Is this a decent deal?

[bdonkersgoed]

Hey BMW Enthusisasts!

To make a long story short, my beloved Lexus ES300 has given up the ghost and I am thinking of crossing over to the BMW realm :D

Here is the car I am looking at, and I would like your brutally honest opinions if you could provide them. I really don't want to get stuck with repair after repair again . . . and I need this car to last at least 2-3 years.

- 1995 BMW 525i
- $5,600US
- 120,000 miles
- Fully Loaded
- 5-Speed Manual Transmission (I like stick )
- Cassette
- Dark Green Exterior
- Tan Leather Interior
- pw, pdl, power roof
- alloys
- Spotless and all original
- No rust, dent, scratches, etc.
- Sold with safety certificate and emissions testing
- 1 year powertrain warranty

I really appreiciate and value any input you guys can offer. If you could also offer some tips about the best/most reliable 5 series BMW, I would love that too!

Best regards,
Bryan

[bdonkersgoed]

If anyone could answer the following questions as well, I would be most appreciative!

1.) How much should I expect to pay in repairs each year? This is very important . . . I don't want to get rid of one problem car to buy another . . .

2.) What are the most common problems with the car, and the estimated cost to fix? How much does a clutch replacement cost?

3.) What is the stock tire size? I have a fairly new set of pretty expensive Blizzaks that I am hoping will fit . . .

4.) What is the stereo setup in the car? Is the amp separate from the head unit? Is it difficult to install an aftermarket head unit? I just bought the new Alpine CDA-9835 (sweet deck!) and am hoping that it will work in the Beamer. If the speakers are only 2 ohms or something, it could cause problems . . .

5.) Do the 525i's come with remote keyless entry?

6.) I have heard that BMW parts are not as expensive as people think . . . I know OEM Lexus parts were expensive, so BMW is probably comparable?

7.) How does the RWD 525i handle in the snow? I live in Canada so it is kind of important . . .

8.) Is the car difficult to work on? Can only BMW technicians or specialists work on this car?

9.) You can see the rims in the picture above. Are these BMW rims? They don't look like the ones I see on other 5-Series BMWs . . .

10.) What type of light bulbs does this car take? I just bought Sylvania SilverStars for my Lexus and it would be perfect if they fit the BMW too!

11.) Is the 1995 525i what is called the E34 body style?

Thanks for your input guys! Hopefully I can get some responses before I go to look at the car If you wouldn't mind including the question numbers when responding , that would be very helpful! Thanks thanks thanks!!

Regards,
Bryan

[JonE]

If anyone could answer the following questions as well, I would be most appreciative!

1.) How much should I expect to pay in repairs each year? This is very important . . . I don't want to get rid of one problem car to buy another . . .

2.) What are the most common problems with the car, and the estimated cost to fix? How much does a clutch replacement cost?

3.) What is the stock tire size? I have a fairly new set of pretty expensive Blizzaks that I am hoping will fit . . .

4.) What is the stereo setup in the car? Is the amp separate from the head unit? Is it difficult to install an aftermarket head unit? I just bought the new Alpine CDA-9835 (sweet deck!) and am hoping that it will work in the Beamer. If the speakers are only 2 ohms or something, it could cause problems . . .

5.) Do the 525i's come with remote keyless entry?

6.) I have heard that BMW parts are not as expensive as people think . . . I know OEM Lexus parts were expensive, so BMW is probably comparable?

7.) How does the RWD 525i handle in the snow? I live in Canada so it is kind of important . . .

8.) Is the car difficult to work on? Can only BMW technicians or specialists work on this car?

9.) You can see the rims in the picture above. Are these BMW rims? They don't look like the ones I see on other 5-Series BMWs . . .

10.) What type of light bulbs does this car take? I just bought Sylvania SilverStars for my Lexus and it would be perfect if they fit the BMW too!

11.) Is the 1995 525i what is called the E34 body style?

Thanks for your input guys! Hopefully I can get some responses before I go to look at the car If you wouldn't mind including the question numbers when responding , that would be very helpful! Thanks thanks thanks!!

Regards,
Bryan

Bryan,
Check this website http://www.bmwe34.net/ for a wealth of information regarding the E34 cars.
I can respond to some qs.
1. A fair amount at that mileage, much cheaper if done yourself and check BMA for prices on parts. Did the car have records, either way have a prepurchase inspection done by someone who is familiar with E34's, it is worth it.
2. See Bruno's site for common problems. I drive an automatic, so don't know clutch costs.
3. Hope your Blizzaks fit, they work great on my car. Check the present tires/rims for size.
5. I had one installed on mine, many came with the electronics already in there. You'll have to check. Bruno's site might have answers for you.
6. Don't know Lexus prices but BMW are expensive, especially from the Stealer. Try BMA.
7. Mine handles very well with the Blizzaks, without them it is dangerous.
8. I've done some repairs and they're fairly easy, good access, etc.
9. They look BMW, maybe someone else can answer.
11. It is an E34 body style, about 1988-1995.
Good luck.

[bdonkersgoed]

Thanks for the response!

I have seen some pics of these "E34s" and it seems like the '93 - '94 M5s have the same rims as this car. I guess the previous owner must have put on relpica or original M5 rims?

the Blizzaks that I have are P205 55 R15s. Do you think there is a chance they will fit?

I looked at Brunos site and it is excellent! It is so cool that someone took the time to compile such a high-quality site with tonnes of pics for DIY people :) I live in Canada, so I can use the Canadian Parts Source link (racingking.ca) on that site. looked at the price of things there, and the aftermarket parts are easily available and really cheap! I thought that event the OEM list prices from BMW seemed cheap compared to my expectations. I don't expect it to be Chevy cheap, but it almost seems in line with Toyota or Honda . . .

You say that maintenance will be pretty high because of the mileage of the vehicle (120,000 miles). How high is "high"? :p Can anyone tell me approximately how much they spend per year in repairs, along with the current mileage of their 525i? Are the problems major (like they are expensive or will end up stranding me somewhere?)

By the way, is the engine in this car the same engine that is in the previous E34 model years?

Thanks for your help guys! I really appreicate the info from some real-life BMW owners! There is no better information of a car than to go straight to the source--the current owners!

Thanks once again!
Bryan

[JonE]

As mentioned in Bruno's "things that will break" or something like that article, around 100k things will need replacement or will break. At 120k perhaps some things have already been taken care of, but, probably not all. Try to have the car assessed for future or present repair needs. Cost vary with what the problem, price of parts/service or DIY. DIY for me might've averaged about $200/month for the last 8 months. Some of these are maintenanc items, though. I believe the engine you'd have is the M50, previously there was a M20 engine, both 6cyl, 2.5liters.
Keep reading the other posts to get an idea of type of problems/issues others are having with their E34's. Each iteration seems to have it's own set of typical problems and fixes.
Good luck.

[bdonkersgoed]

Wow . . . $200US/month is pretty high . . . how much of this is proactive and how much of it is retroactive repairs?

I just love the looks of the car, and I'm sure that, once I drive it, all rational thinking will eb out of my head :p

Thanks,
Bryan

[callen]

I have two E34's and they can at times keep me busy at times but mostly reliable trouble free miles. One has 240k miles other with 130K. A 95 525 is a great car and would highly recommend you buy it.

Callen
94 530i 91 535i 89 735il

[bdonkersgoed]

I have two E34's and they can at times keep me busy at times but mostly reliable trouble free miles. One has 240k miles other with 130K. A 95 525 is a great car and would highly recommend you buy it.

Callen
94 530i 91 535i 89 735il

Thanks Callen!

I am definitely going to go look at in tonight . . . hopefully it is as nice as they say it is. i haven't seen one since I was car shopping for my brother-in-law a few months ago. I remember thinking it was a super nice car, and very comfy to sit in :) Never got a chance to drive one though. The truth is, I have never been in a non-parked BMW in my life . . . I hope it drives nice :) I hear they do :)

Callen, can you tell me what kind of maintenance you had to go through when your cars were around 120,000 miles? Did you have to replace all of the suspension and struts by this time? If you had a 5-Speed, how long did your clutch last?

Thanks for your input!
Bryan

[G Feller]

You are coming from a 3-liter 6 with auto tranny (your Lexus) and (at the moment) heading to a 2.5 liter 6 with manual shift. That should be largely equivalent power-wise and more fun, as the BMW is somewhat sportier in character out of the box.

In the US and Canada, E34s were/are available with anything from the engine on the 525 (2.5 liter 6) to that on the 530 (3 liter V8!), the 535 (3.5 liter 6), the 540 (4 liter V8), and the M5 (3.6 liter I6). These range in horsepower from 189 (plenty with manual tranny) in the 525, roughly 210 in the 535 and 530, 282 in the 540, and 310 in the M5.

If there is a "car of choice" on this board, it might be the 535, but these are extremely rare (at least in the U.S.) with manual transmission. The auto boxes are prone to failure anywhere north of 100k miles.

The 530 and 540 V8s are satisfying powerplants, but they fill the whole engine bay and so make DIY much more difficult for the shadetree mechanic. The auto boxes go on these, too.

You can spend
a) X dollars annually to fix whatever breaks (hopefully nothing)
b) X dollars annually to do preventive maintenance (essential with these cars, and will earn you many many many years of driving enjoyment)
c) X dollars any time for an upgraded chip; suspension, wheel and tire upgrades; aesthetic upgrades, etc. Anything you can think of.

If you are happy with the stock car, proactive with your maintenance, and willing to do some portion of it yourself, your annual totals will be well under $2000 (U.S.). Short of that, you can buy parts at one of the knowledgeable and helpful suppliers we recommend, than have your indy install them, and you may still come in well under that estimate. We will all urge you to find a competent indy mechanic and to avoid BMW dealers like the plague.

Keep in mind from the start that Bimmers are known for keeping the driver in touch with the road--it will "feel" different to drive it than a Lexus, which is more known for keeping the driver separate from the road. That said, the shocks/struts and springs should have plenty of good life left in them, but you will probably know pretty quickly by driving it if the wear-prone front suspension parts (thrust arms, control arms, etc.) have not been replaced by now. Look for shuddering, shimmying, vibrations etc. (at any speed, but particularly from 80 to 105 km/h). A full service history may seal the deal, but not before you have it thoroughly inspected by a mechanic of your choice for bargaining chips!

Good luck.

[bdonkersgoed]

Wow GFeller! Thanks!

My Lexus ES300 was actually a rare 5-Speed, but that car was not "sporty" by any means. It was kind of floaty, but it was a nice cruise. I don't mind feeling the road a bit. That's the price you pay for sportier handling I guess :)

I actually prefer a sportier drive over a cushy Luxury drive, so hopefully the BMW will suit me nicely :)

Is it really $2000/yr to keep these on the road? It seems like quite a bit of money to me, especially if that is with DIY maintenance . . . That's nearly $220CAN/month . . . hmmm. My Lexus didn't require much maintennance until recently when the car just seemed to implode all at once :p

I can't wait to have a look at this car and give it a spin :) Before I buy, I will have it checked out at a mechanic.

Thanks for your input!
Bryan

[G Feller]

With your 5-speed Lexuses and your "all-dressed" and ketchup-flavored potato chips (wifey and I were just in B.C.--she loves both flavors, but the latter made me retch when opened in the car). :)

I'm pretty certain that NO 5-speed Lexus ES300 was sold in the U.S., thus my assumption.

With an E34, as long as you take care of it bit by bit, it will virtually never implode. Poster DaveM (http://www.bimmer.info/forum/member.php?u=125) recently refused to give up his 525 when it was in an accident, though he has 485,000km on it!

Keep in mind the HUGE difference between keeping a car on the road and keeping it in perfect working order, like the day it was new, because you love it so much. That is the position from which many on this board speak. Depending on your financial needs, you can easily spend less. That's a ballpark number for all E34s, and it includes neither luck (good or bad) nor maintenance history.

525 guys, maybe you can tell us what have you spent in the last year for essential items only?



My Lexus ES300 was actually a rare 5-Speed

Is it really $2000/yr to keep these on the road?

Bryan

[callen]

Can speak for the 94 530i (Bought my 535 with 180k miles)..purchased it with 50k miles......still has original clutch at 140k and that's with my wife driving....love her but hard on it...only suspension peices I've replaced have been struts and thrust arm bushings...rest all original and still hanging in there.. did have to replace the Radiator.....also have some issues with V-8 but you won't have to deal with that as your looking at a very reliable 6. . Had a freind with 525 manual and test drove it for him before he bought it and it ran great.......it will feel different than your present car but you will get used to it.......and probably fall in love...

Callen

[rickm]

I have a '94 525i, purchased 10/02 with 90k, I now have 119k on it.

Things I've done:
1) replaced plugs/air filter/etc at 90k (90.00)
2) replaced valve cover gasket (mine had a leak). (200.00 if that)
3) replaced all light bulbs on the outside of the car (70.00 or so)
4) exhaust system mounts, a couple of the hangars were broken (70.00)
5) misc crap (cabin filters, 20.00ea/3 times, misc interior hardware bits, 20.00)
6) tires (500 or so)

I'm not 100% sure of the costs since my mechanic does all of the work for me. I maintain that network and his home PCs in trade for labor, we do a 1 on 1 swap. I don't think I've spent 2k/yr on this thing and I don't baby it by any means.

I'd ask the seller who maintained it, they should be able to pull their records. My mechanic keeps all of the work he's done in their shop software, if I go to sell the car he'll print them all out for me.

The 525 isn't too fast but it is a nice highway car. Rides nice, the handling is ok. I wish I would have taken it on my current road trip around NC but work wouldn't spring for gas and I'm not feeding this thing out of pocket.

[bdonkersgoed]

Hahaha :D I'm sure that the 5-Speed Lexus is available in the US . . . it is just pretty rare to come by. I actually got a good deal on the Lexus because it was 5-speed and demand for this car with a manual tranny is low :D

Now, with regards to the 525i . . . I went and looked at it last night. What a disappointment! It wasn't in what I would call "excellent condition" like the ad said. It had rust on it (and the dealer told me on the phone that there was NONE) and i could tell that the driver door had been replaced (hence accident).

I asked the dealer, "Why was the door replaced?"
"Which door?"
"The driver's side. The panelling doesn't match"
"Oh, you mean on the outside? Yeah, the stripping is coming off a bit"
"No, I mean the panelling . . ."
"Show me . . . I want to see"
I go over to the car and open the door and point at the inner panelling. The driver door doesn't have any wood trim or anything and cleary doesn't match any of the other doors.
"Well, it is a used car" is the dealer's response.

You can see why I saw this car in a negative light. Besides all that, the trunk felt damp (like it was leaking) and the interior kind of smelled musty and things were broken liek the driver armrest. Totally not what i was expecting in a 1995 BMW . . . it felt 10 years older than my Lexus :(

Well, I continue my search for a newer car. I am not ruling out the E34 . . . I still think it is a great car, but I have to find one in better condition.

Thanks for the help guys!
Bryan

[Mas (UK)]

the mileage is now 108k and the maintenance costs to date have been:

1) 2 x front shock absorbers (about £200)
2) 2 x front suspension arm rubber bushes (about £75)
3) 2 x rear tyres (about £200)
4) 2 x windscreens (road stone damage, not a car problem at all! Claimed through insurance, about £100 xs)
5) 1 x plastic holder for dim light bulb (£5)
6) 2 x new headlight bulbs (about £10)
7) And of course, the occasional bang with my hand on the rear passenger side door panel to get the power window working again :p (tends to get stuck a bit if not used regularly). Thanks Board for the handy tip!

This is aside to basic essential servicing stuff to keep her purring beautifully:
eg. oil & filter, air filter, spark plugs, anti-freeze and brake & clutch fluids.

To be honest, the highest cost for me living in Britain is our fuel cost, at about £4 a gallon it's not cheap. But for a 6-cyl pretty heavy car, she does still do 23-25mpg on average so that's still reasonable for me to own the keys to a bit of Munich engineering and some 200 horses under the bonnet!

As you can see, if you can find a decent one, preferably by a granny owner from new with low carefully driven 'driving miss daisy' miles, the cost of ownership isn't too high for the joy of driving a beautiful classic BM with wonderful handling.

Hope you find a nice one, good luck!

Mas

[tdgard]

Mine took a month and a half to find. Not counting tires, oil, plugs, or anything else routine, I have spent a total of $90 in four years. $30 on a new fan when a blade broke off and $60 on a waterpump just this week. Granted I found a car that had most of Bruno's list done when I bought it.

Todd
93 525ia 165K

[Tiger]

No, not $2000 a year repair... more likely $2000 to fix it up to your standard, and then maybe once a year repair of $400... or less if you fix it yourself.

[DueyT]

Bryan, where are you? Here's a range of 535i 5-speeds in the Southern Ontario area.

Hey, this '89 5-speed for $6500 is in my home town, Kingston...want me to check it out for you? Trader.ca listing (http://www.trader.ca/Search/Details.asp?mknm=688&Region=&subcategory=&CAT=1)

http://images.trader.ca/autotrader/1/50/44528.jpg.fpx?large

Here's a 1995 525i 5-speed in Toronto for $10,900 (http://www.trader.ca/LegacyMotors/Default.asp?Trader=1&CAT=1&mknm=688&Region=&adid=3768861&dContact=52076&VLot=/LegacyMotors&ADS=3768861%7C&SRVlot=1&SRslts=1&q1=%3D+1&c1=%40category&q3=688&c3=%40makeid&q4=17359&c4=%40modelcode&q5=&c5=%40adcopy&q6=&c6=%40year&q7=&c7=%40askprice&q14=&c14=%40subcategory&mknm=688&mdnm=525I&Region=&subcategory=&alpha=)...
http://images.trader.ca/autotrader/12/23/23439.jpg.fpx?large

There out there...just have to be patient for the right one to come along...

Cheers!
Duey