I am considering purchasing a 2001 525iT. 130K miles. 2nd owner.
I am am being told it was maintained by the local BMW dealership while the current owner had it. Original owner leased vehicle.
This is will be my first BMW. I am looking for something safe and reliable for my late teens/early 20's children to drive.
I can perform most maintenance and many mechanical repairs myself. Are there things I need to look out for with this vehicle? I don't want to end up with something that will nickel and dime me to death.
If it was well maintained, then the car should last quite some time. Just make sure that you get a full PPI report at an independent BMW mechanic. In the event that you do end up getting the E39, I've attached our site's DIY tech articles on that platform. Please let us know if you have any questions!
http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...h_main_E39.htm
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Buy a Honda, Toyota, Nissan if you want reliable. I would not put 16 year old BMW and reliable in the same sentence. If this is your first one, you may be disappointed. Great cars and the only cars I have, but I know I am paying more for a BMW and that it will cost more to maintain and not be as reliable. If this is more a car for you to have as something to maintain and repair as a project, go for it. That is how I spend some of my time and probably the way a 16 year old BMW should be approached. We had a 99 528i for 10 years, from 2006-2016 and put about 80k miles on it (had 160k when we sold it). Needed radiator, water pump, valve cover gasket, dual vanos seals (sounds scary but easy and cheap DIY), shocks and struts, front tension rod bushings, swaybar endlinks, a couple of wheel bearings, brakes pads and rotors, a couple of window motors, an ABS hydraulic controller, and probably some other stuff I cannot remember, in addition to basics like fluids and filters and plugs. I thought it was pretty reliable. My brother in law bought a 99 528it and had a bunch of problems, but could not do the work himself. I remember he had some issues with the airbag rear suspension that would have been expensive to fix and dumped the car for about 1/4 what he paid for it after just a few years.
FIRST RESPONSE: Buy a three year old whatever (Ford, Honda, Chevy, Toyota, insert Korean name plate here) with a warranty extension. Make your kid/s pay for it, otherwise they will TRASH it and you will eating the bills. Part time work and summer jobs builds character and self reliance financially and emotionally.
SECOND: As mentioned above, a $50,000 now at $5K is a 15 year old BMW with 100K mileage on her. One that has all the maintenance deferred to the last and final owner...YOU. They are a blast to drive, require an owner ready to do DIY monthly on one item after another, and the if clean everyone will think its new. The E39 sedan - wagon (1998-2003 525, 540, 530 Euro and others) is a easy car to DIY but will take Knowledge, tools and a clean dry place to do repairs. Most just need someone to care enough to replace all the wear items, cooling system, braking system, Suspension, electronics, etc. If you are prepared for this task, then go for it with an open eye. The parts cost will be $2K and multiple hrs of labor. Oh, and put your kids on the wrench, yes even if it is a girl as she will gain confidence and it will BLOW AWAY the unwanted boys who are circling her.
Last edited by StephenVA; 05-21-2017 at 04:17 AM.
Current Garage Highlights
2003 525iT TiSilver
2002 M5 TiSilver
1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)
Former Garage Highlights
2005 X5 4.8is
2004 325iTs (2x)
1973 Pantera L
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack Alpine White
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack GoManGo Green
1969 Road Runner 383
1968 Barracuda Formula S 340 Sea Foam Green
I've had my 525it for over 2 years now and all I've done is 2 oil changes. One of the best used cars I have ever had. I guess if you buy the best, you get the best. I love it and hopefully it will last for many more years.
Lets get the party started before it's my bedtime.
I have a 2001 525it. Very nice car. I also agree with pbonsalb. Bought mine for 2K with a bad throttle body and an inch thick stack of receipts that covered everything that pbonsalb covered except for the ABS controller vanos seals and window controllers. I have done pulleys, throttle body and the water pump pulley exploded which took out the Thermostat etc. Get the water pump tool for $20.00 on Amazon and replace the water pump pulley with an Aluminum one. Get a set of spare wheels with real winter tires and go for it. If the motor transmission or something major and expensive goes, car will go off to BMW heaven or get an LS swap.
Did you buy it? Or is this another "stand by for News" that never come back to say what the heck happened?
Current Garage Highlights
2003 525iT TiSilver
2002 M5 TiSilver
1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)
Former Garage Highlights
2005 X5 4.8is
2004 325iTs (2x)
1973 Pantera L
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack Alpine White
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack GoManGo Green
1969 Road Runner 383
1968 Barracuda Formula S 340 Sea Foam Green
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