tstiglich

When the transmission fluid is simply drained, only a fraction (50% ?) of the fluid actually drains out. Using 50% as an example, prior to draining 100% old fluid. After drain and fill, 50% old, 50% new. Drive for a while and repeat. 25% old, 75% new.

NicoG

And going strong...just bought it from original owner, always garaged and came with a 2-inch stack of receipts... newer alternator, battety, mechatronic sleeve, starter, thrust arm bushings, water pump, thermostat, radiator hoses, valve cover and gasket, oil filter gasket, oil pressure switch, sway bar links...had to change a xenon bulb ($36) and wipers so far

Gulfsurfer

So, time for an update to my original post above in Feb 2014: 262,500mi now, looking for 300k!.

Nothing too major has happened in the past 4yrs:
-Changed trans solenoids for smoother shifting and to stop trans codes
-Water pump/thermostat when it started throwing impending doom codes
-Valve cover gasket (fun!)
-Starter 2x (more fun!, don't know why Bosch rebuilt failed after only 32K mi, but Advance Auto replaced it)
-Fuel pump/filter (predictive hints of impending doom (stalling), diagnostic codes)
-Front struts and control arms (still isn't as tight as i'd like though)
-Belt and tensioner/idler pulleys, 2x

I had Blackstone analyze oil and found I could stretch to 10k change intervals with my kind of driving, but I change it at 7,500. Non-syn, cheapest namebrand high mileage oil I can find at Wally World. When I changed the valve cover at 259k, it was pretty clean, not too much sludge, so I think that validates my oil change regimen.

So, to summarize, yes it's an old car that periodically needs work. But if I plan it right, I can schedule the maintenance for no more than 2x a yr, and since I do it myself it's actually not too expensive. Love not having a loan note and driving a nice, safe car

93 525 Paul

Our '07 525i with 158k on it was totaled recently in a TA but it was going strong. We bought it with 45k on the clock years ago. It had a starter replacement, DTM pump replacement, water pump and hoses, gaskets, all 4 struts, thrust arm bushings, COPs 2x, rear window gasket 2x and innumerable brake jobs, coolant changes, brake fluid changes and oil/filter changes. Always use Mobil1 full synthetic on 10k change intervals and when I replaced the cam cover gasket it was spotless inside. It had multiple events of bodywork as my wife had backed into it with another of our cars, (repaired) it had been rear ended (repaired) and then this front end crash brought the end. Excellent car.

Our '07 550i has 163k on it. I bought this car with 65k on the clock years ago. It has had a cooling fan motor replacement, an overflow tank, all 4 struts, thrust arm bushings 2x (most recently went with polyurethane, good move) brake boost unit, COPs 2x, knock sensors/intake gaskets under intake hoses replaced, the horrible oil cooler/alternator oil leak lead to all the o-rings therein replacement job (nasty). The Sat radio unit quit working so we put in a diagnostic loop bypassing that as we have never used the satellite radio function. It has a small coolant leak and a pass side oil leak that need attention but more at issue is the recently developed top end engine rattle, vanos maybe. Troubling.

Hoping that our '06 525i with 122k we bought to replace the '07 does well.

We also have a '10 528i with 80k on it.

Ankush Sahgal

mehmasarja

knklhead

Was going to buy new, decided to keep when I had gear clunking when coming to stop. (auto transmission.) Researched, had independent do a solenoid job on the transmission, corrected the problem and runs like a champ. for total $750. This car rides as well as any new car I tested. I upgraded the screen with bimmer tech upgrade, which allows me to ChromeCast and "Android Auto" to the screen. I also installed a bimmer tech backup camera that works great.

The car looks so good, two years ago a guy asked, hey, is that the brand new BMW model? The engine bay looks brand new. I still enjoy driving the car and keep it as nice as I can. The best car on the road? One that's paid for!

mfdk

First BMW to own, had it for a year now and only issue i had was with dynamic drive pressure lines and that was due to bad Shocks putting too much unregulator pressure when going around the corner at higher speed.

One owner, maintained at the dealer all the time, its practically a new car, i have done a few mods.

gotpowr

Bought my 535i back in 2011 with under 30k on the clock. Got about 182k now (a lot of highway in the past couple years). Just refreshed the brakes, last year was suspension, valve cover, valve cleaning (diy), and injectors/coils.
Turbos need attention badly, anything more than 1/2 throttle throws a code. Since it's still easily driveable, I've been holding off to do them this year.

NoQuarter

Plenty of other things to do for getting a code at half throttle. Unless you already know it is your turbos, I would not assume they are the culprit right away.
What codes do you get? misfire? Low boost pressure?