My $500 BMW

[Fast88Fiero]

I picked this up for $500. The previous owner did not want to put the money into it to fix it, I offered $500 and he took it. It's an 04 X5, V8 4.4, cold weather package, premium package, navigation, rear seat entertainment. Has new tires and alternator in the last 500 miles. I don't know what he added to the oil but it was very thin and was not that great at lubricating. I took the valve covers off to check the timing because it was only running on bank 2. I found the intake camshaft was broken on bank 1. A used head cost $1100, $700 in a vanos adjusting unit and misc. gaskets and it will be running. I inspected the camshafts on bank 2 and they look good. There was no lower end noise when it was running. This will be the wife's new vehicle and we will be getting rid of the Chevy Equinox.

[crzyone]

Wow, smoking deal! You stole it at that price. Hopefully it's just a new head and you are good to go.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Even being into it for $2500-$3000 by the time you're done, that'll still be a good deal.

Broken camshaft.... yikes.

Do you need a rebuilt head? Interference engine? It's hard to tell from the pic, but I don't see any scars on the pistons.

[Series8217]

Damn, that's a nice deal! Those are hardly down to $10k here.

[Fast88Fiero]

It is an interference engine but somehow there are no bent valves. Must have broken at idle or something. A used head was cheaper than new cam's from BMW.

[Shaun41178(2)]

you could flip that quick and make some quick cash. Nothing wrong with keeping it either.

[Fast88Fiero]

Its the wifes car now. She has almost 2000 miles on it since the repair. I just picked up a 2004 530i (E60) for a good deal for myself!