SWFan

Are there any common problem items to look for on used 550i's?

I'm coming from a 335is and I'm fully aware of the HPFP and turbo problems. The 335is I bought new so I wasn't worried about it. Previous to the 335is I had a used 330xi.

When buying the 330xi I found a ton of helpful information that narrowed down common failure items such as the control arm bushings, control arms, front drive shafts on xi models, coolant expansion tank, etc.

But when researching the 550i's I haven't found much in the way of help. Most of what I found were people asking about maintenance/repair costs, not common problem items to specifically look for when examining the vehicle in question. I'm fully aware of the exorbitant repair costs associated with out of warranty BMW's and have repair/maintenance funds already set aside.

Mainly just looking for a 2008 to 2010. I don't like the look of the F10 series, so I plan on sticking with an E60. I don't want to go older than 2008.

Also, was there anything specific with the 2009 model year? When doing a search I find a fair number of 2008 models, a little less from 2010 and almost nothing from 2009.

west

Welcome to the forum. N62 sometimes has coolant-related issues. Leaks. Outside of that the most common problem is cheek fatigue from happy driving.

gcvt

I agree with the above. The coolant expansion tanks have been known to crack and leak. That and rear tires don't usually last very long

SWFan

Well, sounds like my list of BMW specific items to look for won't be too different from what I used when looking at used E46 sedans.

Jim165

Seriously though, the common suspension issues that plague all BMWs will plague the 550i at around 50-60K miles. Also, expect to need a replacement mechatronic seal for the transmission at around 50K miles...go ahead and do a full transmission fluid and filter/pan replacement while you're at it. Change your rear negative camber to the neutral side of the acceptable specs and your rear tires will last 2X longer. Change oil every 7500 miles as the valve stem seals tend to go bad at around 100K miles resulting in burning oil and smoking after the car idles for a few minutes. This won't guarantee it won't happen...its really a matter of WHEN it will happen but this could possibly prolong the life of the seals. The coolant valley pipe issues of the 545 are not as common on the 550i, but the jury is still out on that one. Of course, all of this applies if you plan on keeping it past 100K miles. Other than that, this car is pretty solid!

Dishoom

I haven't had any major issues with mine. The issues I've had are related with electronics (wiper controls, sun roof) and software related (rough idle, hesitant throttle, and jerky transmission). These issues could be found on any E60 though (not just 550). All have been fixed, other than the throttle lag and the slightly rough-idle which I'm told by the dealership is "normal for a BMW." I still need to clean out my MAF to see if that helps. Change your oil every 5000 - 7500 miles, and add a bottle of Chevron Techron a couple of fill-ups before your oil change and you should have a well performing car.

If you can find a low-mileage, fully optioned 2008 you can't go wrong. Definitely get one with the sport package and if automatic, the sport automatic transmission. The 2009 & 2010 models have the CIC i-Drive and sport package also came with aluminum trim pedals. However they also got rid of the aluminum trim steering wheel which came on 2008 models.

Kind of strange, but I've seen mostly 2008 and 2010 models also, not much out there from 2009. Good luck with your search!

dingolfing

2009 still came with the same iDrive as the 2008 models, but it got the newer iDrive controller. 2010 finally got the better CIC & controller.

dingolfing

It seems like most of us on this board have 2008 550s, and a few have 2010 models. I don't think anyone likes the odd-numbered model year E60.

SWFan

I'm definitely seeing a lot more 2008's for sale. Almost nothing for 2009. I kind of thought 2010's might be in good supply as its about the right time for people getting out of them as warranties expire. A lot of 2008's I'm seeing are being sold by the original owners still yet.

Dishoom

I believe it depends on when the model was built, as I have seen 2009 E60's with CIC. Just look on eBay Motors.