Early X5 4.4 V8. Talk to me!

[Sonofabeesting]

Hi

I am about to become a dad so I need a more family friendly car.

I want something safe, practical and reliable. I was looking at early (2002 ish) 4.4 V8 X5's with about 90,000 miles on the clock.

Are these potential big bill cars or should they be fairly robust. What should I be looking out for?

Thanks

[scz4]

I had this engine in my 540i and it never caused any problems, but then it had only done 59k when I sold it.

I do know that there is 4.4 V8 X5 parked up at my local garage with no engine in it, it's been sat there for over 6 months now, can't be a good sign and did make me slightly nervous.

[S800VXR]

Know a few with this engine in various BMW's and no issues at all. So long as its serviced - BMW stealer or DIY I think they are very robust. Think your fuel bills will be steep with an X5 though, Probably better looking at an E39 or E60 possibly...?

[eliot]

Same engine as the 540. So may have the same chocolate cooling system. Check for bowed fins on the radiator, cracked radiator (splash marks around engine bay) and signs of overheating (smells of cooked coolant)

Look for evidence of or be prepared to replace:
New Radiator (bows and tanks crack)
New Expansion tank (cracks)
Water pump (bearings fail)
Thermostat (electric, fails)
Hoses (why not..)
Once it starts nearking 100k. My first rad went at 86k and I should of done the lot then.

Or do what I did and ignore all the advice to change the whole lot in one sitting and do it piecemeal, resulting blowing the new rad a 2nd time when the thermostat packed up.

[E30M3SE]

The engines maybe fine , but, a friend of mine has had a 4.6is and a 4.8is and both of them had suspension issues, expensive one's, the 4.8is had the same issue twice, IIRC circa £2k per fix, second time it happened I saw one of the guys that works for him driving it and it looked like there was a new 'vato' in town.


ETA, X5's are not along with these issues, as another friends petrol 4.4 RR 's suspension collalsed in a similar manner last month, and a couple of months prior the steering colun collapsed on his legs while he was driving along..................

Edited by E30M3SE on Thursday 9th June 14:13

[tgr]

Listen to Eliot. Just replace the lot for no worries in future - and make sure the engine is a good 'un in the first place. The X5 is an enormous, heavy car so I'm not surprised about the suspension issues raised by E30 but I have heard the 4.4 V8 had cooling/head gasket problems - no doubt caused by a marginal cooling system