Help needed, looking at E60 523i

Deiseboy01

Looking for some words of wisdom. I need to change my car, driving a **** 02 Megane and its doing my head in, got a budget of 10k.

I wrote off a really nice old BMW a couple of yrs back and would love to get another one. Saw a 2.5 litre 523I SE for 9.9k in three rock motors, only 79k miles on the clock.

Seems very cheap compared to other 08 BMWs on Carzone, can someone advise why and if it seems a reasonable deal?

Thanks

Deiseboy01

Any opinions?

Foxhole Norman

If you don't do big mileage a 523i is a good call. No chain problems that the 520D N47 engine has, still retains cheap tax, is a 6 cylinder petrol which isn't too bad fuel wise. I'd be going for it.

Ferris

I have an e60, albeit not a petrol one, and I would make sure to get a full diagnostic check done before buying - even off a dealer. There are specialists who can do this cheaply.

They are complex cars and repairs can be expensive. I am pretty sure that the post '08 petrol BMW's can have injector/coil/high pressure fuel pump issues but other than that they're a great engine with cheap tax for what they are.

Deiseboy01

Thanks guys. Any idea why this motor seems cheap compared to other BMs?

is it just fuel efficiency?

Ferris

I would imagine that its just the stigma attached to large petrol engines. Its a plus for informed people who like driving a nice car with a proper sized smooth engine.

Also e60 prices are spec sensitive, a base SE is a different car to an msport with options. If you get the vin number you can look up the spec online and see how it was optioned when new, this is a worthwile exercise as you will see exactly what your are getting.

Idbatterim

they 08 arent great value IMO, if they are 750 to tax, so say saving 330 v a 2.5L 523 or 525, you keep the car 3 years, you save a grand. If you are borrowing the money to pay for the car, the extra four grand alone would probably eat up the motor tax "savings" v buying the likes of the below. Fabric interior would be my only complaint...

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/5-series/used-2007-bmw-5-series-bmw-525i-2-kildare-fpa-201513232170000

the below is also very nice...

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/5-series/used-2006-bmw-5-series-m-spor-dublin-fpa-150314260061366560

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-5-series-523i-se-ne32-4dr-auto/8821794?offset=2

an 06 for a dealer for 5k

Deiseboy01

Thanks all, some great advice. Ill go have a look at it and see what it looks like close up.

Snoggums

Hi all,

I have an 523i which is a 2007. I recently had to change the battery which has resulted in a problem with performance faults.

My car keeps going into a 'limp mode' running poorly like its on 4 cylinders instead of the 6?
I usually just pull over stop and restart to correct this, but its getting annoying.

If have had it plugged in 5 times but it only behaves for a day or two.

Anyone got any ideas, or can tell me where I can find a good bmw diagnostic guy? I'm in Waterford
thanks

Snoggums

Hi all,

I have an 523i which is a 2007. I recently had to change the battery which has resulted in a problem with performance faults.

My car keeps going into a 'limp mode' running poorly like its on 4 cylinders instead of the 6?
I usually just pull over stop and restart to correct this, but its getting annoying.

If have had it plugged in 5 times but it only beheaves for a day or two.

Anyone got any ideas, or can tell me where I can find a good bmw diagnostic guy? I'm in Waterford
thanks

Soarer

Maybe the battery is goosed? Go back to where you bought it and ask them to test it.

Did you try disconnect the battery for half an hour to see if it kinda resets itself?

Ferris

Snoggums wrote: »

Hi all,

I have an 523i which is a 2007. I recently had to change the battery which has resulted in a problem with performance faults.

My car keeps going into a 'limp mode' running poorly like its on 4 cylinders instead of the 6?
I usually just pull over stop and restart to correct this, but its getting annoying.

If have had it plugged in 5 times but it only beheaves for a day or two.

Anyone got any ideas, or can tell me where I can find a good bmw diagnostic guy? I'm in Waterford
thanks

You need a guy with the proper BMW diagnostics or take the time to self diagnose. I have a phone app to do this called bmwhat. Its limited but its available in the app store and I used it to cure a similar misfire on a 6cyl petrol BMW recently (you will also need a WIFI OBD dongle). Since then i got the BMW INPA software and cable from http://www.bcables.com/. There is more functionality from this apparently but i haven't had a chance to try it yet. It all sounds so technical but its pretty easyto do in reality if you are technically inclined.

In my case it turned out to be a faulty coil on one cylinder. I was getting a fault on cyl 03 so I swapped the coil to cyl 02 and the fault moved to cyl 02. 60quid for a new coil and a 2min fix. However it could also be injectors which have issues which is more involved and expensive.

Also you have to code a new battery into an e60. Its not a big job for a good mechanic but I'd make sure that was done properly. Low battery voltage can cause running issues on modern BMW's. Maybe somebody can recommend a good BMW specialist near you, I only have (good) experience of Byrnes in Swords, North Dublin. Motor Confidence in Western Industrial Est, Dublin and http://www.bavarianautotechnik.com/ in Abbeyfeale have a great rep.

MojoMaker

It's not that cheap actually. I sold a pretty mint 2006 523i back in 2012 for 6250 - they don't fetch much.

The 08 has no massive advantage over the 07 in the tax stakes unlike a diesel from the same year so the prices never really ran away from reality.

I wouldn't spend 9.9K on a 2008 523i.

Snoggums

Hi I took the advice of Ferris above And I got the BMW INPA software and cable from ebay.

He was right it was a technical set up and took quite a while to load the software from the cds that came with the cable.
I spent a few nights reading the many user guides.

However I am delighted to report I got a positive result.
Did my own diagnostics and error code dump with the software and sorted my running issue.

I was well worth the time and effort and now my E60 is running so sweet its just fabtastic.

Many thanks FERRIS for the sound advice.

Snoggums

Hi I took the advice of Ferris above And I got the BMW INPA software and cable from ebay.

He was right it was a technical set up and took quite a while to load the software from the cds that came with the cable.
I spent a few nights reading the many user guides.

However I am delighted to report I got a positive result.
Did my own diagnostics and error code dump with the software and sorted my running issue.

It was well worth the time and effort and now my E60 is running so sweet it's just fabtastic.

Many thanks FERRIS for the sound advice.

Ferris

Snoggums wrote: »

Hi I took the advice of Ferris above And I got the BMW INPA software and cable from ebay.

He was right it was a technical set up and took quite a while to load the software from the cds that came with the cable.
I spent a few nights reading the many user guides.

However I am delighted to report I got a positive result.
Did my own diagnostics and error code dump with the software and sorted my running issue.

I was well worth the time and effort and now my E60 is running so sweet its just fabtastic.

Many thanks FERRIS for the sound advice.

Great work! Sounds like you are the resident expert on boards now.