The list goes on
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: High Wycombe, Bucks, England
My Ride: 2005 530d M Sport Touring : Carbon Black : Half Leather : Pro DVD Sav Nav : TV : Active Cruise : Front/Rear Parking : Bluetooth Phone : 6 CD : Dark Poplar Wood : Folding Mirrors : 5 year Servicing Pack
I've said before that this 5-series is the worst car I've ever owned and the list just goes on.
Wanted to get some new winter tyres for the rears so ordered them and duly waited for them to arrive and be fitted. Trundled down to the garage to get them on and when the old ones came off, they were virtually through the rubber on the inside shoulders.
So then I need to get a 4 wheel alignment done.
In the meantime however, the warning light for the rear pads came on. As they were fitted at Kwik Fit, they do free replacements. So took it back there only to find that the pads looked fine, but the discs were getting near the limit. So that was £195. But, fair play, that's a wear and tear item so ...
Got the car back and the warning light was still on. Took it back to Kwik Fit and they couldn't clear it - even with a laptop plugged in.
As the car was going in to the independent, I said leave it, they'll know what they're doing. But while the car was plugged in at Kwik Fit, all the lights and stuff were on and the battery went flat in about 10 minutes. Not good. They gave it a quick charge, and it was fine for the next couple of days.
Anyway, the wheels were massively out, so the independent garage sorted that out and looked at the warning light for the pads. The pads were replaced, so something was obviously not right elsewhere. They couldn't clear it either, and investigated further. Turns out it was a faulty sensor, so then THAT needed replacing.
And then when I picked up the car this morning, it woudn't start as the battery is flat.
So now it probably needs a new battery too.
It's just never ending.
Wanted to get some new winter tyres for the rears so ordered them and duly waited for them to arrive and be fitted. Trundled down to the garage to get them on and when the old ones came off, they were virtually through the rubber on the inside shoulders.
So then I need to get a 4 wheel alignment done.
In the meantime however, the warning light for the rear pads came on. As they were fitted at Kwik Fit, they do free replacements. So took it back there only to find that the pads looked fine, but the discs were getting near the limit. So that was £195. But, fair play, that's a wear and tear item so ...
Got the car back and the warning light was still on. Took it back to Kwik Fit and they couldn't clear it - even with a laptop plugged in.
As the car was going in to the independent, I said leave it, they'll know what they're doing. But while the car was plugged in at Kwik Fit, all the lights and stuff were on and the battery went flat in about 10 minutes. Not good. They gave it a quick charge, and it was fine for the next couple of days.
Anyway, the wheels were massively out, so the independent garage sorted that out and looked at the warning light for the pads. The pads were replaced, so something was obviously not right elsewhere. They couldn't clear it either, and investigated further. Turns out it was a faulty sensor, so then THAT needed replacing.
And then when I picked up the car this morning, it woudn't start as the battery is flat.
So now it probably needs a new battery too.
It's just never ending.
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: High Wycombe, Bucks, England
My Ride: 2005 530d M Sport Touring : Carbon Black : Half Leather : Pro DVD Sav Nav : TV : Active Cruise : Front/Rear Parking : Bluetooth Phone : 6 CD : Dark Poplar Wood : Folding Mirrors : 5 year Servicing Pack
Essentially it's laziness and cost.
I want to swap out my Summer RF tryes for non RFs - but that means buying 4 new tyres and selling the three good ones I've got.
Whereas getting two new winters was cheaper and easier - and I'd be putting them on in a month anyway and I'd still have to buy two more. This way, I can run them until March and worry abotu new Summer tyres then - assuming we keep the car that is.
As we've just moved house, ripped out and installed the kitchen and have two bathrooms to redo, money's a bit tight at the minute.
I want to swap out my Summer RF tryes for non RFs - but that means buying 4 new tyres and selling the three good ones I've got.
Whereas getting two new winters was cheaper and easier - and I'd be putting them on in a month anyway and I'd still have to buy two more. This way, I can run them until March and worry abotu new Summer tyres then - assuming we keep the car that is.
As we've just moved house, ripped out and installed the kitchen and have two bathrooms to redo, money's a bit tight at the minute.
#4
Contributors
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,496
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
My Ride: 2008 550I LOADED, all options except HUD and NV
This list is normal maintenance items I'd expect to see on any car, these are not BMW specific "problems".
Wheels go out of alignment over time, especially in cities. Brakes wear, rotors wear, and the sensor is VERY cheap.
To help with the tire wear I had them NOT align the car to BMW specs which are -2.0 degrees in the rear, I had them remove as much negative camber as possible (they got mine down to -0.8 degrees) in the hopes that my rear tires would last longer and wear better, also have the tire shop change sides on the rears - meaning put the right rear on the left and vice versa, every 5-7k miles.
Good luck
Wheels go out of alignment over time, especially in cities. Brakes wear, rotors wear, and the sensor is VERY cheap.
To help with the tire wear I had them NOT align the car to BMW specs which are -2.0 degrees in the rear, I had them remove as much negative camber as possible (they got mine down to -0.8 degrees) in the hopes that my rear tires would last longer and wear better, also have the tire shop change sides on the rears - meaning put the right rear on the left and vice versa, every 5-7k miles.
Good luck
#5
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: High Wycombe, Bucks, England
My Ride: 2005 530d M Sport Touring : Carbon Black : Half Leather : Pro DVD Sav Nav : TV : Active Cruise : Front/Rear Parking : Bluetooth Phone : 6 CD : Dark Poplar Wood : Folding Mirrors : 5 year Servicing Pack
This list is normal maintenance items I'd expect to see on any car, these are not BMW specific "problems".
Wheels go out of alignment over time, especially in cities. Brakes wear, rotors wear, and the sensor is VERY cheap.
To help with the tire wear I had them NOT align the car to BMW specs which are -2.0 degrees in the rear, I had them remove as much negative camber as possible (they got mine down to -0.8 degrees) in the hopes that my rear tires would last longer and wear better, also have the tire shop change sides on the rears - meaning put the right rear on the left and vice versa, every 5-7k miles.
Good luck
Wheels go out of alignment over time, especially in cities. Brakes wear, rotors wear, and the sensor is VERY cheap.
To help with the tire wear I had them NOT align the car to BMW specs which are -2.0 degrees in the rear, I had them remove as much negative camber as possible (they got mine down to -0.8 degrees) in the hopes that my rear tires would last longer and wear better, also have the tire shop change sides on the rears - meaning put the right rear on the left and vice versa, every 5-7k miles.
Good luck
Admittedly, some of them (like the blowouts, wheels and screens) would/could have happened to any car we had, it's the combination of stuff going wrong that's really making it feel like we got the car that was built at 4.55 on a Friday.
#6
Essentially it's laziness and cost.
I want to swap out my Summer RF tryes for non RFs - but that means buying 4 new tyres and selling the three good ones I've got.
Whereas getting two new winters was cheaper and easier - and I'd be putting them on in a month anyway and I'd still have to buy two more. This way, I can run them until March and worry abotu new Summer tyres then - assuming we keep the car that is.
As we've just moved house, ripped out and installed the kitchen and have two bathrooms to redo, money's a bit tight at the minute.
I want to swap out my Summer RF tryes for non RFs - but that means buying 4 new tyres and selling the three good ones I've got.
Whereas getting two new winters was cheaper and easier - and I'd be putting them on in a month anyway and I'd still have to buy two more. This way, I can run them until March and worry abotu new Summer tyres then - assuming we keep the car that is.
As we've just moved house, ripped out and installed the kitchen and have two bathrooms to redo, money's a bit tight at the minute.
I'm sure you don't have the same amount of snow fall as we do (in Montreal we average about 2m per season) and you should consider winter tires with stiff sidewalls. For our weather it is preferable to sacrifice dry weather/wet performance and opt for aggressive snow/ice tires which tend to be a softer compound hence why I mount them later.
#7
Contributors
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,496
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
My Ride: 2008 550I LOADED, all options except HUD and NV
You're probably right in many respects. But combined with the rear suspension failing twice, the whole software for the car failing, the RF monitor failing, the rear wiring loom failing, three blowouts, two new alloys, replacement front and rear screens ... I actually think I've lost track of the things that have gone wrong.
Admittedly, some of them (like the blowouts, wheels and screens) would/could have happened to any car we had, it's the combination of stuff going wrong that's really making it feel like we got the car that was built at 4.55 on a Friday.
Admittedly, some of them (like the blowouts, wheels and screens) would/could have happened to any car we had, it's the combination of stuff going wrong that's really making it feel like we got the car that was built at 4.55 on a Friday.
So far with my car I consider myself fortunate. I have had some minor issues like window anti-trap didn't work so my window motors were replaced, and my CCC (iDrive) and TCU failed. But other than that it has been purely routine maintenance which can be expected with any car. I do think that the newer 5ers are a little better off with the CIC (iDrive V2) in terms of reliability. But that would be the same with any other 1st generation of complex electronics.
#8
I am also a bit frustrated at the moment - the steering rack will need replacement soon, and now the hydraulic pump is making strange noises.. and they're both not exactly cheap
An that's on top of bigger suspension work I have planned for the spring. I just hope no other major items come up in the meantime.
An that's on top of bigger suspension work I have planned for the spring. I just hope no other major items come up in the meantime.
#9
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Long Island
My Ride: 535XIT Space Gray, Cream Beige LeatherCold Weather, Premium, Auto, Rear Side Window Shapes, Heated Rear Seats, Park Distance, Navigation, Satellite Radio
Model Year: 08
This list is normal maintenance items I'd expect to see on any car, these are not BMW specific "problems".
Wheels go out of alignment over time, especially in cities. Brakes wear, rotors wear, and the sensor is VERY cheap.
To help with the tire wear I had them NOT align the car to BMW specs which are -2.0 degrees in the rear, I had them remove as much negative camber as possible (they got mine down to -0.8 degrees) in the hopes that my rear tires would last longer and wear better, also have the tire shop change sides on the rears - meaning put the right rear on the left and vice versa, every 5-7k miles.
Good luck
Wheels go out of alignment over time, especially in cities. Brakes wear, rotors wear, and the sensor is VERY cheap.
To help with the tire wear I had them NOT align the car to BMW specs which are -2.0 degrees in the rear, I had them remove as much negative camber as possible (they got mine down to -0.8 degrees) in the hopes that my rear tires would last longer and wear better, also have the tire shop change sides on the rears - meaning put the right rear on the left and vice versa, every 5-7k miles.
Good luck
It is the run flats I have regular Goodyear tires and have plenty of tread left at 38,000 miles. I did do a alignment and rotation at 20,000 miles. The Goodyears are known for tread life.
#10
November is still early in my mind to mount winters. I live in a province of Canada where it is mandatory to run winters from Dec.15th to March15th and I always wait and check the weather daily to postpone the install as much as possible. Anything above 5C and you will destroy winters. Same applies when I need to remove them, I try to get them off as soon as possible (in our case not before April).
I'm sure you don't have the same amount of snow fall as we do (in Montreal we average about 2m per season) and you should consider winter tires with stiff sidewalls. For our weather it is preferable to sacrifice dry weather/wet performance and opt for aggressive snow/ice tires which tend to be a softer compound hence why I mount them later.
I'm sure you don't have the same amount of snow fall as we do (in Montreal we average about 2m per season) and you should consider winter tires with stiff sidewalls. For our weather it is preferable to sacrifice dry weather/wet performance and opt for aggressive snow/ice tires which tend to be a softer compound hence why I mount them later.