Considering '97 528

[Bill'sBeemer]

HI - I'm new to the forum. I was looking at a 528i 1997 with 105,000 on it. It's clean, though I wouldn't say outstanding. There are no dents, but there are some scratches and scuff marks.

The interior is quite nice, with some wear on the leather, but otherwise clean and without scratches. The car drove well, the engine and auto transmission seemed good, the AC was cold. The engine itself was immaculate.

The price seems low - $9850 is the asking price, and just in conversation they went down to $9250. This is one of those "wholesale to the public" places, but they seem ok. The car also has a set of nearly new snow tires with nice aftermarket wheels.

This is my question: I've read the Consumer Reports, I know the electrical issues. Yet, can anyone who has bought a high mileage 528 give me a sense of what the experience and cost was like? If the shocks haven't been replaced, what sort of expense am I looking at? Is there anyhing else that is a typical problem at the 100K mark?

I'd be going from a '97 Maxima which has been pretty much flawless--just not as attractive as a BMW.

Thanks for any insight.

Bil

[Oregon528]

I just bought a 99 528 with 114,000 miles on it. Since buying, I have replaced the original battery and trunk latch mechanism. Other than that, no real issues to speak of. I did have the dealer reprogram the door locks so they dont lock me in every time I go faster than 3 MPH, something that was really annoying me!

[Bill'sBeemer]

Thanks - is your car an auto or manual? How are you enjoying the driving aspects?

[Oregon528]

It's an auto with the sport package. I would definitely reccommend the sport package. I test drove cars with and without it, and the handling is much better on the car with the sport package. The car handles great....I think these cars are the all around best deal for used cars....where else could you get a car with side airbags, traction control, etc. for around 10k? Good luck!

[ozarkmark]

Originally posted by Oregon528@Apr 14 2005, 01:08 PM
It's an auto with the sport package. I would definitely reccommend the sport package. I test drove cars with and without it, and the handling is much better on the car with the sport package. The car handles great....I think these cars are the all around best deal for used cars....where else could you get a car with side airbags, traction control, etc. for around 10k? Good luck!

[snapback]332343[/snapback]

Right on - I was thinking the exact same thing about getting so much for so little when I bought my '98 528.
The only thing that is wrong with mine is the cigarette lighter has a short in it and the Air conditioning clutch starts clickety clacking occasionally. No big deal.
The only gripe I have about the car is the drink holders are not very good. Being that I love to drive this car, I have stopped using them and focus my attention to the sweet music the engine makes and the feel of the suspension.
I think the price they are asking for is fair.

If you buy it, and don't do your own oil changes, get used to expensive oil change cost. It may be expensive, but the time between oil changes is significantly greater than in regular engines.

[xman2yman]

hey dont worry bout the price. i got my 97 528i for 9000 plus tags and taxes. it is in great condition and my brothe checked it out and said all is well. he is a mechanic so i trust since he is my brother and all. but anyway yeah i say go for it. granted i only got to drive my car for only a weeks since i had to go back to iraq i cannot wait to get back to it. i was driving a crx before 5spd which i love but compare to this i feel like i went from a ford contour to a bentley lol. well have fun with it if you get it see yaa

[Torque]

Don't worry about the mileage too much. My 15 year old car has 170,000 on it and runs flawlessly... that's with a engine that was developed in 1977, and a GM (yes, you read right) tranny...

As far as the drinkholder comment from above... be glad you have them at all, because us E34 owners have none whatsoever.

[sp0rky]

Originally posted by Torque@Apr 15 2005, 02:51 PM
Don't worry about the mileage too much. My 15 year old car has 170,000 on it and runs flawlessly... that's with a engine that was developed in 1977, and a GM (yes, you read right) tranny...

As far as the drinkholder comment from above... be glad you have them at all, because us E34 owners have none whatsoever.

[snapback]332985[/snapback]

Torque, us m20 owners actually have the ZF tranny. GM trannies came along with the m50 engine and was used through 99 or 2000 and IMO is not as reliable as the other units. but it will last a good bit of time. The reason for the lack of reliability is the so-called "lifetime fluid". However if it's changed anyway all the time then it's good to go.

The e34s have also proven to be good high mileage cars, whereas the e39s are still too new to say just how long they will actually last, although there are several high mileage examples starting to pop up now. (by high I mean 170k +)

I have an e39 (98 528) with 103k on it and its great, with only a few coolant issues a while back. No real problems aside from that yet <knock on wood> lol. edit: it does have a tranny seal issue. It causes the tranny to not want to shift from 1st on cold starts, but goes away quickly and is then good-to-go for the rest of the day.

[Rkhoubian]

Originally posted by Bill'sBeemer@Apr 13 2005, 07:55 PM
HI - I'm new to the forum. I was looking at a 528i 1997 with 105,000 on it. It's clean, though I wouldn't say outstanding. There are no dents, but there are some scratches and scuff marks.

The interior is quite nice, with some wear on the leather, but otherwise clean and without scratches. The car drove well, the engine and auto transmission seemed good, the AC was cold. The engine itself was immaculate.

The price seems low - $9850 is the asking price, and just in conversation they went down to $9250. This is one of those "wholesale to the public" places, but they seem ok. The car also has a set of nearly new snow tires with nice aftermarket wheels.

This is my question: I've read the Consumer Reports, I know the electrical issues. Yet, can anyone who has bought a high mileage 528 give me a sense of what the experience and cost was like? If the shocks haven't been replaced, what sort of expense am I looking at? Is there anyhing else that is a typical problem at the 100K mark?

I'd be going from a '97 Maxima which has been pretty much flawless--just not as attractive as a BMW.

Thanks for any insight.

Bil

[snapback]331853[/snapback]

You must be kiding - high mileage- It is nothing if it is real mialeage. My 528I 1997 has 201000 on it and I do not have big issues.
For 1 year that I ve been driving this car I ve changed batery, termostat housing, brake pads. Now I am planing to change air and fuel filters - that is it.
I have manual by the way.

Cheers!

[ambush360]

[/quote]
You must be kiding - high mileage- It is nothing if it is real mialeage. My 528I 1997 has 201000 on it and I do not have big issues.
For 1 year that I ve been driving this car I ve changed batery, termostat housing, brake pads. Now I am planing to change air and fuel filters - that is it.
I have manual by the way.

Cheers!

[snapback]333788[/snapback]

[/quote]


RK,
The 20100, is that in miles or kilometers?

[tacroteau]

HAHAHA 100K "high Milage" That baby is just breakin in. I have a mint 97 528i on 20" with 215,000K miles on it. It runs and drives like new...seriously perfect. Original everything, just basic brakes, water pump stuff. Its an auto, and shifts perfect. Dont be skeered. Miles dont mean anything, how its drivin, and taken care of determine the life of the car. Plus "its a bimma"

Originally Posted by ambush360,Apr 17 2005, 01:12 PM

You must be kiding - high mileage- It is nothing if it is real mialeage. My 528I 1997 has 201000 on it and I do not have big issues.
For 1 year that I ve been driving this car I ve changed batery, termostat housing, brake pads. Now I am planing to change air and fuel filters - that is it.
I have manual by the way.

Cheers!

[snapback]333788[/snapback]

[/quote]


RK,
The 20100, is that in miles or kilometers?

[snapback]333873[/snapback]

[/quote]

[MrAlfonze]

My 528e is 83 with 142,000 and it looks and runs perfect, my problem was with speedo, but that is now fixed. my 633csi had 170,000 and my 635 had 190,000, all of them ran very wellwhen i sold or traded, beemers are fun, reliable and EZ ass all h~ll to work on

[afrochapin]

The cup holers do suck lol. I bought mine for about 10k bux with about 100 k miles .