How knackered is your old bimmer?
Discussion
I drove an E34 TDS for a while with 300K on it, a cracked windscreen and an 8 ball for a gearknob.
My E46 Touring has been in van mode and hasn't been washed for 6 months inside or out while I've been renovating my old house, it has 213000 miles on it and the right hand speakers cut in and out at random.
I'm afraid to wash it now because I think the rear arch corrosion is getting a bit out of control under all the grime.
How knackered is yours?
My E46 Touring has been in van mode and hasn't been washed for 6 months inside or out while I've been renovating my old house, it has 213000 miles on it and the right hand speakers cut in and out at random.
I'm afraid to wash it now because I think the rear arch corrosion is getting a bit out of control under all the grime.
How knackered is yours?
Same as you OP. E46 325i M sport Touring that is being used as a tool carrier, timber lugger and wet smelly dog transport.
170,000 on the clock and it still goes like stink. Love it and still haven't cleaned it over the winter, the brake dust on the alloys is growing on me. Bizarrely my right hand speaker keeps cutting in and out, a small bang with my palm usually sorts it. Apart from that it's going great.
I would love to change it to a E90 series but can't see how it won't end up ruined within 3 months of day to day wear and tear. Should probably get a van but it's 50/50 to when I need to carry tolls and when I need a fast travel car.
170,000 on the clock and it still goes like stink. Love it and still haven't cleaned it over the winter, the brake dust on the alloys is growing on me. Bizarrely my right hand speaker keeps cutting in and out, a small bang with my palm usually sorts it. Apart from that it's going great.
I would love to change it to a E90 series but can't see how it won't end up ruined within 3 months of day to day wear and tear. Should probably get a van but it's 50/50 to when I need to carry tolls and when I need a fast travel car.
-97 e39 523i sedan
250000 miles
still goes like stink,engine is covered in oil but hardly uses any, some water have been lost aswell.
paint looks good from distance... tailgate got rust, pretty bad at the numberplate lights, the rest i have repaired(sort of)
almost fully equipted and everything works except the rainsensor, interier is imaculate. i cannot honestly believe that it is the original interior but all the papers say it is.
Currently used as a drift-machine in the swedish winter. love it to death but would like to have a e46 as i dont need the space
250000 miles
still goes like stink,engine is covered in oil but hardly uses any, some water have been lost aswell.
paint looks good from distance... tailgate got rust, pretty bad at the numberplate lights, the rest i have repaired(sort of)
almost fully equipted and everything works except the rainsensor, interier is imaculate. i cannot honestly believe that it is the original interior but all the papers say it is.
Currently used as a drift-machine in the swedish winter. love it to death but would like to have a e46 as i dont need the space
My daily driver, is an 07 120d with 130,000 on the clock but probably doesn't come under the 'old beemer' tag although it currently sits on winter steel wheels with no hub caps and a nice big scuff on the offside front bumper which I've had for over a year and done nothing about. Nor probably does my E30 325 sport with 192,000 miles on the clock, as it's now only used during the summer months.
E46 328i just approaching 150k - reasonable fettle apart from;
The rear foglight cover randomly falling off the other day
Both rear arches rusting on the forward edges as does the underside of the bonnet grill section
An ABS sensor has started to play up when it freezes, mirroring exactly what happened this time last year
Rear door was leaking water onto the carpet, seemingly fixed by RTVing the door seal back on, but the window seals really need doing too
The rear foglight cover randomly falling off the other day
Both rear arches rusting on the forward edges as does the underside of the bonnet grill section
An ABS sensor has started to play up when it freezes, mirroring exactly what happened this time last year
Rear door was leaking water onto the carpet, seemingly fixed by RTVing the door seal back on, but the window seals really need doing too
e36 328i - 162,000 miles. Still goes like she should.
- Lacquer peel on bonnet, driver's side wing.
- Rusty rear arches (previously repaired in hysterically bad fashion. Attempted paint blend in a semi circle around the arch rather than matching it to the suage line
) still rusty, bubbling. Paint chip on corner of rear bumper. - Dings, dents.
- Rust appearing at rear edge of front arch on passenger side.
- Small rust bubbles appearing at top left of windscreen.
- Rust appearing around boot seal.
- Moss on rear window rubbers, front wing mirror mounts.
- Small, unlocated leak in passenger footwell.
- Leaky diff and gearbox seals. Whiny diff.
- Buggered diff mounts, bumps slightly in to gear.
- Distant tapping noise, best ignored.
- She smokes a bit.
- Drivers door card clips broken, floating a bit.
- One working front fog light.
- All four corners at different degrees of "working" with regards to suspension.
- Driver's seat bolster torn at seam. Small bits of foam fall in to rear footwell periodically.
- Obligatory LCD screen intermittent faults.
E39 530d manual. MY2000. 130k.
Boot lid is now a complete rust compost heap (but spare boot lid in my garage awaiting paint).
Rust becoming rampant on the rear wheel arches.
(Live in the Scottish Highlands where the roads are basically salt for half the year)
Other than that, it drives arrow-straight, does 47mpg average, uses no oil & is the ultimate waft-mobile for long trips down to Englandshire.
Absolutely love it.
(The Beast - E39 M5 - will be released from its humidity & temperature controlled lair when summer comes and the 530d given a well earned seasonal break.)
Boot lid is now a complete rust compost heap (but spare boot lid in my garage awaiting paint).
Rust becoming rampant on the rear wheel arches.
(Live in the Scottish Highlands where the roads are basically salt for half the year)
Other than that, it drives arrow-straight, does 47mpg average, uses no oil & is the ultimate waft-mobile for long trips down to Englandshire.
Absolutely love it.
(The Beast - E39 M5 - will be released from its humidity & temperature controlled lair when summer comes and the 530d given a well earned seasonal break.)
E36 328i saloon. On about 171k
Prior to my ownership it had been sitting under a tree for two years, so it's quite amazing how well it's held up really.
BMW drift 3 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
- Plenty of laquer peel
- Loads of stone chips on the bonnet
- Paint coming off the black kidneys (that I sprayed myself)
- Generally cosmetically tatty
- Suspension feels shagged
- Nearside rear door lock doesn't work on central locking
Prior to my ownership it had been sitting under a tree for two years, so it's quite amazing how well it's held up really.
BMW drift 3 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
Finally traded my late '95 328i Touring in '08, having owned it from new for 105k miles. Fabulous car and, if it hadn't started to get a tad expensive to run, would love to have kept it. At the point I sold it, there was a bit of rust on door bases (more on driver's door due to BMW main dealer incompetence), it had just had a new power steering pump, the obligatory 47kohm resister in the aircon controller had gone and been replaced for a whole 50p, radiator had been replaced due to a deer going underneath, a couple of C/L actuators, rear springs and wheel bearings had been done and rear half-shaft replaced due to cross-threading damage - again by main dealer. Suspension was getting a little tired but that was about the lot in 13 years - just the usual consumables after that. The potatoes growing in the footwell and boot were simply a bonus. averaged 27mpg over my ownership, with a best of 34mpg and worst of 24.5mpg (blasting down to the alps 5-up with roof box).
E46 330d bought in 2001
260,000 miles, runs like clockwork, clutch just changed at 230,000.
Now sitting off the road to repair back quarter panel and inner wing due to a botch repair by John Clark BMW 6 years ago.
All other panels solid but new panels fitted and repaired by the above garage look as though they had no prep before being painted.
260,000 miles, runs like clockwork, clutch just changed at 230,000.
Now sitting off the road to repair back quarter panel and inner wing due to a botch repair by John Clark BMW 6 years ago.
All other panels solid but new panels fitted and repaired by the above garage look as though they had no prep before being painted.
2002 E39 530i Sport:
Bit of rust on the bootlid, will either buy a new one from BMW or try and find a nice used one.
Wheels could do with a refurb, although they are in pretty good condition.
Bonnet and both bumpers will be resprayed this year. Nothing really bad, just age related marks.
Mechanically there is an airbag warning light on which can be coded out. Last year I had to replace the radiator and thought it prudent to replace the water pump, she also has all new brake discs and pads all round. This year I'll replace the thermostat, viscous coupling and expansion tank as pre-emptive maintenance.
So yeah, all in all the old girl is doing well for her age
Love it to bits, every drive is a pleasure. 21 MPG per tank, less so....
My old 528i is slightly more knackered , but reportedly still going strong at 160k
Bit of rust on the bootlid, will either buy a new one from BMW or try and find a nice used one.
Wheels could do with a refurb, although they are in pretty good condition.
Bonnet and both bumpers will be resprayed this year. Nothing really bad, just age related marks.
Mechanically there is an airbag warning light on which can be coded out. Last year I had to replace the radiator and thought it prudent to replace the water pump, she also has all new brake discs and pads all round. This year I'll replace the thermostat, viscous coupling and expansion tank as pre-emptive maintenance.
So yeah, all in all the old girl is doing well for her age
Love it to bits, every drive is a pleasure. 21 MPG per tank, less so....
My old 528i is slightly more knackered , but reportedly still going strong at 160k
Edited by sparks_E39 on Friday 17th January 23:44
How do the drivers seats hold up at these high mileages? I'm asking as my winter snotter is an 04 Mondeo on 150k miles which is costing me £70 / month on a chiropracter because the drivers seat has gone. It will get replaced at bonus time in a couple of months & I'm fancying a BMW, but as I do over 28k miles a year I dont think 2 year leases are an opotion & it would be into a 6 figure milage before I have finished paying for it.
[quote=Collectingbrass]How do the drivers seats hold up at these high mileages?
My e36 328 has 163k on the clock, the only problem I have had with the drivers seat is eventual wear to the side bolster.
Other issues over the years and miles;
Replaced, a clutch, crank and cam sensors, thermostat seal, a wheel bearing, all four shocks, gearbox oil, bonnet cable (stil not quite right), two radiators ( both bowed but not leaking).
Rust repairs, One rear wheel arch, front strut area (caused by a previous poor repair) and a couple of stone chips.
Front end covered in light stone chips, as is the windscreen, wheels need a refurb and the boot lid has rusty corners.
Other than that only routine servicing. These Germans know how to build a car.
My e36 328 has 163k on the clock, the only problem I have had with the drivers seat is eventual wear to the side bolster.
Other issues over the years and miles;
Replaced, a clutch, crank and cam sensors, thermostat seal, a wheel bearing, all four shocks, gearbox oil, bonnet cable (stil not quite right), two radiators ( both bowed but not leaking).
Rust repairs, One rear wheel arch, front strut area (caused by a previous poor repair) and a couple of stone chips.
Front end covered in light stone chips, as is the windscreen, wheels need a refurb and the boot lid has rusty corners.
Other than that only routine servicing. These Germans know how to build a car.
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