X3 purchase

[Colin_147]

I am about to purchase a 2005 BMW X3 2.0D Sport from a local dealer and I was wondering if anyone can advise what I should be looking out for during the inspection?

I have little knowledge of these cars, and my wife will use this to ferry the kids to school etc. We wont put a lot of mileage on, maybe 5k a year. The car is 2005 with 140k miles.

Appreciate any help/tips

Thanks

[Ninja59]

1) Check whether it is a m47/n47 - the n47 would probably make me check it even more heavilty in regards to the timing chain. The earlier m47 probably check the swirl flaps....

but brutally I would not even bother going and viewing it who the hell buys a diesel to do 5k a year?

[helix402]

2005 will be the good old M47.

[Vee]

The 4wd system on these are very sensitive to tyres.
Long term, using tyres with different circumferences, usually through wear or cheap owners putting the wrong size on, can cause problems.
If you hear any grinding noises from the drivetrain then there could be a problem with the transfer box.

[gf15]

We have a 2004 x3, but it is the 3.0 petrol. Quite a good car. Agree on the tyres. We bought 4 BMW OEM winter wheels with virtually new Conti winter tyres for £300 on eBay (always a good selection available), they are excellent.
Couple of small issues over the last year have been
1: Front windows stopped working - turned out to be a short in the drivers door mirror (FFS, this did my head in for a boxing day afternoon in the rain).
ABS / Speed sensor. Rear passenger side. Took an hour to fix.
Apart from the above, good as gold. Ours just runs a treat. Great on long and short runs. Invariably full of wet spaniels.
Ours is a demon on petrol, with the average being 23mpg, but most runs are less than 5 or 6 miles. No rust, Zenons are a must. Will never love it, but it is a great machine.
Make sure that there are no warning lights on and everything works. Cannot comment on the specifics of the diesel.