Glutton for Punishment or Opportunity?: 2001 540i ?

[911SauCy]

Attn: PPOT Brain Trust

Over time I've noticed a good amount of competency and expressed interest/experience with BMWs here. I have little or no knowledge regarding the marque:

Here goes: I have an acquantance, 56y/o gentleman, who has owned this 2001 540i 6-speed since new. It has been upgraded with a Dinan 5 kit early in its life, it's also had a new (used) engine transplant in fall of 2013. Car has never been driven in the CT winters and always babied by this guy. It's got about 130k on the clock.

My thought, ditch my paid for 2006 Nissan Altima and get a much safer, larger, more fun to drive car for the daily... The out of pocket difference would be around $5G. Gas mileage would get cut in half....

I cruised the PP BMW section and parts seem reasonable, not like the old 911.

Is there something glaringly wrong with these cars I should steer away from I.E. IMS Bearing Fail on 996, or Coolant Tubes on Cayennes.

Or are they good reliable cars?

Car looks exactly like one pictured, just a metallic blue w light silver interior.

[petrolhead611]

Half your gas mileage with a 540i?
Why is it safer than a newer Altima?

[RANDY P]

why did it new a new engine? That's odd...

[911paige]

I've had a few 540s and currently own the almost exact car you've described the only difference is mine is auto, my experience is with proper maintenance you will love it, and far less than a 911 to maintain. I had a 911 and although you will get more attention with the 911 the 540 dinan is a civilized beast, I love mine.

[HardDrive]

Will you need to drive this car in the winter?

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by petrolhead611

Half your gas mileage with a 540i?
Why is it safer than a newer Altima?

Current owner averages 19mpg but does have a 6 mile commute. Altima averages 31mpg on a trip on cruise.

My Altima is a 2006. It's apparent you've not experienced the tinfoil-esque, snap together construction of a beautifully appointed 2006 Altima 2.5S, "Special Edition"

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

why did it new a new engine? That's odd...

So did he as he was driving 75 on the highway to work and the car lost all power, white smoke in rear-view, had it towed to dealer.

Dealer takes a look and says "motor's toast" he had them replace it.

Thats all I know as of now.


The again, my cousin has a '99 M3 and the motor popped within an 1000 mile window of this one.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Will you need to drive this car in the winter?

No.

Wife has SUV and works from home during snow storms. I'm also in process interviewing for a job that would provide a work car.

[june82000]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

So did he as he was driving 75 on the highway to work and the car lost all power, white smoke in rear-view, had it towed to dealer.

Dealer takes a look and says "motor's toast" he had them replace it.

Thats all I know as of now.


The again, my cousin has a '99 M3 and the motor popped within an 1000 mile window of this one.

So you're saying it has a new engine? How many miles have been put on it since?

[ckelly78z]

It sounds like it has been well cared for, and protected from weather all of it's life. Don't drive it in the Winter unless it's dry, rear wheel drive with some power is hard to handle. My wife drives a 03' 325CI convertible, and only ever complains about Winter handling.

[sck007]

I say go for it! The Dinan package is a bonus!! You will enjoy the torque of the V8... Also, you have access to it's history. Most issues are related to coolant system. Heck, I just DIY a few weeks back my waterpump including replacing T-stat, hoses, belts. The sad part is my car only has 38K miles when pump began leaking like a river. You should join BMW CCA(>15yrs). You get at least 10% discount on parts. Imho, well worth it!

Happy Motoring!

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by june82000

So you're saying it has a new engine? How many miles have been put on it since?

Has an engine from a BMW yard with 38k on it, has seen 10k since...less than 50k on the hamster in the wheel.

[GG Allin]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

Or are they good reliable cars?

The last of the good ones.

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Will you need to drive this car in the winter?

With the right tires, that car is fine in the snow..........if that's what you're getting at.

[gprsh924]

I did a Chicago winter with bald summer tires in a 530i and another with aggressive all seasons. You will be fine in that regard.

It's a great car, but at that age and mileage, it will nickel and dime you somewhat unless you are very DIY.

[gsxrken]

Do it if you DIY. Plan for a suspension and motor mount refresh soon. Right at your age/mileage the bushings just quit and the car gets a shimmy or shake at highway speeds. Also around 120k the cooling system goes. Water pump, fan clutch, radiator. Well known $1k job.
Few OEM rims look better than the M-Parrallels

[Rusty914s]

All issues are extensively documented on the internet but off the top of my head, cooling system/radiator. Maybe suspension bushings, too lazy to look but great car overall.

[RANDY P]

mine is just a hair away from 160K. So far:

GOOD-

1)- no oil consumption- even with 7.5K intervals, not a drop.

2)- valve cover gaskets replaced, had an alternator, timing chain gaskets, starter so far-

3)-front suspension bushings once, new struts at 150K (rears were still OK, fronts about done) - new rear control arms- and technically they were OK the boots ripped but they were still serviceable. New rear ball joints.

4)- one driver's window regulator.

5)- on 3rd radiator+ expansion tank + fan clutch @150k- tank sprung leak- the and the rest was while I was in there, 2nd water pump- 2nd AC belt, 2nd serpentine belt.

6)- intake manifold resealed once, probably around 80K

7)- 1 MAF sensor

8)- blower motor resistor. $50 fix, a few minutes. Mine was DEAD so no fan when I got car- BFD took 5 minutes to replace.

9)- Rear end is indestructible, trans will last indefinitely as long as you take care of it- keep the fluid clean, and you can probably get 200K + out of tranny. (Automatic)- for these you don't need the BMW fluid- use REDLINE equivalent, save a few bucks. Works fine.

BAD

- BIG ONE- BRAKE FLEX LINES, PASSENGER SIDE- 150K- The one serious safety issue with these cars is that coming out of the ABS- the rubber lines are exposed to passenger exhaust manifold heat, and eventually they leak. Happened to me- lost all my fluid one afternoon.

NO MATTER WHAT, FIX THIS. It just shows up, and by then it's too late. the 6cyl cars have a shield there...



Also, remove belly pan, and loctite PS pump mount bolts- 3 of them. Remove ONE BOLT AT A TIME , apply loctite, retorque. The pump mounts work loose, and eventually the mounts on the pump break off due to all the rattling around...

Seat twist: A joke to fix- you don't even need to remove the seats, just unbolt seats and tip it backwards, get a pair of scissors and some electrical tape- see youtube for description but be aware that it's EASY to fix.

Rattling sunroof- sunroof rattles over bumps, you push it up from underneath and it flops around- two broken plastic clips that secure the control arms of sunroof to track. Two options- "repair kit" from BMW- around $75 which has a bunch of **** you don't need to replace, or just the clips themselves off ebay - probably knockoffs that someone molded (I did the latter.) You need to disassemble the wind visor, and undo a bunch of small parts, but no big deal. I did it myself in under two hours. Sunroof like NEW now.

Broken headlight adjusters- two ways to fix that: the PITA way and remove broken adjusters without cutting the top- probably the best way if you live in a wet climate, or do the EZ way- cut the top with a dremel, replace broken plastic arms, and be done with it- I did the latter.

Misc broken plastic, get used to it- It's a BMW, it sucks but that's the way it is- like- Timing chain guides- if engine starts rattling and throwing P0011 codes- that's likely timing chain guides-$3k and it's a pain to replace. I intend on doing mine at 200K- assuming it doesn't fart before then- and I still own the vehicle- mine have wear but are still intact. Sooner or later, it will happen...

[RANDY P]

17MPG in town, 23 MPG rolling at 80MPH on the highway (automatic car). After all the work I've done, and a fresh set of Sumitomos- my car drives like NEW. Not a rattle, not a squeak- it's a tank..

Enough power to pass anything at any time- 80+ and floor it, you'll accelerate until you lift... You can get into all kinds of trouble with this car......

[RANDY P]

PSS- fan clutch + radiator is EASY to rip out on this car. No trans lines go to radiator . Bleeding the cooling system is the easiest thing to do, as well. BMW kicked some ass in that dept.

[RANDY P]