Early V8 X5 - ruinous?

[Naldrett]

Absolutely love the look of this early X5 with small wheels and ambers:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

Even better that it’s still with its original owner, been apparently garaged all its life and is sitting on some nice premium tyres.

And look at the price!

Question is, beyond fuelling, is this likely to be a total money pit at this age / mileage?

[Luke.]

Yes, but it's £2k... Go for it.

[IanA2]

I bought a same year GS 4.3 (V8) Lexus seven years ago.

I'm guessing similar build quality.

Money pit? Nope.

Maybe about 2k spent over that period; about 800.00 squids of that being for a Tony Banks SS exhaust system plus cats.

Excellent car. 150K plus miles, drives like new.

[helix402]

Looks great. Don’t forget you may average 14 mpg.

[Muzzer79]

IanA2 said:

I bought a same year GS 4.3 (V8) Lexus seven years ago.

I'm guessing similar build quality.

[anonymous-user]

Muzzer79 said:

IanA2 said:

I bought a same year GS 4.3 (V8) Lexus seven years ago.

I'm guessing similar build quality.

I was thinking the same thing. Comparing it to a totally different saloon car by a different manufacturer. Odd.

[chrisch77]

If it has lived in Cornwall fo most of its 18 years, I would run a mile - too much sea air and it could a rust bucket underneath!

[IanA2]

Elatino1 said:

Muzzer79 said:

IanA2 said:

I bought a same year GS 4.3 (V8) Lexus seven years ago.

I'm guessing similar build quality.

I was thinking the same thing. Comparing it to a totally different saloon car by a different manufacturer. Odd.

Not really, both premium cars, both V8's, both same year.

Maybe Lexus build quality better, never owned a BMW, owned plenty of MB's SL500, SL60, 2 x 190E 2.00, 2 x ML 500, CLK 55, 420SE, C220, GES 300, SLK320

I'd say only the G the SL's and the 190's were similar build quality. Lexus being better than the rest.
ETA: Forgot the SLK !

Edited by IanA2 on Saturday 13th April 20:32

[anonymous-user]

They are totally different cars from different manufacturers on different continents.

To suggest that the running costs would be the same based on them both being V8 engined premium badged cars is hilarious.

[parabolica]

I assume this is the same 4.4 V8 that goes into the 645? If so the seals start to fail around 100k - mine did and it can be a couple grand to fix. Otherwise, a very tidy looking example.

[naturalaspiration]

I understand facelift has much improved and more robust transfer box. The engine is not an N62 like on 645i but the older M62 - complex still. For a piece of mind I would rather go for the M54 inline six bit those are quite rare.

[gf15]

Wow, what a lot of car for the money.

We had a 1999 740, with the 4.4 v8, super reliable and never used any oil. It needed a new water pump at 140k miles and we sold it at over 205k miles. Fab car.
We also had a 2004 3.0i x3 for 3 years. Bit of a nightmare. Split header tank, numerous ABS sensors, drive shaft between gearbox and front axle ( I just took this off and left in the boot) drivers side window stuck in down position, suspension bushes etc. It was lovely to drive but used about 20% more petrol than the 740. It always had warning lights on for something or other. The final straw was when the "triangle of doom" warning lights came on. We sold it for £975 within a hour of putting it on Atrotrader. It was lovely to drive and very practical on it's winter wheels and tyres, but we were glad to see the back of it.

The genuine winter wheel & tyre package appear on the bay a lot and can be very cheap. We paid £300 for the genuine unused BMW wheels and tyres.

[IanA2]

Elatino1 said:

They are totally different cars from different manufacturers on different continents.

To suggest that the running costs would be the same based on them both being V8 engined premium badged cars is hilarious.

I didn't.

You appear to have restricted thinking processes.

You are however easily amused.

Now kindly bugger off.

[anonymous-user]

IanA2 said:

Elatino1 said:

They are totally different cars from different manufacturers on different continents.

To suggest that the running costs would be the same based on them both being V8 engined premium badged cars is hilarious.

I didn't.

You appear to have restricted thinking processes.

You are however easily amused.

Now kindly bugger off.

IanA2 said:

I bought a same year GS 4.3 (V8) Lexus seven years ago.

I'm guessing similar build quality.

Money pit? Nope.

You seem a bit simple so I will leave you to it. BMWs are not Lexus and saloon cars are not 4x4 type cars so your comment is retarded.
If you are not comparing them then your post is even more pointless and random.

Maybe think before you post in future and you won't make yourself look so stupid.

Have a nice day.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 14th April 08:59

[IanA2]

Elatino1 said:

IanA2 said:

Elatino1 said:

They are totally different cars from different manufacturers on different continents.

To suggest that the running costs would be the same based on them both being V8 engined premium badged cars is hilarious.

I didn't.

You appear to have restricted thinking processes.

You are however easily amused.

Now kindly bugger off.

You seem a bit simple so I will leave you to it. BMWs are not Lexus and saloon cars are not 4x4 type cars so your comment is retarded.

Maybe think before you post in future and you won't make yourself look so stupid.

Have a nice day.

What part of bugger off do you not understand?

Now just bugger off.

Please.

[anonymous-user]

IanA2 said:

What part of bugger off do you not understand?

Now just bugger off.

Please.

I will post where and when I like despite the requests of the hard of thinking like your good self thanks.

[IanA2]

Elatino1 said:

IanA2 said:

What part of bugger off do you not understand?

Now just bugger off.

Please.

I will post where and when I like despite the requests of the hard of thinking like your good self thanks.

Sad.

[d_a_n1979]

Naldrett said:

Absolutely love the look of this early X5 with small wheels and ambers:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

Even better that it’s still with its original owner, been apparently garaged all its life and is sitting on some nice premium tyres.

And look at the price!

Question is, beyond fuelling, is this likely to be a total money pit at this age / mileage?

Looks a good motor IMO

If the seller has a wad of paperwork to back up its history; that's hell of a lot of car for the money and it's not even run in! 118k miles is nothing on the M62 engine...

They have a few foibles, but not a lot goes wrong with them

Get a good look underneath for oil leaks and rust and if all ok; buy it and enjoy the drive home

At the end of the day, the E53 X5 is an E39 on stilts; so a well built interior; smooth gearbox etc

[aeropilot]

chrisch77 said:

If it has lived in Cornwall fo most of its 18 years, I would run a mile - too much sea air and it could a rust bucket underneath!

While cars are much better these days with regard to anti-corrosion protection, I would still be wary of buying a car that has spent a lot or all of its life in a UK coastal location.

[Pica-Pica]

Elatino1 said:

..saloon cars are not 4x4 type cars...

Edited by Elatino1 on Sunday 14th April 08:59

So what is a 4x4 saloon car?