One issue after another...

[James1500]

Finally saved enough to buy myself a Nov '06 E60 523i early Sept 10... Has been close to 2 months but....

1. Upon collection of car, gear box issue - Lurching forward when coming to a stop. Fault was being rectified by TWM, 3 attempts since but since persist. Going for the 4th operation soon...

2. Rims up to 19" - Road handling was wobbling. Rectified Suspension bushes and lower arms.

3. Head rest knocking sound - Irritating...

4. Noise in cabin - Issue rectified.

5. Exhaust rattling - still ongoing..

6. and TODAY - Engine Overheating!!!

I really don't believe I am so bloody "suay"... but I have to concede... Bottom line to all BM W2B, please dun send your vehicle to STA, everything were certified As & Bs. Go to the professionals to have your car diagnosed thoroughly before committing.

:furious::furious:

 

[wt_know]

Re: One issue after another...

sorry to hear your problems.
my cousin was planning to buy a 4-5 years old bimmer too and i advise him to set aside $10K to touch up here and there
he said i'm crazy that bimmer start to fell apart after 4-5 years which is worst than msia proton

 

[sszone]

Re: One issue after another...

i never trusted STA whatever crap 10 point check....haha...trusty local workshops still the best

 

[etan1]

Re: One issue after another...

James,

Sorry to hear your latest issue today....

Radiator leaking or???

 

[davidtch]

Re: One issue after another...

sorry to hear your problems.
my cousin was planning to buy a 4-5 years old bimmer too and i advise him to set aside $10K to touch up here and there
he said i'm crazy that bimmer start to fell apart after 4-5 years which is worst than msia proton

For ppl who nvr own bimmer & nvr involve in any bimmer forum long enuf, it is not surprise. If cousin don't change the necessary thing, it will fall apart. I learn my lesson along the way & will change that necessary when the car > 100k km.

 

[wt_know]

Re: One issue after another...

agree that wear & tear items ought to be change must change. however, from a "layman" comparison with no scientific proof, it's seems when bimmer cross 80k/100k milleage the items that fell apart is more comparing to japenese car ie: ignition coil, fuel pump, alternator, radiator, gearbox, etc. i just briefly tell my cousion that the ignition coil, fuel pump, gearbox might give away since the car is reaching 100k milleage. he say siao ar ... isn't bmw or any conti car for that matter is built to last or at least last longer than japanese car. like you say, he has not own or involve in bimmer forum ... hehe

For ppl who nvr own bimmer & nvr involve in any bimmer forum long enuf, it is not surprise. If cousin don't change the necessary thing, it will fall apart. I learn my lesson along the way & will change that necessary when the car > 100k km.

 

[douggie]

Re: One issue after another...

Well, there is a saying that "they don't make them like they used to". This is especially true with EU leading the world in environmental and safety regulations - and they really enforce them.

More and more car parts will be made lighter and of biodegradable materials. This is to say that your car is like a ticking time bomb. It will literally start to fall apart as time goes by!

agree that things ought to be change must change. however, just a "layman" comparison with no scientific data analysis, it's seems when bimmer cross 80k/100k milleage the things that fell apart is more comparing to japenese car ie: ignition coil, fuel pump, aircon, radiator, gearbox, etc
i just briefly tell my cousion that the coil, fuel pump, gearbox might give away since the car is reaching 100k milleage. he say siao ar ... isn't bmw or any conti car is built to last or at least last longer than japanese car. like you say, he has not own or involve in any bimmer forum ... hehe

 

[MW]

Re: One issue after another...

tats why i tend to want to buy only from people I know or people whom my friends know about, so that you will be able to guage the condition of the car you intend to buy. Dealers dun fark care the condition as long as at the point of sale, then once a sucker signs on the dotted line, the risk passes to the new happy owner. Either that or you buy a relatively new used car from dealer and depend on the existing warranty if there are any cock-ups.

 

[davidtch]

Re: One issue after another...

agree that wear & tear items ought to be change must change. however, from a "layman" comparison with no scientific proof, it's seems when bimmer cross 80k/100k milleage the items that fell apart is more comparing to japenese car ie: ignition coil, fuel pump, alternator, radiator, gearbox, etc. i just briefly tell my cousion that the ignition coil, fuel pump, gearbox might give away since the car is reaching 100k milleage. he say siao ar ... isn't bmw or any conti car for that matter is built to last or at least last longer than japanese car. like you say, he has not own or involve in bimmer forum ... hehe

The reliability misconception was laid down by Merc W124. BMW has nvr been about reliability. It has always been about driving pleasure. Since E39, in the name of weight saving, a lot parts has been replaced with plastic parts. A lot of more things to change after 100k because of higher operating temp.

To really appreciate the ownership cost of BMW, go to BMW Club Malaysia & check. There would be sticky topic on this repair & maintenance cost. That's something hidden in this forum.

 

[wt_know]

Re: One issue after another...

agree. that's why i told my friends and relatives that these 2 comes in a package for owning a bimmer (set the expectation right). otherwise, get a toyota or honda, the parts last as intended (assuming 3 years) and the cost to change is reasonable. people tend to expect conti parts last 2x longer because it is 2x more expensive. however, that's not true because the 2x price is mainly due to the logo :shhhh:

To really appreciate the ownership cost of BMW, go to BMW Club Malaysia & check. There would be sticky topic on this repair & maintenance cost. That's something hidden in this forum.

 

[wowo]

Re: One issue after another...

sad to heard that bro, what's your mileage?
my car battery when flat yesterday, need to san bong & went Boss to change it at $3xx.:verysad:
bro u could get a warranty from TWM for few hundred bucks/year, as least when gear box , radiator or alternator kaput still able to claim. thats what i do for my pre-own cars. and u r right STA certified its useless, must be as least TWM or PML certified.
Hope everything will work out fine for yr ride. Cheers

Finally saved enough to buy myself a Nov '06 E60 523i early Sept 10... Has been close to 2 months but....

1. Upon collection of car, gear box issue - Lurching forward when coming to a stop. Fault was being rectified by TWM, 3 attempts since but since persist. Going for the 4th operation soon...

2. Rims up to 19" - Road handling was wobbling. Rectified Suspension bushes and lower arms.

3. Head rest knocking sound - Irritating...

4. Noise in cabin - Issue rectified.

5. Exhaust rattling - still ongoing..

6. and TODAY - Engine Overheating!!!

I really don't believe I am so bloody "suay"... but I have to concede... Bottom line to all BM W2B, please dun send your vehicle to STA, everything were certified As & Bs. Go to the professionals to have your car diagnosed thoroughly before committing.

:furious::furious:

 

[wt_know]

Re: One issue after another...

will TWM accept you to buy the warranty if the car condition is less than perfect ?

 

[snowmanyee]

Re: One issue after another...

Sometimes it depends on your luck and most importantly the driver. Your driving pattern and tender loving care plays an important part. If you whack your car, probably 2-3 years start falling apart. If you take care, it can jolly well last you a good 4-5 years. By the way, BMW should enjoy the car, ride and prestige andnot the maintenance cost. If maintenance is a great concern, then don't ever buy a conti. By the 4-5 years mark, beter set aside $5-10k for repairs and replacent parts. That's part and parcel of owning a prestige car. IMHO.

 

[James1500]

Re: One issue after another...

Yea, I guess I am just the sucker who knows nuts abt BMW what I commit to buy one.. Now I have to learn the lesson and brave thru it... Anyway I am also anticipating other issues that will possibly kaput in months to come, so I will also change my bearings tomorrow and fan belt since they have to reach the water pump anyway.

Ed, dun know what's wrong but most likely its water pump or fan belt.. whatever it is, I will change them tomorrow.

TWM warranty sucks.. did my gearbox 3 times, spent almost a month there and problem still persist! Like I said, my car will have to roll in for the 4th time in the 2 months period to have another operation. Hopefully, this is the last time I am visiting them. No more TWM for me (although I am warranteed under TWM). I will go to Boss, KBS or even Kian Tiong to sort out my problems instead.

 

[highbury]

Re: One issue after another...

Bro James,

Shucks! Really sorry to hear of your troubles. Hope your can get them rectified and you haven't burnt too big a hole in your pocket.

I just got my E60 around same time as you too with a STA grade B. Now, I'm starting to get concerned too. Btw, what was the mileage on your car?

 

[James1500]

Re: One issue after another...

80000km when I got it. On the high side. anyway, my waterpump issue solved. Damage: $1.1k (inclusive of a new thermostat, water pump, coolant and labour).

 

[highbury]

Re: One issue after another...

Good to hear that the overheating issue resolved quickly.

It can be frustrating to have to fork out $$ and for one issue to crop up one after another, especially when it is so shortly after you got it.

Just hope that this is the last of it and you can enjoy a smooth ride from now on.

 

[Doremi]

Re: One issue after another...

110,000km when I got it. On the high side. anyway, my waterpump issue solved. Damage: $1.1k (inclusive of a new thermostat, water pump, coolant and labour).

My Sep 06 523 with low mileage of 59000K also have some of the issues you encountered. I have changed a new alternator and gear box since I bought it in Apr 10. I have the jerking issue too. Send for warranty claim (the 2nd hand car dealer give a 1yr "complementary" warranty), they tune the gearbox via SW. Jerking occurances reduced to very min but not that obvious now. Will go for a 2nd visit and see what they will do next.

 

[etan1]

Re: One issue after another...

James, glad to hear that the overheating issue is resolved quickly.

 

[whiteice78]

Re: One issue after another...

That's really frustrating to hear, I too recently got a used e46. Even older. Ard 9 year old. But apart from the Gasket change, no problems so far. Maybe due to the low milege of 88k. I don't trust STA gradings, what I did was to get the dealer to drive the car to my regular workshop, only after my mechanic gave the go ahead, did i purchase the car. Now bracing for the 100k mark. Good luck bro.