2001 BMW X5

SUV

4.4i

Automatic

WBAFB33561LH18648

Clear

Up for sale is our 2001 (E53) BMW X5 4.4i, in gold (‘Pearl Beige Metallic’) over tan (‘Pastel Green’) leather. We have owned it since 2008, and it’s been an outstanding vehicle- core reliability, performance, and safety are hard to beat with these, and we have maintained it carefully. But given other vehicles / needs we simply do not use it enough anymore, so it’s time for a new home. Someone who needs a solid, high-performance SUV and appreciates German engineering (and occasionally German engineering quirks) will enjoy this. We have all (3) keys, books / manuals, service records during our ownership, and the original window sticker ($55k). Options include Activity Package (heated front seats, rain sensor, headlight washers), heated steering wheel, Premium Sound, moonroof, and xenon headlights. Condition / maintenance details are as follows; note that all maintenance during our ownership has been performed either by Edge Motorsports in Dublin, CA (well-regarded independent BMW shop) or by me (BMWCCA and PCA member). I’ve attempted to keep this vehicle maintained at a safe, reliable, and functional level, though to be clear I have not given it the fully obsessive treatment that I give to a classic Porsche, etc., as the X5’s primary function has been utility. I’ll rate each major category on a 1-10 scale for a 15-year-old vehicle, with 10 being concours show condition, 5 being average for age (compared roughly to what I’ve seen on other eBay ads, etc.), and 1 being unacceptable.- Body / Paint: 7/10. Color is consistent and clear coat shines well, no sun damage / etc. No known accidents. I have sanded / buffed / polished the surface in the past, and it looks better than most vehicles of its age. But it does have some surface flaws- notably surface blemishes on the right rear door and left C-pillar, as well as a handful of small creases / dents / etc. Interior lower edges of doors have some bubbles / minimal surface rust (was in NY before bringing to CAin 2008) which have not spread since we bought the vehicle- so presumably not an ongoing issue. We always parked the vehicle carefully, in the shade and away from other cars whenever possible.- Interior / Electronics: 8/10. Leather shows only minor wear (driver’s seat) and has no punctures, etc. Treated with Lexol periodically. Carpet has typical discoloring / staining in places, but we’ve used rubber mats (and have carpet mats) during our ownership. Vehicle has the factory (single-disc) premium audio option, which is outstanding for a car stereo- probably the best OEM I’ve ever heard in terms of clarity and power. Not as nice as home audiophile sound, but seriously impressive and one of the car’s best features. Some pixels have recently failed in the stereo / computer display, which is typical of this general era of BMWs, but the display remains legible. Door lock actuators and window regulators (common failures in these cars) have been replaced as needed. - Engine / Driveline: 8/10. No mechanical issues in either during our ownership, and all necessary / scheduled maintenance has been performed. Starts as expected, shifts properly, makes ample power, no noticeable oil consumption. Thermostat and coolant have been replaced as preventative maintenance, as have valve cover gaskets, belts, high-pressure steering hose, etc. Does drip oil from front of engine (likely timing cover) and rear differential (likely differential seals). I have considered this more of an annoyance than anything else, so it has not been high on my maintenance list. But it should be noted. We have always used name-brand (typically Shell or Chevron) 91-octane fuel, and synthetic oil (Castrol per BMW) with OEM-grade filters. Battery is less than a year old.- Suspension / Brakes: 7/10. Handling is excellent, and nearly all front suspension wear parts are new within 5k miles- I replaced upper and lower control arms, tie rod ends, and ball joints, as well as the left-front CV axle (had made occasional noise), to ensure the vehicle drove as well as it should. I adjusted toe-in thereafter for optimal tracking / steering. At that time I cleaned and painted (POR-15) all exposed metal front suspension / brake components (incl. calipers and brackets) for longevity. Critically (for an E53), the rear air suspension works as intended, with no errors. Rear mechanical suspension was checked by Edge and deemed ok, though there is some surface rust visible and I believe occasional bushing noise from one of the control arms. This may also be more occasional annoyance than actual issue, but it’s something I’ve noted. 3 of 4 subframe bushings are original; I will include 3 additional replacements for when needed. Brakes (rotors / pads) have always been replaced as necessary, along with pad wear sensors. Tires (Michelin MXV4 on OEM 18-inch non-staggered wheels) have been rotated as necessary and still have ample tread, but are showing cracks from age (date code 2005) so should be replaced soon for safety purposes, in my opinion.- Other. Brake / tail lights and (mostly rear) turn signals have occasional connection issues, which are noted in the dash display- usually not a safety problem due to redundancy, and typically cured by tightening the relevant socket, which is typical for these vehicles. Headlight lenses currently have visible plastic oxidation on the surface, but I can address this for the buyer if desired before pickup. Rear windshield wiper is currently off of the vehicle (unused- they tend to sag and look unattractive) but will be included, along with various other parts / replacements. Air conditioning is not functioning at present (cause unknown- have not checked), and I left it as-is given I would never use it anyway.Windshield wiper inserts are wearing and should be replaced. No check-engine lights or other warnings are visible, and it has passed CA smog routinely (never any issues). Oil service indicator has one green bar remaining (out of 5). Please ask any questions before bidding. There is no reserve, and vehicle is sold as-is with no warranty expressed or implied. $500 nonrefundable deposit due within 24 hours of auction end, balance due by cashier’s check or wire transfer within 7 days. Vehicle must be picked up in person (Orinda / Lafayette / Moraga, CA) within 14 days of auction end. And I reserve the rights to end the auction early and to disqualify bidders for lack of / poor feedback, etc.