new car e39

[Biohazard]

The M52 doesn't respond well to repairs following head gasket failure and normally the best way of sorting it is to source a second hand engine. The problem relates to the head bolts being a pain to get right, apparently.



Exactly. Its very easy to get it wrong and you wont notice until it goes again.

That said even if a repair is completed properly its a big bill - even at a reputable indy.



True, they actually cost 10p to fix. They are really cheap to run! Not as if anyone else in this thread would know anything about how much it costs to run a 6 cylinder BMW as much as you do eh, given you've... never owned one and we all... do own them?

Pain to get 'right'? Wtf does that mean?

Doesn't 'respond well'? lol. Its either you can fix it, or its binned. The head is fine, and is reused or new block. Whats to respond too? It can be fixed or it can't, there is no middle ground.

What you are going on about next is rubbish mechanics and diagnostics. Which is nothing to do with the car, this could happen with a small bike or 4 pot.

This has nothing to do with extra SKILL points(?!) needed to work on them, what you mean to say is don't let idiots near them.. or any car in fact.

My old man has had a 520i .. although I don't see what this has got to do with me pointing out your talking crap mate. I don't pay the bills, but I fix the bmw for him when need be. Is it back to the old adage of if you don't own it, regardless of your technical knowledge, you can't talk about it like 'I can'... hmmm

 

[shauncr91]

Best guess for £650, a full system refresh, including radiator and pump, a flush and a re-bleed.

So in the past 12-24 months:
New 'shockers'
Tyres
£650 of cooling work

And it still cost £1200 ? How...

 

[Locky]

Probably doesn't bother with insurance

S576RRH is on the Motor Insurance Database today


The details on the MID are:

Vehicle Make/Model: BMW 523I (96-00) 4DR

 

[Firestar_3x]

So in the past 12-24 months:
New 'shockers'
Tyres
£650 of cooling work

And it still cost £1200 ? How...

Because someone got fedup with chucking money at a car worth only £1200.

 

[Biohazard]

My drivel being facts based on ownership? Or your post based on nothing other than self-egotistical drivel, hell bent on causing an argument?

Wow you own it?

Could you take it to bits and put it back together again?

Doubt it, so why should I listen to you?

Because you had a crap e36 that fell apart often?

 

[PeterNem]

S576RRH is on the Motor Insurance Database today


The details on the MID are:

Vehicle Make/Model: BMW 523I (96-00) 4DR

Hope you didn't lie when it asked you to check the box about owning the car

 

[PMKeates]

Wow you own it?

Could you take it to bits and put it back together again?

Doubt it, so why should I listen to you?

Because you had a crap e36 that fell apart often?

I'm a completely independent BMW owner and can confirm that you are wrong.

Just thought I'd save you the effort of losing the argument

 

[Firestar_3x]

Wow you own it?

Could you take it to bits and put it back together again?

Doubt it, so why should I listen to you?

Because you had a crap e36 that fell apart often?

He can mate, we've had several engines out of 3 series bmw's for engine swaps, a couple of 1.8T's out for full stripdowns and rebuilds.

 

[Biohazard]

^ Ok point taken I'd still be wondering why your coolant system crapped out on you so often then.

I'm a completely independent BMW owner and can confirm that you are wrong.

Just thought I'd save you the effort of losing the argument

Wrong about what?

Losing what argument?

At least say what you are talking about.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Pain to get 'right'? Wtf does that mean?

It means its a difficult job?

Doesn't 'respond well'? lol. Its either you can fix it, or its binned. The head is fine, and is reused or new block. Whats to respond too? It can be fixed or it can't, there is no middle ground.

Are you being deliberately thick? What do you think 'doesnt respond well' means? It means the success rate is low - sure it's down to how good your mechanic is and how well he knows the job. If he's **** hot at this particular job he'll be able to fix it. He'll charge a pretty penny for the privileage, as well.

Time and again people come onto the various forums with head gasket issues on the M52 and very often the success rate is low, which is why a lot of people suggest a replacement engine given the chance of the repair not being completed properly and the cost of a proper repair versus the cost of the engine.

DannyW has even found £1000+ worth of REPAIR BILLS in the history folder from THE LAST 2 years alone! His own service history folder backs up our point? Sounds like the owner got bored throwing money at a £1200 car so he sold it cheap so somebody else could chuck money at it.

Thats the problem with BMW's as they age - they get older, they get worth less but you still have to chuck money at them. If you are happy to do this you are rewarded with a great car, but you've got to really want one for it to be worthwhile.

 

[paradigm]

Wow you own it?

Not that one, no.

Could you take it to bits and put it back together again?

I've taken apart, and rebuilt two e36's (one with an engine swap from 318 to 325), and an e34, so yes, I'm confident that I could.

He can mate, we've had several engines out of 3 series bmw's for engine swaps, a couple of 1.8T's out for full stripdowns and rebuilds.

Exactly, although you were helping also

Doubt it, so why should I listen to you?

Because doubt it all you like I know these cars, and know them well.

Because you had a crap e36 that fell apart often?

It never "fell" apart, it got old, and I dealt with it properly, even so much as replacing the rear subframe, diff mounts, complete suspension refresh, diff rebuild, cooling system overhaul, everything.

 

[PMKeates]

Wrong about what?

Losing what argument?

At least say what you are talking about.

You're just completely wrong. About everything you are talking about. There's little value in my quoting everything you have said in this thread.

 

[Janesy B]

Biohazard being an 'end for the sake of it non shocker.

 

[[TW]Fox]

^ Ok point taken I'd still be wondering why your coolant system crapped out on you so often then.

I'm not going to be a fanboy and lie - its because the cooling system on these is absolutely ridiculously poor. It's a huge own goal for BMW. The system is poorly designed and causes no end of hassle. It would be unacceptable if it was on a cheapo Ford but on a car like this its just unforgiveable.

The Yanks have so little trust in it most of them replace the entire system EVERY 60k miles even if its working.

I do not know a SINGLE E39 owner who has not had to replace most of the cooling system. Most of us have had to do the whole lot. It's crap. And then even the job of replacing it is a complete pain.

Change a radiator on a Mitsubishi FTO? Easy. Takes 30 minutes and is dead simple. Same job on an E39?

ARGHGHGHGHGHGHHGHGHGHGHGH

The nightmare I had with mine still haunts me

 

[peterattheboro]

This thread makes me happy.

We should put bets on what DannyW has next week

 

[Joshy]

A decent engine will set you back £500-800 regardless of the car's spec. The suspension is 5-series SE wide (bar V8 models), and associated bushes, linkages and arms are all costly (new). A full suspension refresh (probably due) and an engine for when the cooling system fails (not if, they don't do "if", they just fail) will cost more than the car's value. And with it being DannyW, he won't fix it properly.

I'd be GENUINELY surprised if you could not pick up an entirely functional (but tatty 323i) for £500-£800. £500 - £800 sounds like 328i engine money (which is FAR more desirable to us e30 owners who want a few extra valves ), and even then I'd say that is far too strong considering complete cars (Yes, tatty ones) can be had for that sort of money.

Suspension refresh -
A) I'll put my neck on the line and say that not getting the suspension refreshed isn't exactly "terminal" enough to have the car scrapped.
B) ANY car at this sort of price range/mileage is long due a suspension refresh.

 

[paradigm]

^ Ok point taken I'd still be wondering why your coolant system crapped out on you so often then.

Because they are made of cabbage. Seriously, you might think I am being melodramatic, but I'm not. It had three thermostats (they just like to fail), two radiators, a waterpump, a viscous fan unit, and then it finally spilt a hose.

 

[iaind]

DannyW has even found £1000+ worth of REPAIR BILLS in the history folder from THE LAST 2 years alone! His own service history folder backs up our point? Sounds like the owner got bored throwing money at a £1200 car so he sold it cheap so somebody else could chuck money at it.

DannyW is clearly going with the logic of "he's already fixed it so it cant possibly go wrong again"

 

[Firestar_3x]

I do not know a SINGLE E39 owner who has not had to replace most of the cooling system. Most of us have had to do the whole lot. It's crap.

I'm shocked someone hasn't designed an upgraded system that avoids all the inbuilt BMW weaknesses, they could make a mint.

 

[Joshy]

Wait. Having invoices for previous repairs is a bad thing now?

Really?

I can understand people not liking the Original poster and thinking that a £1,200 e39 is a bad purchase but that really does take the whole damn cake .