Need help, ASAP!

[Majkee]

Hi guys!

I'm new here and right now I actually don't own a BMW. I was looking at one a couple of hours ago though. I'm a student right now and my budget isn't that big. I found a 528i, 1997, and the guy wants 3500 for it. It has 150k miles on it and it looks really nice, both inside and outside. Clean tile and it's smogged and registered another year.

A few problems though!

-Check engine lamp comes on. The guy says it's because the rack and pinion leaks. Can that be a reason? Any idea what the cost to fix that would be? He says he have to put new fluid in ones a week.

-Airbag lamp comes on. He says it's because the drivers seat belt won't go back up, it works in the "clicker" but it doesn't roll back up. Can that be true?

-Also, on the display where you can see if any of the doors are open some kind of light come on and the guy doesn't know why, he says that lamp is only supposed to be lit if there is a problem with the exterior lights and it's not.

Hope you can understand what I've written. I'm a Swedish intenational student here in the US so may writing can be a little messed up sometimes.

I love German cars, had a Audi S4 back in Sweden, not good to mention in here maybe
I reall need a car ASAP and I like the 528i. I probably would have waited to save some more money to buy one a little more expensive, fully working but as it is right now I need a car.

What do you guys think? Bad deal or what??

THANKS!!

[divito]

dont buy it m8 hes rippin u off its prob worth 1000

[MEDSTUDENT87]

Yea dosn't sound kosher. I would stay away. He probably trying to screw you over and unload the pos.

[DIRTE30]

I'm not gonna jump so quickly to judgement! The check engine light has nothing to do with the rack and pinion leak... rack and pinion will run you $500... The check engine light has something to do with an engine running condition of some sort... may be nothing... maybe something serious? The airbag light doesn't have anything to do with the seatbelt either... if you're not concerned about the airbags... doesn't matter... that being said I would be concerned that perhaps it had been in an accident and the air bags had been deployed... look very closely for body work... feel around all of the edges to feel roughness of overspray from painwork... OEM panels won't feel rough inside. $3500 won't get you a perfect anything, much less a perfect BMW. Will probably make a decent car if you know it's been properly maintained... ask for records... if none, don't buy.