Para82

Need some advice gents. Was originally looking at 328i's for the wife but today I sat and drove a 2007 525i from a private seller. They're gorgeous inside, interior and drive was 1st class.

So i've narrowed down some cars

2007 BMW 525i - Florida
79,000 miles - Immaculate - $15,200 (Accident on Carfax which owner just found out about) Owner said he would accept $14,500 - already has a buyer ahead of me but i'm next if they don't come through - 3 days on the market.

2006 BMW 525i - Alabama
126,000 miles - Good condition - $11,900 (No accidents) Owner said he would accept $10,000 - 16 days on the market. Yet to see in person.


First one (2007) appears to be sold, going to check out the second higher mileage one.

If it's in good condition and the maintenance checks out you think 10k would be a good deal? Seems like a steal to me. Both owners have extensive records of care.

Philster

I just came from a 2008 BMW 3 with M Sport... and both my best buddies are BMW service managers.

I was advised to run from any BMW after 80,000 miles. If you're gonna run around in a 7-9 year old car and most of your ownership will be near or above 100,000 miles, go with a Lexus, Infiniti or Acura.

Unless you don't mind the high cost of ownership. I didn't find anything particularly tempting about performance that it offered. It was not worth the risk. Hard to buck the advice of two BMW service managers.

Great cars to lease/own for 3-4 years from new.

.

mattyf

I wouldn't want a BMW out of warranty either.

My wife wants a 328 as well. The lease deals are pretty good right now. $2000 build cash, plus another $1000 credit if you do one of the drive events.

Edit: just for reference without even trying I've gotten offers of $1600 down, $329/mo +tax, and 12k miles/yr for 3 years. And that's not even telling them about the drive event coupon or negotiating. So you can get a new car for 3 years and free maintenance in the same ballpark.

yemenmocha

Happy BMW owner here. Original owner of both cars, and both relatively problem free. However, the oldest is only at 80k miles so I can't speak from high mileage experience. I've heard it said many times to be careful owning any high mileage BMW out of warranty because of costly repairs. The higher mileage ones are very, very low valued because you quickly find yourself in the situation where 2 repairs might cost more than the value of the car.

Better have a reputable independent mechanic lined up, or know how to do the work yourself.

Hella-Buggin'

Personally, I would hesitate to put my wife in anything that old that could leave her stranded somewhere. I don't know if you have kids or not but the thought of them having to pull off the highway with some car problem in some bad part of town coming or going somewhere is a deal breaker.

Para82

Good point but even new cars break down, and flat tires of course are unavoidable.

One thing to note is this would not be long-term ownership like my other cars, this is meant to be an 24 month / 18,000 mile run then sell.

If I paid 10k and had maybe 2k worth of repairs on top of the general maintenance during ownership I would be happy. It's a bit of a gamble.

mp5o

Speaking from previous experience as not only an owner, but also a former technician... Steer far away from any BMW 70k+ without a warranty. You are asking for a costly headache. Expect repairs to be at the very least double the number you just posted. Unless you think you are really lucky and can beat the odds... Good luck!

wardrive

Curious - directed to the posters who warn against buying a BMW with over 80k miles due to costly repairs.

I had a E36 M3 with over 100k miles. I was always under the impression if you have records of a car's maintenance and the car was properly taken care of, it should be fine.

For my car, besides the normal timing repairs (i.e. replace water pump, replace bushings, new rotors/brake pads, etc.) the car was perfectly fine. Some of these items can be done by the owner if they are a DIY kind of guy.

What is so dire in a BMW that after 80k you should not own them? I find that strange since there are so many BMWs with high mileage out there - its not like they are throwing them in a ditch or land fill.

Fahrer

I would stay away from the turbo models. I had a 2008 535 that was a nightmare. Constant injector and fuel pump issues. Failed turbocharger and wastegate. Failed vanos solenoids. BMW spent over 6K on my car under warranty. Definitely have a warranty with a BMW.

cvtbenhogan

Still love my 2006 5 series and it's been out of the warranty for 4 years now.

About $1500 in repairs since warranty expiry. I drive module was the largest item. All DIYs.

I have the v8 which has been a bit less reliable than the straight 6. That said, it's a well made car and drives great. It's the last of the sports sedan in the 5 range, aside from the new m. I'd buy another in a heart beat and it's a great value now.

Myself, I'd look for another 8 or the 2007 straight 6 with the lighter valvetronic engine. Wasn't crazy about the 2008 model refresh nor the turbo 6.

stefang

I'm going to echo wardrive's experience. I owned a '97 M3 from 50k to 160k miles over 11 years. Never a problem, still on the original clutch at the end. I owned a bunch of others as well. The '03 M3 cab wasn't a lucky car. A bunch of things went wrong, mostly due to the fact that the components weren't engineered for the extra weight of the cab.
I would search the BMW forums and find out what usually goes wrong with a given model. You'll also find the people that DIY maintain them to high miles.

MessyMarvin

I have a New BMW, I will keep for a few years of free maintenance and warranty and then let it go. I think the 3 series is more reliable than the others. I also had a 1998 M3, it was a great except the Top kept breaking. It drove me nuts, I had to trade it in.

I would stick with Acura or Honda, they hold their value also.

Chaos

My three LIVED at the shop after 75K. I ask the service manager if there was any houses for sale with in walking distance of the store,he was not amused!

kcheves

My wife drives a 2004 E46 with 140K miles for her daily 80 mile round trip to work and back. Our overall experience has been good, and she loves the car. The 3 series has a number of known issues that every car seems to suffer - broken window regulators, broken coolant tank, leaky self-dimming mirrors, broken plastic radiator fittings, tail light problems, etc...

Like Porsche, there is a large DIY community. I fix what I can and have a trusted Indy do the rest.

JayRace

I have a 2006 530xi wagon (e61) with 118k miles as my daily driver. It's been a great car. It literally still feels like driving a new car. Besides normal scheduled maintenance here's what I've done to it:
1. Steering angle sensor replaced under warranty at 60k miles.
2. Water pump replaced at 110k miles. (DIY)
3. Wire for rear air suspension sensor corroded and broke in half. DIY fix - no cost.
4. Replaced front sway bar end link after a run in with a large pot hole. DIY $140 for both sides.

If you maintain your own cars I would have no issue with buying one. Just make sure you read the codes first and make sure there are no hidden issues.