Considering Becoming a 5 Series Owner...Need Advice

[Par4]

So here's the deal. I have a 140 mile commute several times per week. I have been sucking it up behind the wheel of a very reliable, economical, and boring Toyota, a car that is approaching 230k miles. Time to trade up, I need something with balls, handling and comfort.

I like the 540i, and it's on my list for serious consideration. I think a 2001 or 2002 will do nicely... however, I'm concerned about repair costs and maintenance schedule. The car will get good care, but it must be capable of 20k+ freeway miles per year without much attention. I have owned BMWs before and I know they can nickle and dime you, but it's been awhile and I have no experience with the 5 series.

So honestly, what should I know before I commit to this? How much will it cost me per year to be in this car? Is the juice worth the squeeze?

[jhstealth]

I say do it. Im in college and can afford mine and I absolutly love it.

[4500 RPM]

I wouldn't be so eager to pile the miles on a 540i due to maintenance concerns, although the car is sublime on the highway. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool six-cylinder guy so I'd find a 530i 5-speed.

[BimmerBreaker]

Keep the Toyota buy an E34 or E36 M for fun

[agentrnge]

Agree on keeping the Toyota if you can. Not sure what it will cost to insure two cars. The Toyota I am hoping is not costing you much to maintain.

Now about this commute, is it smooth sailing highway cruising for the most part?
Or is it stop and go, pot holes and crap?

I overlapped my prev car about 9 months after I got the 540. My commute is pretty small. I was not concerned about it tho. I bought the car to drive. I kept the other primary for winter. I have since taken the 540 through 2 winters about to hit the 3rd. The cost to insure the 2nd car was more than the cost of snow tires / wheels and lots of trips to the pressure wash car wash :)

To answer your question tho. Yeah maintenance can be high. Most of the work is preventative. ( all of it should be preventative ) There are warning signs for everything going wrong. You always have some warning. If you take care of things when they first show signs of failing you should be pretty trouble free. Biggest thing to watch out for is cooling system. Needs work ( replacement ) every 100k. Will usually give you warnings.

I almost got a 98/99 LS400 before the 5. My uncle has one. Loved it. Nice comfy cruiser, powerful, handled good ( who would have thought ) . legendary reliability. The legends are not all true. Just about every car will cost you to run it. So drive what you will love. I *love* my 540i/6 speed. It is a pleasure to commute/cruise/motor/play in. On a long trip or commute I dont think I could ever fall asleep driving it :)

The inline 6 is a beauty of a motor too. Probably more i6s to choose from too. A guy in my office commutes heavy. 120 miles EACH way, 3 times a week. Hes got a E34 525 with like 300,000 miles on it. Still runs good.

[PavelK313]

I have put 57.5k miles on my car in last 12 month and 7 days. The only problems I had was bad FSU, got new battery, new front trust arm bushings and new cooling system (didn't need it, just wanted to do it before summer came around). Total money spend around $1000. Te feeling every time I look at her, drive her or seat in her is absolutely priceless! E39 makes life better. :)

[jamesdc4]

Welcome to Bimmerforums.

Check out these links.
E39 Buyer's Guide (http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/E39%20Buyers%20Guide%208-2005.pdf)

Common problems and fixes (http://www.540i6.com/probsfixes.html)

E39 Problems Checklist (http://edgemotorworks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=55)


Biggest thing to watch out for is cooling system. Needs a complete overhaul every 80-100k miles, but more like 75k miles to be on the safe side.

*fixed*

[Par4]

Wow, I'm impressed how fast you guys have jumped on this one. Thanks everybody, keep it coming.

To answer some questions-

My commute is all freeway. I'm a firefighter and I work 72 hours straight then go home for a few days, so it's not an everyday drive. I'll go w/ an automatic because it can be stop and go at times when I'm going home from work, but when I'm driving in to start a shift I leave at 430 am, so it's pretty much point it down the road and 75-80 mph for two hours.

The BMW six is a sweet motor, no doubt. I'm not married to the prospect of the V8. The 530i seems to be a better buy overall too.

I know what you guys are saying about keeping the Toyota and using the Bimmer for fun, but the goal is to replace the Toyota. Believe me, it's been very nice to have no worries about reliability. In the last three years the only maintenance has been to replace front axle, a leaky fuel tank, & the timing chain at 200k. Other than that it's gas, oil and filters.

I think the Toyota could go another 100k, but when I think of what's coming- complete brake job, more axles probably, an AC service, maybe a water pump... I mean the car is only worth about 1500 bucks. It has reached the point of negative returns based on my annual mileage.

Also, when you spend as much time in SoCal traffic as I do, you want to be in the lap of performance/luxury. My list of possible replacements also includes the IS300, the Mini Clubman, and the Camry Hybrid. All great cars.

I grew up driving a 76 2002, a '69 1600 and a '67 1600ti (dual sidedraft Solex carbs- tasty!!) My toys now are old Land Rovers.

My BMW mechanic always bitched about the newer models, how the reliability wasn't there when they added all the electronics. I guess as a rule with BMWs you can expect a transmission rebuild at 100k, head gasket around 100-120k, and cooling issues every 50-100k. I just wonder about all the little stuff- oil seals, axles, charging system, water pump, etc. We've stuck with Toyota because you can beat the piss out of them and they don't break. But they're boring. Maybe this is my midlife crisis talking!

[PiRiPi]

then get a subaru, they handle good.quite reliable.

or a miata.

then again, I am looking at buying an E39 too

[Gumbi4u]

Wow, I'm impressed how fast you guys have jumped on this one. Thanks everybody, keep it coming.

To answer some questions-

My commute is all freeway. I'm a firefighter and I work 72 hours straight then go home for a few days, so it's not an everyday drive. I'll go w/ an automatic because it can be stop and go at times when I'm going home from work, but when I'm driving in to start a shift I leave at 430 am, so it's pretty much point it down the road and 75-80 mph for two hours.

The BMW six is a sweet motor, no doubt. I'm not married to the prospect of the V8. The 530i seems to be a better buy overall too.

I know what you guys are saying about keeping the Toyota and using the Bimmer for fun, but the goal is to replace the Toyota. Believe me, it's been very nice to have no worries about reliability. In the last three years the only maintenance has been to replace front axle, a leaky fuel tank, & the timing chain at 200k. Other than that it's gas, oil and filters.

I think the Toyota could go another 100k, but when I think of what's coming- complete brake job, more axles probably, an AC service, maybe a water pump... I mean the car is only worth about 1500 bucks. It has reached the point of negative returns based on my annual mileage.

Also, when you spend as much time in SoCal traffic as I do, you want to be in the lap of performance/luxury. My list of possible replacements also includes the IS300, the Mini Clubman, and the Camry Hybrid. All great cars.

I grew up driving a 76 2002, a '69 1600 and a '67 1600ti (dual sidedraft Solex carbs- tasty!!) My toys now are old Land Rovers.

My BMW mechanic always bitched about the newer models, how the reliability wasn't there when they added all the electronics. I guess as a rule with BMWs you can expect a transmission rebuild at 100k, head gasket around 100-120k, and cooling issues every 50-100k. I just wonder about all the little stuff- oil seals, axles, charging system, water pump, etc. We've stuck with Toyota because you can beat the piss out of them and they don't break. But they're boring. Maybe this is my midlife crisis talking!


Your mechanic bitched because he most likely does not have the proper equipment to handle and diagnose the newer models. I noticed the trend. Any mechanic who has complained about the new models cant diagnose them. Hence the bitching. Thats why we ended up getting almost 30k of equipment to be on the same playing field as the dealers. You might want to find someone like that in your neck of the woods.

Also a trans rebuild is not common on our cars and nor is the head gasket stuff unless the car was indeed over heated due to driver negligence. YOu see the car starting to over heat, you pull over and shut her off. That is the proper rule of thumb.

[herc97]

Listen go get the I6 and call it a day don't look for an excuse not to step to the plate and enjoy the pleasure the rest of us share on this forum. You have an up keep on any car but to feel at ease after the up keep on your car is what you really want. Go E39 there are many people on this forum in your area to help you if you have a problem !! Trust me the first time you drive to and from work you wont regret it !!!!

[PatrickW]

Do it!! Get a I-6 car and youll love it.. I can get 30mpg on the highway if im real easy on it (5 speed) but I love the car and drive it 120 miles home and back to school every weekend!

[ascott]

I bought a 1999 in October 2008. It had 102,000 miles on it and new radiator and alternator when I bought it.

Since then, it's had a new clutch (normal, but $1000 installed), tires (normal), and the rest of the cooling system (normal).

Additionally, I did the intake manifold re-seal and valley pan, as they were all leaking. Self done, car was down two days, ~$500 in parts.
The DME has been damaged by coolant that wicks into the sockets from leaky thermostat connectors. I replaced the thermostat with the coolant overhaul and fixed the wiring, but the DME is still damaged and the short took out a throttlebody ($240). in order to get rid of my permanent CE light, I'll have to buy a new DME ($1100).

Cam sensors both went, and not the normal way, the insulation crumbled off the wires and then the wires broke. $74 each at Autozone.

I had the plastic snap-on connector for the lower radiator hose explode, stranding me. It was a new hose, too. $25 for the hose plus a tow home.

My timing chain guides disintegrated and the oil separator broke in half. That's $1500 to replace at a shop, or $200 in parts and $500-$1000 (depending on where you get them) in special tools, plus a week disassembling the car to do it yourself. You have to put it completely back together to check your work, and if you screw up the timing, you have to tear it all the way back down again to correct your mistake. Painfully steep learning curve.

Doing a brake job with quality parts (rotors and pads) is almost $500 in parts alone.

If you have money to burn and a spare car, go for it. But these cars are not reliable unless meticulously maintained, and to maintain and repair them, they're stupid expensive due the insane amount of labor it takes to disassemble them (18 fasteners per valve cover!).

With the 540i, you are one sub-$20 plastic part away from a tow home and possible catastrophic engine damage at all times. Be sure you have a good relationship with a local mechanic that can at least get parts for you so you aren't constantly trying to mail order them.

[ttgxc]

Every car has it quirks and problems. I commute 80 miles total a day in my 540i, often with heavy traffic. As long as you take care of the car, it will take care of you. Go ahead and get something nice and well maintained, you won't regret it! (try to get one with the sport package).

[jamesdc4]

Every car has it quirks and problems. As long as you take care of the car, it will take care of you.(try to get one with the sport package).
No offense, but I think this is misleading. E39s are not like any other car. They have to be taken care of with a much higher level of preventative maintenance than their japanese and american counterparts.
That being said, they also return a much higher level of driving satisfaction than other comparable vehicles.

[02540ico]

These cars are like women. Sure you can have an average gal on your arm, sorta like a Toyota or Honda, with very little maintenance cost. Or you can have the hottie 'trophy wife' that turns everyone's head and makes all the other guys jealous as hell, but that usually comes with a high-maintenance cost to keep her happy and looking great. :stickoutt:buttrock

[SpeedsterBek]

Yeah, get a well maintained E39. You'll be saying to yourself why you haven't done so already. My 540i eats highway miles like nothing, it's just an excellent long distance shortener machine.

[FP5241]

Advice?

Avoid the double vanos E39's.
Not worth the trouble.

[Cyrix2k]

meh, I was putting 150+ miles a day on mine over the summer and didn't have any problems. Currently at 154k miles. I replace items as they begin to go bad, but most of the problems leave a lot of time to be addressed.