shadetree30
shadetree30 HalfDork
11/30/15 7:01 p.m.

Are these cars getting into the affordable area yet? Wife wants an SAV but the new ones are unobtainable, so to the Collective I go...

Karacticus
Karacticus Reader
11/30/15 7:22 p.m.

Where does affordable start for you?

Friend just picked up a nice 2009 X5d with 60k miles for around $25k. His wife is never going to give it back to him.

For reliability and complexity's sake, you're probably better off with one of the ones with a normally aspirated straight six.

MINIzguy
MINIzguy Reader
12/1/15 12:27 a.m.

I've seen some early 2000s models with ~12k miles/yr being sold for under $6k on Craigslist. Not a clue what is wrong with them, but that sounds like a bargain. My parents have a '03 six-cylinder one with 128k miles. Hasn't given us major trouble in 12 years and I've been doing the work on it the past 5 years; it hasn't really needed anything besides a thermostat going bad. It does feel like it needs control arm bushings and new shocks/struts, but it isn't critical yet.

cdowd
cdowd HalfDork
12/1/15 8:43 a.m.

I have an 03 with a manual transmission that I bought 5 years ago for ~9k. Mechanically it has been very good. Needed standard BMW cooling stuff at 100k. suspension stuff wears and rattles (not hard to replace). mine has gone through every door handle carrier and window regulator though. I can now replace these in about 20 minutes each. if you have specific questions I am happy to help.

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