I need an Advice

[begeta50]

I am about to buy a 1996 BMW 525i. The car has been seating for the last two years. The car does not run, and the owner says that the car needs head gasket and starter. The price is about $ 1,000.00 dollars.

How much do you think would it cost me to fix this car? The car look great inside and outside. The car has a salvage title.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

it's likely been written off as a totaled car by an insurer in the past.

I'd make sure the motor turns before anything...after sitting with a bad head gasket, it could be seized up and the motor not worth repairing.

[DaveVoorhis]

If you're good with a wrench and have some spare cash, it could be a fun project. Before tackling such things, I try to estimate the cost of everything I know will need replacing, then double my estimate to allow for the things I'll inevitably discover along the way. This averages out to be fairly accurate, but on some project vehicles I've gone way over the estimate and on others I've gone way below. Be prepared to buy a "way over."

In this case, I'd include the cost of a used head or even a used engine in the estimate. As the last poster said, make sure the engine turns. The defective starter is a bit suspicious -- is it really a bad starter, or a good starter that can't turn a stuck engine?

[Evan]

offer hime $250

[begeta50]

I am not professional mechanic, but I have replace the water pump, starter, thermostat, and a lot more stuff. But I have never work on the engine. I want to learn to fix engines.
Should I buy it or not?

[jjdickm]

Do you know anyone that has rebuilt an engine. There is allot to know if you haven't done it before. You have to start some where though. Good luck with your build there is a ton of help on this forum.

[Qsilver7]

I am about to buy a 1996 BMW 525i.
Hmmm, what country are you from? Here in the States, there was no 1996 e34 5 series.

For the USA market...BMW continued to roll out the 1995 e34 up to 4/1996 (extended the production)...so that the new E39 5 series would debut as early roll out 1997 models

So no 5 series in the States has a 1996 nomenclature...none of the e34s produced in 1996 and none of the e39s produced in 1996 have a "T" as the 10th digit in its VIN. In the states the 10th digit of the VIN indicates what model year it is...and the e34s built in 1996 have an "S" (just like the ones built in 1995)...and all of the e39s built in 1996 have a "V" (just like all the e39s built in 1997).

[DaveVoorhis]

Should I buy it or not?
If it were me, I'd do a lot more investigation and tally up the parts cost before making a low offer, and assume you'll need a new head or a replacement engine. At the very least, make sure you can turn the engine. Be prepared to part it out if costs start to get out of hand. As Evan suggested, start at $250.

[begeta50]

the e34s built in 1996 have an "S"

Yes this one has an "S" at ten place on the vin#