E39 2002 520i se buying advise
Discussion
Like alot of people, nothing decent on the lease front plus working from home means i am only doing few thousand miles per year so cant justify a £400pm garden ornament.
Was going to get a new reg city car but my mate is selling a 2002 520i se auto. MOT til March 2022. Plate is EU02HAG, nothing sinister i can see. Havent seen it yet but wanted to get a feel for running costs, things to check. Only going to use it to get to the gym, shops etc. so cold starting over the winter is essential. Ive shedded a few years ago with a 2000 V40 so it wont be a total shock!
Was going to get a new reg city car but my mate is selling a 2002 520i se auto. MOT til March 2022. Plate is EU02HAG, nothing sinister i can see. Havent seen it yet but wanted to get a feel for running costs, things to check. Only going to use it to get to the gym, shops etc. so cold starting over the winter is essential. Ive shedded a few years ago with a 2000 V40 so it wont be a total shock!
Great cars if in good condition. The main things to check are rust and the cooling system. I'd be amazed if the entire system hasn't been replaced but if that was a decade ago it might be time again depending on the parts used.
The problem with the 520i is it isn't any cheaper to run than the 530i so for short trips you might find the MPG is only mid 20s. Conversely, they are really economical on a long steady run. Also, the PCV system is prone to clogging with lots of short cold weather trips which causes rough running.
It could get expensive if you're unlucky or aren't able to DIY.
The problem with the 520i is it isn't any cheaper to run than the 530i so for short trips you might find the MPG is only mid 20s. Conversely, they are really economical on a long steady run. Also, the PCV system is prone to clogging with lots of short cold weather trips which causes rough running.
It could get expensive if you're unlucky or aren't able to DIY.
A friend has owned a 2003 530i E39 for about 5 years. It's got just under 100k on the clock now. Only one previous owner.
He loves the car, but it's reached the point where there is always something that needs fixing. Current "to do" list:
Rusty jacking points
Peeling lacquer in quite a few places
Leaking (plastic!) cam cover
Viscous fan getting a bit noisy (again)
Corroded brake lines
Leaking shocks
Rear suspension bushes - fronts were all done last year
Getting all these jobs done professionally would probably cost more than the car is worth, and he keeps considering just breaking it. He can't find anything else that he likes for less that £8k though, so he'll end up sticking with it, and getting friends to do most of the jobs.
He loves the car, but it's reached the point where there is always something that needs fixing. Current "to do" list:
Rusty jacking points
Peeling lacquer in quite a few places
Leaking (plastic!) cam cover
Viscous fan getting a bit noisy (again)
Corroded brake lines
Leaking shocks
Rear suspension bushes - fronts were all done last year
Getting all these jobs done professionally would probably cost more than the car is worth, and he keeps considering just breaking it. He can't find anything else that he likes for less that £8k though, so he'll end up sticking with it, and getting friends to do most of the jobs.
cheers all been reading rear bushes and corrosion are known issues. My previous shed was 15 years old, i guess 20 is now a push.
Everything starts adding up - sub 20mpg, £340pa tax, it wont be ULEZ friendly (im near B'ham), £100pm repair fund. This missus isnt v taken by it either as she quite fancied a little fiat 500!!!
Everything starts adding up - sub 20mpg, £340pa tax, it wont be ULEZ friendly (im near B'ham), £100pm repair fund. This missus isnt v taken by it either as she quite fancied a little fiat 500!!!
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