1992 BMW 5 Series 535i from UK and Ireland - Comments

Cylinder head gasket.

Eats brake discs.

Rust between the rear tailgate and bumper.

Overheated regularly.

Horrendous fuel consumption.

No idea why people like these cars. I only kept it for so long because it cost me so much at each service that I never had enough money saved up to get a better machine.

You hear so much about BMW build quality and reliability, but when an average service cost is ~£600 each year you start to wonder whether the car is reliable or if the dealer is rebuilding the engine at each service interval.

Dynamically the car was hopeless on anything other than straight roads or very wide A roads. The auto box robbed the driver of any chance to even keep pace with a well driven Fiat Uno when driving on twisty roads.

Bland interior, too many other 5-series on the road so no exclusivity, and I really can't think of any reason to justify spending this much on a car that is outclassed by so many other lower priced machines.

I don't agree, my BMW 1992 535i has been a wonderful car, so I don't know what you are talking about!

I recently bought a 1989 BMW 535i from a garage and let me tell you what a lemon I got!

1) O2 sensors all replaced $75.00

2) Throttle body $150.00 junkyard special

3) Alternator $60.00 (I got lucky here, the retailer gave me a break on cost since I was quickly becoming a regular!!)

4) Rear seat belt buckles (two of them) $33.50 each!!!Brand new

5) Idle control thing $65.00 used

6) Water pump replaced got lucky here too, I think $65.00

All this, and I have owned the car for six months now and I have only driven this thing for ten days!!!

I am going to have to look at the tax value for donating this thing to charity. Wish me luck!

Well, my 92 is up to 225K km. True it does take some looking after... such as lower ball joints, tranny mounts, starter motor, ac fan resistor, gas tank sending unit, front shocks, coolant expansion tank service, and a few other things. The next time something major goes, I'm going to the Honda dealership.

One thing must be said however, this car handles very well in skids (heavy, but very balanced in weight distribution),stops on a dime and gives 9 cents change, the ac blows ice cubes and is a comfy sports sedan to drive.

Keep in mind, high end german cars are not ideal cars to drive into the ground, when they get old, you'll spend a lot keeping any of them going.

I have owned a 1992 BMW 535i with a manual transmission for the past 15 years. It has only 110,000 miles on it. I have had a few minor problems, mostly electrical, but other than those, the car has been very reliable and drives great.

No rust, good paint, no road noise,177,000 miles, doent use

oil,water handles good, fast, uses a little gas,comfortable, wife drives it back and forth to work.people think it's a newer car than it is. some say it looks like a 2000 model

Will drive it till it stop but that will be a long time before that will happen needs a cup holder.