E60 5-Series reliability - better info
12-28-2014, 01:58 AM
#11
Members
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 535
Model Year: 2008
02-05-2015, 08:41 AM
#12
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When the sample size is one car, anything is possible. Even with the least reliable models in our survey at least 20 percent of owners have had no problems in the past year. Meaning one out of five owners doesn't believe the stat 
Too often people assume that every car is much like the average. This is far from the case.
Too often people assume that every car is much like the average. This is far from the case.
02-05-2015, 02:59 PM
#13
New Members
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Houston, TX 77077
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Stock 2004 BMW 525i
Without any personal knowledge of my vehicle how or why would you make such a misrepresentative statement? My vehicle came with all service records and being 50 years of age I hope you realize that I am not ignorant of this vehicles stats nor is it my first vehicle.
You must be referring to the things a dealer wants you too believe are necessary so they can rob you.
Lets get real people and admit that every opinion regardless of what someone finds on Google is subjective at best. There are owners who beat the shit out of their cars and drive them like they are in a DTM race, owners who neglect regular maintenance but there are owners who have enough knowledge (common sense) about vehicle maintenance that a "service light" is a manufactures evil ploy to recoup build cost. I have worked for several dealerships in the past in service, parts and customer service so I know I have a better grasp on the reality of vehicle maintenance/reliability than most.
Peace!
You must be referring to the things a dealer wants you too believe are necessary so they can rob you.
Lets get real people and admit that every opinion regardless of what someone finds on Google is subjective at best. There are owners who beat the shit out of their cars and drive them like they are in a DTM race, owners who neglect regular maintenance but there are owners who have enough knowledge (common sense) about vehicle maintenance that a "service light" is a manufactures evil ploy to recoup build cost. I have worked for several dealerships in the past in service, parts and customer service so I know I have a better grasp on the reality of vehicle maintenance/reliability than most.
Peace!
Last edited by texasmr2; 02-05-2015 at 05:54 PM.
02-06-2015, 07:25 AM
#14
New Members
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Alpine White 550i M Sport
Model Year: 2008
I'll throw in my 3 months of ownership in....
Problem: Gear selector lever malfunction warning
Solution: Replace faulty gear selector assembly. Cost $1280 (covered by my warranty)
Problem: The car had a slight oil leak leaving about a 2" puddle overnight
Solution: Timing cover gasket set replaces, valve cover gaskets, and alternator gasket replaced. While in there they replaced a seal on the air pump, did the spark plug maintenance, and a couple of other small preventative maintenance items. Total cost: Roughly $3500 (covered by my warranty except maintenance parts prices)
Problem: Car started puking coolant
Solution: Replaced cracked expansion tank. Apparently this is a common failure as well. Cost was $150ish to replace and top off coolant. (Paid out of pocket)
Hopefully those repairs and maintenance get the car through the next few months. Nothing abnormal for these cars and right around the same time others have experienced similar or the same issues (70-80k miles)
Problem: Gear selector lever malfunction warning
Solution: Replace faulty gear selector assembly. Cost $1280 (covered by my warranty)
Problem: The car had a slight oil leak leaving about a 2" puddle overnight
Solution: Timing cover gasket set replaces, valve cover gaskets, and alternator gasket replaced. While in there they replaced a seal on the air pump, did the spark plug maintenance, and a couple of other small preventative maintenance items. Total cost: Roughly $3500 (covered by my warranty except maintenance parts prices)
Problem: Car started puking coolant
Solution: Replaced cracked expansion tank. Apparently this is a common failure as well. Cost was $150ish to replace and top off coolant. (Paid out of pocket)
Hopefully those repairs and maintenance get the car through the next few months. Nothing abnormal for these cars and right around the same time others have experienced similar or the same issues (70-80k miles)
03-29-2015, 10:43 AM
#15
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New stuff this time. We've updated our reliability stats for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through the end of 2014. Plus we've added reliability trends graphs. These indicate how a model's reliability has changed as it has aged, and how different model years performed when the same age.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2010 5-Series: 57, moderate
2009 5-Series: 90, high
2008 528 / 550 / M5: 78, moderate
2008 535: 88, high
2007 5-Series: 85, moderate
2006 5-Series: 104, high
2004 5-Series: 72, moderate
We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:
2008 528 / 550 / M5: 45, 3
2006 5-Series: 36, 15
We'll have further updates in May and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.
For the details, including how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:
BMW 5-Series reliability ratings and comparisons
To view the new graphs, select "reliability trends" in the breadcrumbs at the top of the linked page.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2010 5-Series: 57, moderate
2009 5-Series: 90, high
2008 528 / 550 / M5: 78, moderate
2008 535: 88, high
2007 5-Series: 85, moderate
2006 5-Series: 104, high
2004 5-Series: 72, moderate
We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:
2008 528 / 550 / M5: 45, 3
2006 5-Series: 36, 15
We'll have further updates in May and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.
For the details, including how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:
BMW 5-Series reliability ratings and comparisons
To view the new graphs, select "reliability trends" in the breadcrumbs at the top of the linked page.
03-29-2015, 03:38 PM
#16
New Members
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: bmw
03-30-2015, 11:01 AM
#17
Members
Senior Members
so MY 2007 seems to be one of the best so far, am i correct with this statement?
04-01-2015, 04:26 AM
#18
New Members
04-01-2015, 05:42 AM
#19
New Members
These statistics, however, are biased since they are not random samples. The data is collected from people who know about this service and therefore are not all of the purchasers of this model car. These people would tend to be 'complainers' for the most part. Why is the sample size for 2005 so small? Not because less 2005s were sold, but possibly because there were indeed less problems therefore less complaints, therefore less 'complainers' to report in.
Salut, Bob P.
04-01-2015, 06:20 AM
#20
Members
Senior Members
Actually, if you pull up the figures, you will see that the year 2005 seems to be the best, but it isn't shown because the sample size is too small.
These statistics, however, are biased since they are not random samples. The data is collected from people who know about this service and therefore are not all of the purchasers of this model car. These people would tend to be 'complainers' for the most part. Why is the sample size for 2005 so small? Not because less 2005s were sold, but possibly because there were indeed less problems therefore less complaints, therefore less 'complainers' to report in.
Salut, Bob P.
These statistics, however, are biased since they are not random samples. The data is collected from people who know about this service and therefore are not all of the purchasers of this model car. These people would tend to be 'complainers' for the most part. Why is the sample size for 2005 so small? Not because less 2005s were sold, but possibly because there were indeed less problems therefore less complaints, therefore less 'complainers' to report in.
Salut, Bob P.