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Calling all high mileage xi owners (what has broken?)

74K views 227 replies 154 participants last post by  Bhewgs 
#1 ·
I have a xi about to hit 50k...I'm wondering who has put a lot of miles on their xi and what has gone out on it...(related to a mod or not...)

I know my cooling system was replaced by the dealer before I bought it from the original owner @37k, and my front cv boot was leaking a bit...other than that, I have had zero problems. :pimpin:

How 'bout yall?
 
#4 ·
Got it at 74 000 KM (not miles) now at 92 000 KM, alternator, a bolt from the hooking point of my left rear control arm losened causing a BIG rattle and squeequing sound therfor I had both my shocks and top plate change to figure out it was only a %?$**?%& bolt that had to be tightened, had to wheel with a dent in them (soft alloy I was told) causing a shake at highway speed (got my wheel dedented, painted and reconditionned for 100$ each, burns a little oil (about one quart per oil change), my side mirrors are rusting from the back, heating seem insufitiant (always at 32 degrees in winter even with mild temperature), laging trottle (did not find the solution yet), sometimes almost impossible to engage first gear when cold, broken window swiches, thats pretty much it!
 
#6 ·
100,500 miles now, owned it since 58,000

-All front CV Boots
-Passenger window regulator
-Belt tensioner
-Belts
-Control arm bushings
-1 front axle due to bad install
-Shop says one axle seal going into the front differential is leaking....I have yet to see any evidence of this
-Shop also pointed out that the front CABs are going out again.

On the list of To Dos:
-Cooling system overhaul
-Improved waterpump
-Replace hoses if necessary
-Coilovers to replace stock struts and shocks
-change sparkplugs

-
 
#13 ·
Thank god for CPO...ran out Feb..almost cried...

Control Arm Bushings
Themostat
Water Pump
Alternator
Passenger side HID ignitor
Battery
Both tail lights

Plan on doing my expansion tank and radiator in the next month or so..got a quote of $1200 from the dealer ship :tsk:, and $680 from a local BMW mechanic...

It has 93,000 miles on it :shhh:...Bought it at 38,000 miles in Feb 06..
 
#14 ·
80k miles. I've done my front inner CV's and replaced a t-stat. I've got to swap the expansion tank and the front ball joints this spring though. Everything else purrs like a kitten.

Anybody else feel the XI always gets the shaft when it comes to oem/perf part costs and availability? i.e. tie rods for non-xi are $45 ea. at turnermotorsport and our tie rods are $160 ea.
 
#15 ·
Anybody else feel the XI always gets the shaft when it comes to oem/perf part costs and availability? i.e. tie rods for non-xi are $45 ea. at turnermotorsport and our tie rods are $160 ea.
yea seriously.. and no one makes aftermarket hd control arms.. and we are seriously limited when it comes to coilovers.. then you risk breaking control arms when we lower too much..

as far as problems.. ive had to replaced the valve for the secondary air pump and i did control arms, balljoints, bushings, endlinks because the car has 75k and just thought it would be good to change them. worked out great except i have a springy noise over bumps..
 
#16 ·
At 49 got it at 37. Just replaced secondary air pump and control valve. Only code I have had so far (knock wood). Changed spark plugs, had ca bushings replaced under warranty. Cleaned MAF. New air filter, oil changes. Had front interior pillars replaced under warranty.( material was sagging) tensioner replaced also. Other than that it runs great. Changing the plugs made a noticeable difference in this car as far as smoothing out the idle.
 
#18 ·
Got the car at 97k, at 102 now. Replaced the entire cooling system when I got the car as preventative maintenance ($300 plus three hours of my time) Replaced CV boots and control arms ($1200 at the shop).

Other stuff: Sold a/s tires and put on snows ($650 less $350 for old tires). Upgraded headlights (free w00t), AE's (also free w00t), clear corners ($150), m3 lip spoiler ($50), DINAN stage 1 suspension is sitting in the garage ($1100 plus a day of my time to come) waiting for summer along with 18" ZHP wheels ($850) and summer rubber to fit ($650). Upgraded the stereo system ($150) and put in BMW all season floor mats ($100). Oh yeah and I changed the oil ($57.35).

In a year or two: maybe I will supercharge instead of upgrading cars. Probably I'll just upgrade to an e46 M3, 335xi, VW GTI-R or an Audi A4q....probably the VW (DSG ftw!!)
 
#20 · (Edited)
Bought it at 70K. Sitting at 95K right now. Other than oil changes so far I've done the following...

Alternator
Spark plugs
Cabin Filter
Air intake
Valve Cover Gasket
Water Pump
Thermostat (failed)
Expansion Tank
All 4 Pads
All 4 Rotors
------
Need to do...

Battery
Ignition Coils
Control Arms
Ball Joints
Bushings
Passenger Regulator
Sunroof track is screwed up
 
#21 ·
Oil Separator...in my opinion, the weakest thing on a BMW in a cold-climate region.
 
#22 ·
Bought mine at 38,000 has 107,

altenator, battery, belts, pulley, expansion tank, 4 brakes and pads, brake sensor, stabalizer links, control arms, bushings, tie rods, both axles, alot of tires, rear and front differential oil, power steering oil, sparkplugs and ignition coils

now im looking into how to change the transmission oil
 
#23 ·
Bought mine new now with 111K miles.
3 aux cooling fan module.
1 complete brake job.
3rd water pumps
1 CV boot
control arms
1 Xenon light
various light bulbs
2 belt tenisoners
New manual transmission fluid and still have the 5th gear stick during winter until engine gets warm. Working with it but very annoying.
filters.
 
#24 · (Edited)
I'm the 3rd owner of mine.....I got it with around 64k on it. Now I have about 71k. I got the car from a relative who bought it Certified Pre-Owned with 39k and a 6yr/100k warranty. Im not sure what was done to the car before I got it, but with only a few months left on the warranty when I got it I was taking it to the dealer like twice a month trying to get everything that I could replaced. Here is everything they did under warranty during that period.....

-Complete rear brakes. Pads and Rotors
-Oil Change
-Wiper Blades
-Alternator Belt
-A/C Belt
-Cig Lighter Fuse
-Drivers Front Window Regulator
-New Valve Cover Gasket and Grommets (was leaking pretty bad)
-New Hazard Lights and Central Door Locking Switch
-New Rear Windshield Glass (A $913.11 Part) The Defroster Grids had shorted out. Only a few "lines" were working and I got static in the Radio when it was turned on.


As of last month, my warranty is no longer good.....so hopefully not much goes wrong from here. I was a quart low on oil last week....I guess its burning it b/c I don't see any leaks. In a few thousand miles I'll be due for an oil change and a reccomended 4 wheel alignment, so I'll have the dealer tech look everything over again at that point. I was trying to get a front brake job while under warranty because it feels like the rotors are warped, but they kept telling me that the pads had plenty of meat on them so they wouldn't do it.
 
#25 ·
Saw this old thread from April, felt like adding on...

2001 XI - Bought w/ 95k miles, 20 months later 135k + miles...

So far what I've had to replace...

Regulator switch or temp control switch... :confused: (I dont remember the name of the part, it fixed the heat/ac from pulsating air) Cant remember :facepalm: Lets move on...
Gas Filter
Spark Plugs
Valve Cover Gasket
T-stat w/ some hoses
Expansion Tank w/ hoses
Brake Light Switch
Water Pump
Several Oil changes (every 6k or so)
- Air Filter
- Cabin Air Filter
Axle Boots (Front Driver Side)
All Brake Pad w/ Sensors
All Rotors
Crank Case Vent Valve
I'm sure there's more, can't remember at this time... :pimpin:


Still needs to be done...

All 4 Window regulators
Belt tensioner
Idler pulley
Oil Filter housing (Have been losing a quart of oil every 800-1000 miles or so. Mechanic just found a leak in this housing. Hopefully this fixes the problem.)
All 4 shocks and springs
Control Arm bushings
Motor Mounts
New tires w/ balance and alignment


I love my baby... 1st BMW, will never buy another make again... (Unless you're talking Lambo, Ferrari, Maserati, 911 Turbonious, etc.. That's a different story... :craig: yesssirrr)
 
#127 ·
Because its plastic and prone to fail. From what i've seen here is replace it along with much of the cooling system every 80k. My t-stat is failing on my newly acquired 330 with 85k so I'm doing the tank at the same time. Don't want this cracking 1000miles away from home to be bent over by a local dealer that wants $110 for the part alone.
 
#27 ·
2002 - 325xi

Bought in Sept with 94,300 miles, now has 97,300 miles.

Maintenance Work done so far:
Front Control Arm Bushings
All driveline fluids
Brakes with Akibono pads
Brake Fluid - ATE Super Blue
H&R Coilover Kit
DDM P46 HID conversion
18" CSL wheels
Door/Window weather strip clean and condition
Alignment


To do in the next 7,000 miles:
-Oil Change
-Coolant system overhaul
-Replace front A pillars due to sagging fabric
-Diagnose minor power steering leak/weep

Thankfully, the front CV boots are all in good condition but monitoring regularly.
 
#28 ·
Bought at 60K. Now has 90K:

Control arms, ball joints, bushings $700 installed
Both front axles CPO
Rear decklid handle $75 part only
Rear springs CPO
RTABs $120 installed Powerflex
Thermostat CPO
Waterpump (was on its way out so i did the whole cooling system) ~$350 w/stewart pump
Both front window regulators CPO
Power steering hoses CPO
 
#32 ·
Dude why are you even in this thread? My family has a passat 4motion and it's had 3 front axles replaced. I will take a fixed front/rear split over quattro or subaru any day of the week. It's more predictable in all conditions.

Congratulations, you know someone that has an xi.:facepalm:
 
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