While today’s Nice Price or No Dice X3 has plenty of miles on the clock, it has a stack of maintenance receipts for the work done to keep it running. It also has a rare six-speed manual, which makes it more interesting to drive on the road. Let’s see if its price interests us even more.
In the 1940s, young actors Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland starred together in eight films, many of which were entries in the novel-to-screen Andy Hardy series. A popular trope that emerged from these films is the conceit of a group of youngsters coming together to put on a show to save a family farm from the clutches of a bill collector. In more modern times, we often say “it takes a village” when describing any task that demands such a group effort.
The 1999 Porsche Boxster project we saw on Monday won’t need a rally of townspeople or a group of adventurous teenagers to get it fully back in the game, but it will require some effort from its next owner. As per your comments, the $5,000 demanded proved to be an inadequate incentive to take on that responsibility. Ultimately, this resulted in a 60% ‘no dice’ loss.
X marks the place
Yesterday’s Porsche had a lot of miles, but it also had a number of mechanical battle wounds – including a replacement engine – that will ensure those miles are never forgotten. 2005 BMW X3 2.5i What comes our way today has even more miles under its belt—253,047 to be exact. However, it is claimed to be mechanically fine and comes with the receipts to prove it.
BMW introduced the X3 in 2003 as the company’s second, smaller SUV, under the X5, which was introduced two years earlier. While the larger X5 was developed using BMW’s recently acquired Land Rover resources as a guide, the company designed the X3 in partnership with Austria’s Magna Steyr. That company also developed and built the Mercedes Gelandewagen and the Pinzgauer, an extreme off-roader, so it knew a thing or two about 4x4s. With the X3, BMW introduced its X-Drive AWD system, which, in this model, provides a rear-biased torque split that can vary depending on which end of the car has the most traction.
six and six
While this Its specification is also interesting: while it comes with the expected six-cylinder engine under the hood, it is not supported by a six-speed automatic but by a manual with the same number of gears. This is quite rare for the first generation model and is completely absent from the current fourth generation versions.
Mated to that manual is a 2.5-liter M54 straight-six that produced 189 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque when new. Notable work performed on the engine includes a recent VANOS rebuild and repair of the delicate oil filter housing. This information has been removed from the list since it was first seen, as some details about the airbag light are coming in “sporadically”. Some other mechanical secrets not revealed in the ad include the age of the tires and how much clutch is left. On the plus side, the seller claims the car “runs incredibly strong, handles beautifully, and has absolutely zero rust.”
You give, and you take
It’s a bit of a mixed bag in terms of looks too. The original bodywork appears to be solid, suffering only from a small but noticeable scratch on the corner of the front bumper and what the seller describes as “vinyl Euro-style side stripes and grille accents.” We are assured that these are 100% removable. Most notable, however, are the stack of bumpers and a bull bar that the seller says will come with the X3 and should, in fact, be taken by the new owner. It is claimed that these are all new BMW parts and are already painted silver to match the car. This way the scratches on the existing bumper get a little worse.
Happily, the interior appears to be in remarkably good condition considering the car’s age and miles. It has surprisingly little wear and tear, and benefits from rubber mats that protect the carpet. Issues here include a moonroof that hangs up on the tilt function and an intermittent airbag light on the dash. The cabin parts box isn’t spared from the bonus round either, as it apparently features extra dash trim, door seals and a shift knob that will be part of the shotgun wedding of a car sale.
To risk?
That sale should be largely hassle-free, except for the need to remove excess junk. The car comes with a clean title and the latest A-OK from the emissions tester, so there should be no trouble transferring that title. According to the seller, he has owned and maintained this X3 for 16 years and is only selling it now, he says, because he inherited a truck and lacks the space for a Bimmer. They demand $5,700 to vacate the place. That price range ($5,000 to $6,000) seems to be the new baseline for decent drivers of anything interesting these days. I’m not saying we have to like it; I’m just accepting it as the case.
What do you think about this rare, well-maintained, but high-mileage X3 and its $5,700 asking price? Does it seem reasonable considering the specifications, condition and those pesky stripes? Or, like mileage, is it too much?
You decide!
San Francisco Bay Area, California, CraigslistOr go here if the ad disappears.
Hat tip to Don R for the hookup!
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