Advice on 525i

[Stiffler_PE]

Morning Gents,

I need some help here from the 5 series boffins.

Having been a BMW driver my whole life and taking every oppertunity to rag my dad for driving Audi's or Merc's... i seem to have gotten through to him.

He managed to write off his E class merc last week and has now called and asked me what i know about the 525i.
He is looking at a 525i facelift 2002 with 211,000 on the clock. It is advertised in junk mail incase any of you know it.
Has LED tail lights and angel eyes, exclusive pack... blah blah.

Question is this. I know the motor is a solid motor.... What BMW 6 pot isnt
But i need your guys advice on the rest of the package.

What shouuld he look out for, what are the common problems with the car, what should he spend on the car immediately to ensure happy motoring?

I wish he would buy an e46... then i would have the answers for him

Appreciate the help guys, look forward to your answers... and the grin on my face when he buys the BMW and has to admit it rocks imp:

 

[veridico]

Auto or manual?

Here is basically the topic you are looking for.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=926976

 

[Stiffler_PE]

Steptronic i believe Veridico.. so Otto then

 

[clutchplate]

immediate gearbox oil change highly suggested, plus all fluids if you can
then I guess you will have to drive the car to see whats wrong with it if anything and then u can negotiate the price with the oke

 

[rick540]

They are very solid cars, just drive it and see what's needed.

Ask BMW to pull the motorplan history, and read it.

Preventative maintenance on a BMW can get a little uuuuh pricey, even the special trans fluid can set you back R3K

 

[Pravesh]

really nice cars my father in law's car has covered 340 000 kms no problem just make sure the gearbox and diff oils are changed.

 

[anton-sa]

ok let a local boy give some advice

ive had my 2001 525i now for just over 1yr. got it on 113 000km, she now has around 134000km.

#1 - waterpump, all the pulleys, all the belts, radiator expansion tank, radiator top hose, thermostat & thermostat housing, fan clutch

replace them all!! dont buy into any BS any mechanic tells you, these cars are guaranteed to chuck a waterpump anywhere between 80k and 150k. as some of em have plastic empellors in the waterpump where the replacement waterpump has metal impellors.

a dicey waterpump is going to strain the fan clutch (it will start failing within 15-20k of the waterpump) the converse is also true, a dicey fan clutch makes the fan run "no-true" and this puts strain on the waterpump, causing the waterpump to eventually self destruct.

bargain with the seller, think you're looking 4-5k or so to do all the above, maybe the seller can come down in price a bit.
you say the car has 211000km on the clock, guaranteed it has had a waterpump change already.
if the sellers says that the above was done, have him prove it.

chuck the so called "bmw-lifetime-gearbox oil" and give it a good oil change. same for diff. same for engine...

let a garage plug a PEAKE code reader into it, or even bmw themselves to see what codes come up.
between 100-200 000km you will likely replace a INTAKE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND OR EXHAUST CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR.

the cooling system components all fail relatively close to each other.. so replace all. do it once and forget.

other than that, these cars are awesome. my 525i is a manual and i absolutelt enjoy the car.

good luck
anton

 

[zaleonardz]

Thats good advice there Anton... spot on, just include suspension bushings in the deal, and you have covered the whole list, by the way.. awesome car there, I love the E39

I have a huge dilema chosing my next family car, E39 M5 cause its just awesome, or a E60 M5 at like 2-3 times the price which I cant realllllllly afford.

 

[Stiffler_PE]

Thanks a million for the input guys :clap: I have compiled it all and sent it on to my old man.

He is gonna take i for a spin some time today and feel her out. Wish i was in Joburg now, would take her for a spin myself imp:

Will let you know what happens.

Cheers

 

[zaleonardz]

Stiffler, if your dad is anywhere close to Randburg, he can bring it past me lunch time and I'll look at it quickly.

 

[Stiffler_PE]

hahaha... good plan methinks zaleonardz

Nothing revs like a hire car or a test drive :mmm: