Well that truly sucks. I'm a little concerned now too. I'd like to get in on that class action lawsuit - I bought my 550i because of the reputation and build of bimmers. I've heard the horror stories of people who had a bimmer in the past and warned me about the cost of maintenance, etc, but this is bullshit! I'll do the out of warranty and maint warranty stuff on my own and pocket the difference, but ain't no way in hell I'm jacking out the engine and getting that deep into it - so if this happens to me I'll be in the boat of either paying the $9k or getting an indy to do the $1.6k fix - either way though, like you said, way to 'effin much for an o ring replacement.

If they are aware of this problem they should recall or fix for free - hell I'd even pay a few hundred, but $9k or $1.6k is rape!

 

Actually....I think you need to do just a bit of research to find out what that error means...very likely just a gas cap issue...THEN take it to German Auto place if you can't figure it out.

 

The error apparently can mean quite a few things, so the source of the problem isn't known. I was told that with factory equipment they can tell me what's going on, but not with the equipment that is at this mechanic shop. Where do I get one of those error message readers? Can someone link me?

 

If by "error message readers" you mean the thing the mechanic at the mechanic shop its called an OBD-II reader and like I said earlier, you can pick one up at AutoZone or online here or just type OBDII reader into google and buy from your choice of places.

 

Codekey.


Once the reader gives you the code, enter it in this website for details.

http://codekeyunlock.com/

I got mine at Costco for $30.

 

bump for any more info on this?

 

that is what i was thinking. if the v8 is that crappy, should we not have heard about it on this forum? there are surely quite a few e60 v8s out there now with 100k or more miles on them. many of them should have had this problem.

i hope its not too common, i have an 05 545i sport 6mt.

 

It is common!

I've had it and didn't opened a thread about it.

Seriously, on other forums you find tons of info on this.
On our forum I know from 2 so far...

Don't forget... It takes five to six years for the o-ring to fail.
When did the E60 hit the US market?


And again, do you think a company designs a replacement pipe if they only had this problem once? I don't think so...
I have done a couple months of research on it.

 

I just sold my 2005 545i for $5K.... Bought it 8 months ago for 21K. I hope you think it was a good deal because obviously I just saved myself from tons of problems, thousands $$$ for repairs and miserable life driving my E60. This thread was really helpful - Thank you so much!!!!!

But, seriously are you guys for fu#% real? I joined this forum most likely from the same reason most of the bmw owners did. To share the knowledge, DIY's, experience, discussions about mods etc. If I wanted to hear how BMW cars are the worst automobiles on the face of planet earth I would join rice.com, prius.com or other shitty forums full of bmw haters.

Quote: "Don't forget... It takes five to six years for the o-ring to fail.
When did the E60 hit the US market? "

I am sure you are aware of existence such cars as 745i. Do you know that those cars use the same V8 engine since 2002? Slightly different in X5 4.4 since 1999 ( 2000 in USA). So it has been 10 years and I still see dozens of 745's and X5's everyday on the roads. How come? Look at classifieds, there are hundreds of those cars for sell with millage over 110K. Do you really think that BMW would do nothing if there was major problem with their V8 engines while some shop in CA knows how to fix the issue for $1600??

And at last let me remind you that we have here maybe 1% of all E60 owners and the fact that you heard about this problem on forums "couple of times" means NOTHING because there are millions of people out there, driving those cars who have never heard about o-ring gasket problem.

Chris

 

Dear Chris,

if you would have read the thread and my posts correctly, and all of them, you would have not posted this.
Let me repeat what I had to say earlier:

The engine in the 545 is the same as in the 745. Correct.
And the 745, which is l onger on the market already, is the one where all the problems started, since it is older. Currentl a wave of 545's hit the shops with the exact same problem.
The fact that there are tons of posts on forums says a lot!
Because our of 1000 car owners... how many do you think are on car forums?
So, if you already find tons of posts on car forums it does mean a lot, since the majority of the car owners are not on such forums!

I have very good contacts at BMW HQ in Munich. They do know that this problem exists and the don't do anything. It would cost them too much!


And finally, where in this threa ddo you read that BMW's are the worst cars on the planet?
I said that it's fun driving the 545, but you should not own it longer than up to its fifth year.
And I said that I will never ever buy one again.
But I don't find the post where me or anyone else says BMW's are the worst on the planet.

And last but not least you said yourself that this forum is here for everyone to share knowledge.
And this thread is full of knowledge, hell, even about a shop that created a replacement pipe, which might safe a lot of guys here huge bucks.

André