Petrol engine - how many miles
Discussion
I have.a 2007 525 M touring, for the first time ever with a car I have hit 100k miles on the clock. I am from the generation where if you have a car that manages to get to 100k it is ready for the scrapyard.
I do around 20k miles annually, mixture of A roads and Mways. The car is serviced and maintained regularily. I see a fair few cars for sale that have in excess of this mileage.
Am I being unnecessarily concerned, or should I start looking for a replacement?
I do around 20k miles annually, mixture of A roads and Mways. The car is serviced and maintained regularily. I see a fair few cars for sale that have in excess of this mileage.
Am I being unnecessarily concerned, or should I start looking for a replacement?
I wouldn't be worried about the engine in the slightest - modern engines are built to cover enormous mileages as long as they're looked after. Things like suspension bushes and steering racks can wear out, but they aren't hugely difficult to replace; the point at which they fail depends massively on both the car and the way it's been driven.
At 20k miles I'd assume you're doing mainly motorway driving, in which case I'd be disappointed if you had major problems before 250k.
At 20k miles I'd assume you're doing mainly motorway driving, in which case I'd be disappointed if you had major problems before 250k.
5STM5 said:
I have.a 2007 525 M touring, for the first time ever with a car I have hit 100k miles on the clock. I am from the generation where if you have a car that manages to get to 100k it is ready for the scrapyard.
I do around 20k miles annually, mixture of A roads and Mways. The car is serviced and maintained regularily. I see a fair few cars for sale that have in excess of this mileage.
Am I being unnecessarily concerned, or should I start looking for a replacement?
What are the known weak spots on the car?? (Heathermillmatic or Spanish waiter?)I do around 20k miles annually, mixture of A roads and Mways. The car is serviced and maintained regularily. I see a fair few cars for sale that have in excess of this mileage.
Am I being unnecessarily concerned, or should I start looking for a replacement?
If there aren't any common ones and you've looked after it well I wouldn't worry at all till it's done 200K miles
The problem is when you come to change but it's probably not worth a huge amount now 7-8K maybe
In 5 years time with 200K miles it'll be worth maybe 1-2K
You are rolling in the shallows depreciation wise
Probably do 70% Motorway miles, I like to make progress when driving but rarely use Sports mode and redline. The car suits us, as my two kids play ice hockey so we have plenty of room for travelling up and down the country.
A suitable replacement low mileage car is around £25k+.
I'd be lucky to get a few grand for the car, which is why I posted.
Sounds like 100k isn't the concern it once was.
A suitable replacement low mileage car is around £25k+.
I'd be lucky to get a few grand for the car, which is why I posted.
Sounds like 100k isn't the concern it once was.
Depends entirely on you really. Some people freak out at a failed head gasket or blown ECU, or a lot of suspension work, and sell out quickly.
Some things, like a HG can just fail over night. You can't predict or plan for it. I have more than one car so I don't ever have to panic and can afford to take my time over any problems.
Some things, like a HG can just fail over night. You can't predict or plan for it. I have more than one car so I don't ever have to panic and can afford to take my time over any problems.
Ran a 1990 petrol Passat from 70K to 140k with no issues - not even a clutch.
Ran a Saab 9000 from 160k to 200k (that did need a gearbox rebuild but got a contribution from the dealer).
Ran current petrol Audi from 65K to 95K (so far) not expecting any dramas (touch wood).
General wisdom suggests 250-400k should be Ok from a looked after petrol. The difference between the olden days and now is that once they die, they are rarely rebuilt.
ETA - do a search - there is a thread on here about high mileage cars for sale - you'll be amazed!
Ran a Saab 9000 from 160k to 200k (that did need a gearbox rebuild but got a contribution from the dealer).
Ran current petrol Audi from 65K to 95K (so far) not expecting any dramas (touch wood).
General wisdom suggests 250-400k should be Ok from a looked after petrol. The difference between the olden days and now is that once they die, they are rarely rebuilt.
ETA - do a search - there is a thread on here about high mileage cars for sale - you'll be amazed!
Edited by V8forweekends on Monday 12th May 20:31
The cheapest solution, unless you fancy a different car, is to maintain the existing one.
The thing that will kill the car is either the cooling system or the auto box failing. Check both with a trusted mechanic, and change the auto box fluid. If it's a manual you're laughing
The suspension will be soggy by now but not being an F1 driver you may not care
The thing that will kill the car is either the cooling system or the auto box failing. Check both with a trusted mechanic, and change the auto box fluid. If it's a manual you're laughing
The suspension will be soggy by now but not being an F1 driver you may not care
5STM5 said:
I have.a 2007 525 M touring, for the first time ever with a car I have hit 100k miles on the clock. I am from the generation where if you have a car that manages to get to 100k it is ready for the scrapyard.
I do around 20k miles annually, mixture of A roads and Mways. The car is serviced and maintained regularily. I see a fair few cars for sale that have in excess of this mileage.
Am I being unnecessarily concerned, or should I start looking for a replacement?
Seeing a 100K miles tick over was pretty rare a few decades ago. Now 100K miles cars are very common and plenty of 200K to 300K cars around. If looked after many will reach 200K I would have thought. A lot of it depends on the mentality of the owner in my view and how prepared they are to pay a few hundred for a repair to keep it going. The usual servicing and maybe a few higher expenses should see the car to over 200K. I seriously think a lot of it depends on how keen the owner is to look after it. I worked with a bloke that was doing 20K a year and moaning that he had to services it twice a year for oil, then a larger service and then the odd few hundred quid to sort a few leaks out. Nothing wrong with the car (Alfa 156) he got rid of it because it needed a new power steerinng pump. His man maths decided it was cheaper to get rid of it for £300 and go on to a hire purchase of an Astra GTC thing at almost £300 a month. The Alfa was repaired and is back on the road by the person that bought it. My car is on 153K now and Im determined to see over 200K. Dont be concerned, you are towards the bottom of the depreciation curve, you have a nice car and more importantly you know the history of it. you could get even bigger bills with a lemon of a newer car. I do around 20k miles annually, mixture of A roads and Mways. The car is serviced and maintained regularily. I see a fair few cars for sale that have in excess of this mileage.
Am I being unnecessarily concerned, or should I start looking for a replacement?
Edited by oldaudi on Monday 12th May 20:44
Lowtimer said:
If it's automatic and a normally aspirated petrol six, then the engine is likely to outlast the transmission by a considerable margin.
This. Despite BMW's 'sealed for life' gearbox claims if you have the autobox (and from considering a 525i touring the manuals are rare as rocking horse poo) then get the fluid changed otherwise they go pop. "Design life" I have been told is 120k for BMW.As another example I ran my old 2.0l mondeo from 96 to ~180k with the only engine problem being a failed coil pack which cost £15 to fix. Original clutch and everything (or at least replaced before I got it). Did need a starter motor at ~170k but that's not really an engine problem.
345,000 miles on my daily. Had it since new. Had to replace the starter and alternator this year but that's all so far. From around 320-330k miles it has started to feel a bit tired. It's now using a small bit of oil between changes. Up to that point I never had to top it up between changes
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