E60 Discussion Anything and everything to do with the E60 5 Series. All are welcome!

E60s are Problematic???

Old Sep 18, 2008 | 07:52 AM
  #21  
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This is my first Bimmer. I have ALWAYS been awe struck by the looks and the reputation the car has about it's handling characteristics, and as a result, I could not wait to get my hands on my first, and I now know what all the rave is about, I have NEVER had this much fun driving any car!!! My ownership experience has been a dream! Having said that, I certainly knew when I was considering purchasing a bimmer that it probably would issues here and there, but that was a risk I was willing (and am STILL willing) to accept. I have owned nine cars prior to this one, none have been german, and none were bimmers, so I really wanted the ownership experience. It has been 3yrs. and 13k miles since I got my 60, and in spite of a few MINOR issues I still LOVE the hell out of this car! Let me just say this: If you are looking primarily for a bullet proof horse, go buy a Camry or Accord, and you should be able to sleep at night, BUT, if you want something to have fun in, as well as look damn cool in , get yourself an e60 WITH manual gear box and sport package and assume the the risk, believe me, you WON'T be sorry.

P.S. your under warranty for 4yrs. anyway, so chill!
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 07:59 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Jambers' post='672236' date='Sep 18 2008, 06:25 AM
Put it this way : Lexus are supposed to be numero uno for reliability and customer sat...

I had a Lexus IS220d. In 2.5 years and just 20,000 miles from new it went in 7 times under warranty. The dash had to be removed and padded to stop rattles twice. The car never stopped rattling - and there are loads with that problem!

The car had to have several components replaced on recall and warranty around emissions system (5th injectors etc), the fuel consumption was dreadful and appeared to get worse with miles; many cars going into SAFE mode for no reason - some of the petrol cars have a rattle at start up and possibly need a top head re-build, boot lids damaging paint on the bumpers, very soft paint - premature brake disc wear (actually faster than pads(!)), Power Steerng locking up whilst driving etc...do I need to go on? It's not all of them by any stretch of the imagination, but enough to make me jump...

The earlier RX has issus with Lurching gearbox's - at least on a BMW you can do the 25s throttle thing and fix it DIY - on a Lexus it's a dealer job....just look at the LOC and you'll see...

In the end I got so fed up I came back to the germans...

There is no such thing as a perfect car. Having said that, prior to the Lexus I had BMW's, Mercs and Audis, and the only warranty visit I recall was for corroding alloys on the Audi! Other things were trivial...

It would be great if someone with more knowledge could place a Sticky on here with all years, models and known issues so we can see just how good these cars are....

E.g - in the UK, there is some talk on www.bmwland.co.uk of 530dA's needing an engine rebuild after a swirl thingy from the manifold gwts sucked into the engine and killing a piston/cylinder...it would be nice if that affects E39's, or E60's....
A little story about the above quote ive highlighted made me smile

Weve spoke about all kinds of warranty issues on the forum and about how to approach our Dealers to get what we hope is down to "warranty work".

Six weeks ago after my car had been valleted by my man he pointed out at the back of the spoke on each of my rear wheels some corrosion, all be it quite small (sorry no pictures), I can only describe the look of the corrosion as "if a drop of silver solder splashed like a droplet onto the floor".

I took my 5 into the Dealers and very politely pointed this out and showed him this corrosion on my nearside rear wheel, thinking back on previous threads about conducting yourself in a correct manner I was amased at his response, I must also point out that this very small amount of corrosion was on EVERY SPOKE to the rear of the wheel.

He said, " you see sir, the rear wheels of the M5 are like a washing machine tumbler and when you collect a stone in them it spins it around like a tumbler and has obviously damaged the surface of the alloy causing the corrosion to start". I couldnt beleive this pile of crap he was trying to tell me so I asked him why "this stone" only seemed to have damaged the alloy in the exact place behind every spoke of the alloy but no where else on the remaining part of the alloy, I also smiled and said quite sarcastically could he please tell why this had not happened to the front wheels, "are you see sir, the front wheels turn inwards and outwards and would throw the stone out unlike the rear wheels", so I told him that the "same stone" must have gone into the offside wheel too as this was also damaged in EXACTLY the same places, I also told him that being a Project Engineer in the Oil and Gas Industry I worked with Mettalurgists on a daily basis and that I would consult them in the meantime.

The technical Manager then told me after looking quite embarrased that he would need to consult with the Regional Manager who visits the Dealerships once every six weeks or so.

Six weeks was up yesterday, the car went in for inspection by their Regional Manager and when I phoned to ask if the car was ready to be picked up he went into the spiel again about the "washing machine syndrome", but before I could have a go at him he said," the regional manager as a gesture of goodwill has ordered two more rear wheels to replace the damaged ones".

I was quite taken back that the Dealer had sucumbed to my obvious polite manner in which I had conducted myself with them, so no hassle was necessary, so the moral of my story is be polite (tinged with a little bullshit) goes an awfull long way, the M5 wheels are very expensive and I am well pleased.
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 08:15 AM
  #23  
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if you really want absolute no worries... buy a bicycle
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 08:30 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by unknown' post='672322' date='Sep 18 2008, 09:15 AM
if you really want absolute no worries... buy a bicycle
Or a comfortable pair of NIKE's
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 08:31 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by GENEaTALS' post='672333' date='Sep 19 2008, 01:30 AM
Or a comfortable pair of NIKE's
Smart ass!
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 08:33 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by BMW M5' post='672309' date='Sep 19 2008, 12:59 AM
A little story about the above quote ive highlighted made me smile

Weve spoke about all kinds of warranty issues on the forum and about how to approach our Dealers to get what we hope is down to "warranty work".

Six weeks ago after my car had been valleted by my man he pointed out at the back of the spoke on each of my rear wheels some corrosion, all be it quite small (sorry no pictures), I can only describe the look of the corrosion as "if a drop of silver solder splashed like a droplet onto the floor".

I took my 5 into the Dealers and very politely pointed this out and showed him this corrosion on my nearside rear wheel, thinking back on previous threads about conducting yourself in a correct manner I was amased at his response, I must also point out that this very small amount of corrosion was on EVERY SPOKE to the rear of the wheel.

He said, " you see sir, the rear wheels of the M5 are like a washing machine tumbler and when you collect a stone in them it spins it around like a tumbler and has obviously damaged the surface of the alloy causing the corrosion to start". I couldnt beleive this pile of crap he was trying to tell me so I asked him why "this stone" only seemed to have damaged the alloy in the exact place behind every spoke of the alloy but no where else on the remaining part of the alloy, I also smiled and said quite sarcastically could he please tell why this had not happened to the front wheels, "are you see sir, the front wheels turn inwards and outwards and would throw the stone out unlike the rear wheels", so I told him that the "same stone" must have gone into the offside wheel too as this was also damaged in EXACTLY the same places, I also told him that being a Project Engineer in the Oil and Gas Industry I worked with Mettalurgists on a daily basis and that I would consult them in the meantime.

The technical Manager then told me after looking quite embarrased that he would need to consult with the Regional Manager who visits the Dealerships once every six weeks or so.

Six weeks was up yesterday, the car went in for inspection by their Regional Manager and when I phoned to ask if the car was ready to be picked up he went into the spiel again about the "washing machine syndrome", but before I could have a go at him he said," the regional manager as a gesture of goodwill has ordered two more rear wheels to replace the damaged ones".

I was quite taken back that the Dealer had sucumbed to my obvious polite manner in which I had conducted myself with them, so no hassle was necessary, so the moral of my story is be polite (tinged with a little bullshit) goes an awfull long way, the M5 wheels are very expensive and I am well pleased.
Polite logic accomplishes much more than angry rhetoric! Good job and great story!
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 08:41 AM
  #27  
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Well.. E60's might be problematic for some people-- I'm sure that those with problems are probably the first to go online and discuss such problems than those who bought the car and drive it with no mods no nothing necessary.

So probably most of the people on this forum are here either cuz (1) they have a problem or (2) they want to mod their car.

The 90% of the others who just drive it as-is don't seem to even bother posting......

Just a thought....?
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 08:48 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by BigMike' post='672352' date='Sep 18 2008, 09:41 AM
Well.. E60's might be problematic for some people-- I'm sure that those with problems are probably the first to go online and discuss such problems than those who bought the car and drive it with no mods no nothing necessary.

So probably most of the people on this forum are here either cuz (1) they have a problem or (2) they want to mod their car.

The 90% of the others who just drive it as-is don't seem to even bother posting......

Just a thought....?
+1
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 10:16 AM
  #29  
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Thank you to everyone who gave their opinion or input! Much appreciated! Please continue to post your thoughts of the E60 on here.
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Old Sep 18, 2008 | 10:29 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by BigMike' post='672352' date='Sep 18 2008, 11:41 AM
Well.. E60's might be problematic for some people-- I'm sure that those with problems are probably the first to go online and discuss such problems than those who bought the car and drive it with no mods no nothing necessary.

So probably most of the people on this forum are here either cuz (1) they have a problem or (2) they want to mod their car.

The 90% of the others who just drive it as-is don't seem to even bother posting......

Just a thought....?

Mike nailed it... everything you read on this forum is exactly what it is for: Problems and/or Mods. Don't see too many people, if any, coming on here to brag about how reliable and bad-ass their car is... it's understood! I've had a 735il in the past and now own a 2002 330i as well of course as a 545i-e60!! None have ever given me any problems... of course, I take care of my cars and drive them like they should be driven, normally and agressively at times but never like a 15yr old out joy riding while drunk (no donuts, burn outs, etc). You should be just fine man!

PS... make sure you get the warranty!
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