Bmwfan87 2 Report post Posted November 11 Hey all, I am getting a bmw 525 with 126k on the clock; had just had the gaskets done, etc valve cover gasket. Should I be worried or are they a good run? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Driftit 2093 Report post Posted November 11 They are a pretty good car with one of BMW's most reliable engines. What other Gaskets have been done? Sump, valve cover, oil cooler and oil filter housing gaskets all leak on these motors. If you are a DIY'er they are all easy. The sump does take some extra effort though. The Water pump is something to keep an eye on. Many swap these out at around 150K kms. Example Kit: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-water-pump-replacement-kit-n51-n52-n52n-oem-11517586925kit The plastic coolant hose fittings to the front of your engine are the next thing you should look to replace. The plastic becomes brittle. Many of us here have had it fail. Replace it with an Aluminum flange hose. Example Hose: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-coolant-hose-with-flange-rein-11537545890 Service the gearbox and diff. The lifetime oils are a load of BS. With the gearbox it is really important to follow the correct procedure. Check the guibo's on the driveshaft for cracking too. I absolutely loved my 530D E60. It had done over 200K kms and was still mint. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bmwfan87 2 Report post Posted November 11 Thanks so much, love BMWs since I was kid, have had a few lol. What would you charge to do this? Not much of a DIY guy lol detailing absolutely, not mechanical Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Driftit 2093 Report post Posted November 12 I actually have no idea what that would cost. But I do know that I couldn't afford the cars I have if I had to have a mechanic do the work. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olaf 3341 Report post Posted November 12 @Bmwfan87 welcome to the crazy zone. We're not all crazy in here, but it helps! You're amongst friends - we all dig the BMWs. 'Break My Wallet'. The asolute best thing you can do is google "so you bought an e60". It's a PDF you can download, it's updated from time to time, gives you an amazing amount of info, what pain points to look at, what you can expect to spend to run one. Produced by one of the US forums. The e60 was the best - class leading - mid-sized executive express for years. There's plenty that's great about them. Go into it with your eyes open; if you think you can buy it cheap and run it like a Camry, it has other things in mind, and you're going to be enjoying a wallet-ectomy, and it's sure to end in tears. They like maintenance, and they like parts. If you can't work on it yourself, find an excellent independent you can trust. These are not the domain of your local garage. They have excellent brakes and great handling. The suspension system is more sophisticated than 3ers or (say) Camry's, and so when it's time to replace, it's not just bushes - it's wishbones with many more parts than other cars of the same size. Brakes aren't so bad on the sixes - there are many OEM and Aftermarket options. The V8s run an aluminium hat that no OEM produces. Water leaks (ingress of rain water) will kill your e60 faster than anything; multiple computer modules all over the car get flooded if the drains get blocked. Strangely, they're strategically placed by clever German engineers in places that will with water in unfavourable conditions. The ZF 6speed trans is superb. At 125k kms it'll need a service. Fluid flush, new pan (integrated filter), bolts, mechatronic sleeve. The BMW lifetime fill is B.S. - ZF themselves recommend regular maintenance. If you luck out and find one with Dynamic Drive (active anti-roll) you're in for a treat. Mine gave zero trouble in seven years. Active Steering is fab, though the rack is a sh*t to change and expensive to replace in event of failure. BMW acheived better weight distribution and rigidity over the previous model with extensive use of aluminium... even the schocks and struts use aluminium housings. Everything forward of the windscreen is aluminium. The structure is bonded with adhesive and riveted; so repair costs are huge. These days they're usually written off after an accident as uneconomic to repair. You may find insurance is more expensive than comparable cars. Maybe it's dropping as more fall off the road. YMMV. The e60 is a really rewarding car to drive, still looks great twenty years later (they were polarising on release). Just go in with your eyes open. I loved every minute of mine (a 545i) for seven years. V8 features 50:50 weight distro in a comfy car with ~330-350 hp that goes stops and handles more like a sports car than a limousine. You know you want one.So You Just Bought an E60 (V3.9).pdf Did I mention it's not your grandma's Camry. Find that PDF. I've attached an old one in case your google foo ain't up to it. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spinner99 55 Report post Posted November 14 I'm open to earning some pocket money doing little jobs like that on the weekend Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
