Maintenance $$$
08-29-2012, 06:11 AM
#21
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Houston
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My Ride: 545i 2004, SMG, Sport, Nav, Logic-7, Bluetooth phone retrofit
Mine is an '04, and very little had gone wrong by the time it had done 100k. All the expensive stuff - alternator bracket gasket, various other oil leaks, and the Famous Coolant Pipe - all appeared between 100k and 125k. It's at 170k now, and I'm expecting to do it all again in another year or two. Post-warranty R&M has cost me about $0.35 per mile, which is a lot cheaper than $1 per mile depreciation during the warranty. I'm not complaining - it's a great car, and it's worth it.
08-29-2012, 07:13 AM
#22
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Encino, CA
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My Ride: 04 545i - Titanium Silver/Black, Sport pkg, Comfort Seats w/ Lumbar, Premium Sound, power rear sunshade, Adaptive Xenon Headlights, Steptronic, Park Distance Control, Fold down rear seats w/ski bag, Aux jack, 6-disk changer, puddle lamps...
Engine: Custom Remus cat-back exhaust w/chrome square tips, K&N Air Filter, Charcoal Filter Removed, Sprint Booster :-), 50/50 mix of 91+100 Octane, EuroRev ECU Remap (coming soon lol), Dinan High-Flow Throttle Body (coming soon...maybe lol)
Interior: Portable Sirius Stilletto 100 w/car kit, Garmin Nuvi 680 mounted below rear-view mirror, LCI-style I-drive knob, Dark Poplar Center Dashboard Trim.
Exterior: E60 forum clings, 5% rear tint, ACS roof spoiler (painted black for distinct look against limo tint), ACS trunk spoiler, ACS add-on front spoiler and rear apron (awaiting installation), "18 Black Staggered BeBeS Style OER (emergency replacement for cracked sport 124 rims), black kidney grill, white accessory lighting (including license and trunk lamps), Angel-eye upgrade, AIB xenon-matched fog lamps, AIB V3's on order, red rear reflectors
Let me see, at 124K miles-- Fixed leaks (alternator bracket mount gasket, timing cover l and r gaskets, valve cover l and r gaskets, vacuum pump gasket), new set of spark plugs, transmission oil and filter/pan with mechatronic sleeve change-- all for $700, labor only. I spent more on repairs on my Maxima than my 545i. The mods are . . . that's a different story.
08-29-2012, 08:29 AM
#23
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: SoCal San Diego
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My Ride: 545i Sport
Model Year: 2004
Engine: N62
No LABOR, I bought all the parts online (CTSC, AutohausAZ, RMEuropean, etc...). I found a local indy shop that I can trust and specialized on euro cars. The mechanic owns a 740i so I know he's familiar with the 4.4 L V8.
BTW, I forgot to mention that the water pump install and AC/alternator belts replacement were included.
He quoted me for $600 at first, but then I added more job so we ended with $700 (plus a good tip). Must be the recession.
BTW, I forgot to mention that the water pump install and AC/alternator belts replacement were included.
He quoted me for $600 at first, but then I added more job so we ended with $700 (plus a good tip). Must be the recession.
08-29-2012, 09:35 AM
#25
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Encino, CA
Posts: 1,712
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My Ride: 04 545i - Titanium Silver/Black, Sport pkg, Comfort Seats w/ Lumbar, Premium Sound, power rear sunshade, Adaptive Xenon Headlights, Steptronic, Park Distance Control, Fold down rear seats w/ski bag, Aux jack, 6-disk changer, puddle lamps...
Engine: Custom Remus cat-back exhaust w/chrome square tips, K&N Air Filter, Charcoal Filter Removed, Sprint Booster :-), 50/50 mix of 91+100 Octane, EuroRev ECU Remap (coming soon lol), Dinan High-Flow Throttle Body (coming soon...maybe lol)
Interior: Portable Sirius Stilletto 100 w/car kit, Garmin Nuvi 680 mounted below rear-view mirror, LCI-style I-drive knob, Dark Poplar Center Dashboard Trim.
Exterior: E60 forum clings, 5% rear tint, ACS roof spoiler (painted black for distinct look against limo tint), ACS trunk spoiler, ACS add-on front spoiler and rear apron (awaiting installation), "18 Black Staggered BeBeS Style OER (emergency replacement for cracked sport 124 rims), black kidney grill, white accessory lighting (including license and trunk lamps), Angel-eye upgrade, AIB xenon-matched fog lamps, AIB V3's on order, red rear reflectors
No LABOR, I bought all the parts online (CTSC, AutohausAZ, RMEuropean, etc...). I found a local indy shop that I can trust and specialized on euro cars. The mechanic owns a 740i so I know he's familiar with the 4.4 L V8.
BTW, I forgot to mention that the water pump install and AC/alternator belts replacement were included.
He quoted me for $600 at first, but then I added more job so we ended with $700 (plus a good tip). Must be the recession.
BTW, I forgot to mention that the water pump install and AC/alternator belts replacement were included.
He quoted me for $600 at first, but then I added more job so we ended with $700 (plus a good tip). Must be the recession.
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08-29-2012, 10:43 AM
#27
Senior Members
BMW can be an expensive car to maintain but if you do yourself it doesn't have to be. Thrust arm bushings last for about 60K or so. DVD optical is a known issue only affecting some units.oil change costs you $50 and takes 15 min tops.
08-29-2012, 12:05 PM
#28
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Queens,NY
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My Ride: 2005 545i 95,000 miles, light silver grey color/ black interior, SMG tranny, Radar cruise control, Logic 7/ 8.8 inch navi, CDC, PDC, HUD, 20" staggered Beyeron wheels, LCI taillights, window shades, Mtech v3 AE, 8000k HID Bulbs, Full interior LED kit courtesy of (John@motorcepts)
Let me see, at 124K miles-- Fixed leaks (alternator bracket mount gasket, timing cover l and r gaskets, valve cover l and r gaskets, vacuum pump gasket), new set of spark plugs, transmission oil and filter/pan with mechatronic sleeve change-- all for $700, labor only. I spent more on repairs on my Maxima than my 545i. The mods are . . . that's a different story.
I thought valve cover gaskets alone were one of the expensive repairs to do on a E60 V8 ? let alone all this other work.
.
08-29-2012, 01:20 PM
#30
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC, NY
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My Ride: 2008 535i, Sport, Premium, Navi, Comfort Access, USB/iPod Bluetooth, Cold Weather Package, Bi Xenon Cornering Headlights
Think about that statement for a moment using logic.
BMW can be an expensive car to maintain but if you do yourself it doesn't have to be. Thrust arm bushings last for about 60K or so. DVD optical is a known issue only affecting some units.oil change costs you $50 and takes 15 min tops.
BMW can be an expensive car to maintain but if you do yourself it doesn't have to be. Thrust arm bushings last for about 60K or so. DVD optical is a known issue only affecting some units.oil change costs you $50 and takes 15 min tops.
I've owned turbo cars in the past, NONE gave this many issues inside of the first 60K, hell none of them gave these kinds of issues inside the first 80K. The fact that its a luxury car and a BMW should not excuse it from some bad build traits, not all, some. I still believe it is the ult ultimate driving machine.
As I said in my first post, I LOVE this car, and I will get it all resolved, but some of the problems myself and others are dealing with, BMW should've sorted out or put out a recall campaign for.