I''m hoping you can help me, I''m a BMW 540i owner planning to defect and I need some buying advice.
I'm contemplating buying a 1999 E55 with 180,000km (111,000 miles) for about 8,000 euros.
Is this mileage a lot for this type of car?
It has a service history but I''ve not yet ascertained how comprehensive it is.
What (if anything) should I expect to go wrong?
Am I looking at trouble?
Thanks in advance.
Eric
It's all about the service history. At 111K miles, I would expect a complete tune up and a complete fluid(s) change. I would also be concerned about motor mounts, fuel filter, O2 sensors, MAF sensor, catalytic converters, belts, and hoses. The engine is hand built, bulletproof, and made to last. 8,000 Euros ($12,500 US) would be a great price point if the aforementioned has been applied. Good luck.
I dont know where you are. Usually when you post you want to give a few more specifics.
Location is KEY it can change everything. Where is the car. where are you? Im betting your and american in germany.
Is it it coming from a dealer? or a private party.
In germany my E50 was really rusty and a few months after i bought it all the patch work paint chipped off to reveal something similar to a rotting log. That patch job was honestly done well... I mean it looks like they tried to stop the rust. unfortunately after 2 years of repeated bombardment from urea and salting roads when its completely unnessecary, I lost the battle to rust.
If your getting a car from northern europe/ anywhere that the temp is below freezing for any period of time this is your number 1 concern.
also has it passed TueV? I had to fix mine before I could sell. So if its getting registered in germany
For comaparison
I sold my 97 E50 for 11,000 USD Private Party 7200 EUR. People that own these cars take really good care of them.
That said expect problems around 130,140T Miles. In my experience major problems happen every 60k-70k.
Make sure you have the Air fuel mixture checked. if it runs rich expect a catalytic converter replacement soon. Unless there are records.
If the trany doesnt shift well. or clunks or acts funny in anyway, run away.
Bottom line demand to take it to have it inspected by an independent shop. they can tell you whats wrong.
You're right that location is important. I'm based in Germany and the car's located at a dealer's here too.
Although Germans tend to look after their cars, a lifetime of max-ing out on the Autobahn doubtless takes its toll (I'm always surprised to see how many normally highly reliable Japanese cars are sold with "Motorschaden" (broken engines) - obviously they weren't designed for Autobahn duty).
It passed its TÜV less than 2 months ago so that's in its favor and there's some sort of guarantee for 12 months.
I'm just waiting for a few answers from the dealer and then I'm hoping to inspect it at the end of the week (wage-slaving always gets in the way of fun).
(I'm not the Eric who bought your E50 - this will be my first MB)
You're right that location is important. I'm based in Germany and the car's located at a dealer's here too.
Although Germans tend to look after their cars, a lifetime of max-ing out on the Autobahn doubtless takes its toll (I'm always surprised to see how many normally highly reliable Japanese cars are sold with "Motorschaden" (broken engines) - obviously they weren't designed for Autobahn duty).
It passed its TÜV less than 2 months ago so that's in its favor and there's some sort of guarantee for 12 months.
I'm just waiting for a few answers from the dealer and then I'm hoping to inspect it at the end of the week (wage-slaving always gets in the way of fun).
(I'm not the Eric who bought your E50 - this will be my first MB)
"Is it true there no speed limit on the Autobahn"?
Yes and no.
Yes, in theory the Autobahn has no speed limit but...
more and more of the Autobahn network is being subjected to speed limits (130km/h).
Additionally traffic is also getting heavier so that while a section of Autobahn might not have an official speed limit the oblivious guy in the VW Polo overtaking a truck while doing a mighty 110km/h becomes your speed limit.
The best time is Sunday morning because there's little traffic about and trucks are banned from using the Autobahn on Sundays.
"Is it true there no speed limit on the Autobahn"?
Yes and no.
Yes, in theory the Autobahn has no speed limit but...
more and more of the Autobahn network is being subjected to speed limits (130km/h).
Additionally traffic is also getting heavier so that while a section of Autobahn might not have an official speed limit the oblivious guy in the VW Polo overtaking a truck while doing a mighty 110km/h becomes your speed limit.
The best time is Sunday morning because there's little traffic about and trucks are banned from using the Autobahn on Sundays.
I envy you guys I would love to rent a F430 or Murcielago and open it up with out worry about cop or road ending
I've been here a while but it still feels bizarre to blast past a cop car at over 200km/h.
There's also the realisation - when you drive in other countries - that a significant amount of time and concentration is spent on reading the speedometer rather than reading the road.
I wouldnt worry about it mine did 4k RPM for hours/mo for 2 years straight. I never really found going faster than 160-180 necessary , because the gas used to time saved ratio made it not worth it. I would imagine the P/Os drove around this speed. at around 220-250 on the way to belgium i wasted a quarter tank in 36 miles. that was the end of 200+ kliks driving.
Its all about the rust damages. Transmission and cats are also your primary concerns.
Unlimited autobahns are dissappearing in western germany. I can only think of a handfull of unrestricted stretches. Luckily I lived on the A60. I hear the best places for unlimited autobahns is in the north, flat, straight wide open, no hilly curvy terrain.
The seller said that the service-history was lückenlos (complete) - and he was right.... but it was lückenlos up to 9/2003.
The car came with a 12 month guarantee, but I noticed that the air-con didn't work, one of the rear windows didn't work and a headlight was dead etc. Presumably he was prepared to guarantee that in the next 12 months the air-con, window and headlight won't work.
So I'm still looking.
There is a nice straight, new and mostly de-restricted stretch of Autobahn about 50km out of Berlin towards Leipzig (I think it's the A115). Indeed speed is thirsty but occasional bursts are most therapeutic.
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