1996 BMW 5 Series 523i SE review from UK and Ireland
"Good performance and fuel economy, let down by less than helpful dealers and reliability problems"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Airbag system fault. Occurred twice during my three year ownership. Rectified under used car warranty.
Heated washer jets failed and had to be replaced (not under warranty).
Boot (trunk) release switch failed. Covered under warranty.
Passenger-side heated mirrors stopped working. Covered under warranty.
The clutch starts juddering when the car is used in heavy traffic for more than 10 minutes.
The damping mechanism on the stereo 'flap' is broken.
General comments?
Paintwork on this car is holding up very well. When washed and waxed, this car looks almost brand new!
Performance is also very good.
Fuel economy is excellent for such a big engine. I average about 33MPG.
The dealers (especially in London) do not seem to care at all about customer care. I have had many problems with my local dealer, including additional work carried out without asking.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.5 petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 18000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 64000 miles |
| Previous car | Mazda Xedos 6 |
| Date of Entry | 31st January, 2003 |