Good Buy? 2006 525i

[Sandman515]

Potential first time BMW owner here. I am looking at a 2006 525i being sold by a dealer.

The listed price is $4990.

165k miles
Automatic
For engine it says i6. On a VIN check it also says E60.

As everyone can tell I am far from a BMW expert. I have always liked them. I am soon to be done with putting my kids through college and I'm wondering if this is a good entry into the market, then will potentially buy new or much more near-new in a few years.

Any red flags on this one or does it seem like a good deal? Anything particular I should be looking for when I go see the vehicle?

Thanks for any help.

[323isCol]

Not a bad deal it all if at all slightly under-priced,
I6 stands for Inline 6 cylinder engine


A 5 series is an excellent entry BMW if not a mid entry vehicle. If you do plan on buying a new BMW in a few years Id think this would be a great car to learn on,
Seems like a good deal to me, As always 160xxx+ miles is over half of the vehicles life so make sure to have it inspected fully before you decide to purchase. Take it for a drive, feel it out, watch the temp Gage and feel the breaks, once you have the inspection and you've taken it for a nice cruise Id say make your decision, that being whether itll be worth it or to keep looking. Best of luck.

[daka]

There is a ton of info on the message board(s), what to look out for, take it for a longish ride, problems show up.
Make sure that all the warning lights come up when you turn the ignition on, and then go out and stay out.
Having a shop do a Pre Purchase Inspection may be a good idea.
Transmission performance is IMPORTANT....no clunks ....you know that with every used car there will be a few hundred $ of costs in the first few weeks....
Good luck....

[gmak]

+1 on what others have written above.

Find out if:

1: valve cover gasket has ever been replaced
2: Water pump has been replaced - this is a weak spot in the E60.
3. What recalls etc have been done on the car - there was issues with passenger seat sensor mat; battery cable in trunk etc etc... Find out if the IBS (intelligent battery system) cable has been replaced. They should be able to tell by looking at it (the newer one has a different cable setup).

Be sure to test windows, comfort access (if it has it). After the drive, ask the dealer to print out the fault codes in memory - with you there so they don't delete them. Better yet, do it yourself.

Look at the engine, even take pictures before going for a test drive.
After taking it for a long drive, look for oil leaks around the engine. In your test drive, be sure to go on the highway at 60 - 70 mph and see if there is a vibration in the steering wheel or in the seat.

[Nick91303]

Check for oil around the oil housing gasket. And like gmak said make sure you ask if water pump and thermostat where changed because if not be prepared to changed them as soon as you take the car home. Ask to see a service record of the car.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[daka]

Sometimes.....there are service records shown on CarFax...the 06 530xiT I just bought (and paid a hefty price for) has service records showing dealer service every 6-7,00 miles, one owner....38,000 miles... aside from Tourings/Wagons being rare..... I can only imagine what was spent on this car.
I've owned a LOT of BMW's, and I find that the ones that have early and often BMW dealer service records are usually in good shape mechanically....

[jtbgonesailing]

Take the time to read this PDF link, So You Just Bought an e60. Pretty much everything you need to know, plus a lot you haven't even thought about...

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/att...5&d=1492266744

Good luck.