530d - What is it worth?
Discussion
I've got he opportunity to buy the following:
1999 T REG 530 diesel SE in Metallic Silver
Leather interior
Auto
218K miles
FSH
Very good condition
It drives lovely and is virtually unmarked externally save for 2 minor car-park dings (I reckon they woudl easily 'pop' out)
Has a fault in that it intermittently fails to start. Has not been looked at by a BMW dealer yet but 2 local independents (one good repuation, one average) have both failed to diagnose the problem. Both state that no warning codes are coming up.
The vehicle has been owned by my BIL from 9 months old and his son for the last 2 years.
Turbos blew around 80k and were changed under BMW warranty.
My gut feeling that a experienced BMW technician would be able to diagnose the problem without going down the usual BMW line of replace this, then replace that.
Would appreciate thoughts and possible value.
Cheers
1999 T REG 530 diesel SE in Metallic Silver
Leather interior
Auto
218K miles
FSH
Very good condition
It drives lovely and is virtually unmarked externally save for 2 minor car-park dings (I reckon they woudl easily 'pop' out)
Has a fault in that it intermittently fails to start. Has not been looked at by a BMW dealer yet but 2 local independents (one good repuation, one average) have both failed to diagnose the problem. Both state that no warning codes are coming up.
The vehicle has been owned by my BIL from 9 months old and his son for the last 2 years.
Turbos blew around 80k and were changed under BMW warranty.
My gut feeling that a experienced BMW technician would be able to diagnose the problem without going down the usual BMW line of replace this, then replace that.
Would appreciate thoughts and possible value.
Cheers
Well this car is likely to be getting sold in September and I'm still umming and ahhing about buying it. Car is now on 227K.
The current stead - Volvo V70 T5 is returnnig about 29MPG on a run and since I am doing about 1600 miles per month, I need something a bit more economical. The 530d returned an average of 38MPG on a recent run.
It has been suggested to me that maybe the starting problem is down to glow plugs. If so, would these be a servicable item i.e. will they have been changed regularly thus far?
Still not sure whether to take the leap with this car or go for something a bit more modern, something like a 1.9 tdi Octavia, possibly an estate.
I reckon I'd get this car for about £800.
The current stead - Volvo V70 T5 is returnnig about 29MPG on a run and since I am doing about 1600 miles per month, I need something a bit more economical. The 530d returned an average of 38MPG on a recent run.
It has been suggested to me that maybe the starting problem is down to glow plugs. If so, would these be a servicable item i.e. will they have been changed regularly thus far?
Still not sure whether to take the leap with this car or go for something a bit more modern, something like a 1.9 tdi Octavia, possibly an estate.
I reckon I'd get this car for about £800.
If the non-starting is intermittent I wouldn't suspect the glowplugs. They either work or don't. On the E39 they are only used on cold mornings and we haven't had any of those recently
The low-pressure fuel pump under the passenger seat is a favourite failure item on these cars but I'd expect that to throw an error code
If a diesel won't start it either has insufficient temperature (glowplugs), no fuel (injection system) or no air (difficult to achieve that). What colour is the exhaust smoke when it finally starts on the occasions it gives problems?
Nick Froome
The low-pressure fuel pump under the passenger seat is a favourite failure item on these cars but I'd expect that to throw an error code
If a diesel won't start it either has insufficient temperature (glowplugs), no fuel (injection system) or no air (difficult to achieve that). What colour is the exhaust smoke when it finally starts on the occasions it gives problems?
Nick Froome
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