Thoughts on BMW

tom_tarbucket

Hello

Any comments on this machine. Does it look ok ? Is price ok ?



http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/523i-SE-/38213918526369010/advert?channel=CARS

Preset No.3

First thought would be the fact that its 8 years old with 60000 miles. Thats low mileage. Its 523, so most likely was an executives car. No word on whether there is a full service history with ie.

On the price, and leaving aside what its going to cost to tax it. Its worth more around the 6-6.5k mark.

tom_tarbucket

Preset No.3 wrote: »

First thought would be the fact that its 8 years old with 60000 miles. Thats low mileage. Its 523, so most likely was an executives car. No word on whether there is a full service history with ie.

On the price, and leaving aside what its going to cost to tax it. Its worth more around the 6-6.5k mark.

yeah, mileage is low alright, always suspicious.
yeah, I hate when they don't mention service history.

Thanks for the input.

EDIT : its does mention a service history : ) " WITH A DOCUMENTED BMW SERVICE HISTORY "

Gumbo

Preset No.3 wrote: »

First thought would be the fact that its 8 years old with 60000 miles. Thats low mileage. Its 523, so most likely was an executives car. No word on whether there is a full service history with ie.

On the price, and leaving aside what its going to cost to tax it. Its worth more around the 6-6.5k mark.

Aslong as the history backs up the mileage your fine. I have an 07 E90 with 42k on her, so there are alot of low mileage cars out there. The dealer is well established aswell, always seems to have some decent stock.

My issue would be buying the 523, would a 525 not be a better car to buy for the same running costs?

DAZP93

I sold a 2006 523i to a buddy with 115k for 5 grand 3 weeks ago.

That car has also been for sale a good while, you should be able to knock atleast 1000-1500 off the asking price. Looks a nice car though.

There doesnt seem to be to many up for sale at the moment either.

tom_tarbucket

kceire wrote: »

Aslong as the history backs up the mileage your fine. I have an 07 E90 with 42k on her, so there are alot of low mileage cars out there. The dealer is well established aswell, always seems to have some decent stock.

My issue would be buying the 523, would a 525 not be a better car to buy for the same running costs?

oh for sure, 525i would be better alright ( more bhp, same tax, nice drive etc), but there are hardly any for sale.

DAZP93

kceire wrote: »

My issue would be buying the 523, would a 525 not be a better car to buy for the same running costs?

+1 on that

tom_tarbucket

DAZP93 wrote: »

I sold a 2006 523i to a buddy with 115k for 5 grand 3 weeks ago.

That car has also been for sale a good while, you should be able to knock atleast 1000-1500 off the asking price. Looks a nice car though.

There doesnt seem to be to many up for sale at the moment either.

Thanks, but as far as I can see its only on sale for about a week

DAZP93

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

Thanks, but as far as I can see its only on sale for about a week

My appolagies, on closer inspection I was thinking of a different car.

tom_tarbucket

DAZP93 wrote: »

My appolagies, on closer inspection I was thinking of a different car.

No bother, this one will probably be on sale a for a good while too - unless I buy it

Idbatterim

the pricing is fine, compare it to the other autos from dealers, maybe a tad high, like a few hundred, but thats it...

tom_tarbucket

Idbatterim wrote: »

the pricing is fine, compare it to the other autos from dealers, maybe a tad high, like a few hundred, but thats it...

Yeah pricing does indeed seem to be ok, other dealers and private sellers have 2006's up there for 11,000, 13,000 etc - madness

Do you think its a decent looking car ?

Nonoperational

It's still a huge amount of car for the money...

Idbatterim

looks good to me, I would recommend having it checked out by a bmw specialist prior to purchase though...

tom_tarbucket

Just on another matter, Alot of posters have warned me against the newer N 53 engine in the 523i due to coil pack and injector issues.

Anyone know if this affects both the manual AND Auto or just one of them ?

Idbatterim

it would have to be both I assume...

bazz26

What about this one OP:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/06-bmw-523i-sports-auto-fully-loaded/6441794

tom_tarbucket

bazz26 wrote: »

What about this one OP:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/06-bmw-523i-sports-auto-fully-loaded/6441794

im as picky as fook : ) prefer black leather

bazz26

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

im as picky as fook : ) prefer black leather

Even if it costs €2k more?

tom_tarbucket

bazz26 wrote: »

Even if it costs €2k more?

suppose u have a point

tom_tarbucket

Is this car overpriced :

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-525i/6439813

bazz26

I think so, €9k to €9.5k is more like. Very poorly presented advert too - crap photos and car isn't washed.

Idbatterim

baaaa ha ha! 10,750 for that?! man thats a good one. There was an 07 from dealer recently same spec asking 7 or 8, cant remember exactly!

tom_tarbucket

bazz26 wrote: »

I think so, €9k to €9.5k is more like. Very poorly presented advert too - crap photos and car isn't washed.

but on the other hand. the 2006 523i is 7900 and the price on that seems ok I think. this one is a year newer and its a 525i and 3 grand dearer, is that not about right ?

Bpmull

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

but on the other hand. the 2006 523i is 7900 and the price on that seems ok I think. this one is a year newer and its a 525i and 3 grand dearer, is that not about right ?

But ones in a dealer the other is private sale. The 525i seems very expensive and the owner looking for a high price couldn't even be bothered to wash it not a great first impression.

bazz26

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

but on the other hand. the 2006 523i is 7900 and the price on that seems ok I think. this one is a year newer and its a 525i and 3 grand dearer, is that not about right ?

The 06 523i in your original post is a dealer's asking price. The 06 523i I showed you is €5k private sale, is the 07 525i (private sale also) worth over twice as much?

tom_tarbucket

bazz26 wrote: »

The 06 523i in your original post is a dealer's asking price. The 06 523i I showed you is €5k private sale, is the 07 525i (private sale also) worth over twice as much?

suppose when ya put it that way, but maybe again that one for 5 grand has had feck all services etc and maybe this 525i has a mighty record.


Just annoys me the laziness of some ads

Idbatterim

a like for like 06 compared to 07, I would expect to pay E1000-E1500 max for it, thats it.

deandean

Sheesh you could buy all three of them for the price of a new Avensis. There's seriously good bang for your buck in petrol E60's.

That 523i in the OP looks niiice, haggle hard OP. Best of luck!

tom_tarbucket

Idbatterim wrote: »

a like for like 06 compared to 07, I would expect to pay E1000-E1500 max for it, thats it.

ok, so when cars get to this age and for this particular model and petrol etc, they yearly difference is abut 1000 so, I kinda had more of a yearly difference in me head

bazz26

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

suppose when ya put it that way, but maybe again that one for 5 grand has had feck all services etc and maybe this 525i has a mighty record.


Just annoys me the laziness of some ads

The €5k one mentions a service history in the advert and is a lot better presented than the 07 525i. Just because something is more expensive doesn't mean it is better.

But you could speculate all day which one is the better buy until you go view them.

munzab

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

im as picky as fook : ) prefer black leather

im suspicious of the mileage on that one. the seats are worn, the car doesnt look as tight at the other one thats advertised as 120k km (both same mileage).

bazz26

Mileage can be verified at a main dealer via the key, instrument cluster or ECU. Seat wear looks normal to me on an 8 year old car to be honest. The only difference I can see is that they are the upgraded heated sport seats that are not standard on the SE.

tom_tarbucket

munzab wrote: »

im suspicious of the mileage on that one. the seats are worn, the car doesnt look as tight at the other one thats advertised as 120k km (both same mileage).

Your suspicious of the mileage on what one exactly ?

Tea 1000

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

Just on another matter, Alot of posters have warned me against the newer N 53 engine in the 523i due to coil pack and injector issues.

Anyone know if this affects both the manual AND Auto or just one of them ?

I've been reading up on this lately. Apparently the coil pack and injector issues are a bit exaggerated. There's no doubt that it happend a fair amount of 5-series, but percentage wise not that much. By and large the recomendation from the BMW forums here and the UK say the early M54 engines are reliable but thirsty and a bit too little torque for the heavier E60, the N52 engines that followed are OK, but prone to a few issues, where as the N53 engines are actually decent if you're not unlucky with injectors. And it does seem that you do need to be unlucky.
The LCI 523i's have around the same power and torque as the pre-LCI 525i, and the N53 525i's are actually the 3 litre, so most didn't bother over here I'd say. It was 530i or nothing if you were going to pay that tax in 2007!
Price on these does seem to be like the E39 price range. E39's range in price from €1,200 to €5,500. And condition of them really can be reflected by the price alone in most cases. The E60 isn't too different. Cheap ones usually are cheap for a reason.
M-Sport ones seem to add a nice few bob to the asking price, and condition, history and milleage can be worth up to 40% more on examples ticking all boxes. However there are bargains around if you're careful.

bazz26 wrote: »

Mileage can be verified at a main dealer via the key, instrument cluster or ECU. Seat wear looks normal to me on an 8 year old car to be honest. The only difference I can see is that they are the upgraded heated sport seats that are not standard on the SE.

I don't think it looks normal for 79k miles. I had a car with 100k miles with cream leather and it was almost perfect. That looks filthy and worn on the inside. Maybe it's poor lighting in the pics, but nothing I see would make me hold my breath if I were going to view it.

Idbatterim

when you go to sell in a few years, the difference will be non existant, the way it is between say some 04 v 05 now or some 06 v 07's... Fair enough if it were a new model or emissions based and a considerable saving on tax, but if its just the sticker on reg plate saying 06 v 07, I wouldnt be paying much extra for it to be honest... I know this is a manual and private sale, but looks exact same as the first one you linked to OP, mileage a bit higher, but asking E5900...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/523-523I/201352220715044/advert?channel=CARS

tom_tarbucket

Tea 1000 wrote: »

I've been reading up on this lately. Apparently the coil pack and injector issues are a bit exaggerated. There's no doubt that it happend a fair amount of 5-series, but percentage wise not that much. By and large the recomendation from the BMW forums here and the UK say the early M54 engines are reliable but thirsty and a bit too little torque for the heavier E60, the N52 engines that followed are OK, but prone to a few issues, where as the N53 engines are actually decent if you're not unlucky with injectors. And it does seem that you do need to be unlucky.
The LCI 523i's have around the same power and torque as the pre-LCI 525i, and the N53 525i's are actually the 3 litre, so most didn't bother over here I'd say. It was 530i or nothing if you were going to pay that tax in 2007!
Price on these does seem to be like the E39 price range. E39's range in price from €1,200 to €5,500. And condition of them really can be reflected by the price alone in most cases. The E60 isn't too different. Cheap ones usually are cheap for a reason.
M-Sport ones seem to add a nice few bob to the asking price, and condition, history and milleage can be worth up to 40% more on examples ticking all boxes. However there are bargains around if you're careful.

I don't think it looks normal for 79k miles. I had a car with 100k miles with cream leather and it was almost perfect. That looks filthy and worn on the inside. Maybe it's poor lighting in the pics, but nothing I see would make me hold my breath if I were going to view it.

Im purposely staying away from the N53's due to the advice on here !!

tom_tarbucket

Idbatterim wrote: »

when you go to sell in a few years, the difference will be non existant, the way it is between say some 04 v 05 now or some 06 v 07's... Fair enough if it were a new model or emissions based and a considerable saving on tax, but if its just the sticker on reg plate saying 06 v 07, I wouldnt be paying much extra for it to be honest...

You wouldn't be paying much extra for what ? is it for an 07 over an 06 ? 10,900 V 7,900 etc ?

Tea 1000

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

Im purposely staying away from the N53's due to the advice on here !!

I was the same until I read up on it from the BMW experts! Now I'm staying away from N52's and deliberately seeking an N53!

tom_tarbucket

Tea 1000 wrote: »

I was the same until I read up on it from the BMW experts! Now I'm staying away from N52's and deliberately seeking an N53!

Lord jaysus, this is doing me head in, I'm back to square one now. So N 53 is ok. ive let a couple of nice N53's go due to the advice on here. Hope rocky does not see this ; ) He has an awful set on the N 53's

Idbatterim

Op have you considered a 3 series? you could get the 2L engine in that...

Idbatterim

You wouldn't be paying much extra for what ? is it for an 07 over an 06 ? 10,900 V 7,900 etc ?

yeah exactly, its insane, he's in for a major reality check!

tom_tarbucket

Idbatterim wrote: »

Op have you considered a 3 series? you could get the 2L engine in that...

I just want a 5 series : ) Always wanted one, just love the look of them

tom_tarbucket

fook it, I might open a new thread on this and get it sorted once and for all

bazz26

Just get a 530i and be done with it.

tom_tarbucket

bazz26 wrote: »

Just get a 530i and be done with it.

sure that probably has another set of f3ckin issues to deal with

munzab

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

Your suspicious of the mileage on what one exactly ?

That one

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/06-bmw-523i-sports-auto-fully-loaded/6441794

rocky

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

Lord jaysus, this is doing me head in, I'm back to square one now. So N 53 is ok. ive let a couple of nice N53's go due to the advice on here. Hope rocky does not see this ; ) He has an awful set on the N 53's

Too late

I already have my N52, up to you to do your research and choose either way.
When I was looking, there were no general N52 problems that I could find; since then someone here posted a link to 1 case of the engine being noisy sometimes in the morning until oil lubricates it. No major failure, just ... noise.

On the other hand, the 1 N53 523i I test drove had 8 or 9 entries in the service record for coil packs/injectors, and 2 I enquired about had them replaced. 3/3 for the N53. In saying that, depending on your mileage and how recently these were replaced, you may have 3+ years of reliable motoring anyway. I have no idea how much they would cost to replace.

And to reiterate, I don't care at all about the year, as long as it's the model I want. I wouldn't pay extra for a 2006 if a 2005 looked better in spec, condition, service history etc...

But, if you're going for an N53, need to balance the buying price with tax savings for post 08 cars, and resale value...

Blazer

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

im as picky as fook : ) prefer black leather

have a grey e60 with black leather...cousin has identical black one with cream leather.
Mother looking at the car parked beside mine and comes over to me saying that's a fantastic looking car....very classy and looks expensive etc...
throws her a dirty look and tells her they're the same frakking car "you stupid cow" (last part said in my head).
All she saw was the cream leather interior and with the black colour assumed it was a higher class of car than mine.

tom_tarbucket

Blazer wrote: »

have a grey e60 with black leather...cousin has identical black one with cream leather.
Mother looking at the car parked beside mine and comes over to me saying that's a fantastic looking car....very classy and looks expensive etc...
throws her a dirty look and tells her they're the same frakking car "you stupid cow" (last part said in my head).
All she saw was the cream leather interior and with the black colour assumed it was a higher class of car than mine.

I suppose my main concern is not the colour the leather as such, but the colour of the carpet, cream leather normally means a light coloured carpet, whch would stain easily.

Tea 1000

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

I suppose my main concern is not the colour the leather as such, but the colour of the carpet, cream leather normally means a light coloured carpet, whch would stain easily.

Mats help that!