Which Petrol BMW is most reliable?

rocky

Thinking of upgrading the car in the autumn (or maybe quicker). Only did 6000 km a year for the last 2 years, so fuel consumption is not an issue. Tax may be but I'm willing to go to the highest rate of tax for the right car.

Needs to be auto. My preferred BMW is the E39 but it's getting a bit old now and while I would love an E39 M5 I imagine it can be a money pit. So I'm probably looking at an E60, didn't do much for me when they came out originally, but it's now more appealing, especially in MSport guise.

Which of the petrol engines can take 6k km a year mostly short journeys, 2-5km? Probably all of them :pac:

Any cars fit this profile (BMW or not):
- Interesting engine (tranlslation: at least 6 cylinders )
- nice exhaust noise (V8 dream :rolleyes:)
- refined, no tin cans
- reliable with normal servicing (every year for such low miles)
- 4/5 doors
- iso fix in the back

Budget is not fixed, but could go to 10k + 08 Swift

Any suggestions? I quite liked the look of the 540i E60 posted in the last few days... If it's there in a few months and it checks out, maybe...

Do BMW dealers offer 2 years warranty on used cars?

Leonard Hofstadter

Anything before the Efficient Dynamics models came out will be fine as long as it has plenty of history (so basically anything before the LCI model came out in early 2007). The Efficient Dynamics models are notorious for injector and coil pack failure according to ROR.

Get the cooling system overhauled though if the mileage is approaching 100k miles - and make sure the engine has never overheated. The six cylinder engines are generally bulletproof but the cooling system is pants (plastic water impellors ffs:rolleyes:) and they will never run right if they've overheated (unless the engine was switched off straight away and therefore it was only overheating for a few seconds/minutes). A non overheating one with plenty of history will last you a long time.

Tea 1000

Before the LCI model though there were other E60 faults, like iDrive and such that are expensive to fix. Are any of the LCI model engines reliable?
I know in E39 terms, late model 523i's are the most reliable, they had sorted the Nikasil issues by that stage and they didn't have the handful of issues that the face-lift 525i's had, although the 525i's are also reliable to be fair.
So a 00 E39 523i seems to be about the pinnacle of reliability.

Idbatterim

Op, take a look at this!

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30968

definitely a much better looking car than the E60. You want atleast a 525 in E39, with an auto the 520 would be slow. Also its only extra 100 per year in tax, virtually no difference in fuel...

rocky

Idbatterim wrote: »

Op, take a look at this!

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30968

definitely a much better looking car than the E60. You want atleast a 525 in E39, with an auto the 520 would be slow. Also its only extra 100 per year in tax, virtually no difference in fuel...

Looks good - is it yours?

The most important question - does it have isofix?

Idbatterim

hey, no not my car, i bought the below few months ago...

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=21269

but i spend way too much time browsing bmwdrivernet, donedeal and carzone seeing whats out there and contemplating the next car & I know the good ones when I see them, I think that E39 is a cracker, he needs to put up interior pics though

in relation to isofix, see below, youd need to ask owner, but Id say it has it...
http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20434&page=2

rocky

If I was to get one, which indy around Galway that knows his BMWs would you recommend?

Eoin

rocky wrote: »

Needs to be auto. My preferred BMW is the E39 but it's getting a bit old now and while I would love an E39 M5 I imagine it can be a money pit. So I'm probably looking at an E60, didn't do much for me when they came out originally, but it's now more appealing, especially in MSport guise.

Plus the e39 M5 was only available in manual. But what about an e39 535/540, if you could find a clean one? Might be a few generations old and not have all the gadgets of the newer models, but what a car. I don't know if it's easy to retrofix ISOFIX though.

Tea 1000

rocky wrote: »

If I was to get one, which indy around Galway that knows his BMWs would you recommend?

There's a guy in Gort who's supposed to be excellent. Used to work for BMW themselves. He's not as dear as BMW, but not as cheap as a regular independent either, but none the less, apparently he's the man to go to.
Can't think of his name, but I've heard him recommended from here too, so someone should be on with a name! Maybe a google search might help.

rocky

Idbatterim wrote: »

Op, take a look at this!

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30968

definitely a much better looking car than the E60. You want atleast a 525 in E39, with an auto the 520 would be slow. Also its only extra 100 per year in tax, virtually no difference in fuel...

For a 2003 car, how is the NCT due 11-09-2012 ?
Yearly NCT from next year...

Eoin

rocky wrote: »

For a 2003 car, how is the NCT due 11-09-2012 ?
Yearly NCT from next year...

Maybe it was late doing the NCT at some stage

rocky

Is it not always for the remainder of the 2 years, no matter when you do it?

Also, how is that engine in the 525 supposed to take to short journeys, any special precautions the owners should take?

Eoin

rocky wrote: »

Is it not always for the remainder of the 2 years, no matter when you do it?

Oh right, yeah - good point. Not sure!

rocky wrote: »

Also, how is that engine in the 525 supposed to take to short journeys, any special precautions the owners should take?

I had no problems with my 525 in that regard - I'd be more conscious of taking short journeys in my diesel.

It's been a while now since I did all my homework on the e39, but personally I'd avoid the 523 and 528. They're not bad, but for the same or little extra tax, the newer engines are nicer.

I found the 525 felt as quick as the 528 when I was test driving them. I can't remember if the 530 was upgraded at some stage, or a straight replacement for the 528.

In short; they're excellent cars. I think they've a great mixture of comfort and handling. As usual with BMW, there are a ton of different options available due to a mixture of mean first owners, and various upgrades over the years.

I'd consider climate control & MFSW must-haves, satnav a nice to have. And there were a few different styles of steering wheel to confuse things further; both in MTech form and standard. Alcantara is a very nice substitute for leather - I was insistent on getting leather until I sat in to one with alcantara. Cloth just looks cheap IMO.

rocky

I'm looking at E60s and while the exterior of the MSports looks great, I cannot get used to the interiors, I think I prefer the E39 in this regard...

Idbatterim

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30406

this is a lovely car, 520d remapped, just came across it on another thread earlier and thought id throw it up...

Plug

Are you limited to a 5 series? Would a E46 M3 do anything for you. They are in around your budget and will be cheaper than an M5 to run.

rocky

Idbatterim wrote: »

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30406

this is a lovely car, 520d remapped, just came across it on another thread earlier and thought id throw it up...

Looks good, but it's manual... and diesel

rocky

Plug wrote: »

Are you limited to a 5 series? Would a E46 M3 do anything for you. They are in around your budget and will be cheaper than an M5 to run.

While I would love an M3/M5, don't think I'm ready for one yet

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Nice engine in this http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/750i-E65/213226406866120/advert?channel=CARS

rocky

That's a bit too much of a bus, I'd like a more driver oriented car, that's why I'm limiting the search to the 5 series. In the 3 series range, I like only the E92, too bad it's a coupe...

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Gots to be this then http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/540I-M-S/201141204913780/advert?channel=CARS

Idbatterim

0-62, 6.3 seconds in the 540 auto according to autotrader, 306 bhp. Not exactly impressive...

User Friendly

Tea 1000 wrote: »

There's a guy in Gort who's supposed to be excellent. Used to work for BMW themselves. He's not as dear as BMW, but not as cheap as a regular independent either, but none the less, apparently he's the man to go to.
Can't think of his name, but I've heard him recommended from here too, so someone should be on with a name! Maybe a google search might help.

Bump............

Anyone know this guy or where he is?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Idbatterim wrote: »

0-62, 6.3 seconds in the 540 auto according to autotrader, 306 bhp. Not exactly impressive...

You want faster you need a M5 or remapped 335d. THe OP is not ready for an M5 and wants something that doesn't sound like a bag or hammers so the 35d is out. Also don't know what you could get in the OP criteria and budget. In what world is 306bhp not impressive? its more than twice the power of the average car and its the same as a 335i and 6.3 0-60 is pretty good for such a heavy car, better than most.

Idbatterim

the 530 does it in 6.7. the only thing about it is, it seems to be priced way cheaper than the 530's on carzone. according to ad

M5 POWER FOR 520 MONEY

the m5 has over 200 bhp more. but the spec and price and service history etc are great alright..

my point was 306 bhp from a 4 L v8 isnt too impressive, by todays standards atleast. ofcourse i appreciate is is a heavy car...

btkm8unsl0w5r4

The e46 m3 straight 6 or e92 v8 engine is built for racing performance and high revs, these V8's like the 4.4 in the 645/X5 and this much rarer 4ltr is built for refinement and drivability. The smoothness out of these is amazing. They are far less stressed than M3/M5 engines dual vanos engines and may be more reliable day to day.

Bearcat

There's something about that 540 which screams, I've been ragged.

The Pontiac

Angelique Melted Muffin wrote: »

Gots to be this then http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/540I-M-S/201141204913780/advert?channel=CARS

Don't tempt me.

turbojunkie

Or save a few quid and buy this: http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2998728

Mileage a bit high but you'll have over 3 grand change from your budget. Its not an M Sport but I think this adds to the appeal. A proper sleeper :cool:

heate

The 540i is a car htt doesn't make sense! The 530i is nearly as quick and doesn't suck gas. As for weight the E60 is actually quite light in comparison to the F10!
The 545i has a useful bit more power and that example actually looks to have been treated with more respect.
The ride on the E60 5er is harsh enough without some idiot throwing a set of terrible looking 20's on it.

Tea 1000

Eoin wrote: »

Oh right, yeah - good point. Not sure!



I had no problems with my 525 in that regard - I'd be more conscious of taking short journeys in my diesel.

It's been a while now since I did all my homework on the e39, but personally I'd avoid the 523 and 528. They're not bad, but for the same or little extra tax, the newer engines are nicer.

I found the 525 felt as quick as the 528 when I was test driving them. I can't remember if the 530 was upgraded at some stage, or a straight replacement for the 528.

In short; they're excellent cars. I think they've a great mixture of comfort and handling. As usual with BMW, there are a ton of different options available due to a mixture of mean first owners, and various upgrades over the years.

I'd consider climate control & MFSW must-haves, satnav a nice to have. And there were a few different styles of steering wheel to confuse things further; both in MTech form and standard. Alcantara is a very nice substitute for leather - I was insistent on getting leather until I sat in to one with alcantara. Cloth just looks cheap IMO.

The 528i was 195bhp 2.8, pre-facelift. The 530i was post facelift 3 litre 231bhp. Direct replacement. 523i pre-facelift was around 170bhp, 525i post-facelift was around 190bhp, and 520i post-facelift was 170bhp, but less torque than the 523i pre had.

rocky

Getting insurance quotes now - with 3 years NCB in the autumn I can insure the 540 for 694 fully comp with 123.ie - not bad

Most other E60 530is are 635 euro...

The E39 525 is 481 fully comp, 250 TPFT lite. Great value

Idbatterim

id check nononsense also if i were you if you were going for the 525, id just get TPFT...