So with the impending 4 months of Arctic like snow my mother in law advised we are due, Mrs Lyons instructed that we need a jeep. Despite having had this debate just 5 months previously before the decision was made to get the A7. Initially I was going to get an older jeep and keep the A7, but I’m not ready for the hassle of having 3 cars again yet. So because I was in this position so recently, an E70 X5 was top of the list as i nearly bought one before the A7 and knew what was what with them. I’d flirted with the idea of a Disco 4, RR or Amarok, but couldn’t be assed with researching something else.
The only criteria I was set with was that it had to be a seven seater model. I’d igorned this last time round so felt I should be an obliging husband and I knew the cubs loved the idea of seats in the boot too. I was ideally after an SE with Dynamic pack, but there were very few with the spec I wanted. I’d seen this M Sport a couple of weeks ago, but given it was in Ipswich and also a few £k less than similar models I just dismissed it as I assumed it was too good to be true.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and I have a price agreed for the A7 from Hursts and everything has escalated a bit quickly. I’d been refreshing Autotrader every 5 seconds and there just wasn’t anything with ticked the 7 seat, rear camera and dynamic pack boxes. I started communicating with the Ipswich dealer and on paper it got even better. So despite the best efforts of @suckindiesel to discourage me, I booked a flight on Wednesday night to fly over on Thursday morning after agreeing a price earlier that day. I was honestly convinced something would be amiss, but thought I’d take punt with the flight anyway.
When I arrived I was handed a massive file of paperwork. Only 1 previous owner and he’d taken it to BM for everything, even wipers and tyres. After they’d cleaned it I apprehensively went outside for a look fearing the worst and that it would be rough or painted, but the thing was near perfect. All original paint and just a couple of small dents on 1 door. So after some hiccups transferring the £ (£10k daily limit in M&S bank), I was now the owner of grey X5 number 2.
Sadly due to a bit of fannying about on their part I wasn’t going to make the Holyhead boat, so rather than staying overnight I set off on the 8 hour drive to Cairnryan. Such a comfortable thing to drive, when I got out it felt like I’d only been in it for 30mins. It’s a bit more agricultural on country roads and not as refined as the A7 and the run flats are a bit crashy, but all in all it’s fantastic.
So, it’s a 2012 with 68k. A bit more than I was after, but 1 owner and full BM history. spec includes media pack with pro Nav, comfort seats, rear and top view cameras, side view cameras, 7 seats, loudspeaker sound system, heated seats, and a few things like Internet and Mobile apps that I have no idea how to work. Even got some wood trim in there too! The only thing it doesn’t have is 20” wheels, but they will be changed in the new year. Only other plans are to fit a Towbar and get some winter tyres.
TL : DR, photos;
The only criteria I was set with was that it had to be a seven seater model. I’d igorned this last time round so felt I should be an obliging husband and I knew the cubs loved the idea of seats in the boot too. I was ideally after an SE with Dynamic pack, but there were very few with the spec I wanted. I’d seen this M Sport a couple of weeks ago, but given it was in Ipswich and also a few £k less than similar models I just dismissed it as I assumed it was too good to be true.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and I have a price agreed for the A7 from Hursts and everything has escalated a bit quickly. I’d been refreshing Autotrader every 5 seconds and there just wasn’t anything with ticked the 7 seat, rear camera and dynamic pack boxes. I started communicating with the Ipswich dealer and on paper it got even better. So despite the best efforts of @suckindiesel to discourage me, I booked a flight on Wednesday night to fly over on Thursday morning after agreeing a price earlier that day. I was honestly convinced something would be amiss, but thought I’d take punt with the flight anyway.
When I arrived I was handed a massive file of paperwork. Only 1 previous owner and he’d taken it to BM for everything, even wipers and tyres. After they’d cleaned it I apprehensively went outside for a look fearing the worst and that it would be rough or painted, but the thing was near perfect. All original paint and just a couple of small dents on 1 door. So after some hiccups transferring the £ (£10k daily limit in M&S bank), I was now the owner of grey X5 number 2.
Sadly due to a bit of fannying about on their part I wasn’t going to make the Holyhead boat, so rather than staying overnight I set off on the 8 hour drive to Cairnryan. Such a comfortable thing to drive, when I got out it felt like I’d only been in it for 30mins. It’s a bit more agricultural on country roads and not as refined as the A7 and the run flats are a bit crashy, but all in all it’s fantastic.
So, it’s a 2012 with 68k. A bit more than I was after, but 1 owner and full BM history. spec includes media pack with pro Nav, comfort seats, rear and top view cameras, side view cameras, 7 seats, loudspeaker sound system, heated seats, and a few things like Internet and Mobile apps that I have no idea how to work. Even got some wood trim in there too! The only thing it doesn’t have is 20” wheels, but they will be changed in the new year. Only other plans are to fit a Towbar and get some winter tyres.
TL : DR, photos;
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