E61 523 touring

[PeteH66]

Posted this in the shed thread - quite fancy an E61 flavoured estate as a cheap load lugger and really like the look of this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206217...


It's got a great spec with everything I'd want (apart from the manual box!) - not sure about the LPG conversion...

Couple of questions:
- What's the manual box like on the E60/61?
- What's the yellow steering wheel warning symbol on the dash?
- Any common issues to look out for?

Thanks!

[Gad-Westy]

Quite an unusual spec that car! I don’t think the manual box or lpg would be seen as a positive but at £1800 it might be worth a punt as long as it has a working engine and clutch. Corrosion doesn’t seem to be much of an issue on these but they’re complex cars so plenty that can go wrong.

[g3org3y]

Warning light suggests a steering fault (may have active steering as car is otherwise v well optioned). Could be ££ to put right.

[d_a_n1979]

Replied in another thread further down asking re this car...

My reply is as below:

It's at the price it's at for a reason... It's a dog!

If you're after a workhorse to load lug then maybe it'll be the right car

But any car like that, at that price and with LPG fitted would make me walk away and keep looking...

[g3org3y]

Agreed.

[Mr Tidy]

It's a shame it doesn't seem to have been loved (puncture warning also showing on the iDrive) as it has a great spec!

Quite unusual to find so many options on a 523 rather than a 530 or 535.

[PeteH66]

Thanks for the replies all - when I first saw the ad it was up for £1480, which was shed money which *almost* would've made it worth a punt - but since posting it here that's gone up to what it is now, that's inflation for you I guess

I do wonder if the LPG install has damaged the engine in anyway, hence the price, otherwise as others have said, it's very cheap for the spec - which is a shame...

[Touring442]

If you can find me a £1700 BMW with no faults, punt it my way.

Anything sub 2 grand is basically a banger now. It was first registered in 2004 so it might be a 525i with an M54 engine. It may or may not have a servotronic fault. Mine had the light on - I left the battery disconnected for an afternoon and when the new one was fitted, the light was gone.

If it looks and drives okay, has a long MOT and doesn't piss oil or coolant out, get it bought. Of course you will have troubles with it, as with any car that age and price.