Your opinion on these engine photos?
 

I'm considering a used 2011 with 30k miles. This dealership is a 5 hour drive
from my house, so I'm trying to glean as much insight as I can from the
photos before driving out to look at it.

These ones of the engine bay bother me for a couple of reasons. What do
you think?

I've requested higher res pics from them and am waiting to hear back.
Thanks

http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/..._A.562x421.jpg

http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/..._A.562x421.jpg

Whats the problem? Or maybe i missed something.

Looks like the DAP is leaking or they did it poor ass job filling it. You can hire a professional to go and look at the car or better yet have them do a PPI.

In the first pic:
I thought the chalky material around the urea fill cap looked strange. And the frame rail (?) next to it looked a dirtier than it should be for a 1 yr old car.

In the 2nd pic:
It thought the intake tube connection looked misaligned or was loose. And the Urea fill cap on that side also appears white. In other pics I've seen the little catch tray, or whatever it is, around the fill cap is black.

I may be over thinking it. I just don't know E70's well enough to tell if that's normal.

Thanks. That's what I suspected. It's tough to buy a car long distance.

Never buy a car unseen. Fly, drive,bike or walk there but never, never buy without having seen it.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. I would never-ever buy without seeing it first. What I'm trying to figure out is if it's worth driving 5 hours to go and look at.

Sorry Digdesign, i'd just get a closer look at your pics and as you say it look strange for a one year old truck. Maybe you can search for another one. there's a lot of used e70's on the market. Good-luck.

IMO 30K miles on an '11 is a red flag. What are the other details on it like---is this at a BMW dealer or non-BMW ? Have you have had the service records pulled ? Need to look at all the details besides just engine pics. My $.02.

It's this one. The reason I'm attracted to it is that it has self-leveling suspension and no 3rd row, and it's a color combo I like.
2011 Used BMW X5 AWD 4dr 35d at BMW of Reading, PA, IID 9243001

I've been back and forth with the dealer all afternoon. I agree there are some red flags, including those engine bay pics and the mileage. Right now I'm leaning toward passing on it. It would have to be a sweeter deal for me to risk driving out to see it.

I attached the the info I was sent:

One thing I don't understand about it is that it has the Premium Package but doesn't have rear climate/tinted windows. I thought that was included in the premium package? It also doesn't have roof rails, which is something I wanted.

Almost 2 years (in 10 days) and 30k, not that bad.
Not sure it's worth passing by for those reasons.

A poor filling methods will render those deposit, really can't understand why they haven't took 10 min. to just clean up the engine bay, other than wanted you to see it's state for yourself, without you thinking that they've cleaned the engine bay just to try and hide something.

Will it be CPO'ed ?

I agree with TriX5, never buy without seeing it for yourself, as I've seen, it wasn't your intention.

Vehicle information


VIN 5UXZW0C53BL371716
Type code ZW03
Type X5 35D X (USA)
E series E70 (MUE)
Series X
Type GEFZG
Steering LL
Doors 5
Engine M57Y
Displacement 3.00
Power 210
Drive ALLR
Transmission AUT
Colour ALPINWEISS 3 (300)
Upholstery LEDER NEVADA/CX OYSTER (LUCX)
Prod.date2010-09-14




https://www.parts.bmwgroup.com/webetk/images/minus.gif Options




S1CAA SELEKTION COP RELEVANTER FAHRZEUGE Selektion COP relevanter Fahrzeuge
S220A NIVEAUREGULIERUNG Self-levelling suspension
S225A SERIENFAHRWERK Standard suspension
S245A LENKSAEULENVERSTELLUNG ELEKTRISCH Steering wheel column adjustment,electr.
S248A LENKRADHEIZUNG Steering wheel heater
S255A SPORT-LEDERLENKRAD Sports leather steering wheel
S2LKA LM RAEDER Y-SPEICHE 335 BMW LA wheel Y spoke 335
S2VBA REIFENDRUCKANZEIGE Tyre pressure control (TPC)
S316A AUTOMATISCHE HECKKLAPPENBETAETIGUNG automatic trunk lid mechanism
S319A INTEGRIERTE UNIVERSAL-FERNBEDIENUNG Integrated universal remote control
P330A SPORTPAKET Sports package
S3AHA RUECKFAHRKAMERA MIT TOP VIEW Reversing camera and Top View
S402A PANORAMA GLASDACH Panorama glass roof
S430A INNEN-/AUSSENSPIEGEL AUT.ABBLENDEND Interior/outside mirror with auto dip

S431A INNENSPIEGEL,AUTOMATISCH ABBLENDEND Interior mirror with automatic-dip




S441A RAUCHERPAKET Smoker package
S459A SITZVERSTELLUNG, ELEKTR.MIT MEMORY Seat adjustment, electric, with memory
S464A SKISACK Ski bag
S481A SPORTSITZE FUER FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Sports seat
S488A LORDOSENSTUETZE FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Lumbar support, driver and passenger
S493A ABLAGENPAKET Storage compartment package
S494A SITZHEIZUNG FUER FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Seat heating driver/passenger
S4AZA EDELHOLZAUS. BAMBUS MASER DUNKEL Fine-wood trim bamboo grain dark
S4NAA INNENSPIEGEL MIT DIGITALEM KOMPASS Interior mirror with digital compass
S502A SCHEINWERFER-WASCHANLAGE Headlight cleaning system
S508APARK DISTANCE CONTROL (PDC) Park Distance Control (PDC)
S534A KLIMAAUTOMATIK Automatic air conditioning
S563A LICHTPAKET Light package
S609A NAVIGATIONSSYSTEM PROFESSIONAL Navigation system Professional

S615A ERWEITERTE BMW ONLINE INFORMATION Extended BMW Online Information


S620A SPRACHEINGABESYSTEM Voice control
S639A KOMPLETTVORB. HANDY USA/CDN Preparation f mobile phone cpl. USA/CDN
S693A SATELLITENTUNER VORBEREITUNG Preparation BMW satellite radio
S697A AREA-CODE 1 Area-Code 1 for DVD
S6AAA BMW TELESERVICES BMW TeleServices
S6ABA STEUERUNG TELESERVICES Control, Teleservices
S6UHA TRAFFIC INFORMATION Traffic Information
S760A INDIVIDUAL HOCHGLANZ SHADOW LINE High gloss shadow line
S775A INDIVIDUAL DACHHIMMEL ANTHRAZIT Headlining anthracite
S8S4A DECODIERUNG VARIABLE LICHTVERTEILUN Decoding, variable light distribution
S8SCA LAENDERSPEZ. TELESERVICEFREISCH. Telematics access request,country-spec.




https://www.parts.bmwgroup.com/webetk/images/minus.gif Standard equipment


S212A AUSSTATTUNG BREMSANLAGE LAENDER Equipment, brake syst. country-specific
S302A ALARMANLAGEAlarm system
S521A REGENSENSOR Rain sensor
S522A XENON-LICHT Xenon Light
S524A ADAPTIVES KURVENLICHT Adaptive Headlights
S544A GESCHWINDIGKEITSREGEL. MIT BREMSF. Cruise control with brake function
S645A RADIO-STEUERUNG US BMW US Radio
S823A HEISSLAND-AUSFUEHRUNG Hot-climate version
S853A SPRACHVERSION ENGLISCH Language version, English
S876A FUNKFREQUENZ 315 MHZ Radio frequency 315 MHz
S8SLA VORBEREITUNG FUER ANHAENGERKUPPLUNG Trailer coupling preparation
S8SMA FAHRGESTELLNUMMER,V.AUSSEN SICHTBAR Car ident. number visible from outside

Really?

Unseen by who? I would say a PPI by a professional is more important.

My E46 was bought without me seeing it in person - but discussions with the owner, 50+pics, discussions with the SA where the car was serviced, a PPI and discussions with the person performing PPI and I thought I had my bases covered. Car was delivered as described/expected and has performed flawlessly for my nearly three years of ownership.

Bought our X5 similarly. It was only 200 miles away. Deal was in place but was only finalized (full payment made) when we picked it up.

Now that I think about it, I didn't see my E30 before the day which I met the owner halfway between Denver and Phoenix for the sale. In that case, I had previously met the owner and a mutual friend knew the car.

So, it's situational and, at least for me, a blanket 'never' statement doesn't apply...

That "DAVIS #: 97"....

Be careful. I'm not sure how BMW does it but I've seen some other car companies use that and it stands for DAys Vehicle is In Shop......

Good for you, if you never had any problems.
I'll NEVER (sorry, couldn't resist :D) let anyone take a judgement call on an expense of that importance.

Yes, I'm my own PPI (some here have an idea of my background), but it doesn't matter.
For that kind of purchase, before final signature on the contract, you need to see it in person.
One's minor flaw could be a dealbreaker for you.

And the opposite's also true (like in this post), a picture's worth a thousand words, but sometimes, the picture talks too much, and is prone to assumptions.

After more than 2 decades in he automobile industry, a decade as an highly specialized mechanic, I still recommend seeing it in person.
And yes, of course, PPI inpection from someone you trust.

As mentioned, good for you, hoping that you won't get struck at 1 point (Murphy's law).

Agree, I certainly recommend seeing it in person. No doubt that's ideal.

Seems like I buy most of my vehicles from out of my area... If its used, I generally do all of the 'homework' (including PPI) up front, agree on the deal, place a deposit and make the deal contingent on final inspection at pickup. If you are dealing with the *right kind* of people, they'll be honest with you and avoid *surprises*. If there are any doubts, I'll keep looking.

Unusual last entry.

8/24 they started work. 9/7 they finished... seems like this had the usual Diesel Emissions issues...charge air temp sensor, reprogramming, SCR cat. Wonder if this was a repurchase or 'assisted trade'??? Anyway, you DO have a warrnty.

I would ONLY buy from a BMW dealer if they are tossing a CPO warranty on it...i'd demand it. The extended warranty from 50-100 is worth $3500 to you, only costs them $2k ish

Maybe search for 'Reading" and see if you can find a BF member to do a driveby for you?

GL

A

Key phrase here. :iagree:

Self-leveling suspension?
 

Didn't know that you can order self-leveling suspension as a stand-alone item on a diesel?

Did not know that. Useful to know if true. Would be very interested to know why the repairs listed do not reflect that shop time. Indeed there is a listing of 89 DAVIS on the 2/28 visit (my old diesel sat for 30 days on a similar visit)