BMW 545i E60 Engine
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Myanmar/Yangon
My Ride: BMW545i, Mercedes Benz 320S, Honda Civic 4dr. Si , Toyota Soluna Vios.
Hi Everyone,
I have this BMW 545i - year 11/2003 and to this present, I have no problem with the engine. But a friend of mine said that this model gives a lot of problem with over heating. Please clarify me whether it is a myth or a real fact. Thank you.
I have this BMW 545i - year 11/2003 and to this present, I have no problem with the engine. But a friend of mine said that this model gives a lot of problem with over heating. Please clarify me whether it is a myth or a real fact. Thank you.
Members
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Queens, NY
According to few research on other forums as well, the 5 series in general water pump go bad after certain miles. Most people experience such issue once they reach 80k+ miles which cause the over heat. So just keep that in mind...
Senior Members
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
From: Ct
My Ride: 04' 545i, Sport Package, Black, Active Xenon, ARS, Aux Input
'10 Tahoe, Black on Black, leather, Nav/XM, 20" tires, full body kit, power 2nd row, loaded
'93 Jeep Wrangler, lifted 4.5", 33" meats, Rampage Recovery Bumper w/Tire Swing, etc
25' Aquasport Osprey, Center Console,2012 200 HO Etec
Like any other car, parts start to wear and after 75k miles you just want to keep an eye on things. My water pump and expansion tank went between 80-90k miles. The expansion tank is known to leak from the seem underneath and hoses will get old and harden eventual. Normal wear I think.
Senior Members
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
My Ride: 545i
I also have a 545i and knock on wood, it's been running flawlessly. I also agree that while the engine is great, other parts will require replacing like the water pump, thermostats, etc.
Love my 545i!
Love my 545i!
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Myanmar/Yangon
My Ride: BMW545i, Mercedes Benz 320S, Honda Civic 4dr. Si , Toyota Soluna Vios.
Thank you my friend it has been quite a relief. I will keep taht in mind when my car reach 80k+.Cheers. 
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Myanmar/Yangon
My Ride: BMW545i, Mercedes Benz 320S, Honda Civic 4dr. Si , Toyota Soluna Vios.
Like any other car, parts start to wear and after 75k miles you just want to keep an eye on things. My water pump and expansion tank went between 80-90k miles. The expansion tank is known to leak from the seem underneath and hoses will get old and harden eventual. Normal wear I think.
I always check under my hood almost every morning before I use for the day. Well I keep that in mind about the year of the car and its wear & tear.
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Myanmar/Yangon
My Ride: BMW545i, Mercedes Benz 320S, Honda Civic 4dr. Si , Toyota Soluna Vios.
well you are right. This car is The Ultimate Driving Machine. I have to be very cautious about the gas pedal.I dare not push it hard because it runs like a mustang. But it is fun to drive this car.Thank you for reminding me about some of the require parts. 
Members
Senior Members
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 663
Likes: 2
From: AZ-USA
The 545i is a monster! Pure fun on wheels.
Not the greatest engine gasket and seal design but careful maintenance (frequent oil changes) and avoiding overheating can keep them quite happy for a long time.
RE Cooling System - Very easy if the cooling system fails and overheats to ruin gaskets (the aluminum parts of the engine over expand and break the gasket seals). Not to mention you could be in the wrong place (stuck in a traffic jam) when it overheats, preventing you from getting off the road and turning the engine off quickly, and do serious damage to the engine itself (warped heads, etc.). And weigh the cost of towing, inconvenience etc. Murphy's law says it will happen on the way to the airport while going on vacation.
Proactive maintenance after 85K miles is the key. You will have a cooling system failure. The only question is when. If you repair each part piecemeal as it breaks you will have many chances to overheat the engine.
Save up a fund and do the water pump, thermostat, hoses and coolant expansion tank and you will be able to sleep like a baby for at least another 60K miles.
Not the greatest engine gasket and seal design but careful maintenance (frequent oil changes) and avoiding overheating can keep them quite happy for a long time.
RE Cooling System - Very easy if the cooling system fails and overheats to ruin gaskets (the aluminum parts of the engine over expand and break the gasket seals). Not to mention you could be in the wrong place (stuck in a traffic jam) when it overheats, preventing you from getting off the road and turning the engine off quickly, and do serious damage to the engine itself (warped heads, etc.). And weigh the cost of towing, inconvenience etc. Murphy's law says it will happen on the way to the airport while going on vacation.
Proactive maintenance after 85K miles is the key. You will have a cooling system failure. The only question is when. If you repair each part piecemeal as it breaks you will have many chances to overheat the engine.
Save up a fund and do the water pump, thermostat, hoses and coolant expansion tank and you will be able to sleep like a baby for at least another 60K miles.
Senior Members
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
My Ride: 2006 BMW 550i "Ben Hogan's 5 Iron"
SilverGrey/Black Sport, L7, NAV, CW, AS, Split FR
2003 Audi A4 3.0 CVT "Part of the Moniker"
Silver/Ebony, Prem, CW, Star 17s
The 545i is a monster! Pure fun on wheels.
Not the greatest engine gasket and seal design but careful maintenance (frequent oil changes) and avoiding overheating can keep them quite happy for a long time.
RE Cooling System - Very easy if the cooling system fails and overheats to ruin gaskets (the aluminum parts of the engine over expand and break the gasket seals). Not to mention you could be in the wrong place (stuck in a traffic jam) when it overheats, preventing you from getting off the road and turning the engine off quickly, and do serious damage to the engine itself (warped heads, etc.). And weigh the cost of towing, inconvenience etc. Murphy's law says it will happen on the way to the airport while going on vacation.
Proactive maintenance after 85K miles is the key. You will have a cooling system failure. The only question is when. If you repair each part piecemeal as it breaks you will have many chances to overheat the engine.
Save up a fund and do the water pump, thermostat, hoses and coolant expansion tank and you will be able to sleep like a baby for at least another 60K miles.
Not the greatest engine gasket and seal design but careful maintenance (frequent oil changes) and avoiding overheating can keep them quite happy for a long time.
RE Cooling System - Very easy if the cooling system fails and overheats to ruin gaskets (the aluminum parts of the engine over expand and break the gasket seals). Not to mention you could be in the wrong place (stuck in a traffic jam) when it overheats, preventing you from getting off the road and turning the engine off quickly, and do serious damage to the engine itself (warped heads, etc.). And weigh the cost of towing, inconvenience etc. Murphy's law says it will happen on the way to the airport while going on vacation.
Proactive maintenance after 85K miles is the key. You will have a cooling system failure. The only question is when. If you repair each part piecemeal as it breaks you will have many chances to overheat the engine.
Save up a fund and do the water pump, thermostat, hoses and coolant expansion tank and you will be able to sleep like a baby for at least another 60K miles.
I'll do cooling stuff at 80k.
