I found a craiglist ad and after some deliberation decided against the car even though it is well under bluebook. I've heard older Bimmers can be a bit on the expensive side to repair.
What are the common failures on a '94 525i touring at around 150,000 miles?
The one in Princeton? I'd say that you should at least check it out; it sounds like it is rust free. In any case, our 95 hasn't been too bad all things considered. More than a Toyota, yes, probably more than your Subies as well, but it isn't the worst thing in the world. Not an Audi.
Yeah, the one in Princeton.
The wife is adamantly against it but I'm working on her...
From what I've read the M50 is a pretty robust engine with a life expectancy well into the 200,000+ mile range.
MTN, what has been needed on your '95, what did it cost (If you don't mind me asking.) and how many miles are on it.
The_Jed wrote: Yeah, the one in Princeton. The wife is adamantly against it but I'm working on her...
It is my Dads car, not mine, and the situation is a little bit different. Ours was the proverbial little old lady, church and grocery store car. She bought it new in the last 5 years of her career as her gift to herself for "making it" (black lady who had come up from the slums to an admirable career), and had a company car that was a DD. After she retired, she went blind; we bought the car in 2008 with maybe 60,000 miles on it for $7500. It was as near mint as possible, always dealer maintained at a reputable dealer, always on schedule. Every single thing was documented.
Since then, it is probably at... 75k? 85k miles? I really don't know, but it is under 90. We're driving it a little harder--I don't think it had ever been to redline before! Honestly, we haven't had to do too much to it. Basic wear items for the most part--the only weird repair was the power door locks. I know that my dad budgets $100 a month for the car--most months he doesn't use any of it, but that saves the money for when a "big" repair comes, or a wear item needs replaced (tires a few months ago).
Oh--also, we're going to a BMW specialist who DD's a... 95 525. His prices are well below dealer, though a little higher than your average independent mechanic.
In reply to Strike_Zero:
Thanks.
In reply to mtn:
Thank you as well.
My E34 ownership experience has been great so far, but I'm only a few months in.
I've been getting parts from Rock Auto, eEuroparts, and my local napa (I have a wholesale account there).
A Bentley manual came with my car, and it is very useful, I would definitely recommend one. Its hard for me to judge its DIY ability factor because I bend wrenches for a living, but so far its been easy for me. I would love to have a wagon instead of the sedan. IDK if all the wagons came with the self leveling rear shocks, but that system is expensive to repair. I know in the Volvo world bad self leveling shocks can be replaced with standards, maybe Bimmers can do that too? I've also heard that the dual pannel sun roofs are a lot of trouble, but don't take my eord, because I'm only repeating what I've read.
I started a pair of threads about mine, This one ,And this one
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