No1 is replying to any of my messages on here and other forums. i found a '02 530i with 32k and before i buy id like to found out a couple of things....

hello all. as you can see i am coming back into the BMW world. i had a 3 series back in the day with 174k (im an idiot for doing that) and got a 300zx twin turbo right now. Its a step down from speed but i want a more luxurious car. im worried that this 5 series might be a money pit like my previous experience. every1 tells me its only good to buy bmw new, but i cant afford brand new. my friend has one and says after 50k its going to start acting up on me. i have decided to come to the professsionals at this forum. is any of this true, and what are your recommendations? thanks in advance for your reply guys.

The e39 530 is a very reliable car. With that said, it is a BMW so repairs will not be inexpensive. Clearly, your experience will largely be based on the way the car was treated by the previous owner (request the service history) and how you maintain it going forward. If at all possible, purchase a CPO...they come with a two year/50k mile warranty. For added protection, you might also consider purchasing the extended maintenance package for approximately $1500.

I absolute love my e39! Great combination of style and performance.

Going along with what wnelms1 said, if you take good care of your 530i (maintenence and so forth), it will take care of you. Also, if you are mechanically inclined, do the work yourself. Oil changes, brakes, etc. For major components like the suspension and engine parts, if you have the tools and knowledge to complete the task, then go for it. If you DIY, you'll save a ton in labor and probably parts. If you must bring it to a shop, bring it to a reputable BMW indie shop.

I've heard from a lot of people that after 50k, things will break. If you follow the inspection guides and maintenence timelines, you will never have any problems. It is only when you put off something, it breaks and ends up taking something else with it.

Ive had my 530 since 74k miles and it now has 97k. the only thing that has broken is the auxilary fan which is not a big deal so I feel that so far this car has been outstanding, especially since I had a land rover before this...

anyway as far as service history goes its most likely good since the car has free maintenance until 36k so there would be no reason that the first owner would not have taken it in for service...

like everyone else is saying, be good to the car and it will be good to you :)

-Jonathan