bmw 530i (e60)
 

A family member has offered me a 2004 e60 530i SE with 100k miles on it for what appears to be a decent price. He bought it off a client last year and hasn't really driven it much, hence wanting to get rid.

I think it's fully serviced up until last year, but hasn't had a service since (so it needs one now, presumably, although there's no service light on). Engine is nice and quiet, and it seems to pull well and the autobox is changing nicely.

To fund it, I'd be selling our 2009 ford focus 1.6, which has been totally reliable and cheap-ish to run, which is why I'm a bit worried about going to a 5 year older car.

The BMW would be the main family car, and we'd do less than 10000 miles per year for sure - probably more like 5-6k in reality.

I've never owned a BMW before, so I'm a bit worried about servicing and maintenance, because it "looks" expensive. What are realistic servicing/maintenance costs?

I keep reading about cooling systems etc being a worry? I'm reasonably handy with the spanners, so is e.g. the water pump something you can change yourself, or is it a specialist only job?

Tyres and tax will set me back 1k immediately, where-as the focus has new tyres already, but presumably depreciation should favour the BMW, seeing as it's already lost 80% of its value, where-as the Ford is boring and still depreciating, which might offset the servicing costs over say 3-4 years.

I realise that the BMW will be more expensive to run, but it'll also offer a more interesting driving experience, a bigger boot, better comforts etc, but at what price?

I quickly read through that thinking it was a 530d and when you said you only do 5-6k miles a year I was going to say don't bother. As it's a petrol jobby though you don't have all the concerns that you would with a diesel and a low annual mileage so I'd say go for it. The E60 is a lovely car. The are more expensive to run but find a decent independent and they should be able to keep the cost sensible. Even the main stealers aren't that expensive on older cars, think they've realised they were losing a lot of business to independents so decided to offer cheaper servicing. That said my experience of the main dealers has been a bit hit and miss over the years so see how you get on. I personally prefer talking to the bloke in the greasy overalls who owns / runs the garage rather than a bloke in a suit at a desk ;)

The E60 doesn't have specific service intervals. The computer tells you when it needs looking at and what needs doing.

We had a 2003 E60 545i and bought it with 100k on and sold it 3 years later with 180k on it. In that time, it had a gearbox sump (common problem) and 2 wishbones and that was it. totally reliable and a nice place to be. If it is cheap, go for it!

I swapped my similar age Focus 1.6 diesel Zetec for a 2006 530i M Sport around a year ago. I wouldn't go back if you paid me to be honest, no disrespect to the Focus.

The BMW is probably the best all round car I've ever owned (I've had a Subaru, Civic Type R, 350z, Renault Laguna, couple of Mondeos, the Focus etc, so varied list). It's great on the motorway, and fun to drive hard when you fancy it. I love the iDrive (not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm geeky so love the computer screen, and everything being controlled through there), it's a very comfortable place, and in M Sport guise, I think a very nice looking car.

I get around 30mpg out of if, which for a 3 litre petrol that's reasonably quick, I think is great.

It can also swallow my 3 kids and misses, plus all the related stuff, very easily.

Could I just ask why it's costing you 1k for tax and tyres? I've just replaced all four tryes on mine (245/40/R18) with Goodyear Eagle Asymetirc 2s, for 140 quid a corner.

Like others have said, servicing isn't too bad, and at 5-6k a year, you shouldn't see them coming around that often, as it's all variable.

I'd thoroughly recommend the car to anyone.

That's good, same tyre size on mine but run-flats Blackcircles are coming up with £200 per corner. Normal tyres £140 for Falkens and £170 for the Goodyears you have. Was that from a local place?

Back to the OP, if it's on run-flats then £1k for four tyres + the tax sounds about right?

Thanks for the comments guys, hopefully I can get rid of the focus etc, as the bmw does look like a nicer place to be, and is probably much more interesting to drive :)

The 1k for the tyres + tax was simply a rough estimate, i guess it's more like 150-160 a corner (no way would I go for run flats), plus 280 for tax for the year, so 880-920'ish for both

Go for it, you can always go back to a crappy ford if you don't like it, and your logic regarding depreciation is sound, the ford will be worth bugger all in 3yrs, so the slightly hire running costs if any will be offset, I don't think the 1.6 ford is that great on fuel anyway and at 6k a year I doubt you'll notice.

I would at least change the oil though, and shop around a bit more for tyres, give maggy on here a shout.

You only live once.:thumb:

Yes sorry, they're not run flats. Ordered them online, got them fitted at Kwikfit for 60 quid for the four.

Ok, here's what actually ended up happening :)

I bought the 530i, and it is a great motorway car. As it's an auto, however, the fuel economy is just absolutely ridiculous in town (motorway not bad at 30+, but town sees 16-17mpg (verified from tank to tank)). As we do a lot of town driving, I ended up spending basically 300+ quid on fuel per month (one tank per week, which would get us about 220miles).

I also had a brand spanking drive way put in, and then realised that the bmw was leaking oil from the cam cover - apparently a common problem, but the Mrs was not impressed about two black oil patches on her new grey drive way :D

In all, we've done 7k miles in it since purchasing it, and I've spent 300 quid on an oil change and to fix the cam cover leak, and 350 on two rear tyres (the front ones are still OK, luckily). I've also spent far too much on fuel on the damn thing.

The main problem with it, though, is that it isn't fun to drive, except on the motorway where it's an *AWESOME* car, but in town it just feels big and clumsy, and it certainly isn't chuckable. The auto also totally ruins the driving experience in town IMO.

We also kept the ford, and I end up driving that more often than not now, which helps on the fuel costs.

All in all, I'm glad I bought it, as it's been nice to knock about in something "expensive looking", however I'm going to put it up for sale, and I'll be glad to see it gone, as it just doesn't fit the type of driving I/we do.

Next up will probably be a 5 door 2.0 Megane GT diesel (150hp version) :)

That mileage is bad as I have a 59plate 530d and I can get that mileage for about £25 and that would be with spirited driving, a full tank would get me into the 500's :D

have the same engine in the e65,rocker gaskets but not a hard or expensive job,and a tensioner so nothing major.

I have had the 4,4 and was expecting the m54 to be really sluggish and no torque but has surprised me, not the fastest thing but more than enough.

fuel consumption is not the best I get around 55 - 70 milesto £20 mixed driving maybe a bit more driving like a saint but mines probably heavier than yours and is auto,never seen less than 22mpg on the computer

oh and if your no good with a spanner find a good indy, I service my own car but bmw want £200 + vat for just an oil change.

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