1994 BMW 5 Series 530i review from North America
"A mechanical nightmare"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The cylinder is losing compression badly. Problem was with the BMW design. Engine block made from Nikisil which reacts poorly with US gasoline. Scars the inside of the cylinder and causes leak down. BMW replaces engines if less than 100,000 miles or 6 years. They would not repair this model.
General comments?
For a $50,000 car, this car is a piece of junk. Poor reliability, engine that blows up at 83,000 miles.
Poor acceleration. Reasonable handling, but rather heavy and clumsy.
Seats are completely worn out and hurt my back.
Recommended reviews
| The 540i is the ultimate grocery getter |
|
| Fantastic automobile... but not for the weak of mind/spirit/wallet.. |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1994 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 1 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 0 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 1 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 0 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 1 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 82000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 83000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Taurus |
| Date of Entry | 8th July, 2003 |