1999 BMW 5 Series Touring review from North America
"Great car that falls short on QUALITY!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Radiator leaked and replaced twice at 60K, 73K.
Water pump replaced at 69K.
Thermostat replaced at 69K and 73K.
Driver's side window regulator broke at 65K.
Front passenger side and rear passenger side window regulators broke at 69K.
Rear hatch lock mechanism broke at 75K and at 90K.
Drive belts replaced at 60K, 78K, 88K (belts broke and and I was stranded)
Power steering pulley replaced at 88K.
Cup holders constantly breaking each year.
Shake developed at around 55K (previous owner). 5 mechanics checked, but all had various theories and none was able to fix (numerous tire balancing, control arm bushings replaced @75K).
Key-less entry system shorted out frequently, but corrected itself at around 96K??!!
Previous owner has maintained the car well with BMW dealers and had all service records that also showed some minor problems.
General comments?
The station wagon is great on styling, handling, ride and comfort. I average 25 mpg on mix city/highway and the car is peppy.
Too bad numerous problems have killed my confidence with BMW. It has stranded me three times in 2 years. I used to own a 1989 735 BMW that was also plagued with problems. This will be my last BMW.
Recommended reviews
| A well designed, high performance, luxury, gas guzzler |
|
| 1998 - 5 Series 528i 2.8 Litre A Troublesome Enthusiast's Sedan |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 1999 |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2007 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.8 litre 6 cylinder Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 2 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 58000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 103000 miles |
| Previous car | Audi 100 |
| Date of Entry | 3rd January, 2007 |