed - power everything, including the lift gate and the fold-down rear seats, keyless entry and ignition, etc.

Enjoy your X5's - I will miss mine, even though I think selling mine and moving on was the right choice for me.

Sorry to hear about your issues. I have a 2011 and have had only 1 issue win the o2 sensors. Still love it and wouldn't even think to change.

I also think Nissan recommends premium unleaded for the best performance and mileage but probably not necessary.

The manual says 87 octane for the hardtop, 91 for the heinous "cross cabriolet" model.

This makes zero sense.

Of course if you want a new car after two years, go for it....

But to say the costs under the warranty for the first two years (which you didn't pay!) somehow have a bearing on a trade in decision when you have two more years of warranty seems odd.

It is also an absolute FACT that you will be worse off financially buying and selling two new cars in four years than one car in four years.

Like I said, having and driving new cars are fine- and how you justify it is your business

I realize that these first 2 years of maintenance items didn't cost me anything, but if they're an indication of repairs I may expect once the warranty expires, I'd rather cut and run. I have an '03 Porsche and a '96 Corvette; the combined repairs for BOTH do not equal what my X5 needed in its first two years of service.

Today was the first time in my life I have traded a car after just two years of ownership. Driving the X5 for two years cost me just $11K (purchase price less what I sold it for)... still enough to pay cash for the Murano and bank nearly $10K. Had I held the X5 for four years and tried to sell it after expiration of the warranty with twice the mileage, this definitely wouldn't have been the case.

Makes sense to me.

or maybe you just buy a used honda element for 8k... use it for 4 yrs and all you have to worry is gas and oil change.... you'll save a lot (im a current honda element owner ) ;)

You didn't ask for advice as it was too late, you already made your decision. Owning hi line cars like BMW's etc, cost real money. Your Porsche is a good one, the X5 you had isn't necessarily a bad one, it may have had some teething problems that may be smoothed out for years to come. In the end, there is always a cost of ownership and the value one perceives is truly theirs to determine. If you liked the vehicle, a reasonable alternative would be to trade or sell and buy a new X5 and always be covered under waranty. If it made you uncomfortable, you made the right decision.

To me the cost of the items you cited is measured in down days of vehicle availability. You cannot measure them in real dollars because they cost you nothing, outside of the inconvenience in dealing with them. Does the fact that you experienced these issues suggest that the vehicle will not be reliable in the future? Not necessarily.

While you have made your decision and are obviously happy with it, it fits yours needs and you are comfortable with it, than all is good. I believe many here would not even consider such an alternative (perhaps an MDX?).

It comes down to the experience and feeling you get from driving a particular vehicle and ones wilingness or ability to pay (or not).

Cost in 2009: 65k

Trade in value 2012: 45k
Cash Back in 2012: 10k
Car value in 2012 $35k

Car Value in 2014: 20k


So net you will take 65k....pull out 10k and have a car with a value of 20k in 4 years. Costs you 35k. (never mind time value of $$)

Had you kept the X5 you would have a car worth X at the end of 4 years. You are positing that the BMW will drop to under 30k? Keeping in mind you or the buyer can add a 100k warranty for $4k.

Hey, these things are- at the end of the day- emotional decisions. I never get 'scared' about repair costs as I can exercise control of them- and at the end of the day a 10 or 20k bill isnt the end of the world. Yes, surely piss me off- and never had to pay one... but it allows me to make decisions that aren't overwhelmingly driven by fear of a bill. 'fear' and not 'risk'- if a risk is 10%, you can perhaps risk it- but if a risk is 2% yet you just cannot accept the exposure, you fear it and avoid it- and usually (not always) pay more.,


Best of luck-

Oh, you should post your vin along with the work done as a way to pay it forward....

A

I understand where there OP is coming from as I had an ML320 needed a lot of warranty work for the 4 years I owned it. It never stranded me, but there was always something going on with it. I normally keep my cars at least 7 years, but the ML320 I got rid of just before the 4 year warranty ran out.

Dont do it...or make sure you drive it.....neighbor has one, rode in it and thought what a POS (Nissan Murano SL AWD)....I would rather hve a TOUAREG or Jeep over the Nissan, but still prefer my 2011 X5D over all of them as well as Audi and Porsche