200k Mile E60, bad idea?
200k Mile E60, bad idea?
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The Rotrex Kid

Original Poster:

35,019 posts

190 months

Wednesday 28th July 2021
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I’ve been offered a very nice (just the right spec, colour, wheels, interior) E60 530d M Sport Auto …. There are two issues

It’s got nearly 200k on it and I can’t view it before buying (geographical issues)

So am I just buying a ticking timebomb or is it all just peachy and crack on?

stinkyspanner

974 posts

107 months

Wednesday 28th July 2021
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I've got one on 183k or something. It came with a mountain of receipts and full history etc but it needs a fair bit of maintenance to keep on top of it.
It's a great car though, I love it but just be prepared to get your spanners out on a fairly regular basis

helix402

7,913 posts

212 months

Wednesday 28th July 2021
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If it’s cheap enough and you can fix it yourself, go for it.

Court_S

14,750 posts

207 months

Thursday 29th July 2021
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An idea what the history is like?

Friend of mine bought a cheap 530d and it didn’t end all that well. His was on 130k or so when the turbo went pop leaving him stranded in Sheffield.

AlpineF30

32 posts

103 months

Thursday 29th July 2021
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I have had 3 E60's in my time all been bought between 100k and 200k on the clock

First one was a 2004 E60 535d - Had 174k on the clock came with a mountain of receipts and never missed a beat drove like a car with half the miles.

Second one was a 2006 E60 530d - Apparently it had 156k on the clock, it wouldn't start properly if cold, the torque converter on the gearbox had went, oil was leaking all over the place and it was spewing blue smoke. All in all a total dog had about 10 different owners and the last owner before me was a total chav. Needless to say it was a nightmare to sell on once I was done with it. I sold it to a mate for peanuts who then sold it on and it changed hands about 5 times in the space of a few months until it finally met its fate of being broken for parts.

My current one is a 2008 E61 520d - 124k on the clock. It looks and drive like a brand new car - Last owner had it ten years and was main dealer and specialist maintained its whole life.

Point I am making is that you can get total dogs at those miles but also complete gems, it all depends on the car and its history.

In my experience the E60 will do mega miles so long as they are maintained its when a previous owner decides to skip on the maintenance where a number of little things add up and its when they become a basket case and not worth the hassle.

On the second one I bought it dirt cheap thinking I can put it right but by the time I added up all the stuff it needed it would cost more than to replace it with a decent one so it got sold and replaced with the E61.

Edited by AlpineF30 on Thursday 29th July 12:07

CJ1

470 posts

108 months

Thursday 29th July 2021
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Have a friend with a 56 Reg 535d M Sport Touring with 486,000 miles on it. Orignal owner who used to used to commute throughout Europe with a car trailer on the back.

I think off the top of my head it’s had a gearbox replacement in that time as well as the two turbos. He does service it religiously though.

The Rotrex Kid

Original Poster:

35,019 posts

190 months

Thursday 29th July 2021
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Thanks for all the input, unfortunately the seller has changed his mind so it's back to the drawing board.