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Sedans BMW 5-Series Buying a used 5 Series
336 messages, Last post on Nov 25, 2009 at 10:13 PM
You are in the BMW 5-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: dngary (Dec 24, 2006 9:54 am) No problem! I'm glad to help. I've noticed that on BMWs and Volvos, there appears to be an accumulation of black brake dust on the wheels. I've never experienced that on my Buick or on any other American car I've owned If you continue to use the original equipment pads you will find that brake dust accumulations will be pretty much unavoidable. There are dust shields available that fit between the wheels and the brakes, but they can interfere with brake cooling. As a result, I don't reccommend them- and neither does BMW. The best solution to the problem is to fit Axxis Deluxe Plus pads. More information can be found here. Thank you so much again for your advice. You're welcome. Let me know if you have any other questions. BMWs have been my hobby for over 25 years, and I always enjoy talking about them.
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Replying to: div2 (Dec 24, 2006 10:42 am) As you can surmise, I am a little hesitant, not so much because the 5 series isn't a wonderful car, but partly because it seems so spartan in comparison with other cars in the same price range. Even the radio in my Buick sounds better. (Well, it does.)(My frame of reference is about $36,000 out the door price for a used 530i with 42,000 miles). On another note, what do you think of the "dreaded" I Drive control? Please let me know when I'm getting on your nerves with all these questions. I especially do not want to spoil the holiday season for you! Signed, Still a bit nervous (now that I know I have to clean my rims of black break dust.)
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Replying to: dngary (Dec 25, 2006 1:11 pm) So do I  As you can surmise, I am a little hesitant, not so much because the 5 series isn't a wonderful car, but partly because it seems so spartan in comparison with other cars in the same price range. I think you will find that BMW places a great deal of emphasis on the overall driving experience; a BMW embodies a lot of impressive engineering- but most of it is under the skin. Even the radio in my Buick sounds better. I've never been too impressed with the sound systems in the newer BMWs. As a matter of fact, very few of them sound as good as the OEM system in my 1995 318ti track rat. Go figure. Does the 5er you are considering have the Logic7 upgrade? It supposedly sounds pretty decent. On another note, what do you think of the "dreaded" I Drive control? I drove a 645Ci with iDrive for a couple of weeks last summer, and after a few days I became pretty adept at using it. Some people love it, others hate it. I think it is a flawed interface, but it wouldn't keep me from buying a BMW I really liked. Going back to your original post, there is some things that I think you should know about how BMW are serviced. In most cases, the best way to keep maintenance costs reasonable is to find a GOOD independent BMW tech; you will save 25%-50% on service compared to the dealer. That said, there are some excellent dealers that offer excellent service at reasonable prices. All modern BMWs use a Service Interval Indicator to inform the driver when routine maintenance is required. On a 2004 5er an Oil Service will be called for at  15,000 miles. To be honest, I don't like to run oil that long, so I perform an oil change at 7,500 miles. I also use Mobil 1 0W-40 synthetic, which I prefer to the BMW-branded Castrol synthetic. It's a VERY easy DIY procedure and it costs me less than $45. The minor service(Inspection I) will come up at 30,000 miles and the major service(Inspection II) at 60,000 miles. An Oil Service will cost $60-$150, an Inspection I $150-$300, and an Inspection II $450-$800. Coolant must be changed every three years(using BMW Coolant ONLY), while the DOT4 brake fluid gets flushed every two years. BMW also calls for changing the ATF at 100,000 miles, although I would have the procedure performed every 50,000 miles- and I'd have the differential oil changed at the same time. Finally, join the BMW Car Club of America. Many dealers and independent shops offer CCA members 10%-25% discounts on parts and/or labor. Please let me know when I'm getting on your nerves with all these questions. I especially do not want to spoil the holiday season for you! Ask away! It is not a problem! |
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Ok Bimerfiles, looking at purchasing a 540i 2001-2003 with the sport package and 6MT. Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions also anything to look for on these cars? Debating between an 05/06 GTO and an 01/03 540i -mike
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Replying to: div2 (Dec 23, 2006 9:59 pm) Please comment 
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Replying to: taxesquire (Jan 11, 2007 12:54 pm)  I reread your post to make usre I understood it correctly, and I guess $90/mo is fine considering it's an older car with (presumably) no finance payments being made. Still, $1,000/yr on repairs is pretty significant.
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Replying to: paisan (Jan 07, 2007 10:56 pm) BMW - The ultimate driving machine, will put a smile on your face everytime you sit behind the steering wheel. The GTO - a kid's car. Assuming you get a Bimmer in good condition, this car will have a higher resale value and will last longer than the GTO. Then again, I might be biased. I do own a 2003 540 with the Sports Package. Dave
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Replying to: dbcafy (Jan 19, 2007 3:16 pm) Heck the BMW 540i 2001-2003 is more expensive used than a new GTO. Biggest thing I'm worried about is out-warranty repairs, I hear on BMWs they can be quite costly. -mike
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Wanted to know if anyone can share their ownership experiences with this vehicle, am considering to purchase. Thks. 
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Replying to: tdb99 (Jan 20, 2007 2:58 pm) First I suggest CAFFAXing it, its $25 for a month long membership to run VINs, then contact BMW USA customer service, # is on the website. They will give you the selling dealership and you can confirm options on the vehicle to make sure nothing was altered. Then call the service dept of the original dealer, explain you are going to buy a used vehicle and BMW gave you the info, anytime the vehicle was serviced at any dealership a code is entered. The service tech ran through every code with me to make sure the vehicle was clean. I even found out it had the CPO & maintaince till 100K.
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