Serge007

I've been a happy owner of 2004 525i and now time had come for me to turn my car in. I thought about getting another E60, but then decided to refi mine and keep it maybe for another year. Well, here is a problem. I had my car in shop twice this month because of engine was running kind of rough. So, yesterday it completely gave up and was towed to BMW Service...

At first (three weeks ago) I was told that there was nothing wrong with it and right before I left my office I got a cal from my SA, whose said that he thinks they found a problem with one of the modules, which might have to be reprogrammed. He just wasn't sure if they can do it or it needs to go to BMW of N.A. Apparently BMW had authorized our local dealer to reprogram that module and car was ready for pick up next day. Hour after I got my car the engine started to vibrate again (when sitting at the traffic light).

So, I ended up taking it back to the service. Now, this time they said that BMW of N.A. told them to take fuel sample so they did and came back with just bizarre discovery: turned out I was running on fuel mixture 75% of which consisted alcohol!!! I guess if I add 25% then I could really start saving money on gas. My SA said that norm for BMW should be not more than 12%. Basically they recommended that I use different gas station and also made a statement that there was no damage to an engine and fuel related parts. Get this, I'm on my way back to service when call comes from SA saying that apparently they discovered that device they used to take fuel sample was faulty. I was asked not to come and keep a loaner (brand new X5!) over the weekend. So, I put about 400 miles on it!

Final verdict was that the fuel had bad mixture and they recommended to burn all fuel out and fill up again at the different gas station.

Everything was running fine till yesterday. Went shopping, get back to my car...start an engine...shift transmission in reverse and...engine shuts off! Shift back to P...turn ignition...engine runs for 2-3 seconds and then dies. Tried to start it several times, but has same results. Called BMW Assist and asked them to sent a wrecker.

Now it's in service. Don't know what the problem is yet, but now I['m not sure what to do. I really like it and want to keep it, but I have some reservations now due to a recent problems. I still have 6K left on original warranty and was thinking about getting an extended warranty.

What would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!!!

AC_S5

If I were leasing I would go for a new car instead of buying back the old one. Driving a BMW is great, driving a new one even better. Have you consider the LCI E60? The new engines are more powerful.

BTW what gas station you fill up with? 75% alcohol

uglybear

I would only keep it if it was perfect. I still miss my '98 M3 which had ZERO issues in 6 years... I am leasing E60 now and if it has zero problems in 3 years, I'll consider buying it.

enelrojo

I would suggest checking the current trade-in value of the car. Compare that value to the amount of the balloon you will have to pay at the end of Owners' Choice. I am guessing that your numbers will work as mine did. I my case, the trade-in value was less than the amount of the balloon payment, so purely from a financial standpoint, it did not make sense to make the balloon payment to keep the car. If you decide to finance the balloon payment instead of paying cash, you will end up paying more for the car than you would have if you had put the car on a 5 or 6 year note in the beginning. Good luck.

Serge007

well, the thing is that they were not sure what was the content of alcohol after all

I usually use Exxon

Serge007

Trade-in value is more than payoff since I made some down payment when was buying back in 04 (wanted to keep payments low). So that is why I'm thinking about keeping it for another year cause I don't think I end up upside down on it.

Thanks for your reply!

Serge007

congrats on your new 530!

Serge007

Just got phone call form BMW Center...my car is ready. They had to replace camshaft and censor. I guess not that big of a problem. I'll get more details once I'm at the service department.

Thanks for your support!

kscarrol

Excellent! And probably doesn't need to be said after this, but if you are keeping the car, get the extended warranty! If you do, read the fine print closely as the BMW warranty does not cover much of the electronics. Most dealers also offer a third-party warranty that, for a nearly comparable price, will cover electronics.

Serge007

do you have any experience with purchasing extended warranty? Which one would you recommend?

Thanks!