BMW 530d
Author
Discussion

NFC

Original Poster:

3 posts

178 months

Monday 9th January 2012
quotequote all
Thinking of buying a 2001 530d lots of miles (126k) anything to worry about look out for?

Thanks

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

244 months

Monday 9th January 2012
quotequote all
That's not lots of miles.

TheEnd

15,370 posts

219 months

Monday 9th January 2012
quotequote all
Vortex oil breathers=good
original foam = bad

swirl flaps will probably be fitted which were a clever idea, except when they shake loose and fall into the engine and scrap it.

In general, I'd probably listen to make sure the turbo doesn't make any funny noises, no autobox warning lights if auto, look for rust around the bootlid, arches and the recess by the filler cap.

Missing pixels on the dash is common, and if you find a car with them all working, it'll probably have a few out by the summer.

The rest I guess is general maintenance.

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

244 months

Monday 9th January 2012
quotequote all
If you live near Southampton the missing pixels problem can be fixed for £80 and won't return. Mine was fixed 3 years ago.

Oi_Oi_Savaloy

2,315 posts

291 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
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126k is roughly 10,000 miles per year ish so it's not exactly excessive.

Interiors on these wear v well - if it's rotten inside I'd suggest it's been treated v poorly overall.

Read the posts above - offer good advice.

If it's got parking sensors - you know it's not working if, when you select reverse the button starts blinking. It's usually a duff sensor in the bumper (and you can check this by putting it in reverse and then listening at each sensor - you should hear the clicking they make). £80 for each sensor not working.

missing pixels have been covered above.

Also - see my thread about suspension - they do suffer over time.


LooneyTunes

9,504 posts

189 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
quotequote all
TheEnd said:
swirl flaps will probably be fitted which were a clever idea, except when they shake loose and fall into the engine and scrap it.
You can remove them though for not a lot of cash, and probably won't notice any difference.