I'm in the market for a 5 Series and I found one at a good price but it has 60k miles. Should I be concerned?

We have an 02 530i with about 75k miles and it has been the best car we have ever owned. The e39 530's are known as some of the best cars BMW has ever made, I say go for it.

Edit - We bought the 530i new

no, my 07 rabbit has 30,000 on it, and will have way more than 60 by the end of 08.

im more scared of the al gore/cameron diaz global warming reality show.

We have an 02 530i with about 75k miles and it has been the best car we have ever owned. The e39 530's are known as some of the best cars BMW has ever made, I say go for it.

Edit - We bought the 530i new

04 530i is the E60 chassis not the E39.


I would go for it if its CPO'd only... otherwise no thanks

Yes and no. If you drive over 10k a year, don't even bother looking at it.
If you are desperate, and on a tight budget, go for it, WITH an extended warranty.

04's are the E60 body.

Is it CPO?

04 is E60 (new body).

I'm not desperate but I came across this car and thought I'd check with you guys.

Don't think it is CPO, but I will double check.

Do some homework and make sure the vehicle has been properly maintained and if so I wouldn't worry at all ! Great car

04's are the E60 body.

Is it CPO?

:embarrasm

OT - Nice M5. I've got the same color combo

:embarrasm

OT - Nice M5. I've got the same color combo

You can't, Avus blue only came in 2000 ;)

Why would you be? My '04 has 57k and is in perfect condition. These engines are meant to last, mang! That said, get a Carfax before even considering.

You can't, Avus blue only came in 2000 ;)

:embarrasm:embarrasm:embarrasm

I just saw the pic and assumed it was Lemans. Nice car either way.

:embarrasm:embarrasm:embarrasm

I just saw the pic and assumed it was Lemans. Nice car either way.

Thanks, man ... I didn't know you picked up an M5. Did you post pics in Bimmer Styling?

Thanks, man ... I didn't know you picked up an M5. Did you post pics in Bimmer Styling?

Nah, perhaps I should? Sorry for sidetracking thread OP. But seriously, bimmer engines were built to last. Inlike 6s especially

Why be afraid of 60k? My e34 has 160k and runs as good as ever.

My dad's 02' 530i has over 100,000 miles on it now, and the 325 has 193,xxx miles on it, so 60k is nothing for these cars. Just have the car looked at and make sure it was well taken care of then have fun.

My dad's 02' 530i has over 100,000 miles on it now, and the 325 has 193,xxx miles on it, so 60k is nothing for these cars. Just have the car looked at and make sure it was well taken care of then have fun.

Why be afraid of 60k? My e34 has 160k and runs as good as ever.

Does your cars come with the electronics that the new E60 come with? That whole I-drive system alone is disaster... 04 had the first version of the E60 and you might run into some issues.

My 07 e60 with 4k on the odometer does weird things sometimes... one time i shut off the car and the A/C continued to work for about 5 minutes then another time i shut off the car and the music kept playing for a while so i had to restart and shut off the car then another time while i was driving the I-drive system just completely turned off and restarted.

With the amount of electronics these cars have i would not touch it without a CPO warranty...

With the amount of electronics these cars have i would not touch it without a CPO warranty...

What do you think a CPO warranty is gonna do for you? They cover none of the wear and tear parts which will probably need replacing in the 60-80k range. In regards to idrive, how many of your idrive problems were the result of a defective modules or actually required new parts covered under warranty? My guess is most were solved with software updates and labor... Some may have even been self inflicted by the dealer! By this point in time, on an 04, you'd hope the original owner had all the idrive issues fixed under the original warranty.

I find the iDrive system on my 04 530 to be rock solid. I've never had any issues with it but I also don't have the more complicated Nav setup. The suspension looks just like my old e39 and the engine is from the M50->M52->M54 evolution which is certainly great heritage.

What I am concerned about, just like on my e39, is the stock struts, front control arm rubber bushings and rear ball joints to break down around the 80k mark. Also the cooling system doesn't look much different from other 5 series engines, plastic radiators and expansion tanks, so I'm gonna assume that will need be replaced before 100k also. Rotors will need to be changed because the dealer almost always only does pads for the free brake change. Basically... It's a BMW.

Owning one out of warranty finally gives a good reason to change the oil more frequently and use a thicker 0W40 oil which I find the M54B30 runs much better on. Just wait until the VF supercharger kits comes out.

NY550i- I had an issue with my Nav system rebooting that it appear software update fixed

z0lt3c- Your post is exactly the kind of information I'm looking for. Thanks a bunch. Keep em' coming.