[CorysoTall]

I currently have a 2014 X3 35i and I'm thinking about switching over to cheaper car for the rest of the year before I buy brand new next year. I'm ahead on my loan and have about 5k in equity.

*A few days ago I got a letter from the bankruptcy court, I bought a third party warranty for $1400 cash and now they are bankrupt. So I'm out of a warranty which I really don't like*

Found an 05 645Ci, 6-speed manual, 4.4L V8. This baby is loaded and only has...wait for it....55K MILES!!!!!!!! Super clean car fax, no accidents and all scheduled maintenance was done. It's definitely worth it in money talk, but is it too risky with it being a V8? The miles I love.

Any thoughts or comments are welcome.

[BIG_KID]

I believe the only issues with the V8 is coolant leaking from the coolant tube inside the intake manifold and cross over manifold on the back of the heads.

[MichiganMike]

A 2005 645Ci is more than a decade old and regardless of the miles will likely show its age. Suspension components, electronics, hoses and belts and emission control systems may all be more prone to fail with age. The 645Ci is a complex vehicle and will be expensive to repair and maintain. A loaded version will have that many more things to fail. Take a look at the link below where one owner referred to his 2004 645Ci as a "money pit" and that was written in 2011.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=523866

Do you believe driving a 2014 X3 35i out of warranty is a greater financial risk than a 2005 645Ci? One major repair for the 645Ci may cost thousands of dollars. If you plan to sell the 2005 645Ci next year or trade it for a new car, the market almost certainly will be much more limited than for your 2014 X3 making resale more problematic. There may be little depreciation at this point on a 2005 vehicle, but reselling a 14 year old 6 series with a manual transmission may be not be that easy. Many prospective buyers may be put off by the fact you decided to sell the 645Ci after driving it for only about a year. Buyers may suspect hidden problems or low ball you on price as a result. If you trade the 645Ci, most dealers would offer slightly below auction price, which may be several thousand dollars below what you pay to purchase the vehicle.

FWIW, I purchased a 2005 MINI Cooper S convertible with a manual transmission and 47K miles about two years ago. It was purchased from a dealer and appeared in very good condition with new tires and a good service record. I put $2,000+ into repairs, maintenance and upgrades the first year doing most of the work myself before selling the car. While depreciation was low (I only drove it 3,000 miles), I estimate my 2005 vehicle cost to own for repairs, maintenance, sales tax, etc. totaled more than $4K in a single year. I would expect a 2005 645Ci to be much more costly to own.

For reference, the estimated maintenance and repair costs for a 2012 640i (a turbo 6 cylinder engine) were $7,600 in the fifth year according to Edmunds. I did not find similar data for an older 6 series.

https://www.edmunds.com/bmw/6-series/2012/cost-to-own/

[tracer bullet]

I think by the time you consider taxes, etc. on anything you buy, it wouldn't make sense to own a car for < 1 year. Either keep what you have or get the next one now.

[MichiganMike]

The 2005 645Ci has the N62 engine. Below is a link which discusses common issues with the N62 engine.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=852056

One post lists the following common problems with the N62 engine:
The alternator oil seal
The leaking coolant resovoir
The small coolant recovery hose on top of the rad
The peep hole leak by the water pump on the engine block
The diaphrams on the valve covers
The dreaded valve stem seals
The valvetronic motor malfunction
The bad oil pump caused by bad LOF service

Scheduled maintenance alone may not suffice to optimally maintain a car for more than 10 years. When this 645Ci was new, BMW recommended oil change intervals of 15K miles. Some owners may have changed oil every 2 or 3 years.

[greg2step]

how many miles on the X3 and what if any major maintenance has already been done?

[CorysoTall]

Originally Posted by greg2step

how many miles on the X3 and what if any major maintenance has already been done?

Nothing major has needed to be replaced. 70k on my x3

[doru]

What other said about the N62 engine.
I had an X5 with the N62, and I had to do major work on that car. The engine is identical with the 645.
I had the dreaded "smoke of shame" due to faulty valve stem seals - fixed. The coolant pipe (aluminum that goes through the engine) had also needed to be replaced - another faulty design. Only these 2 repairs if you go to the dealer are over 24 grand. My cost was close to 2 grand, but I did the work myself. To not pull the engine, you need the special AGA tool set. And it's not a question of "if" it's a question of "when" - and usually the ugly head rears after 40-45 k miles. Here are some of the procedures involved, just to be aware.