Tips & advice for buying used X5

Hello every1,

i'm new here, and i'm looking to buy an X5, so i need some advice from the experts around here, i know my questions below might been asked here before, in fact i found few but mostly outdated.

so, im moving from NJ to KY end of July, never needed a car till now, i have a friend who owns an X5 and been saying great things about it for the past few years.

Here are my questions:

1- What is the best X5 in the years range 2003-2007?
2- My budget is about $18,000 you think i can get a good car for that price?
3- I'd love to have Navigation, is that possible? Does any of the years above models comes with navigation? or its mostly installed by owners?
4- What do I need to look at (best practice) before selecting my vehicle? (other than carfax and asking for any maintenance records)

Note that i'll probably get it at a car auction (if that would make any difference in your suggestions guys)

Please feel free to add or enlighten me with any alternatives or ideas

thanks

Auction?

Put aside $10k for a rainy day/transmission...otherwise sounds like a plan.

BMWs are not cars for budgets, and not great cars in rural (ie not a lot of independent BMW shops) areas.

Maybe you get lucky, maybe not.

hey Ard thanks for your reply,

So you are saying i should not get it at a car auction? where would you recommend me to get it ? a dealer? and what difference does it make?

this is my first time to buy a car in the US, so any advice will really make a difference

thanks

Post your *approximate* KY location, hopefully forum folks based in that general area can recommend one or more reputable Indy shops that work on BMWs. If none and nearest dealer is 200miles away, this could be the beginning of your nightmare.

Never attempted an auction . . . IMO do not try it on a car that is expensive to repair . . .

thanks for the advice RPsX5d, I will take it seriously,

the reason i thought of an auction is that i have a friend who is working at Car Auction Place in Long Island NY, and said he can get me a good condition car at low price, not sure how far is that from truth

I will be at Lexington, KY but i'm willing to buy it from around here where I am now (Weehawken, NJ)

Originally Posted by LeperMessiah

What is the best X5 in the years range 2003-2007?

I think you should be asking in E53 forum

Good advice about checking for quality BMW indys in your new location. The last thing you want is to have to go 150 miles to get a problem resolved. You actually might be better off with a Toyota 4-Runner, Jeep, Nissan Pathfinder or one of the GM triplets. BMWs's are expensive to fix and maintain -- especially older ones when things start to wear out and break. Compounds the problem when you don't have anyone close to you that can fix it!

Carmax?

OP has never owned a car in America.


IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD SUGGEST any BMW FOR HIS FIRST CAR?

Just buy a toyota. Seriously.

Well, my first (owned) car was 530d which I used for over 6 years... second one is X5

if you buy used car, it is always better to go for better condition car and not for a younger car... I think it refers to all cars, not only BMWs

I agree, BMWs are not cars for budgets

thanks everyone for your advices and hints.


Yes this will be my first car here in the US, while i lived in many other countries and had cars there (and BMWs as well), i mentioned that in order to get more suggestions from you guys about where to get the car (Auction - Dealer) and what i need to look for.

I understand that BWM is not a budget car but rather high end, while i still cannot afford a 35k car i still can manage and maintain a good one, finding indys in my new location will be something ill look for at my new location.

so what I get from your recommendation guys is to find the best car condition possible (regardless to the year but not TOO old as well) am I right? i think im looking at a 2005-2008 with less than 70,000 miles on it

Originally Posted by LeperMessiah

thanks everyone for your advices and hints.


Yes this will be my first car here in the US, while i lived in many other countries and had cars there (and BMWs as well), i mentioned that in order to get more suggestions from you guys about where to get the car (Auction - Dealer) and what i need to look for.

I understand that BWM is not a budget car but rather high end, while i still cannot afford a 35k car i still can manage and maintain a good one, finding indys in my new location will be something ill look for at my new location.

so what I get from your recommendation guys is to find the best car condition possible (regardless to the year but not TOO old as well) am I right? i think im looking at a 2005-2008 with less than 70,000 miles on it

Not to beat a dead horse, but many people 'calibrate' their maintenance costs based on prior (dated) experience... the cars of 2000 are NOT the BMWs of the 1980s.

"Maintenance" is not a big deal, AT ALL. A few oil changes, brakes, fluids.... costs you 1000-1500 a year over the next 5 years. THIS WILL NOT BE YOUR MAJOR COST CENTER.

Modern cars can be bears to troubleshoot and diagnosis- and fix. Without access to BMW TSBs and software, it CAN be very difficult. Frustration abounds when you have a problem that your indy is guessing at.... so you are stuck with dealer prices. And even with indys, prices to fix an $18000 USED car are the same prices to fix a $65000 new car.... a simple Starter will be 1200, a transmission $7000, chasing down a 'high discharge' can take thousands. Power window bad? $400. clogged drain tube in the sunroof? $2500 in damage to the electronics. The list goes on and on. Not everyone gets 'hit', but many do- just be sure you know the risks. And there is NO 'inspection' that will protect you from all.

Unless you can tolerate the risk of a few bad events, there are more reliable choices- which will give you a newer car with less miles. If you can tolerate the risk of a 5-10k hit, then take the chance.

FYI: You should read up on X53 transmission issues...

GL

A

OP, if you're set on getting something from an auction, go buy a Lexus, please.

I wouldn't buy a used BMW unless it got a thorough PPI and was a CPO. Especially not an auction car for dirt cheap prices

ard, u said "there are more reliable choices- which will give you a newer car with less miles."

what other alternatives you think i should look at ?

AutoUnion: this may sound stupid but what is PPI and CPO ? lol

PPI- pre purchase inspection
CPO- BMW's certified pre owned program

Originally Posted by LeperMessiah

ard, u said "there are more reliable choices- which will give you a newer car with less miles."

what other alternatives you think i should look at ?

AutoUnion: this may sound stupid but what is PPI and CPO ? lol

Before ard steps in with his trademark snide remarks (Google first, ask next?), allow me to be the good-cop - yes this is a special break for a newbie . . .

CPO - Certified Pre-Owned
PPI - Pre-purchase inspection

thanks RPsX5d