E60 running costs

[thorns 20]

As per one of my other threads, I am close to purchasing a E60 530/550i.

I always here people talking of the high running costs to keep one of these on the road and keep getting told I'm an idiot to but a used BMW.

So ignoring petrol costs, what should I be budgeting for, and what is it that gives these cars the reputation of being expensive to run over a Japanese/Aussie equivalent? Is it just the cost of wear and tear items that add up quickly, or do they require twice as much servicing?

edit: for arguments sake based on a 550i with 80kms, imported, no supplied service history, but pre purchasi inspection with no major red flags.

Edited April 11, 2016 by thorns

[*Glenn* 854]

Did a Dealer / Independent Specialist do the PPI ??

[aja540i 1906]

It really depends on what you want to get out of the car, if you want to run it into the ground and scrap it after a few years then you dont have to spend any money on servicing, but if you want to keep it as new and hold a decent amount of resale value then you need to stump up the coin for a reasonable amount of servicing.

I found that my service/ repair costs are slightly higher than other cars ive owned, but not out of line with the value of the car, and i havent really even shopped around much, i got jerry clayton bmw to do my clutch and flywheel, 5k but really how much cheaper would it have been to get an indy mechanic to do it with non genuine parts, and would it actually be cheaper long term.

[jonesrp 63]

It also depends on how you value the driving experience..the 550 would be a hoot obviously. Nice to be able to own one...`just because...` However if you`re only driving it around town all week...I dunno. Nothing wrong with your other vehicles by the way.

Disclaimer: I have the hots for a Porsche 928 ...DON`T OWN ONE THOUGH.

[TermiPeteNZ 1316]

If you're worried about big ticket items then slap a Mechanical Breakdown Insurance plan on it - Autosure/Vero/Protecta etc. I put a 3 year Autosure Extreme plan on my car for $1200 (dealer did it at cost). It's a bit of money but reduces the risk of 'argh - %$^^#'' surprises.

My 2004 545i has had 3 claims since buying it at the start of October -

• engine oil seals (hardened 12 year old rubber - tiny part but a reasonable bit of labour)
• water tank (old plastic)
• iDrive unit (i think it cooked after the muppet who put a band expander on the stereo disconnected the cooling fan).

I'm expecting/hoping for relatively plain sailing for a while now. From my experience Autosure are great to deal with - my mechanics reckon they are very good too.

[skidz 197]

I bought my NZ new 530i three years ago, have done 40km (100 to 140km) and has only required regular servicing plus set of tyres - it did have full service history (and still has!) and so, as above keep the maintenance up to scratch and should be no worse than any other similar car.

[Olaf 3309]

If you're the first NZ owner after life in Japan, there's a good chance that at 80k kms, it's probably suffering from a bit of deferred maintenance. You're approaching the 100kms mark, which will cover more than an Inspection II anyway, so you can expect to be replacing a few items, and getting a thorough Transmission service. As Glenn points out, if your PPI wasn't done by a BMW Dealer or good Independent, it's about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

I think Pete's recommendation - get a repair warranty - is a good one. Had I splashed the extra when I bought my car and purchased Autosure or similar, that transmission failure 18 months into my ownership wouldn't have stung my pocket to the tune of $5k (trans rebuild, new trans cooler, hoses, fluids, assorted gaskets for valve cover, power steering, seals, and fluid top-ups including CHF-11 and full synthetic trans fluid, and labour). Still, a trans failure in a Maxima, Falcodore, Diamante etc would have cost between $3k and $5k so it's all relative, right?

Finding an excellent Independent BMW Specialist workshop to do business with will help keep your car maintained and running well, and provide a more enjoyable BMW experience. Using Joe Bloggs motors will be more of a crap-shoot; the specialist knowledge brought to the party more than make up for the slightly lower labour rates of 'the other guys'.

[thorns 20]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Yes will definitely be getting an independent PPI done before I put any cash down, still just trying to decide which way to go car wise at the moment so havent got one undertaken just yet. Mechanical warranty is also 100% going to happen with whichever car I get. The dealer I am looking at has there own branded one which is underwritten by Vero (anyone have experience with them??). I have read through the policy and it compares to the Autosure one on what it covers and exludes, only difference being it has a max claim limit of 5k which I think should be fine, unless someone wants to advise me to get a higher limit policy?

I've always be a preventative maintenance person, replace things before they are absolutely buggered, so don't mind servicing and keeping a car in top condition. This car will also be my 'new' toy now that the motocross bikes are sold and gone away till the family gets a bit older, so am comfortable spending money on my car now instead of bikes. The car will be mainly a weekend driver as I have a company car, so probably 10k absolutely max a year being added to it, which is why I am considering the V8 option.

What is usually involved in the 100k inspection and what is a price to budget for this?

My initial plan was to think about getting a transmission service within the first few months of owning it more just for piece of mind, and then its probably done for the life of my ownership with the amount of kms I am likely to add to it.

What other things would you look at if buying an import that doesn't have full service history?

[TermiPeteNZ 1316]

Vero underwrites Autosure and also the MTF MBI plan I put on my X5. If you are doing a private purchase (like my X5 was) then you can ping MTF Mt Victoria (I can provide details) and they'll sell you a MBI. Bear in mind that there's 2 tiers of MBI - I put the 'Extreme' one on my 545i - and the Vero ones have Gold and Platinum with differences not just in claim limit but also what is covered.

I've attached all the docs I got from Jono @MTF.

If you're after a Motorsport Touring 550i my mate Ant has one for sale here in Welly - has 75kms on it and *lots* of extras for $24K.

MBI covered parts.pdf

MBI Gold average claim costs.pdf

MBI Gold rates sheet.pdf

MBI Platinum average claim costs.pdf

MBI Platinum rates sheet.pdf

[ryadre 12]

I bought the autosure extreme warranty a couple months back when i bought my 550i. Was $1800 for 3 years, and covers extra stuff like electrical, shocks, etc etc. I think they only cover them up to 12 years old and 160km, covers up to $10,000. Mines done just over 100km and what i have read so far the first thing to do will be change the trans fluid. Quality cars after coming from Falcons etc. Any things picked up in the PPI the dealer would rectify. Plus you can go back to them if you find anything else not working when you get home. Just do it.

[thorns 20]

I bought the autosure extreme warranty a couple months back when i bought my 550i. Was $1800 for 3 years, and covers extra stuff like electrical, shocks, etc etc. I think they only cover them up to 12 years old and 160km, covers up to $10,000. Mines done just over 100km and what i have read so far the first thing to do will be change the trans fluid. Quality cars after coming from Falcons etc. Any things picked up in the PPI the dealer would rectify. Plus you can go back to them if you find anything else not working when you get home. Just do it.

Out of interest, did you swap the trasn fluid? If so could I ask how much to budget for that through a independent workshop?

[*Glenn* 854]

$800 to replace the plastic trans pan with intergrated filter & pan seal. Special oil is required and the harness socket in the rear of the trans needs to be replaced at the same time. Oil level checking is temperature sensitive

[kiwi535 538]

it is no more expensive to run a bmw than any other new ish car.Try taking a honda or toyota or nissan to a dealer or specialist garage.The biggie is the labour costs,and all the decent garages will have vey similar labour charges.Parts wil be about the same from any decent garage too..

[aja540i 1906]

I have my e61 M5 booked in for a service at JC BMW on Thursday, ill let you know what that covers and costs!

[BlackAngel 60]

$800 to replace the plastic trans pan with intergrated filter & pan seal. Special oil is required and the harness socket in the rear of the trans needs to be replaced at the same time. Oil level checking is temperature sensitive

$800 doesn't sound too bad considering the plastic pan replacement. I got quoted that from a dealer for the e39 which has doesn't need a replacement pan or harness socket - otherwise the rest of the work is pretty much the same.

On saying that though - my Nissans get a full trans service by one of the best trans specialists in the business for around $400. Hmmm . . . . might give them a call and see what they will do the e39 for . . . .

Edited April 16, 2016 by BlackAngel

[aja540i 1906]

$800 doesn't sound too bad considering the plastic pan replacement. I got quoted that from a dealer for the e39 which has doesn't need a replacement pan or harness socket - otherwise the rest of the work is pretty much the same.

On saying that though - my Nissans get a full trans service by one of the best trans specialists in the business for around $400. Hmmm . . . . might give them a call and see what they will do the e39 for . . . .

The special lifetime oil for the e39 is probably nearly $400 by itself!!

[BlackAngel 60]

The special lifetime oil for the e39 is probably nearly $400 by itself!!

On the dealer estimate it says $306 (+gst) for the oil

Edited April 16, 2016 by BlackAngel

[aja540i 1906]

Okay, oil service including 10 litres castrol TWS, oil filter, and cabin microfilters, was just under 1 grand, new 90AH agm battery including labour $607.31, new wiper blades $113.62, all up incl gst $1,603.50.

I was expecting nearly 2K so im happy with that.

[jin108 25]

You paid nearly 1k for an oil change? Hory shet

[aja540i 1906]

Dont forget that includes the M tax !

[Olaf 3309]

I wonder if Penrite 10Tenths 10W60SN meets the grade. One can source it in a 20L pack, too.

[jin108 25]

Supercrap has castrol 10/60. Might not be exactly the same as the bmw one unless your racing doubt it would make any difference. Dealers would say otherwise but they do need to justify their mugging tax somehow lol

[kiwi535 538]

Supercrap has castrol 10/60. Might not be exactly the same as the bmw one unless your racing doubt it would make any difference. Dealers would say otherwise but they do need to justify their mugging tax somehow lol

i find this line of constant retailer bashing somewhat tiresome,and naive to the extreme.Perhaps the business model is old fashioned.Maybe it will all come right in the upcoming "market adjustment."

I am sure some of you run your own businesses,and even if you dont you all must realise how much cost there must be to have a large showroom in the main street of a city full of very expensive cars.How do you expect the man who runs that business to pay his way.?They have to have huge margins to pay the bills.There is no need to equate that to a mugging.

So the opposite extreme to the BMW dealer only sells crap?

[aja540i 1906]

i find this line of constant retailer bashing somewhat tiresome,and naive to the extreme.Perhaps the business model is old fashioned.Maybe it will all come right in the upcoming "market adjustment."

I am sure some of you run your own businesses,and even if you dont you all must realise how much cost there must be to have a large showroom in the main street of a city full of very expensive cars.How do you expect the man who runs that business to pay his way.?They have to have huge margins to pay the bills.There is no need to equate that to a mugging.

So the opposite extreme to the BMW dealer only sells crap?

I voted with my wallet, the dealer was up front about the costs and i agreed to pay them, i know i had other options but i judge value differently to others out there. I will be taking my car back there for its wof in a few months.

Everyone wants a car with a complete service history, well someone has to pay for that!!

[Olaf 3309]

yes I agree with that sentiment, Paul. "Stealership" is an often used/abused term, and is not fair. Where I take exception is to the high margin charged on indent parts orders. On those occasions, I choose to source from abroad myself. I acknowledge I'm fortunate to have the choice of dealer or independent for my servicing.