E60 BMW 5 series on a shoestring

[Lozw86]

I know what you're saying.. I went on the basis that my F30 or indeed a new BMW cost me £400/month or £4,800 a year, so if I can buy one and complete necessary repairs and maintenance for the price of one years PCP payments, I'm happy. The car will be kept for at least 3 years so I should save money.

So while I'm on the subject of costs.. £630 spent today on replacing the thermostat ( slight coolant leak) and replacing the rocker cover gasket ( slight oil leak) This is all the current known issues with the car sorted so I'll see how it goes from here on in, just about at the £4.8k mark

[Blackpuddin]

May I be put on whatever list may exist notifying PHers of the impending sale of one of your cars.

[Slow]

Blackpuddin said:

May I be put on whatever list may exist notifying PHers of the impending sale of one of your cars.

I was thinking the same thing. I do wonder why OP has spent as much making a fairly common car up to standard instead of just spending more on a better one first as he is paying people to do the work so isnt cheap.

Not always a bad choice but just feels odd. Should it now pop any actual large problems he is stuck having to fix it as it owes him too much.

[Lozw86]

I have had the same trains of thought and my logic is that I could have bought an E60 for twice the price and still had the same issues to resolve at some point. Most of the issues I have had are common e60 faults; oil filter housing gasket, thermostat etc. I would rather these be corrected with OEM parts by my chosen Indy specialist.

Other costs have been replacing spark plugs, gear box oil, brake fluid, tyres.. again, things that would need doing at some point, I have chosen to get them done upfront with the knowledge that they have been done to a good standard with quality parts and materials

I have had the odd occasion where I have thought "I could be sat in something brand new" but I'm comfortable with what I have spent and am reasonably confident that the car will do me well. The reason I started this thread was to document the trials and tribulations of such a purchase.

The car has really grown on me over the last couple of weeks, it's very comfy and makes a nice growl when you give it some gas.. my growing fondness of the car has eased the slight irritation of spending money on it

[p4cks]

Slow said:

Blackpuddin said:

May I be put on whatever list may exist notifying PHers of the impending sale of one of your cars.

I was thinking the same thing. I do wonder why OP has spent as much making a fairly common car up to standard instead of just spending more on a better one first as he is paying people to do the work so isnt cheap.

Not always a bad choice but just feels odd. Should it now pop any actual large problems he is stuck having to fix it as it owes him too much.

I can see it from both perspectives having run sheds and non-sheds in the past. Whilst I understand the OP wanting to have something he's comfortable driving everyday without the impending threat of a breakdown, I do agree that there's a threat of overspend here (if not already).

I'm also running a £3K shed (well, a £2.85K MK5 Golf GTI) and there's no chance in hell I'd be happy about spending what the OP has spent but it's all relative and the OP is happy with what he's now got.

OP - at this price point it pays to be a little more resourceful, although I know myself that sometimes with a BMW that you can't.

[whytheory]

I'm confident you could find loads of £4K e60s that need or will soon need all the same work as OP's car has had

[nickchallis92]

Hi OP,

I'm very interested in how you're getting on with the E60. I myself recently purchased a 2005 M-Sport E60 530d with a manual box, 97,000 miles. This was in October 2016.

I don't intend to run mine on a shoestring budget but I am 25 and that has obvious financial limitations. Fact is, I drive a lot through work and my Rover Coupe required refuelling every Friday. So now I am the owner of a powerful diesel which gives me ~34mpg. Happy me.

I spent £6250 due to the glorious condition the car is in. Spent about £1200 since buying it just getting the car up to scratch including the removal of the swirl flaps. Since October nothing has gone wrong and the car runs magnificently.

Delighted with my purchase.

[Lynch91]

nickchallis92 said:

Hi OP,

I'm very interested in how you're getting on with the E60. I myself recently purchased a 2005 M-Sport E60 530d with a manual box, 97,000 miles. This was in October 2016.

I don't intend to run mine on a shoestring budget but I am 25 and that has obvious financial limitations. Fact is, I drive a lot through work and my Rover Coupe required refuelling every Friday. So now I am the owner of a powerful diesel which gives me ~34mpg. Happy me.

I spent £6250 due to the glorious condition the car is in. Spent about £1200 since buying it just getting the car up to scratch including the removal of the swirl flaps. Since October nothing has gone wrong and the car runs magnificently.

Delighted with my purchase.

I'm thinking of doing just this, so good to hear its working for you