cleanish_e46 199 Report post Posted September 17 (edited) I wanted to buy something more suitable, than a convertible E36, for our growing family. I started looking at E46, E90, E91, E39, E60, E61, E53, E83 but it became obvious I had an itch to scratch with the X5. After viewing potentially every E53 for sale in and around Auckland, I managed to pick this up for a sharp price. Thank you @Palazzo for the heads up. New Zealand New, Facelift X5 in Black Sapphire Metallic; even with 381,825KM on the clock, this was the most well presented and best driving example in my budget. M57D30TÜ (cast iron block, large-beam forged rods, forged crank, single Garrett turbo etc) with the 6-Speed ZF Transmission, Brucie Bonus of a factory Swirl Flap-less Intake Manifold. Well spec'd with: Sports Package, Black 'Dakota' Leather Upholstery, 19" Style 132 Wheels, Panoramic Glass Roof, Xenon Lights...), the works. Picked the car up on a Sunday and my wife went into labour on the Wednesday, so I dropped it off to the brother @BMTHUG at Apex Automotive on the way to the hospital for an inspection and a bit of a birthday: Serviced the Engine, Transmission, Differential, Transfer Case; everything flushed, new gaskets, fluids and filters. Fresh WoF to boot. Cleaned up quite nicely too once we got home from the hospital. I can live with the minor cosmetic things I'd usually fix, the reason for purchasing this in the first place was to have something the dog and two young kids can enjoy, there is literally no use crying over spilled milk at this stage! Provided they're not total dicks, I like to name a car after the previous owner. < Boris and Rüdi > sitting pretty. Edited September 17 by cleanish_e46 7 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMTHUG 1021 Report post Posted September 17 17 minutes ago, cleanish_e46 said: I wanted to buy something more suitable, than a convertible E36, for our growing family. I started looking at E46, E90, E91, E39, E60, E61, E53, E83 but it became obvious I had an itch to scratch with the X5. After viewing potentially every E53 for sale in and around Auckland, I managed to pick this up for a sharp price. Thank you @Palazzo for the heads up. New Zealand New, Facelift X5 in Black Sapphire Metallic; even with 381,825KM on the clock, this was the most well presented and best driving example in my budget. M57D30TÜ (cast iron block, large-beam forged rods, forged crank, single Garrett turbo etc) with the 6-Speed ZF Transmission, Brucie Bonus of a factory Swirl Flap-less Intake Manifold. Well spec'd with: Sports Package, Black 'Dakota' Leather Upholstery, 19" Style 132 Wheels, Panoramic Glass Roof, Xenon Lights...), the works. Picked the car up on a Sunday and my wife went into labour on the Wednesday, so I dropped it off to the brother @BMTHUG at Apex Automotive on the way to the hospital for an inspection and a bit of a birthday: Serviced the Engine, Transmission, Differential, Transfer Case; everything flushed, new gaskets, fluids and filters. Fresh WoF to boot. Cleaned up quite nicely too once we got home from the hospital. I can live with the minor cosmetic things I'd usually fix, the reason for purchasing this in the first place was to have something the dog and two young kids can enjoy, there is literally no use crying over spilled milk at this stage! Provided they're not total dicks, I like to name a car after the previous owner. < Boris and Rüdi > sitting pretty. Amazing what a difference a transmission flush and filter change along with some new fluid does ay bud? What a pleasure working on her. She's not bad at all for the mileage! I am jealous. I want another one now haha Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleanish_e46 199 Report post Posted September 17 35 minutes ago, BMTHUG said: Amazing what a difference a transmission flush and filter change along with some new fluid does ay bud? What a pleasure working on her. She's not bad at all for the mileage! I am jealous. I want another one now haha Absolutely, thanks again mate. Should’ve brought yours back from the UK! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vass 811 Report post Posted September 17 Awesome purchase man, it's looking mint. Kind of in the same boat at the moment as we're expecting our first in a few months and am looking for a family car for the wife. Tossing up between an X3 & X5 and also leaning towards a diesel for the fuel economy and towing capabilities. Really keen to follow your experience with it, especially being higher mileage. There's one being sold locally to me at 290k km's, which is slightly off-putting but seeing yours still going strong at well beyond that is really encouraging. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleanish_e46 199 Report post Posted September 17 1 hour ago, Vass said: Awesome purchase man, it's looking mint. Kind of in the same boat at the moment as we're expecting our first in a few months and am looking for a family car for the wife. Tossing up between an X3 & X5 and also leaning towards a diesel for the fuel economy and towing capabilities. Really keen to follow your experience with it, especially being higher mileage. There's one being sold locally to me at 290k km's, which is slightly off-putting but seeing yours still going strong at well beyond that is really encouraging. Congratulations mate, my wife has a Mitsubishi Outlander that was the designated family car, but with two kids I could see us both needing something capable of safely getting a kid / the kids around in if the other person is using that. I didn't want an X3, but then I drove one and was pleasantly surprised. Only decided against it because it would have been a squeeze for the dog in the boot. If it's got the service history then don't be put off by the mileage, particularly on the diesel. M57 is proven if serviced, fuel economy is great and plenty of torque if you need to tow something. It's achilees heel is the swirl flaps (if your intake manifold has them) but they're straightforward to blank. Previous owner had spent a bit on the suspension, brakes, tyres etc and was great to deal with so I trusted my gut on the higher mileage. There were quite a few on TradeMe, in your neck of the woods, when I was looking. Just avoid the 5-Speed Transmission (pre-facelift), they always sh*t themselves! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleanish_e46 199 Report post Posted September 26 We made it to the moon 🌚 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neil McCauley 394 Report post Posted September 28 (edited) Quote We've never lost an E53 in space, we're sure as hell not gonna lose one on my watch! Failure is not an option. (possibly paraphrased). Edited September 28 by Neil McCauley 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleanish_e46 199 Report post Posted October 10 Update: I love this car. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleanish_e46 199 Report post Posted October 12 (edited) Family roadie to the BoP. Couple of days in the bush and driving around a mates farm, perfect. Edited October 15 by cleanish_e46 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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