Really high mileage 528i good idea for first time BMW owner?

[adam1979]

I found a nice looking 98 528i/5-speed that is somewhat local for me. Only problem is it has 230k miles. Here is the link: http://www.concordmotorsport.com/det...e-2626503.html

I started some threads a while back asking about 540i/6s, which was my original plan. I had one shot down in a PPI. A fellow forum member has a nice one with a zionsville radiator and a lot of other work already done, but unfortunately it still needs some minor work, I would have to ship it, and the clutch is still an unknown at 106k miles. I have looked into some other local cars, and it is pretty amazing how many of the common issues for E39 540s come up. Between that, some feedback I received from helpful forum members, and reading through existing threads, I am basically terrified at the potential cost of keeping a 540 on the road.

With that in mind, I think it is time for plan B. From what I have read, 230k miles is a lot, but not insane for the I6, especially one without vanos (is that correct for a '98?). I do worry about the rest of the car though. The ad says the suspension was just redone with receipts. I would also do a PPI before finalizing anything. If everything checks out, this car could be had relatively cheap due to the mileage.

Is this thing a good idea to get my feet wet with E39 ownership, then maybe consider a 540 down the road as prices for the 2001+ models tumble? Is this a case where anyway you look at it, any E39 costs a lot to keep on the road and I should just wait until I can afford to have a backup car before taking the plunge?

[wanganstyle]

wow. lota miles, and not that high up the ladder, but it is sport.

id say hold out, you can find a much better deal.

i picked up my 98 6mt clean title with 150K for less

[adam1979]

wow. lota miles, and not that high up the ladder, but it is sport.

id say hold out, you can find a much better deal.

i picked up my 98 6mt clean title with 150K for less

That's a crazy deal. Is it a salvage title or something?

[lxcoupe]

i have to agree, not the best deal. I just picked up my 99 with 61K miles for $8100. I think if it had 50 to 75K less miles it would be about right price wise as long as nothing major was wrong.

[adam1979]

I wouldn't pay the full $6800 even if everything checked out. I would probably offer $5000 and work from there. I still need to check out ebay and the prices paid thread to see what I might be able to get away with.

[fudman]

Way too many miles for that price. Keep looking.

[brosher]

Are you comfortable working on the engine and suspension? If not it is a bad idea. And with that kind of miles you will have trouble selling it.

If you are on a budget you are much better off finding a mint E34 that has been well maintained by an enthusiast.

[defaz]

In order to put that many miles on a car of that age, the original owner most likely did a lot of long distance commuting, most likely also freeway miles... So there may not be as much wear as you'd expect... that still seems like a high price for that car. You can get one with HALF the miles for the same...

[Ehayes46]

Don't do it...

[bimmerspeed]

Be patient and keep looking. Check your local craigslist. www.craigslist.com

[adam1979]

Wow. I guess it is unanimous. Thanks for the advice.

[Mytpa]

to compare i had a 97 528 without sport bought at 190k with a lot repairs needed (around 3k in parts) and the condition was really bad on the exterior purchased for 1900.
ended up selling it for 2650 at 209k miles
and recently i purchased a 2001 530 sport for 6900 with 150k in excellent condition and the only parts that i had to change were the shocks.
for 230k and that price it doesnt make sense to me. if it was 3-4k then maybe, depending on the wear on the parts and maintenance on the car.

[Aubergine]

Back when used car prices weren't in the toilet (1.5 years ago) I paid about 7K for my `97 528i/5m with 152,000 miles. It all depends on how it was maitained, and what it needs. If I when I get my next E39 I will not spend over 10K and I will get a 540i/6. Beginers mistake....

Now I am seeing quite a few 540i/6 cars under 10K and I wish I had waited, but what can I do now??

I will modd the heck out of my 528i and enjoy what I have.

[E39ofmine]

hell thats alot of miles. I bought mines(528i) recently cash for about 5500 with a damn near perfect body and 174,000 miles. Luckily the car was maintained in and out and the motor runs smooth as ever

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...1/DSCN6560.jpg

[pahhhoul]

definitely not a good deal! heed yer E39er brothers' words!
you can find a better deal. mucho better.







if you don't look for it, you will find it!

[websworld]

Is a 528 faster or slower than your previous car?
This is significant when trying to judge how long it will take you to start craving that 540... if faster then it should be fine for a while, if slower... better get that 540 now

Note that very early 540's lack much of the expensive complexity added to later models, like the electric thermostat, two banks of single VANOS, throttle by wire etc. So if you're worried about repair costs, either buy the very first non-vanos type (and get large intake/MAF thrown in as a bonus), or a 2001+ and hope it'll be more reliable than the older ones.

Went the non vanos route myself, avoiding the early VANOS years on purpose (unable to afford 2001+)

[altdude85]

Definitely better off finding something with less miles, and for less money (in my area 528's w/ avg mileage are ~$5k). I had an E30 with 220k, and it lived in the shop, and when it wasn't in the shop, I was driving it to the shop. When I wasn't driving it to the shop and it wasn't in the shop, it was broken down by the side of the road. There was always something going, and at that mileage, it wasn't the cheap stuff too. If you get this car, expect regular repair bills in the $1000+ range.

Re: the 540i... my dad's '99 has actually been pretty good in the past few years. For the first 60k miles, it was always in for some warranty-related issue (including a botched radiator repair that the dealer themselves did!), but once he reached the 100k mile mark it seemed to become more reliable. Except for the clutch, which went at 104k.

[SHWELL]

Stay away...... Mileage too high for a first timer, and that price way too high for that many miles... I paid 5.5K for a 97 with 139k...... So keep searching, the deals are out there.

[adam1979]

Is a 528 faster or slower than your previous car?
This is significant when trying to judge how long it will take you to start craving that 540... if faster then it should be fine for a while, if slower... better get that 540 now

Note that very early 540's lack much of the expensive complexity added to later models, like the electric thermostat, two banks of single VANOS, throttle by wire etc. So if you're worried about repair costs, either buy the very first non-vanos type (and get large intake/MAF thrown in as a bonus), or a 2001+ and hope it'll be more reliable than the older ones.

Went the non vanos route myself, avoiding the early VANOS years on purpose (unable to afford 2001+)

The 528 would be faster, at least on the highway. It should be faster around town too, but it's possible I won't notice it that much. Overall, Proteges are pretty slow, but they have pretty short gearing so they can feel quick around town. I haven't actually driven a 528 yet, only the 540. I definitely crave the 540, but the horror stories of maintenance and repair make me nervous.

My goal is a midsize car with a manual transmission that is still fun to drive despite being bigger than my Mazda. Preferably it would be AWD or RWD, mostly because I have always had FWD and want something different. Unless there is something I didn't think of, that pretty much narrows the list down to a 5-series. I guess a 95-99 Maxima would meet those requirements (except the drive layout) while being pretty cheap, but I'm not sure it is cool enough to bother changing cars. There is no urgency to replace the Protege, I just want something bigger and more comfortable, but still fun.

[adam1979]

I definitely plan to keep looking for a better deal. And even though ownership costs of the 540 terrify me, I can't get the thing out of my head.

It's pretty hilarious what some are asking for these cars. I saw a 99 528 5-speed sport where the guy wanted $13900. It looked nice and only had 57k miles, but you could pretty easily get a nice 540 for less. Oh well. The search goes on...

[expresssoccer25]

no way! i will never buy a used bmw ever again. got my 98 528i with 130k for 9k. within the next 6 months ended up payin 26 thousand dollars cash for the car. new engine. trans, wheels dozens of sensors, fuelpumps, so much i cant even remeber. dont do it. get either new with the maitnece warrenty or newly used. thats just my 2cents.

[e39dream]

if you like the car and are willing to keep up with it offer them 4500 bucks and see if they bite. The motor will run past 300k miles if you keep coolant in it and change the oil at respectable intervals. It's been documented. Mine is at 153k miles and runs like a top, and has never once stranded me in almost 3 years of ownership. I do all my own service and the car has never seen a service bay at the mechanic. Pure driving pleasure.

The 528i can be had for a song with some higher milage. There is a vast amount of used parts available for them and a used engine can be had for roughly 1k dollars. The manual transmissions are tough and should outlast the engine. The control arms + bushings and other various rubber suspension parts will need to be changed at that milage.