[CapnCook]

Hi Guys,

I sold my 2004 X5 3.0D last week and I'm in the market for a E91.

I love my car toys, and my last 3 BMs have been 'Fully Loaded' (Sport, Nav, Heated Leather, Bluetooth)

Pretty much all my BMs have been high-ish mileage, around the 100k mark and have been pretty good.

My last X5 though, I bought at around 105k and sold it at 145k and it was getting really tired. The engine etc was fine, but things like the door handle, alternator, window regulator, suspension, needed replacing one after another. There was always 'something' wrong with it.

I know X5s have a bit of a reputation for things like this, and before I bought it I was warned by a friend that had one with 70k that they are constantly repairing things, but I thought I'd be fine since I'm used to BMWs with high mileage, but it ended up biting me in the ass and I was forever fixing things. It put me off wanting to drive it for long distances which kind of takes away some of the enjoyment of the car.

Now I'm on the car hunt again and I'm on a bit of a budget (around £8500) I'm wondering should I:

A) Buy an older 2006/7 car with low mileage but basic spec

or

B) Buy a fully loaded 2008/9 car with high mileage.

It seems a no brainer, but I know that if I buy an E91 without Nav for example, It will always bug me that I dont have it (especially as I've always had it in my BMWs), and I'll probably end up doing a retrofit later down the line at huge expense.

But if I buy a 2009 car with 130k on that's fully loaded, I'll love all the toys, but I don't want to be back to spending my whole life at the BMW parts desk and under the bonnet again.

A few examples here:

2006 Basic Spec with 89k £8995:

2009 Fully loaded with 140k £8350

Can anyone offer any advice as to how these cars hold up after £130k with regular maintainance? And would a newer (2009) car with high mileage still be just as problematic as say; my 2004 X5 3.0d with 140k on the clock.

Any advice greatly appriciated guys!

Thanks in advance

[DuckySpud]

I would personally as long as there is a proper service history, go for a fully loaded high mileage car. Obviously goes without saying that you should test drive it and make sure there are no nasty bangs or clunks.

I went for a basic spec low mileage (well, 60k) when I bought mine but now regret not going for an msport at least, having nav and xenons would also be a massive bonus that I regret not getting now. Would happily go for a well maintained high spec high mileage car instead in hindsight...

[CraigUK]

Both look like nice cars, do your research about timing chain issues, I'm sure that the 2009 car could potentially be affected. The early car will be before dpf too which is one less thing to worry about.

[Jase 320d]

Strange that

My old boy had an x5 from new and all it needed in 70k miles was an indicator bulb!

As it needed £2 spent on it he decided a 335d was required

[gIzzE]

I would be more concerned with the manual 'box on it.
Search clutch judder.

It is a horrible 'box imho and made it really hard work, I had a 335i touring and a 320d touring both autos and they were great, had an X1 manual and it was nasty.

If you get one get an auto mate.

[Alex.J]

The 2009 is in timing chain issue age! It's not fully loaded just has nav!

For me if it was a 140k car it would need better wheels, xenons, heated leather, auto fold mirrors, panoramic roof, front and rear pdc etc etc!

I would go for the older model personally!

Or maybe a fully loaded older one?!

[Digitalize]

Mines on 170k, it's fine. As far as I can tell it's needed both thermostats, a pulley clutch, and the blower fan is a bit dodgy and could be replaced. Interior has worn really well other than the obvious wear areas but even they aren't awful. Engine feels great, although I haven't driven a newer one.

Mines pretty basic spec M Sport, but it was under £6k. I'd be trying to get the full spec, and then find out what age/mileage that puts you at. I'd stick to an LCI M Sport too, as they look the best. And I'd probably get an Auto too, my manual isn't great around town.

[CapnCook]

Thanks for the replies guys, they have been very helpful!

My last two BMs have been AUTO so I've been looking forward to getting back into a manual, but I will have a drive first and see if I still feel the same way.

The grey one above wasn't a great example of fully loaded, but thats the type of thing I mean, I would especially like to get the new shape if possible too, but as you can imagine; any LCI models with Nav that are within my budget are 100k milers.

I went to the Nottingham BCA auction on Wednesday and saw a few bargains in the spec I'm after, but even still they were a little over my budget.

Every time I look at an older car, or one that doesn't quite fit the bill; in my head I'm thinking "I could buy that. I could probably change the CCC Nav for the CIC...and maybe swap out the interior for full leather...and possibly change the wheels too...and maybe retrofit heated seats etc etc" and before I know it I've just spent another £3000 on mods in my head before I've even seen the car!

Here's another few examples, I'd love to hear any feedback!

Black 2008 w/Nav etc 124k £7500

Another Black 2008 w/Nav But the Grey interior isn't for me £8999

A good spec low mileage 2007, but it's pricey!

[gIzzE]

I actually like that grey interior, with some piano black or carbon trim that would look great.

From Sept 2007 build there was a few efficient dynamics mods added, car went to 177bhp and tend to get a fair bit better consumption.
Straight tail pipe is a clue, but be careful as many fitted that anyway.

[buckethead]

the 2007 car is a 163bhp & the mileage is right about where the turbo goes bang

[achu]

i think you should get a fully loaded high mileage one, it's probably seen more motorway miles so it's minor... but something as high as 150k is worrying, i would probably pay a mechanic to just come and see it with me on a 2nd visit... i'm pretty good with cars but nothing is as good as an expert opinion lol...

also get a facelift (lci)! they look sooo much better

ps. i love that 2009 model in your first post!

[Alex.J]

Originally Posted by buckethead

the 2007 car is a 163bhp & the mileage is right about where the turbo goes bang

Yeah cause every m47 engined cars turbo goes bang!

Very few have and it's down to bad servicing and blocked breather filters!

The cars that have blown turbos show no pattern either on mileage!

[Brian mc21]

Mine could be for sale soon though I'm across the pond from you. 07 m sport on 64k with bmw service history. Would upload a pic but can't work photobucket at the minute as it's changed since I used it last

[oldbilly]

When looking for an e91 I was looking at high mileage examples started with the 320d but after much research decided on the 330d the m57 engine is about the best all rounder and after driving one I was hooked!
I've owned my 2006 330d e91 m sport for over 2 years and brought it at 130k with fbmwsh its now done 150k running well and looks and drives like one half the mileage, black paintwork, leather, idrive ect, and almost fully loaded done the dpf and egr delete with an ecotune pipe and remap resulting in a huge amount of torque but still return excellent mpg , I do everything myself and apart from an intermittent problem over the last few months which has been cured by fitting a new alternator so I cant complain, when I first brought the car I carried out a full service in addition changing both the main and egr thermostats to ensure optimum performance and mpg, as long as your purchase has been serviced regularly and a full history you should not have a problem.

[CapnCook]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I have considered the 330d but the fuel economy is more important to me at the moment so if I can squeeze a few extra mpg out the 320 or a 318 that'll do me nicely.

Most of your replies have made me feel a little better about a higher mileage car that's been well maintained. I'm comparing that 2009 to my X5 but I suppose it is 5 years newer than mine and hopefully if it is mainly motorway mileage it should be in decent mechanical shape.

The big problem with my X5 was that at almost 10 years old; all the rubber/plastic parts started to perish, clips on the doorcards went hard and brittle, rattles were everywhere.

Brian_mc21 - I'm interested, it's a great looking car. Does it have Nav?

[Jase 320d]

Originally Posted by Alex.J

Yeah cause every m47 engined cars turbo goes bang!

Very few have and it's down to bad servicing and blocked breather filters!

The cars that have blown turbos show no pattern either on mileage!

Im scared mine will blow up too







Not!
Internet scare mongering

[buckethead]

Don't worry about the turbo on the 2007 car as all the reports of turbos going on 163 bhp mitsubishi turbo & owners faced with £1500 bill should be of no concern...

when looking for a second hand car

[dest]

Im toying with selling mine too, 330d MSport, drive sat nav, heated seats, factory xenons and alcantara seats which I find to be a lot nicer than the non nappa leather!
19" CSL reps with diamond cut face and Eibach Pro springs.
Also has genuine Darkline rear lights and BMW Performance alcantara steering wheel trim that matches the seats.
Best of all, its very very rare in Japan Red (not managed to ever see another 330d in it)
Its currently on approx 107k I think

[Alex.J]

Originally Posted by buckethead

Don't worry about the turbo on the 2007 car as all the reports of turbos going on 163 bhp mitsubishi turbo & owners faced with £1500 bill should be of no concern...

when looking for a second hand car

If you look hard enough every car has a reason not to buy!

Swirl flaps, turbo, timing chain, DPF and the list goes on!

Buy the car you want, in the condition you want that's been serviced and enjoy it!

If it breaks, it breaks, all cars do!

If you listened to everything on the internet you would rule out every car, people only post when things go wrong so of course a search will find faults!

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Brian mc21

Very nice car and well maintained. How much would it go for?

[Brian mc21]

Cap'n cook. No I drive. Fairly basic I would say with alcantara interior. I have a few cosmetic mods on it that can be removed or can be sold as is.
Thanks Sam. My local bm dealer is offering me 7600 on a trade in for it in standard trim so I would imagine I would get a tad more on a private sale. What would it be worth. Cosmetic mods are 19" csl reps, lci halogen headlights with upgraded angel eye LEDs, black line rear lights, BCS back box and the standard grills painted gloss black. Have also carbon wrapped the interior trim.

[CapnCook]

Brian_mc21 & Dest - They're both awesome looking cars but I'm only looking at the 318d/320d, and I need it to have Nav Thanks though!