Anyone Own a BMW 5-Series Wagon?

[2strokeNorthstar]

E34 or E39 6cyl is what you want. A v8 will be a maintenance nightmare by now. E39 has more electrical than E34. Cooling system maintenance is critical. 1 overheating can crack the head. About a $1500 repair. If that happens replace the timing chain guides too. Almost every known problem is documented online by now. Except the climate control actuators for fresh air. Those remain a mystery it seems. I've had BMWs for years. You need another car to fall back on or you will hate it and get rid of it.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted by 2strokeNorthstar
E34 or E39 6cyl is what you want. A v8 will be a maintenance nightmare by now. E39 has more electrical than E34. Cooling system maintenance is critical. 1 overheating can crack the head. About a $1500 repair. If that happens replace the timing chain guides too. Almost every known problem is documented online by now. Except the climate control actuators for fresh air. Those remain a mystery it seems. I've had BMWs for years. You need another car to fall back on or you will hate it and get rid of it.

I think E39 are getting long in the tooth. I was contemplating 330 xi E46 (I have to have AWD). Found really good 2003, some 90k, stick, but 17 years old, it is too much. If I owned it from beginning, yes.
Anyway, if one buys E39, overhauling cooling system (which I would definiately do) is around $1500-1700 for parts.
And yes, BMW: only inline 6 engine.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

I still drive a 1998 328i 5 speed, E36. Got it with about 80k miles 10 years ago or so and had a run or 2 of bad luck but has been good for the past 2 years. The list of repairs is depressing but still fun to drive even compared to modern economy cars. The latest odd repair was a small oil leak that turned out to be the pressed in plug on the oil filter housing. Cleaned and put clear epoxy around it and has been good for past 5-6 months. At this age you will have many strange small repairs.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted by 2strokeNorthstar
I still drive a 1998 328i 5 speed, E36. Got it with about 80k miles 10 years ago or so and had a run or 2 of bad luck but has been good for the past 2 years. The list of repairs is depressing but still fun to drive even compared to modern economy cars. The latest odd repair was a small oil leak that turned out to be the pressed in plug on the oil filter housing. Cleaned and put clear epoxy around it and has been good for past 5-6 months. At this age you will have many strange small repairs.

Yeah, I am not sure does he want to do that. I really wanted E46 with M54 But with two small kids I find less and less time to wrench on my own for hours. That is why I went with 2011 vehicle, regardless that it makes me cring that it does not have oil dipstick, but at least it is manual and inline 6.