Buying a used BMW 5 series?

[ISHGoat]

According to the seller, the car (2001 BMW 530i) is in great shape with just a broken spedometer, odometer which stayed at 203k (actual mileage is 228k km he claims), and ABS. There is also some rust around the exterior of the car due to age and general wear&tear.

Otherwise, the interior is in "great condition", accident free, "lots of parts replaced in the last 2 years".

No E-test or certification.

The asking price was only 1200, which I thought was very good value for what the seller was describing, so I decided to go check it out.

So I went to go check it out and found that the ad was basically spot on. All I can say is that it did not look, feel, nor drive like a 15 year old car that has been through 220k km. The interior is very well maintained, with no odor and no noticeable defects other than the driver's power seat adjustor slightly falling off. Everything else was working, with the AC blasting strong.

I have driven about 5-6 different cars, all new cars from my parents, and driving this car both locally and on the highway did not feel different from those cars. The only issue was that when the car was stopped, there was a slight vibration like the one you might feel on a stopped school bus. Should this be a concern?

Despite the suggestions of car experts and my parents, I still really want to purchase it. We settled on the price of $1000. I brought along a friend, who is well versed in mechanics and has built racing cars as part of a school project, and he also agrees that $1000 is GREAT value and I could easily resell it for $2000 if I didn't want to drive it myself.

My question to the experts here is: even though the car drives very well and looks very good, is it a minefield, to the tune of several hundred dollars in repairs every couple months, waiting for me to step on?

Pic:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDUwWDgwMA==/z/prMAAOSwMmBV6vcX/$_27.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDUwWDgwMA==/z/iiQAAOSwTapV6vcq/$_27.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDUwWDgwMA==/z/Z4MAAOSwd0BV6vds/$_35.JPG

[D-Wait]

Does this car have a computer with League Pass or how is this Nba related? :lol

Anyway, good luck on finding an expert's opinion, I don't know shit bout cars...

[ISHGoat]

Does this car have a computer with League Pass or how is this Nba related? :lol

oh shit, meant to post this in OTC

[stalkerforlife]

You got the car to look cool. Seeing as how you only paid a 1,000, that isn't a big deal. If it craps out on you, you can junk it at a scrap yard for around 400.

So...ride out.

[ISHGoat]

You got the car to look cool. Seeing as how you only paid a 1,000, that isn't a big deal. If it craps out on you, you can junk it at a scrap yard for around 400.

So...ride out.

Yo for real, right now if I need a car my parents would give me a red prius and I would rather ****ing walk than drive that

But its not about looking cool, Im just used to driving BMWs or other german cars from my parents, and for the same 1000 I could buy a honda civic with 3 wheels and a cracked windshield or this sick looking 5 series

[plowking]

This belongs in the Euroleague section.

[SAKOTXA]

I totaled 2 2003 540is in a span of 2 years, but they are GREAT cars if you maintain them well. The mileage is a little too high for a BMW though. The engine won't be the problem, but little parts here and there start breaking apart like any other German car. 1,000 dollars is really good value.

Wrong forum btw

[JimmyMcAdocious]

I totaled 2 2003 540is in a span of 2 years, but they are GREAT cars if you maintain them well. The mileage is a little too high for a BMW though. The engine won't be the problem, but little parts here and there start breaking apart like any other German car. 1,000 dollars is really good value.

Wrong forum btw

How you total 2 cars in 2 years? learn to drive

[nathanjizzle]

Yo for real, right now if I need a car my parents would give me a red prius and I would rather ****ing walk than drive that



Youre ignorant. id rather drive a prius than this luxury beater thats going to need work every 6k miles. a prius actually looks better too. Also, a v6 or v8? this is 2015 dude, your driving a 6 ton car around:roll:

[SAKOTXA]

How you total 2 cars in 2 years? learn to drive
Both of them not my fault and literally couldn't do anything to avoid it. Keep assuming shit and talking out of your ass :oldlol:

[SAKOTXA]

Youre ignorant. id rather drive a prius than this luxury beater thats going to need work every 6k miles. a prius actually looks better too. Also, a v6 or v8? this is 2015 dude, your driving a 6 ton car around:roll:
530 is a V6. I do agree on driving a newer car, even if it's a Prius.

[nathanjizzle]

and looks? :roll: that bmw looks like shit compared to a prius, any sort of designer will say the same thing.

http://i62.tinypic.com/j7q36a.png
http://carsplusplus.com/pictures/2001/13823/photo.jpg

[The_Pharcyde]

i thought at first op was trying to make an analogy of Kobe vs Lebron via the cars lol

[SAKOTXA]

http://www.iagclassics.com/CarPix/03BMW540iWht/ebay/03-BMW-540i-Wht-001.jpg

Anybody who thinks this doesn't look better than a Prius is completely blind. And i'm not even comparing the way it drives compared to a Toyota.

Prius fanboys :oldlol:

[MEB2kDeez]

i thought at first op was trying to make an analogy of Kobe vs Lebron via the cars lol
:roll: :roll: :roll:

[FreezingTsmoove]

Buy a new one

[ISHGoat]

Buy a new one

Brb going to the atm to withdraw 60k

[nathanjizzle]

Anybody who thinks this doesn't look better than a Prius is completely blind. And i'm not even comparing the way it drives compared to a Toyota.

Prius fanboys :oldlol:

are you kidding? :lol

http://i57.tinypic.com/er0qd0.png
http://i62.tinypic.com/33ccchz.png

common man, i do this for a living.

[plowking]

Did I just see someone say a Prius looks better than a BMW?


faaaaarrrrk bro.

[ZMonkey11]

Red Prius that probably has a better stereosystem, better gas mileage, more storage space, and get you hipster chicks on the fly...

or tank of a car that gets you maybe 20 mpg, old, and just waiting to break down on you...

Invest $1000 into the Red Prius and upgrade the sound system or roof rack. Maybe some clear outs and hyperwhites.

[Meticode]

Don't do it unless you want to throw away $1000 just as a fashion statement. If people buy BMW's and Audi's and Mercedes that are over ten years old for a
"decent" price and they're looking for dependability, you could probably look elsewhere because once something breaks down on any of those cars it costs several times more to fix it versus a regular technical.

[warriorfan]

are you kidding? :lol

http://i57.tinypic.com/er0qd0.png
http://i62.tinypic.com/33ccchz.png

common man, i do this for a living.

I hope to god this is just a troll

[ISHGoat]

priuses are pretty dam ugly compared to a bimmer

[Godzuki]

bmw's are shitty cars tbh. when they start falling apart you're going to sink money into it.

u should ask if u can get it state inspected first and offer to pay for it.

$1000 isn't bad tho.

[ISHGoat]

bmw's are shitty cars tbh. when they start falling apart you're going to sink money into it.

u should ask if u can get it state inspected first and offer to pay for it.

$1000 isn't bad tho.

an inspection would be like 100-200, im not willing to pay 10-20% of the car's value to inspect it.

[chosen_one6]

Not worth it. The cost of maintenance will exceed the cars value within a year.

[CelticBaller]

a prius lmao im done

[Godzuki]

an inspection would be like 100-200, im not willing to pay 10-20% of the car's value to inspect it.


in MD they're only about $65~

[9erempiree]

According to the seller, the car (2001 BMW 530i) is in great shape with just a broken spedometer, odometer which stayed at 203k (actual mileage is 228k km he claims), and ABS. There is also some rust around the exterior of the car due to age and general wear&tear.

Otherwise, the interior is in "great condition", accident free, "lots of parts replaced in the last 2 years".

No E-test or certification.

The asking price was only 1200, which I thought was very good value for what the seller was describing, so I decided to go check it out.

So I went to go check it out and found that the ad was basically spot on. All I can say is that it did not look, feel, nor drive like a 15 year old car that has been through 220k km. The interior is very well maintained, with no odor and no noticeable defects other than the driver's power seat adjustor slightly falling off. Everything else was working, with the AC blasting strong.

I have driven about 5-6 different cars, all new cars from my parents, and driving this car both locally and on the highway did not feel different from those cars. The only issue was that when the car was stopped, there was a slight vibration like the one you might feel on a stopped school bus. Should this be a concern?

Despite the suggestions of car experts and my parents, I still really want to purchase it. We settled on the price of $1000. I brought along a friend, who is well versed in mechanics and has built racing cars as part of a school project, and he also agrees that $1000 is GREAT value and I could easily resell it for $2000 if I didn't want to drive it myself.

My question to the experts here is: even though the car drives very well and looks very good, is it a minefield, to the tune of several hundred dollars in repairs every couple months, waiting for me to step on?

Pic:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDUwWDgwMA==/z/prMAAOSwMmBV6vcX/$_27.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDUwWDgwMA==/z/iiQAAOSwTapV6vcq/$_27.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDUwWDgwMA==/z/Z4MAAOSwd0BV6vds/$_35.JPG

As someone that owned many BMW's in the past, 5, I say its a good deal but beware of costs. If something breaks down, you better know how to fix it or prepare to shell out double the price for something equivalent to a domestic car.

The shaking that you described during a complete stop can be the motor mounts. Once those go out, the motor tends to shake on at idle.

I would also do a compression test on the car to make sure the engine is running properly.

Check the suspension and get the car aligned. This is the basics in my opinion because a BMW is known for its great handling and it would be sad to drive a BMW and it not being in tip-top shape.

How are the seats on the car? BMW is notorious for having crap interiors.

[ISHGoat]

As someone that owned many BMW's in the past, 5, I say its a good deal but beware of costs. If something breaks down, you better know how to fix it or prepare to shell out double the price for something equivalent to a domestic car.

The shaking that you described during a complete stop can be the motor mounts. Once those go out, the motor tends to shake on at idle.

I would also do a compression test on the car to make sure the engine is running properly.

Check the suspension and get the car aligned. This is the basics in my opinion because a BMW is known for its great handling and it would be sad to drive a BMW and it not being in tip-top shape.

How are the seats on the car? BMW is notorious for having crap interiors.

The interior was fantastic and the seats were great. Definitely well taken care of. I let go of the wheel on the road and it very slightly veered to the right, but not by an amount that would be alarming or noticeably different from a regular car. I'm not sure what the compression test is, but I pushed down on all four corners and the suspensions seemed fine as well. It was easy to push down on and the car didn't bounce or anything.

[9erempiree]

The interior was fantastic and the seats were great. Definitely well taken care of. I let go of the wheel on the road and it very slightly veered to the right, but not by an amount that would be alarming or noticeably different from a regular car. I'm not sure what the compression test is, but I pushed down on all four corners and the suspensions seemed fine as well. It was easy to push down on and the car didn't bounce or anything.

Sounds good.

These cars last forever and you kids are fortunate enough to live in this era where used cars that are over 10 years old have all the amenities of today's car. Even better IMO.

I would get it because its a cheap Bimmer.

Good luck and let us know if you get it.

[bluechox2]

one smart seller...got a grand out of a piece of junk

this is the type of shit pple donate for cars for kids, or cash for cars deals...

[fiddy]

bmw's are shitty cars tbh. when they start falling apart you're going to sink money into it.

u should ask if u can get it state inspected first and offer to pay for it.

$1000 isn't bad tho.
A single BMW is worth more than anything that came out of Korea.

[Draz]

Save your money. You'll regret purchasing an old, used, bmw. Repair cost will murder you. If you can't afford luxury don't think you can cheap out on a used one and get away with expenses. Buy what you can afford. If you can't afford repairs, get an affordable car.

[KyrieTheFuture]

A single BMW is worth more than anything that came out of Korea.
Google Samsung's headquarters then get back to me

[ISHGoat]

Didnt end up purchasing it. Went to a mechanic and he approximated the costs to just get it safety-certified and they were high.