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BMW 5-Series Sedans

12737 messages,  Last post on Feb 16, 2013 at 11:05 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Sedan

Messages Page 1164 of 1274

#11629 of 12737 Re: 2003 BMW-525 [viz] by markcincinnati

Sep 11, 2006 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: viz (Sep 10, 2006 7:55 am)
Our 2005 X3 3.0 with almost every option box checked (except auto trans) was what cost $47K -- I should have clarified it was NOT a 5 series, sorry if there is an issue with this.
 
It should make little difference in the meaning I was attempting to impart, however. Perhaps the 5 or the X has a higher (or lower) residual and perhaps BMW financial (our lender) had a special lease deal on the 5 that is not on the X or vice versa and etc.
 
Overall, the spirit of what I said I stand behind and it is largely based on experience.

#11630 of 12737 Re: Should I get a 5 Series [thebigal] by markcincinnati

Sep 11, 2006 (2:16 pm)

Replying to: the_big_al (Jun 27, 2008 4:16 pm)
#1 Ask your insurance carrier for the information you mention wondering about in your post.
 
#2 Any car, practically, involves an emotional decision NOT simply a financial decision. If you could go get one anytime you wanted, even if it meant a "car payment," it is clear that the emotional need has not overtaken the pragmatic "want" or need.
 
#3 I am certain there are excellent used Bimmers to be had any almost any given point in time.
 
#4 German cars CAN be breathtakingly expensive to repair -- I am not, however, suggesting that EVERY German car will even need such repairs.
 
#5 What 5 series of any age and configuration is best for you is impossible for someone else to determine, but it is possible for someone else to give you some input if you would describe what your "near term" (6 months or less) real intentions actually are. Generally speaking the i6 versions of the 5 series are "popular" with the car magazines and owners alike -- within limits, usually the bigger number after the 5 signifies a car that is more well equipped since more "stuff" comes standard on a 530 than on a 525, broadly and generally speaking.
 
#6 There is NO SUCH THING as common sense, don't even go down that path, for common sense is ONLY COMMON to ONE person, you. For what I think is common sense may be so far off the wall to you that it would be as if I only spoke Chinese and you only spoke Spanish yet we were forced to communicate in Klingon -- to be fair to each other!
 
What?

#11631 of 12737 to shipo re:brake pads by cmr530i

Sep 18, 2006 (8:48 pm)

Can you tell me the type of Axxis brake pads you put on your 530 when you had it? I will probably be needing new pads soon and remembered that you liked the Axxis due to less residue. Also, did you have your BMW dealer put them on?

#11632 of 12737 Re: to shipo re:brake pads [cmr530i] by shipo

Sep 18, 2006 (9:00 pm)

Replying to: cmr530i (Sep 18, 2006 8:48 pm)
I used the PBR/Axxis Original Deluxe pads which have since been replaced by the Deluxe Plus pads. I did the job myself and it was a piece of cake, maybe a half of an hour per wheel.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#11633 of 12737 Press request by KarenS HOST

Sep 21, 2006 (12:05 pm)

A reporter seeks to talk with current owners of the BMW 5-Series. Please send your daytime contact info and the model year of your vehicle to jfallonedmunds.com no later than Wednesday, September 27, 2006.
 
Thanks,
Jeannine Fallon
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com

#11634 of 12737 Should I keep my 2001 525i ...... by shaymasdaddy

Oct 04, 2006 (12:12 pm)

I have a titanium metallic 2001 525i with the sport premium package with 78K miles that I purchased CPO from BMW almost two years ago. My 5 has been relatively trouble free thus far. My CPO warranty is up in Jan '07 so I recently started looking for an extended warranty. I found from a "very reputable" company but the warranty only covers components related to the engine, transmission, and drive axle (no coverage for electrical systems). I can get this coverage for an additional 3yrs/60K miles at 0% deductible for roughly $1500. Most other extended warranty companies do not provide 'bumper-to-bumper' warranties for vehicles with more than 75K miles.
 
Seeing that this warranty will not cover electrical components, what is my potential exposure from the electrical components that may fail over the next 40K miles? I love my 5 and want to keep but I have not problem selling it if I can't get "proper/affordable" coverage for January 2007 and beyond.
 
Any assistance current/previous 5-series owners can provide would be appreciated. Thanks.

#11635 of 12737 Re: Should I keep my 2001 525i ...... [shaymasdaddy] by div2

Oct 04, 2006 (2:08 pm)

Replying to: shaymasdaddy (Oct 04, 2006 12:12 pm)
Put the $1500 in a money market account, find a good independent BMW tech, and keep on driving. I seriously doubt that you will spend anywhere close to $1500 on non-scheduled repairs. As I stated in response to another post:
 
Relax! Most of the "horribly expensive BMW repair" stories are spread by people-many are envious fools, while others are just plain fools- who heard that his best friend's sister's college roommate knew a guy who had a dentist who told him that it cost him $3000 to change the oil on his 318i. Yes, there ARE some dealers and independents who grossly overcharge their customers. Having said all that, there are good dealers and independents out there who charge fair prices and offer a CCA discount.
 I ran a 1997 528iA to over 130K miles and my service and repair costs averaged $80-$90 per month. We only sold it because my wife wanted an X3. I needed to keep my US built Wrangler for political reasons. As it turned out, I wish I had the 5er back. The new owner loves it...

#11636 of 12737 Re: Should I keep my 2001 525i ...... [div2] by markcincinnati

Oct 05, 2006 (8:17 am)

Replying to: div2 (Oct 04, 2006 2:08 pm)
My phrase is "German cars can be breathtakingly expensive to repair."
 
This, however, does not suggest I think they will need much in the way of repairs.
 
For some, $1,500 is peace of mind.
 
I consider it "insurance." I would never drive my car without insurance even if it were legal to do so.
 
The number of claims I have made in a lifetime of driving are but a mere fraction of the premiums I have made.
 
I am suggesting one do what one feels most comfortable with and I do agree the chances of spending $1500 on warranty claims is slim.
 
Also, though, maintenance on these Germans can be nearly breathtakingly expensive -- but that is another policy -- usually $3000 -- and I am really not sure about that.
 
My friends 58,000 mile young X5, flawless in virtually every way, needed new front brakes -- the car was used frequently for communting between Cincinnati and Indianapolis. New brakes + oil change = $950. Yep, the oil change was $800 all by itself.
 
Just kidding. The oil change was probably about $49.95 and the rest was for the brake pads, rotors and labor.
 
My friend, pondered the cost of the extended warranty+maintenance pack and said, hmm, $1800 for the front and rear brakes alone, makes this a $1200 decision and the fact that the other "routine" items are hardly ever less than $100, does give one pause to consider such a package.
 
Just a thought.

#11637 of 12737 Re: Should I keep my 2001 525i ...... [markcincinnati] by div2

Oct 05, 2006 (1:08 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Oct 05, 2006 8:17 am)
As I put it in another topic...
 
In my twenty three years of BMW ownership(E3, E24, E28, E36/5, E39, E83) I simply haven't found that to be the case. Maintenance and repair costs for my 1995 104K Club Sport have averaged a bit under $40 per month. My E24 M6 was a bit pricey to run, but even then the costs weren't that much out of line. I believe the most I ever spent on one shop visit was around $1200- and that covered replacement of the radiator, water pump, and PS pump. I still kick myself for letting that one go-though I did drive it for three years with zero depreciation.
As for my wife's 2004 X3, I'm not considering an extended maintenance plan. Nothing that I've learned about the car leads me to believe that it will be all that expensive to run. That said, I do think that the newer gadget filled cars such as the E60 and E65/66 will be expensive to maintain-primarily due to the sheer amount of their on-board electronics. Normal scheduled maintenance costs should not be that bad. In any event, keep talking up that "breathtakingly expensive" angle every chance you get; it might help depress the market for the non-CPO cars I'm looking at

#11638 of 12737 Extended Maintenance & German Cars by nyccarguy

Oct 05, 2006 (9:38 pm)

My Dad has an '04 X5 3.0iA SP with a little over 56,000 miles on it. It has been the absolute pinnacle of reliability. He drives 20K a year on his lease and wanted to be covered for the duration of his 42 month lease. Once he has his Inspection II done and another set of brakes, the extended maintenance will have paid for itself.
 
My Mom has an '05 530iA which she loves. It has been so reliable that I actually considered buying the car when the lease is up. The maintenance costs don't bother me, but I don't trust that i-Drive once bit. I don't even want to think how much that would be to replace if it crashes.
 
Japanese cars are reliable, but once mileage gets up there maintenance gets expensive too. I drive a 2001 Honda Prelude Type SH that currently has 74,000 miles. Last year I had to replace the clutch at 52K which cost A LOT of money ($1800 because the ATTS unit had to be taken out & re-installed for clutch work to be done for an extra 5 hours of labor). I had the work done by the dealer (providing my own Centerforce Clutch), but got some quotes from indy shops that were not that much cheaper. A few months ago I had the timing blet & tensioner replaced along with the H2O pump and valve cover gasket. That was like $1600 and I had the work done by an indy shop.

Messages Page 1164 of 1274

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