To keep or not to keep?

AhHaor

So I'm kinda looking for advice on potentially downsizing from my 2006 e60 525i. I've moved jobs and am finding it hard to justify 1080 tax when only driving twice a week. I was doing 15 k km a year and now down to ~ 5.

I've put about 3 k into the beemer in a year and it's running really well. The only things I envisage going wrong in next while are water pump and gear box. But I can't afford to have another year of 3 k for repairs! (Radiator, battery, ICE unit, front suspension, front brake pads and discs, boot shock and service and preventative maintenance)

Do I sell and cut losses, its going for early NCT to get the last of its 2 year ones, and know this is as much as it'll ever be worth and buy bangernomic 93, S 60 Accord (1.8 - 2L) or stick with the devil I know a bite the tax bullet each year?

biko

Tbh, it's up to you. But yeah, I'd find it hard to justify the expense too for that small mileage.
Put it up on some sites and see if you get any offers.

166man

It can often be very difficult to place a value on the car you currently own, when you're mainly seeing the negatives of the expenses.

I'd probably keep it if I knew the car. It won't be worth much more than €4-€5k at this stage. I'd only change down if I was going to a much smaller engine and the savings were more substantial.

Je suis tres mal

Better the devil you know..
And a proper 6 pot e60 is far from a devil!

monkeysnapper

I'm in same position .

I have Audi a4 avant. Cost me a small fortune 8 years ago . only have 100k on clock and I changed jobs a year ago and I hardly use it now . I walk and cycle to work cause its easier and faster .
I took it off road a month ago because I cant justify spending 700 on tax and its due service and timing belt .

Its going into garage next week to fix a few small things, service and then nct .

I love car but can't see any other way out.

My plan is to try selling for around 3k and put money towards a small 200 euro tax car, maybe a Hyundai i10

Edit . we have family car as well

Je suis tres mal

What year is she, with the 710 tax is it a 2.0d?

visual

The 525i and another 2 litre petrol car mpg are so close mpg wise it's not worth mentioning.

Consumables like brakes etc have just been replaced in another car it will be unknown plus suspension parts wear in all cars you just done yours

Is there a reason you thing gearbox might go ?

If it was me I keep the bmw and pay the extra 300 in road tax but saying that I drive a e39 525i and the 6 pot engine is great engine.

Del2005

AhHaor wrote: »

So I'm kinda looking for advice on potentially downsizing from my 2006 e60 525i. I've moved jobs and am finding it hard to justify 1080 tax when only driving twice a week. I was doing 15 k km a year and now down to ~ 5.

I've put about 3 k into the beemer in a year and it's running really well. The only things I envisage going wrong in next while are water pump and gear box. But I can't afford to have another year of 3 k for repairs! (Radiator, battery, ICE unit, front suspension, front brake pads and discs, boot shock and service and preventative maintenance)

Do I sell and cut losses, its going for early NCT to get the last of its 2 year ones, and know this is as much as it'll ever be worth and buy bangernomic 93, S 60 Accord (1.8 - 2L) or stick with the devil I know a bite the tax bullet each year?

You've just spent 3k in repairs and are afraid of putting more money into yet you're willing to gamble a few grand on a vehicle you've no idea of how much extra it might cost once you buy it. Unless you're replacement is brand new any car you buy could cost you a fortune in repairs and the worst part will be that it's not a nice BMW you'd be putting the money into.

power pants

dont have to tax the car for the full year either, I rarely bother doing so as I dont drive that many miles either

unkel

visual wrote: »

Is there a reason you thing gearbox might go ?

My first thought too. Why do you think it's on the way out? Manual or auto? If it's a manual, do you mean you think the clutch is on the way out?

What's the mileage on the car?

AhHaor

unkel wrote: »

My first thought too. Why do you think it's on the way out? Manual or auto? If it's a manual, do you mean you think the clutch is on the way out?

What's the mileage on the car?

It's auto, runs really smooth, no bother with gearbox. Milage is 162 k km, but when I was getting the front suspension worked on mechanic said that he thought there was a bit of oil leaking from the gear box and that it needed a new gasket and it was 800 in parts and labour. Was bit sceptical, because you have a leak or you don't. And there's no sign of oil on the road where I park.

biko

Does this model have a transmission oil level dipstick? If not you probably need to open a fill hole to check levels.

AhHaor

biko wrote: »

Does this model have a transmission oil level dipstick? If not you probably need to open a fill hole to check levels.

Not sure on that.

unkel

AhHaor wrote: »

It's auto, runs really smooth, no bother with gearbox. Milage is 162 k km

I would have the gearbox serviced as preventative maintenance. A reputable BMW independent garage should be able to do that for around the €300 mark

I have an E60 6 cylinder petrol auto myself and one of the main reasons I bought this particular one is that the autobox had just been serviced at 95k miles

Edit: afaik the transmission is sealed (no dipstick)

AhHaor

I think I might get onto Chelmsford Motors and see what they can do it for. I seem to recall someone in straffan being recommended. Tho this all depends on NCT Friday.

Are you a preventive maintenance person with regard to gear box or is it better run them to destruction?

Any other fun expenses I can expect? Water pump is one.

unkel

AhHaor wrote: »

Are you a preventive maintenance person with regard to gear box or is it better run them to destruction?

Well somebody else paid for my preventative maintenance

In your case, I would "invest" in the auto service if you're planning to keep your car for a good few more years. The car is still fresh looking and overall quite reliable and refined and a much nicer place to be in and drive in than most other cars of the same value.

With your mileage, petrol spending isn't going to cost you much and I'd say just bite the bullet of the motor tax with the justification that you're worth it

Mine's an '04, I've had it for 2 years and I have spent very little on it in maintenance. In the last year, just oil + filter (I do oil service myself) and a coil went, which cost me €40 for a Bosch one from the local motor factors. Fitted it myself too and I did the diagnosis with a cheap OBDII reader.