Hello from North Wales

[Bexy]

Evening all.

I've owned a fair few BM's (around 11)and have decided to chop my E60 5 series in for an X5, a car I have coveted from way back when.
I've settled on an E70 diesel and am currently trawling used approved and independent dealers to do me a deal.

I've found a 57 plate 3.0 d de with low miles 50 odd K, one owner, but it's only had two services from new.

It's £15k and is the higher emission model.

Should I be put off by lack of servicing as the cars almost ten years old???

[X5Sport]

As these cars have both time and condition based servicing then two services after 50k is not unusual.  It should have had brake fluid changes every two years as well.

My 6-yr old X6 has only had two services as it only has 36k miles, but the brake fluid service has been done every two years.  I had a 5-yr service inclusive plan so nothing could be done unless the car flagged it.

If you do go for that one then you can always get it serviced immediately. 

Oh and

[graemeX5]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

I would have a read of the helpful guides in the e70 section as they can be a real help.

With regards to your prospective buy being the higher emission and so higher road tax and this may not put you off but it could be it has been for sale fro a while or mean a cheaper purchase price then others.

However, it may be worth considering that when you come to resell it the extra road tax could put others off especially if the specs of the cars are the same

Graeme

[Bexy]

Thanks for replies.

I'm still on the search for a decent example.

I've taken the advice and scrapped the idea of getting a pre 08 car, due to the larger tax £££.

Hopefully will come across something nice soon.

I've travelled far and wide over the last four weeks and seen some real dogs.

[Bexy]

Still on the hunt.

You'll probably guess that I'm a fussy sort, and want to get the very best car for my money.

Anyhow, I've narrowed the search down to a couple of 2011 and 12 plate 30d msports. One has 50k and the 12 plate 69k at a couple of maindealers.

What's everyone's opinion of dealing with these sales sorts???

I'm finding they give you absolutely nothing to close a deal, high Apr on finance and won't budge on prices.

[graemeX5]

Hi

I guess with the main dealer cars they would be an AUC with FBMWSH and cars with a good spec, and so if there are any problems their second hand warranty is generally better, but the prices are usually higher than independents. I guess getting a deal will come down to timing of the salesman target I.e need of monthend of a quarter when they are more keen to do deals to achieve a target, but 4x4 are more sort after in the winter months so the prices stay stronger.

I'm not sure of your budget and buying privately can be a risk but you can get an inspection done to ensure car is ok, but there are several E70 been advertised on the forum and may be worth considered as their prices are likely to be better than a dealer.

Graeme

[graemeX5]

Hi

Here are the links, hth graeme
http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... 256.0.html

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... 714.0.html

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... 794.0.html

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... 663.0.html

[Bexy]

Thanks Graeme.

I'm looking at approved cars for the reasons you stated. I'll have a look at the ones for sale privately.

[knackeredoldman]

Hi Bexy,

I'm in a similar boat. I nearly bought privately yesterday but following the result of a £350 (ish) RAC check I pulled out due to a few amber flags that the vendor wasn't prepared to follow up on with a garage for validation. They might have been nothing but I wasn't prepared to take a punt.

I went back to a garage and ended buying a 30 instead of 35 but feel much better about the whole experience (and it has the newer idrive). The dealers (not main dealer) have a 4.9 / 5 star rating on autotrader and they are the right sort of size (not too big or small) and are putting right a few minor niggles I found when looking over the car.

Good luck.

[Bexy]

Congrats on the motor.

I've put a deposit down on a clean looking (pics and personal video) 2011 30D m sport at a main dealer.

49k miles, decent options and very competitively priced. I'm travelling 200 miles at the weekend to test drive and hopefully buy, so long as the main dealer has been straight up about the condition.

Fingers crossed.

[knackeredoldman]

Sounds great. Good luck!

[Bexy]

Cheers,

Have you had any joy in finding a car?

[Bexy]

Did the deal and collected my 2011 X5 30 d xdrive msport.

So far so good.

[graemeX5]

Look forward to pics and more details of the spec now you've got one

[Bexy]

Will do, as soon as I figure out how to add pics.

It's a 2011 30d msport lci, low miles from BMW Approved. Silver grey metallic, ivory leather.