BMW 5-Series Maintenance and Repair

2734 messages,  Last post on Mar 25, 2013 at 4:00 PM

You are in the BMW 5-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Electrical, Engine, Sedan, Wagon

    
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#1412 of 2734 HELP by legarreta

Sep 17, 2005 (11:52 am)

I SAW A 1998 528I FOR SELL WITH 140.000 MILES ON IT FOR TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS I CURRENTLY DRIVE A TRUCK AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT AT ALL, HOWEVER I DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT BMWS BUT I LIKE THEM I WAS JUST WONDERING IF SOMEBODY CAN GIVE ME SOME ADVISE ON THIS, I JUST DONT WANT TO GET RID OF MY TRUCK AND BUY SOMETHING THAT ITS JUST GOING TO START ACTING ON ME, I DROVE THE CAR AND EVERYTHING SEEMS REALLY OWESOME !!! I WOULD REALLY APRECIATE ANY OPINIONS ON THIS THANKS

#1413 of 2734 Re: HELP [legarreta] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 17, 2005 (4:05 pm)

Replying to: legarreta (Sep 17, 2005 11:52 am)
First please TURN OFF THE CAPS LOCK. Your posts appear like SHOUTING to other members and most folks will not respond to post done in ALL CAPS.
 
Okay, to your question---the miles are too high for the price. $7,500 would be plenty. I personally wouldn't give more than $6,500 for it.

#1414 of 2734 Re: tire noise! [georgiapeach1] by 530ir1150r

Sep 17, 2005 (7:21 pm)

Replying to: georgiapeach1 (Sep 16, 2005 2:31 pm)
Michelins are not always quiet(er). Pilot Sport Primacys are noisy, but last a long time. Pilot Sport PS2s are quieter, but I only have 10,000 miles on them. They appear to be wearing well.
 
Goodyear F1s were much quieter, but only lasted 17,000 miles.

#1415 of 2734 Full Maintenance by tpond

Sep 18, 2005 (2:27 pm)

I am planning to buy an 06 BMW 530xi. I've been reading the posts here and am having second thoughts. For some reason, I don't believe a $60K car should have problems like this. Thoughts?
 
Also- I was under the impression that the 4yr/50K Full Maintenance that comes with the car included oil changes, fluids, etc., but another post complained of paying $149 for an oil change on a 2004 5 Series. Aren't these included in the Full Maintenance plan? Also, what is the interval for changing oil in a BMW?
 
Thanks!

#1416 of 2734 Re: Thermostat 530i 2001 [Mr_Shiftright] by jbuchanan

Sep 18, 2005 (6:43 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 12, 2005 8:23 am)
I have had some u-joints siezed up and cause this same problem,most shops want to sell you a new driveshaft but if the rear joint is just real tight you can soak the joint in automatic trans fluid over knight and frees up the joint so well it acts like a new joint was installed.A nice trick taught to me by and old tech,save 3 of my customers $600.00 for a new driveshaft.
 
   jbuchanan

#1417 of 2734 Re: Full Maintenance [tpond] by 530ir1150r

Sep 18, 2005 (8:01 pm)

Replying to: tpond (Sep 18, 2005 2:27 pm)
BMW covers all "scheduled" maintenance. There is very little scheduled maintenance, oil changes every 15,000 miles +/- or yearly, brake fluid every other year and windshield wipers yearly.
 
Coolant is replaced every 4 years. I know BMW will not cover anything 1 day early, it may or may not be included.

#1418 of 2734 Re: Full Maintenance [530ir1150r] by tpond

Sep 18, 2005 (10:12 pm)

Replying to: 530ir1150r (Sep 18, 2005 8:01 pm)
BMW Reliability:
After reading about issues in this forum, I'm reconsidering my purchase (530xi).
 
Sport package run flat tires need replaced after 12K, or you must deal with loud road noise
Battery Drain issues w/ iDrive
Eating 1 quart of oil every 1,000 miles
Satellite Radio problems
Electronic issues... anything else?
 
I'm looking for reassurance here from owners that have owned an 06 5 Series and have NOT had major issues or headaches that keeps them going to the dealership every week. For $50K+ I don't want to become best friends with the dealer and his repair shop. Thx.

#1419 of 2734 Re: Full Maintenance [tpond] by 530ir1150r

Sep 19, 2005 (5:49 am)

Replying to: tpond (Sep 18, 2005 10:12 pm)
My 530i is a 2002 Sport Package, 5 speed, with just over 60,000 miles. I cannot address i-drive electrical problems, but I have had zero maintenance issues. Oil changes every 7500 miles, brake fluid changed every 2 years, power steering fluid changed every 3 years and will have the coolant replaced every 4 years. I am on my third set of tires.
 
If maintenance is an issue, reconsider both 4 wheel drive and the sport package. Four wheel drive for most people is additional cost, weight and complexity for little if any benefit. The sport package on an x model is wheels, run flat tires and cosmetics. Add after purchase with the tire of your choice. Suspension upgrades are a part of the 2 wheel drive sports package. The optional suspension package increases tire wear on the insides and some tires have an outside, Michelin Pilot Sport PS 2s, and others, Goodyear Eagle F1s, rotate in 1 direction and need to be remounted if switched from side to side. Tires get noisy when wearing down except for Michelin Pilot Sport Primacys. They just get noisy.

#1420 of 2734 Re: Thermostat 530i 2001 [jbuchanan] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 19, 2005 (8:24 am)

Replying to: jbuchanan (Sep 18, 2005 6:43 pm)
Well that could work but really you were very lucky. If the needle bearings are rusted the u-joint is doomed, even though you might get another 1,000 miles out of it. But hey, anything's worth a try.
 
I don't think it's that the shops WANT to see you a new driveshaft---you can't even buy a u-joint for it although you can match one up, but installling it is a real pain. BMW makes it as hard as possible to install a single u-joint.

#1421 of 2734 545 issues by rheisen

Sep 19, 2005 (1:07 pm)

I purchased a 545 last April. I'm very happy for the most part however am wondering if some "symptoms" I'm seein in the car are problematic or have been addressed by other owners. The issues are as follows:
 
The engine appears to idle too high at various times. Whether the engine is cold or warm, air co. on or off, the idle arbitrarily goes up. When this happens, it causes some minor issues in drive quality- especially when driving in stop n go traffic.
 
The brakes are so touchy so as to cause the car to jerk to a halt. If you try and ease on the brakes slowly, the car doesn't stop completely. Consequently, you have apply extra pressure on the brakes which stops the car cold. It's almost like there is no happy medium. It's great for needing to stop quickly, but when you are in stop and go traffic it's irritating.
 
Thoughts?
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