Quote:
Originally Posted by Esdras_R
Hello everyone,
Been looking for a while and it seems pretty hard to find X5M's with over 130k,
A little about myself, 33, currently stationed in NY, fly stuff for a living. I have had a fair bit of basic maintenance experience with previous vehicles. Have had Fords, Infinitis, GM's, Dodge, and even a Wrangler. Few motorcycles, most recent is a monster, which I have maintained for the past few years.
I am mechanically inclined and seem to understand basic maintenance needs for an X5.
About the vehicle: It's a Red 2011 with 130K. Bought by a dealership owner from the second owner who had it since 2012 up to about 110k. He has receipts for work from a BMW dealer for about 11k worth of work in the past 4 months. Work includes new valve cover gaskets, oil pan seal, oil pump seal, new transfer case, new water pump and seal, and a new set of rear run flats. He's been driving it from about 110k until now at 130k. All his work was covered by a warranty that he sells though his dealership. I would also get a new policy starting from the date of purchase for 3 years/36k for power train, electrical, and drive assembly from ASC warranty.
The price is 17,500
What are your thoughts? I can afford a few thousand at once for a big repair, with no issue, but would rather not spend 17k to buy and end up spending another 17k in two years for repairs. I feel confident I can do basic maintenance and upkeep including minor repairs on my own. I would just have to get back to turning wrenches, which I'm cool with 
What are things I should expect to break soon? lifespan of turbos? suspension? big ticket items?
Should I just wait? go with an SRT8?
I really appreciate any help, like I said, I have spent hours looking for info on these with high miles, it's been tough. |
As others have mentioned this is a complicated beast to work on. Parts really aren't to bad, its the labor that will kill you so can't recommend you get into a high mileage X5M unless you have one hell of a warranty, or you are going to work on it yourself.
The biggest problem with the n63/s63 platform are the valve stem seals, ccv system, turbo oil return, and turbo coolant lines. Minor but easy to fix issues like coils/plugs and injectors are also a factor on any engine past 100k.
While the engine compartment looks daunting, its actually logically laid out and while extremely time consuming, not too bad to work on. With that being said, a job like the valve stem seals will take the average mechanic 40-60 hours to do. I did them myself and spent well over 120+ hours as I also removed the heads to clean up all the carbon, lap the valves, and do a mild port job. I don't have a lift so had to do it all in car which greatly added to the time.
Below is a video of the valve stem seal replacement on the n63, which save for the upper intake manifolds and minor differences in the CCV lines/intercooler coolant lines, is the exact same job on the s63. If the video doesn't scare you, then go for it. If this is something you don't want to tackle yourself, then make sure you have a warranty that will cover this if you decide to buy. I was consuming 1 quart of oil every 700 miles, after valve steam seals were replaced it dropped to 1/2 a quart every 5K miles. The James Bond smoke screen I left at every stop light also stopped =). If you buy, make sure to test the truck by letting it idle for 5min, then watch for any smoke when you take off.
I am at 165K miles now, but like the other member posted, I also did alot of preventative maintenance with new injectors, coils, turbos, vacuum pump, pressure converters, cam sensors, vanos solenoids, etc. Still running 12.6 1/4 mile and 4.2 0-60, not to shabby for such a heavy high mileage beast.