Good buy…?

[Chicayne]

Hi all

Thoughts on a 2004 x5 (“e46 spec”) 3.0L diesel with 300K+ kms…looks in very good nic. 1 owner from new with FSH.

1.) Is it a decent buy?
2.) At what price is it more than a decent buy?
3.) Realistically, at that mileage, what preventative maintenance would be recommended? Further considering point 2 above.

TiA👍🏼

 

[Salt]

Hi all

Thoughts on a 2004 x5 (“e46 spec”) 3.0L diesel with 300K+ kms…looks in very good nic. 1 owner from new with FSH.

1.) Is it a decent buy?
2.) At what price is it more than a decent buy?
3.) Realistically, at that mileage, what preventative maintenance would be recommended? Further considering point 2 above.

TiA👍🏼

Bud...in my opinion, if preventative maintenence had not already been done I'll steer clear. I'm not familiar with that spec engine, but for the most part BMW diesel engines do well, but does require looking after at the right intervals. This would include in my opinion and from my experience more regular oil changes than the computer would indicate, a gearbox service between 80k and 100k (assuming it's got a ZF box), diff oil service and some other folks might recommend some other items too. So, if there is proof of such maintenance having taken place I'd give it a pass. But your call.

 

[TurboLlew]

BMW 30d being able to go for many hundreds of thousands depends heavily on maintenance. If it indeed has FSH have a look through it and look at the detail and it will paint a picture of just how well maintained it is.

You need to also see when last the suspension was refreshed/had components changed as well as things like mounts engine/trans etc. If its a one-owner car for this long, chances are they have been done at least once. You just really need to figure out whether you're at the tail end of the life of these things and whether they will have to be done again soon.

The other question is what you are intending to do with it

 

[msm]

+1 to all the valid points covered already.

The window for “preventative” maintenance is well gone with a 20 year old SUV - it’s all down to how well it was already treated and your luck. Yes, pure luck as there’s no telling what will go wrong going forward.

As for your price question- Anything from R50k to R100k price range. But that is irrelevant as you’ll easily spend the same amount in a year or 2 to keep it on the road.

Hence put aside another R50k to R100k (or more, if you don’t DIY) for maintenance/repairs in the first 1-2 years, unless you plan on running it into the ground.

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

We recently sold our X5 3.0d that we've had since 2008.
Those engines last forever and they drive so well. Sold it to @Spiro and I am sure he can give some pointers on what to look for.

 

[Solo Man]

The X5 came out with first a five speed auto (GM and ZF) and then was changed to the six speed ZF auto which is a better auto than the five in all respects. I had both the five and six speed auto 3l diesel X5's and the earlier one (2003 year) GM gearbox was replaced/reconditioned at about 135k kms. The six speed gearbox in the 3l diesel (2005) X5 i had never gave problems. Sold it to my son and he sold it on about 220k kms. Problems experienced was leaking exhaust manifold on the 2005 model which can only be cured by either getting a new one from the agents (double skinned stainless steel)or buying an aftermarket one from the UK (cast iron) which is a much better and cheaper option. Also, the rear suspension wears out and causes negative camber with resultant tyre wear on the inner circumference of the tread. Window regulators are also prone to breaking. Pixels on the dash also prone to disappearing. Very nice car though! Handles like a BMW sedan. Oh, the gas lifts on the rear door were also replaced on my 2005 model X5. The air shocks are also prone to losing air but i never had that problem on either of my X5's. I am not sure when the change in gearbox from five to six speed came about but it came with the face lift. How to determine if it is a six speed face lift is that the front driving lights on the older model has a round plastic insert and the later ones have sort of oval elongated inserts. Sent a frontal picture of the car and i will be able to tell if it is the later model. I personally would not buy the older model due to gearbox failures. I think the motor was also uprated to about 160kw and 500Nm iirc.

 

[Mytfine]

It really is only worth it if the body and interior are immaculate, the gearbox changes properly and the engine has enough of its grunt left, everything else if not changed will have to be, i.e suspension, cooling, oils and filters and maybe tyres.

So if the purchase price leaves you with and extra 30 to 35k for that you good.

 

[Chicayne]

Thanks for the all comments…hopefully looking at one in the next couple days👍🏼