1990 BMW 5 Series 525i SE review from UK and Ireland

Broken windscreen (my fault) cost UKP150 to replace. Shop around... I had some quotes for UKP500.

Faulty rear electric window - fixed by the dealer.

Faulty viscous fan clutch causing overheating - fixed by the dealer.

Rough idle. Moves between 500 and 1200 rpm. It seems to have settled down since I've been using Red-ex, but I'll get the dealer to look at it during its next service as it's still under warranty.

This car is 13 years old with 111,000 miles on the clock and it still drives like I've just picked it up from the showroom. It's smooth and quiet and very very comfortable.

For a car that weighs a ton and a half it's pretty quick. 0-60 is quicker than you need it to be. I took it to 120mph before I chickened out and there was still loads of power left. It's not underpowered.

It's not a car that's cheap to run. A specialist will typically charge UKP200 for a service and at UKP60 for a tankful of petrol, I still shed a tear every time I arrive at the pump. BMW parts are pricey, but if you are fairly technically able you can save money by doing some jobs yourself.

This was once of the first M50 engined 5s - this means it has the newer 24v engine. The straight-six sounds fantastic. I have several friends with four-cylinder cars who frequently remark on how good it sounds.

I would seriously recommend a car like this to anyone who wants a luxury motor which is a pleasure to drive, but is on a budget. BMWs were built to last for years and a good 5 series with 100,000 on the clock is barely run-in. Look after it and it will keep going for ever. The 6 cylinder engines are widely accepted to be the best. Pick a good one and you're laughing.