5-Series BMW - any high mileage users here?

bkreigsr · 06:57 PM

Looking to get out of track events with my 85. This will entail sale of the Carrera, trailer, and Touareg tow vehicle.

Looking to get into a 5 Series and keep it forever. (no joke)

Anyone have any good experiences with buying an off-lease, certified, and putting 100,000 (or more) miles on it? What maintenance should I expect?

Which engine should I be looking for. Wife and I will be using it for vacations and road trips up and down the east coast Florida to Maine. I know that any of the powertrains will be 'adequate', but which is the preferred?

Thanks
Bill K

(45 years of Porsche ownership)

KNS · 05-28-2016, 03:52 PM

I'd like to say find yourself an E39 530i but they are getting pretty old now and not what you're looking for. The next generation, the E60, might be more easily found but they are more complex. You might be able to find an older E60 with the M54 3.0 engine or a newer one with the N52 3.0 engine (not sure if the N52 was offered in the E60). Both these engines are pretty reliable.

Don't know anything about the newest 5 series, I think they all have turbos..?

speeder · speeder's Garage

Get a new-ish 535d if you're going to keep it forever. Awesome mpg and addictive torque.

trj911 · trj911's Garage

I put 198k on a 2000 E39 M5. A new clutch was my biggest expense bd I only had to do that once. I even tracked it a few times. Great road trip car.

bkreigsr · 05-28-2016, 06:55 PM

Thanks all.
Is the X-drive an asset or liability?
Bill K

speeder · speeder's Garage

Huge asset if you live somewhere that gets snow. Otherwise not really a liability but you probably trade a mpg or two for the awd. It's a nice safety feature on a sedan, IMO.

black_falcon · black_falcon's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by trj911

I put 198k on a 2000 E39 M5. A new clutch was my biggest expense bd I only had to do that once. I even tracked it a few times. Great road trip car.

It's too bad e39's are an aging fleet because to me they are the perfect BMW. I sold a well kept 540i/6 with 185k about five years ago. The car was still rock solid but I grew tired fixing all the little problems; window regulators, cooling system, oil leaks, a knock sensor kept throwing the CEL light, then it started to rust, I can't remember everything.

I'd own another in a heartbeat (with low mileage) and definitely see an e39 M5 in my future.

MRM · 05-29-2016, 12:40 PM

I have a 2011 535 x drive that I bought in December 2014 as a CPO with a little over 30,000 miles on it. I've driven it like I stole it and now have about 85,000 on it. 2011 is the first year of the single turbo engine. Supposedly it's a little down on power but has better reliability than the previous twin turbo. I love mine and it has been absolutely flawless. I have done nothing but scheduled maintenance.

I think the 535 is the sweet spot of the lineup and I strongly encourage the X drive. I would have looked into the diesel if one had been available. It is just a supremely competent, comfortable and capable car. Sometimes I lust for a 550 but it is the perfect car to live with every day. It eats miles on the freeway like its on rails. Can't say enough good about it. I don't know what reliability is going tone like past 100,000 miles, but I intend to keep it a long time.