Am I alone living in fear of repairs and breakdowns?

[donbruno]

I gotta tell ya, after having my car for about a week, joining these boards, reading up and so on, every time I get in my car now I expect a CEL or for it to not start, or something to not work properly. All the info has made me so paranoid! Please tell me I'm overreacting. Please.

[bmwbob89]

Go to a doctors office and you will think we are all about to die. Same thing here. Don't worry be happy!

[f355spider]

Yes.

I'm at 181k miles. Only a couple CE lights over the years...the cars are pretty reliable. The only thing that required a tow was a failed alternator. But I am super aggressive in preventive maintenance....I follow the advice of the tech on Roundel...using the "old school" maintenance schedule.

[donbruno]

Yeah man I'd like to be on top of the preventative stuff too. What would you suggest as some key things to watch out for?

A big reason I got the car is because I need it for work. I'm a photographer and a lot of my business is weddings. Every weekend I'm driving around Chicagoland and you can imagine how I can't really be late or stranded along the way to these things. :) I'm aware of the nature of these cars so I do want to be one step ahead as much as possible.

[dareckibmw]

I gotta tell ya, after having my car for about a week, joining these boards, reading up and so on, every time I get in my car now I expect a CEL or for it to not start, or something to not work properly. All the info has made me so paranoid! Please tell me I'm overreacting. Please.

No, you're not. :D

Welcome to the Forum.

[donbruno]

:lol dislike. :)

[edjack]

The problem with these BMW forums is that they tend to attract the fanatics. We don't see posts from those who have very few, if any, problems, and have no issues to share.

All cars experience breakdowns, and they tend to be unpredictable. The good thing about these BMW forums is that we can learn from others as to what their experiences have been; e.g, we know that the V8 cooling system s/b overhauled about ever 80-90k, to prevent a failure.

Many here run their cars up to 200k+. Most people dump a car much before that. The E39 is basically bulletproof, if properly maintained, and will often run to 300k. Stuff wears out during that time.

[donbruno]

The problem with these BMW forums is that they tend to attract the fanatics. We don't see posts from those who have very few, if any, problems, and have no issues to share.

All cars experience breakdowns, and they tend to be unpredictable. The good thing about these BMW forums is that we can learn from others as to what their experiences have been; e.g, we know that the V8 cooling system s/b overhauled about ever 80-90k, to prevent a failure.

Many here run their cars up to 200k+. Most people dump a car much before that. The E39 is basically bulletproof, if properly maintained, and will often run to 300k. Stuff wears out during that time.

bless you my son. that's exactly what i needed to hear so thank you. and yeah that's my plan, i intend to keep this car for a long, long time. it's in seriously super clean condition and I myself am anal with taking care of my stuff be it computers, camera gear, musical instruments and especially cars.

i propose more posts/threads just to be like, "hey, just so you all know, my car is running great. pretty happy. k thanks." and then it'd balance out all the posts where shit goes wrong. :D

[jdjg]

Pics of your car please!!!

[donbruno]

Pics of your car please!!!

hmm. i guess you're right, can't really mention being a photographer and not have proper photos of my car. here's a teaser but i'll try and get some good photos tomorrow!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a109/budawg/540iparked.jpg

[Roman Empire]

If you wait for things to break yeah people b***h then complain on forums and scare other newer members, but the key to all this is you got to play smart at the forum game. I never post about my problems why? Because I never have any (+2 yrs of strong ownership, she's a tank)
I do 85% of preventive maintenance/repairs, except the oil changes on purpose, that way I bring it for its schedule oil change routine to a very reputable BMW shop, who more or less tells me what may break, what he recommends I should change, or what can wait. Bottom line, play smart just like in real life. Also, if you like to get your hands dirty, these forums and those illustrated DIYs out there are very useful.

[AkumaFes]

http://www.lifebeforedeath.com/images/articles/quote-img-03.gif

[AnotherGeezer]

Triple A memberships are quite popular among those BMW pilots that can afford to own one.

[inpayne]

I don't have AAA, but I do have AMA since it's also my racing liscense with them. Towing/road side assistance, ect is free, also free for your wife/husband/kids if you have them.

Oh and it's like 30-40 bucks a year.

[nien2five540i]

When i first joined i def felt overwhelmed, not knowing the actual extent of time bombs on the car. But like ya said noone posts, rarely, about how top notch their car was/is. I been doing alot of prev. maint. Since i got it and i feel more and more confident every day. Tho with 147k miles, i do worry about mashing around hard on a longer spirited run. These are some GREAT cars though :drool:

[Justin517]

Dont "worry" about breakdowns... but dont forget about their potential to happen and get slack with your maint... its a fine line.

Also, spend an hour on a weekend or evening about every month or so and pop the hood and just do a look-over. look for bulging coolant hoses, rubbing wires, listen for abnormal noises... it will likely have some vanos noise but if you do it every now and then, you will notice when something seems off.

I highly recommend picking up a OBD cable and getting the INPA/EDIABAS software to be able to scan the car, read live info, clear codes and adaptations, etc. I paid $75 for a decent quality interface and the $25 donation to user "randomy" for his detailed instructions and holsting. I havent done much with DIS yet, but INPA has been great.

Other than that... drive it and enjoy it... if you are in a relationship and are in constant fear of the person dumping/cheating on you... you don't really enjoy the relationship, do you? Worrying doesn't work as preventative maintenance, it accomplishes nothing.

[motion]

These are very good cars but all E39's are at least 9+ years old and pending mileage and amount of care that car has received, it will require maintenance. Personally I don't care what the previous owner said or what the PPI may indicate, When purchasing a vehicle I automatically plug a number in for maintenance and cosmetic work. I purchased a '98 540IA with 120k on the clock for $3500 and plugged $2500 in the equation, once purchased I ordered right at $1900 of parts and trim, the other $600 plus an additional $400 went for a windshield, detail, OE medical kit, full size armrest, ultimate cup holders, window tint, tire balancing, alignment. I'm into it for under $6500 (still need to do the suspension) and presently runs great (fast and smooth) and is as reliable as can be. Color me a happy camper.

[mifesto]

honestly i dont feel bmw breaks more then any other car. what i've noticed is when it DOES malfunction, it may let you know alittle more "aggressively" then lets say a honda.

that being said i think if you stay on top of your maintenance, the e39 can still be a very reliable car. keep on top of oil changes, coolant system and power train fluids. timing tensioner is also important.

[dareckibmw]

I got my indy in Park Ridge, he is very good and had been working on my 540 since 2002, never let me down. PM me if you want to contact him.

[donbruno]

All great info guys, thank you.

I live in the west loop of chicago and I have R&N Bavarian Motors (http://www.rnbavarian.com/) literally a few blocks from me. All they do are BMWs and their labor rate is $99/hr I believe. I in fact just came from there to check in and I think I'll be happy with them.

I do have roadside assistance through State Farm so I definitely feel good there. Also have $0 deductible for comp.

[rancor]

i just have a cheapo 2nd car... just in case :)

Sent from my awesome iPhone using BF.com

[Rallim]

Triple A memberships are quite popular among those BMW pilots that can afford to own one.

I didn't really consider getting one until I got this car. I've got an aftermarket warranty on the Mustang that covers it, figured that at least would be a good idea. At least won't leave it on the road if it ever does.

Funny thing as I've said multiple times, the 540 has been way more reliable then the Mustang so far. Only problem I've had with the 540 was the whole "oh god the power steering pump fell off" thing. Which I blamed on a co worker because I let him take it across the street, and I went to go home later and bam.

[chondamx]

Funny thing as I've said multiple times, the 540 has been way more reliable then the Mustang so far. Only problem I've had with the 540 was the whole "oh god the power steering pump fell off" thing. Which I blamed on a co worker because I let him take it across the street, and I went to go home later and bam.


That is fantastic :laugh. x2 on the Mustang...My brother's 2005 GT with 35,xxx on the clock shattered a piston, bent a rod, and beat the hell out of the interior of the block without ever punching through. "I don't know, it just made a clunk and then shut down?" $6500 later and I dropped a new crate engine in. Talk about a freaking joke.

Also, OP, as everyone else has said--take care of her and she'll run for a long time. Don't worry about it exploding on the side of the road :)

[LaLaRay]

Pics of your car please!!!

:lol thats like a Credit score here... Your Resmue, Your Respect....

[TriniSpeC]

Me personally I am not worrying about problems, if I do run into problems i'll fix them when I can.

[sfgearhead]

Make sure your cooling system is up to date. Do that now if it's more than 5 years old, use OEM parts.

That's the only known issue that will strand you. Oh, and a fuel pump dying. But that should show signs of dying before it does, like hard starts, etc.

Everything else is just annoying and expensive. The only think I fear is a cooling system explosion, which is why mine is all new. :)

[topaz540i]

I dont have problems, only solutions.

[topaz540i]

I dont have problems, only solutions.
Way too many solutions....

[Beee]

Nope, At 194k right now and redline it whenever i can.

[donbruno]

i gotta tell you guys, i f*ckin' love this car. theres now a little animated BMW logo guy that lives inside me, and on days like today when i didn't have to drive anywhere, he's just moping around, eyes to the ground with his hands in his pockets. it's really sad actually.

just yesterday I drove up 90 just for the hell of it. i had to. it felt so good.

i've got two weddings to shoot tomorrow and saturday, they're both far away...and I can't wait. :)

[Chigga]

Or become a sicko like me, whenever something breaks, there's a light inside my head turns on and think about what performance part I can put in, valve cover gasket leak? non-tu manifold time, engine not running right? S62 swap time, wife nagging me about engine swap? S85 swap to shut her down.

My wife says may be my Camry is getting too small for the family winter beater? E39 touring time.

Accountant calling me saying I spend too much on a 13 year old BMW, I tell her to strip naked and dance around my car while I'm doing burn out and high on coke with pcp and smoking a joint.

[shortedaman]

Well then.

[donbruno]

...I tell her to strip naked and dance around my car while I'm doing burn out and high on coke with pcp and smoking a joint.

that was a pretty colorful visual picture there my friend.

[rathi60]

I confess, my e39 is reliable, just take care of the common issues and have your eyes and tuned.

[C019740]

The answer is YES!

[topaz540i]

Accountant calling me saying I spend too much on a 13 year old BMW, I tell her to strip naked and dance around my car while I'm doing burn out and high on coke with pcp and smoking a joint.

I have to say that is not at all how i was expecting the story to end

[collardgreens]

Over time you will be more at ease as you read about the same problems being resolved over and over. Now it's mainly the unknown electrical gremlins and mysterious misfire threads that pop up without any resolve that worries me.

[Rallim]

Or become a sicko like me, whenever something breaks, there's a light inside my head turns on and think about what performance part I can put in, valve cover gasket leak? non-tu manifold time, engine not running right? S62 swap time, wife nagging me about engine swap? S85 swap to shut her down.

My wife says may be my Camry is getting too small for the family winter beater? E39 touring time.

Accountant calling me saying I spend too much on a 13 year old BMW, I tell her to strip naked and dance around my car while I'm doing burn out and high on coke with pcp and smoking a joint.

Please see my signature. It only seemed appropriate.

[donbruno]

:stickoutt

[Rallim]

That is fantastic :laugh. x2 on the Mustang...My brother's 2005 GT with 35,xxx on the clock shattered a piston, bent a rod, and beat the hell out of the interior of the block without ever punching through. "I don't know, it just made a clunk and then shut down?" $6500 later and I dropped a new crate engine in. Talk about a freaking joke.

Also, OP, as everyone else has said--take care of her and she'll run for a long time. Don't worry about it exploding on the side of the road :)


Going back on that Mustang reliability thing, my exhaust fell off today on it. I'm okay with this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_VIVgEk71s&list=UUmF-xj7PcOx-jrzM3-5p8hw&feature=player_detailpage

[GronkDaSlayer]

It's only normal to worry a bit when you buy a used car. No matter what, you don't know what the previous owner did, maybe it was a granny that loved to do donuts in the Walmart parking lot...

I've had my 528 for some 2 weeks and I'm starting to feel more comfortable with it. I'm usually listening at the car when I drive and any noise that don't seem to belong usually causes me to worry a little but a short analysis usually appease those worries.

So far the only thing is the rear window regulator that's busted but I ordered a new one. As for preventive maintenance, I have order a Flex disc and a center transaxle bearing, which I'll install this week-end while I change the oil and do a coolant flush. I'll take the car to the mechanic next week for transmission fluid change.

I might need to change the muffler because the car is too darn quiet and I find this aggravating, its like driving a flippin' hearse :)

[jetlife]

My car has 180k and I'm worried about driving to a SoCal trip from SF in July.......

I just changed most cooling parts except radiator.........

Just from reading a lot of threads n this forum I get worried about a long drive

[larrym3711]

There are enough paranoids on this forum already to scare anyone. Changing most cooling parts is good, but the radiator is one of the high probability fails (especially at the upper Neck). If it has not been changed in the last 100,000, it is well past due. The other part that can be a true disaster is the fan/clutch combo. Please search these threads for the rolled-up newspaper test for testing the clutch. The fan is plastic and gets brittle with time, if the clutch does not release the fan can literally explode and do major damage. Preventive maintenance in these areas is very cost effective and may prevent a serious breakdown on the highway.

larrym3711
2001 540iA Sport

[webster2001]

I bought my 540iT form a person that was horrified at would could go wrong and the cost associated to fix the car. With that said I am mechanically inclined, and you will not find a easier car to fix and a forum that has all the answers in the DIY section. With that said routine maintenance is a must for my 10 year old wagon. Once a month a do a through inspection for leaks and health of the cooling system. She may have 80k on the clock, but still the most fun car I have to drive. She gets a valley pan overhaul this summer and plan to replace all suspect hoses in the back while I am in there.

[crackerjack1000]

You are not alone Every person on these forums has those feelings.

[OnTheFence]

Make sure your cooling system is up to date. That's the only known issue that will strand you. Oh, and a fuel pump dying.

Wrong.

Dead alternator = stranded.
Exploding cooling fan = stranded.
Broken pulley / snapped fan belt = stranded.
Overheat = stranded.

[topaz540i]

What is stranded but an imaginary concept invented by men that would rather be somewhere else?

Whenever i break down i consider it the beginning of a new adventure, an adventure that is about to suck.

[97heath528i]

:lol ^+1000 :help

[98bimmer]

These cars are very reliable, my dads has only left him stranded twice in 7 years. Once was because a rad hose came off, second time because of the alternator. It has 177,000 k miles now. Just drive, when something breaks, it breaks.

[Curjo]

The only thing that has changed for me is that I now have a AAA membership.

[Moss Man]

I've only had my 540i for about three weeks and I feel the same way, it looks like having a dedicated account with a couple grand in it is the key to feeling better about it. I had a 2000 Jetta a few years back and I don't consider that to be as high end as these 5 series, the timing belt blew way before the recommended mileage for it to be serviced and 4 grand later is was back on the road. A year later the tranny blew. So it's clearly not just a BMW thing. Like the others have said, keep up with the preventitive maintenance and keep your eyes and ears open for issues before they amplify. It appears as those these are not for the weak of heart and the wallet challanged.

[OnTheFence]

...it looks like having a dedicated account with a couple grand in it is the key to feeling better about it.

I read the forums for a while, then pulled the trigger 2 years later. I came in expecting the worst case scenario. Like the car breaking every week or something.

However, as others pointed out, it bears repeating: This forum is not representative of the 1000s of BMW owners who had NO problems driving today. Instead, it is a collection of every problem people all over the country had today. Silent majority.

That said, the above advice is correct. I think buying a used car for $7k, but also having a $10k cash store for the car would give you peace of mind that whatever breaks can be fixed, including a $3-4k tranny bill.

Having the tow package with your auto insurance also gives peace of mind. That way, when it breaks, you know it's just a matter of 2-3 hours being wasted, and getting a backup car for the week. Not exactly the end of the world.

My 2 breakdowns (alternator and cooling fan) helped me get over the fear of breakdowns. It not a "disaster", but simply an annoyance.

[andy81563]

Nice looking e39. Silver is a great color and will be easy to keep looking great for a while.

[larrym3711]

Many BMW owners are car-finatics in their own way. They bought the car not just to drive but to "experience" the car. That being said...it is inevitable they will want to know much more than just when to change the oil. It becomes "part of the family" so to speak and that makes it necessary to find out the "good-n-bad" about it and they realize it is something to take care of....not (!) just to use until it fails. Every car (that is EVERY CAR) has good-n-bad about it. Sorry 'bout that folks...just the facts here. Thus, this forum is focused on keeping the car in good shape...and that means being sensitive to the "bad" aspects to minimize the effects of them. Soooo...you will read what appears to be just one-problem-after-another...and...in a way it is. But the better truth is....most of us have had few problems and truly 'enjoy' the car, including the feel and HOW it drives down the road and YES we are interested in maintaining it that way and that "simply put" means we need to know all we can about it.

BYW....after basic maintenance, my 2001 BMW has had ZERO problems and runs like a scaled rabbit...runs agressively to full rpm without so much as a whimper and sounds and looks almost as good as when it came off the assembly line. No foolin' here.

larrym3711
2001 540iA Sport

[Justin517]

I've only had my 540i for about three weeks and I feel the same way, it looks like having a dedicated account with a couple grand in it is the key to feeling better about it. I had a 2000 Jetta a few years back and I don't consider that to be as high end as these 5 series, the timing belt blew way before the recommended mileage for it to be serviced and 4 grand later is was back on the road. A year later the tranny blew. So it's clearly not just a BMW thing. Like the others have said, keep up with the preventitive maintenance and keep your eyes and ears open for issues before they amplify. It appears as those these are not for the weak of heart and the wallet challanged.

When did the T-belt pop?

Day late and a dollar short, but... never listen to VW/Audi for recommended T-belt replacement interval, most of the time its not even the belt, its the tensioner. the 1.8T should have the belt/tensioner done every 60k. That said I have seen an OEM replacement tensioner go at 20k... same with the knockoff Chinese stuff.

I'll take my timing chain and having to do the guides every ~150k or so over having to deal with that again I think.

[Doru]

If maintenance & preventative maintenance is done (which on my car is), it's a very reliable vehicle.
I have no issues (knock on wood). Whatever has been changed was due to age. It doesn't fail more than another car, on the contrary, I believe it's a more robust car, the i6 for sure.
I think I will keep it until the wheels will fall off, but then I do preventative maintenance, so slim chances for that to happen.

[Moss Man]

When did the T-belt pop?

Day late and a dollar short, but... never listen to VW/Audi for recommended T-belt replacement interval, most of the time its not even the belt, its the tensioner. the 1.8T should have the belt/tensioner done every 60k. That said I have seen an OEM replacement tensioner go at 20k... same with the knockoff Chinese stuff.

I'll take my timing chain and having to do the guides every ~150k or so over having to deal with that again I think.

I think it let go at around 87,000 miles and the owner's manual said to change it at 105,000 miles. Now, I did read after the fact the the original owners were sent something to the effect that it needed changing at 60,000 after they realized they had premature failures. I wasn't anywhere near the original owner so I didn't get the information until it was too late. They said that it could have been the tensioner, a blade might have grenaded of the water pump and either one could have KO'd the belt. It's the school of hard knocks way to get educated on interference motors. Had I known about the issue, I would have gladly paid the $700.- $800. to have the belt, tensioner and pump changed out. Or, I would have sold it and bought a BMW!