hey there I would like to get some advice from you guys before purchasing my first bmw also first vehicle. This is just a thought ! There is a bmw 550i 94k I was looking into. I would like to know any issues I would possibly run into with it’s Mileage Is this a Reliable vehicle what would you rate this vehicle and what kind of feedback would you give me

 

Welcome to the forum...

Best advice I can give is to have a pre-purchase inspection performed by a reputable independent BMW shop. Also here is an excellent document to new owners and potential owners.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/att...9&d=1507504629

 

Also welcome.

If this will be your first car, I have some questions for you.

1. What other brands have you looked at?
2. What are you looking for in a car?
3. How reliable does it need to be? In other words, if it was giving you problems, would you still be able to manage to get where you need to go?
4. How mechanically inclined are you?
5. Would you be prepared to spend $2000 a year or more on car repairs?

The reason I ask these questions is because being a BMW owner is not for the faint of heart. These are awesome cars but come with a myriad of problems over time that are not inexpensive to fix. For your first car, I'd recommend you start with something known for reliability like a Toyota, Honda or Subaru.

 

I’ve looked at a few other cars one of my other options right now is a 08 Chrysler 300c SRT Design. I’m going for looks basically and a v8. And I feel like it should be realiable Ennough o go to work and back and occasionally out of town. I’m not very meachanicly inclined to be real honest I plan on taking some courses in college. And I have a Honda Accord already haha it’s time for something bigger and better . Thank you for responding and making me a lilttle aware

 

Yeah, I hate to steer you away from potentially being a bimmer owner, but the 8 cylinder cars especially are money pits.

 

How about the 535i how are those?

 

There have been some issues with the turbos, depending on the year. The most reliable 5's are the 528 and 530 with the M54 or N52 engine.

 

If you've never owned a BMW and you're looking to get into the brand, I would look for an '04 or '05 330i ZHP. from an overall performance/reliability/cost of ownership/DIY'ability standpoint it is in my opinion the best car BMW has ever produced. Get a manual if you can.

good luck with whatever you choose. I agree with everyone else, a 550i is not a good choice for your first BMW.

 

If this is your first car and you can't DIY and want a reliable car, a 550 is probably the worst one to get right behind the M5...

Get a 3 series, it's a lot cheaper and reliable than the 550...Or if you definitely want a 5 series, go for a 530 like someone suggested above. the 550 is a performance car with a v8 engine and though it's fine to drive, it'll be expensive when there's a problem with the car.

 

The 550i was my first BMW!

Ahh... I remember all the good ole trouble-free early days... And then the cursed constant wrenching on her started. Luckily, I've managed to keep her out of the dealership or any service garage and work on her myself for the last 7 years. But I would have never bought one if I already wasn't good with working on cars.

OP, my BMW was my third car. You say this 550i will be your first car ever? Yikes! Unless you are a mechanic or have deep pockets (or are very optimistic in life), stay away.