| Author |
Message |
Ape
Guest
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 Posted:
Wed Oct 26, 2005 6:01 am Post subject:
High Mileage 540i? |
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I am a newbee to this group. I have always lusted over the M5 and 540i, but
could never afford one. I found a 2000 540i with a 6-speed this weekend
with 137,000 "highway" miles on it. Is this excessive for the 4.4L V8? My
father is a Volvo fanatic and says that 137,000 on a Volvo would not worry
him as long as the belts were changed according to the factory schedule and
the oil was changed regularly.
Any comments on this possible purchase would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, I did drive the car and it is still wonderfully strong. I pulls
a lot harder than the Volvo S60 T5 5-speed that my father wants me to buy.
But I have always longed for a 540i or M5 within my price range.
Thanks in advance.
Steve
Cary, NC
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KJ
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:58 am Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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Ape wrote:
| Quote: | I am a newbee to this group. I have always lusted over the M5 and 540i, but
could never afford one. I found a 2000 540i with a 6-speed this weekend
with 137,000 "highway" miles on it. Is this excessive for the 4.4L V8? My
father is a Volvo fanatic and says that 137,000 on a Volvo would not worry
him as long as the belts were changed according to the factory schedule and
the oil was changed regularly.
Any comments on this possible purchase would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, I did drive the car and it is still wonderfully strong. I pulls
a lot harder than the Volvo S60 T5 5-speed that my father wants me to buy.
But I have always longed for a 540i or M5 within my price range.
Thanks in advance.
Steve
Cary, NC
For what it's worth, I've owned my 1999 323i for about a week and a half |
now and it had 163K on the clock when I got it. It's a great car and
still very strong (7+ qts. of synthetic oil in a 2.5L 6 cyl.). I have
absolutely no regrets about the car. None. |
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Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Oct 26, 2005 5:00 pm Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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Ape wrote:
| Quote: | I am a newbee to this group. I have always lusted over the M5 and 540i, but
could never afford one. I found a 2000 540i with a 6-speed this weekend
with 137,000 "highway" miles on it. Is this excessive for the 4.4L V8? My
father is a Volvo fanatic and says that 137,000 on a Volvo would not worry
him as long as the belts were changed according to the factory schedule and
the oil was changed regularly.
Any comments on this possible purchase would be greatly appreciated.
|
One sold recently on ebay with something like 270,000 miles on it. 137
isn't a lot but if no maintenance has been carried out it could be due
for suspension components etc. If the price is right then go for it.
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Branden Nelsen
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:14 pm Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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About 4 months ago I bought a 99' 528i with 170K on the clock. It has been
solid, I took it to the local dealer for the inspection service and only
thing found wrong was a broken fog light (which I obviously knew ;) ) It's
been a sweet car. Don't let the high Mi chase you off, BMW's are solid if
they are taken care of.
-Branden
"Ape" <no1bigape@msn.com> wrote in message
news:jzA7f.23998$Sg2.3550750@twister.southeast.rr.com...
| Quote: | I am a newbee to this group. I have always lusted over the M5 and 540i,
but
could never afford one. I found a 2000 540i with a 6-speed this weekend
with 137,000 "highway" miles on it. Is this excessive for the 4.4L V8?
My
father is a Volvo fanatic and says that 137,000 on a Volvo would not worry
him as long as the belts were changed according to the factory schedule
and
the oil was changed regularly.
Any comments on this possible purchase would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, I did drive the car and it is still wonderfully strong. I
pulls
a lot harder than the Volvo S60 T5 5-speed that my father wants me to buy.
But I have always longed for a 540i or M5 within my price range.
Thanks in advance.
Steve
Cary, NC
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D. J
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:30 pm Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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Forget about the Volvo, there is no contest between S60 T5 and a 540i, my
1999 540i 6 speed has 130K on the clock, I had 0 problem over the last 2
years except regular maintainance.
"Ape" <no1bigape@msn.com> wrote in message
news:jzA7f.23998$Sg2.3550750@twister.southeast.rr.com...
| Quote: | I am a newbee to this group. I have always lusted over the M5 and 540i,
but
could never afford one. I found a 2000 540i with a 6-speed this weekend
with 137,000 "highway" miles on it. Is this excessive for the 4.4L V8?
My
father is a Volvo fanatic and says that 137,000 on a Volvo would not worry
him as long as the belts were changed according to the factory schedule
and
the oil was changed regularly.
Any comments on this possible purchase would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, I did drive the car and it is still wonderfully strong. I
pulls
a lot harder than the Volvo S60 T5 5-speed that my father wants me to buy.
But I have always longed for a 540i or M5 within my price range.
Thanks in advance.
Steve
Cary, NC
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KJ
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 9:14 am Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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D. J wrote:
| Quote: | Forget about the Volvo, there is no contest between S60 T5 and a 540i, my
1999 540i 6 speed has 130K on the clock, I had 0 problem over the last 2
years except regular maintainance.
"Ape" <no1bigape@msn.com> wrote in message
news:jzA7f.23998$Sg2.3550750@twister.southeast.rr.com...
I am a newbee to this group. I have always lusted over the M5 and 540i,
but
could never afford one. I found a 2000 540i with a 6-speed this weekend
with 137,000 "highway" miles on it. Is this excessive for the 4.4L V8?
My
father is a Volvo fanatic and says that 137,000 on a Volvo would not worry
him as long as the belts were changed according to the factory schedule
and
the oil was changed regularly.
Any comments on this possible purchase would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, I did drive the car and it is still wonderfully strong. I
pulls
a lot harder than the Volvo S60 T5 5-speed that my father wants me to buy.
But I have always longed for a 540i or M5 within my price range.
Thanks in advance.
Steve
Cary, NC
I just picked up a 1999 323i with 163K miles..now 165K. Obviously I |
wasn't concerned before, nor am I after [also mostly highway miles].
BMW builds great cars. Look for owners that had them professionally
serviced with the recommended synthetic fluids, and you will be in good
shape. |
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GT
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 04, 2005 3:35 am Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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I have a 1997 535i, which has a V8 engine as well.
It's quite strong, but small problems quickly sum up to large bills.
For example, last year a power window failed, last week another one failed
too. Every time it cost me CHF 450.- (about USD 300). Last year, I spent
about $ 2000 for small repairs and service (not including tires).
Great car, but expensive to maintain.
Just my 2 cents.
Best regards.
--
G. Tarantino - Switzerland
1997 BMW 535 253,000 km (152,000 miles)
1997 Audi A4 Q 247,000 km (sold)
2001 BMW 325 xi 142,000 km (88,000 miles) |
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Bob
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:04 am Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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GT wrote:
| Quote: | I have a 1997 535i, which has a V8 engine as well.
It's quite strong, but small problems quickly sum up to large bills.
For example, last year a power window failed, last week another one failed
too. Every time it cost me CHF 450.- (about USD 300). Last year, I spent
about $ 2000 for small repairs and service (not including tires).
Great car, but expensive to maintain.
Just my 2 cents.
Best regards.
Ummmm... I don't think you have a V8 if it is a 535i, better count |
those sparkplugs again.
Cheers, Bob |
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Floyd Rogers
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:12 am Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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"Bob" <rbalbirnienospamdot@telus.net> wrote
| Quote: | GT wrote:
I have a 1997 535i, which has a V8 engine as well.
It's quite strong, but small problems quickly sum up to large bills.
For example, last year a power window failed, last week another one
failed too. Every time it cost me CHF 450.- (about USD 300). Last year, I
spent about $ 2000 for small repairs and service (not including tires).
Great car, but expensive to maintain.
Just my 2 cents.
Best regards.
Ummmm... I don't think you have a V8 if it is a 535i, better count those
sparkplugs again.
Cheers, Bob
|
Nice interesting segue, here Bob. The OP is from the UK, where
they took the 3.0L V8 to 3.5L when the 4.0 went to 4.4.
The segue is your salutation: "Cheers". He's from the UK and
used "regards", you're from the US and used "Cheers"... Kinda
backwards...?
FloydR |
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Bob
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:44 am Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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Floyd Rogers wrote:
| Quote: | "Bob" <rbalbirnienospamdot@telus.net> wrote
GT wrote:
I have a 1997 535i, which has a V8 engine as well.
It's quite strong, but small problems quickly sum up to large bills.
For example, last year a power window failed, last week another one
failed too. Every time it cost me CHF 450.- (about USD 300). Last
year, I spent about $ 2000 for small repairs and service (not
including tires).
Great car, but expensive to maintain.
Just my 2 cents.
Best regards.
Ummmm... I don't think you have a V8 if it is a 535i, better count
those sparkplugs again.
Cheers, Bob
Nice interesting segue, here Bob. The OP is from the UK, where
they took the 3.0L V8 to 3.5L when the 4.0 went to 4.4.
The segue is your salutation: "Cheers". He's from the UK and
used "regards", you're from the US and used "Cheers"... Kinda
backwards...?
FloydR
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Thanks for the correction on that Floyd, learning more every day.
I always use cheers tho so, Cheers, Bob |
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Malt_Hound
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:57 pm Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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Bob wrote:
| Quote: | GT wrote:
I have a 1997 535i, which has a V8 engine as well.
It's quite strong, but small problems quickly sum up to large bills.
For example, last year a power window failed, last week another one
failed too. Every time it cost me CHF 450.- (about USD 300). Last
year, I spent about $ 2000 for small repairs and service (not
including tires).
Great car, but expensive to maintain.
Just my 2 cents.
Best regards.
Ummmm... I don't think you have a V8 if it is a 535i, better count
those sparkplugs again.
Cheers, Bob
|
Bob,
Check out the model year of his 535i... 1997. Yeah, that is a V8 but
that engine was never available in the US.
--
-Fred W |
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GT
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:13 am Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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....
| Quote: |
Bob,
Check out the model year of his 535i... 1997. Yeah, that is a V8 but
that engine was never available in the US.
--
-Fred W
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Fred,
You're right: this small displacement V8 (3.5 liter) was made specifically
for Europe, where taxes and insurances are very high and basically
proportional to displacement. I estimate that the 540 would increase my fix
costs by at least $300 per year.
Regards
Giovanni Tarantino- Switzerland |
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RAZ
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:50 pm Post subject:
Re: High Mileage 540i? |
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Steve,
I have a 1997 540i sport with 6 speed and 135000 miles. It is strong and a
wonderful car to drive. Slightly harder on the sport suspension, the way I
like it. If it's been maintained, no worries. The problems that you WILL
have over 100k miles are the catalytic converters and radiator needing
replacement, if they haven't already been done.
BobZ
"Ape" <no1bigape@msn.com> wrote in message
news:jzA7f.23998$Sg2.3550750@twister.southeast.rr.com...
| Quote: | I am a newbee to this group. I have always lusted over the M5 and 540i,
but
could never afford one. I found a 2000 540i with a 6-speed this weekend
with 137,000 "highway" miles on it. Is this excessive for the 4.4L V8?
My
father is a Volvo fanatic and says that 137,000 on a Volvo would not worry
him as long as the belts were changed according to the factory schedule
and
the oil was changed regularly.
Any comments on this possible purchase would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, I did drive the car and it is still wonderfully strong. I
pulls
a lot harder than the Volvo S60 T5 5-speed that my father wants me to buy.
But I have always longed for a 540i or M5 within my price range.
Thanks in advance.
Steve
Cary, NC
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