Buying a Used E39

[jackyw]

Hey everyone,

I am currently looking to purchase a black 2013 E89 with the M-Sport package. It has ~24k miles and a little less than one year left in the warranty. Are there any specific problems I should be looking for before making the purchase? I bought a 2013 X3 new 4 years ago and it has been having numerous problems (in service every 4 months or so) but luckily it was all covered under warranty so nothing came out of pocket. I am worried that the same will happen to this Z4, but this time I will have to pay for everything, since there is less than a year left in the factory warranty. I am planning to purchase the vehicle this weekend from California. If you guys/gals have any recommendations, I would really appreciate it! Thanks in advance!

 

[Angie4m]

Hi, I assume you mean E89 as a E39 is now a rather old (late 90s to early 2000s) 5 series.

Sorry to hear you've had problems but two completely different cars and there is no gurantee that something might go wrong but on the whole they are pretty decent cars. You don't mention what issues you've had with the X3 and what varient it was so difficult to say if you could have similar issues but I would assume not.

You do not mention the model of Z4 you are looking at either. I know in America BMW allow engine tuning/ECU mapping via their dealers and unsure what impact that may have if its been added from an engine/gearbox point of view.

If you read the E89 section it's not really about things going wrong. Wheels have been an issue in the UK but that age should be fine. If anything was to go wrong it would more than likely be a microswitch in the roof as there is over 20 but that's why in the UK we take extended warranties.

Good luck with the car, I'm sure it will be fine.

 

[jackyw]

Ah yes, I meant the E89, typo.

The model I am looking at currently is the 28i.

I've had many problems with the F25 X3. Within the first 3 months of buying the vehicle new, the message "Restraint System Faulty" came on the iDrive. Took it to the dealer, said it was just an error in the seatbelt lock. A day later, came on again. Took them about 3 days to figure out what happened, thank god for loaner cars. It ended up being something wrong with the wires in the entire computer, not sure what that means, but they told me the whole thing needs to be replaced. Waited another 3 days at least to get it installed.

The latest problem has been a leak in the turbo line causing the car to blow think black smoke out of the exhaust! Anyways, there was a lot more problems but I don't want to put the X3 problems on this forum.

I haven't seen the Z4 I plan to purchase yet. Fingers crossed it looks as good as the pictures. Low miles, no accident records. Hopefully if everything is well, Ill be driving one by the end of next week!

 

[mr wilks]

Jmo but of all the E89s available a 3 coming to 4 year old 28i would need a warranty running for me to even consider one
Unless owned from new I think these will be risky buys as they get older depending on how they've been treated
Above is re the engine/turbo set up , the rest of the mechanicals & electrics should be as other models & other than niggles the 89s seem fairly robust & dependable even at 7 yrs old & high miles

 

[john-e89]

Put the equivalent warranty money in a separate interest paying bank account, let it build up then IF you get a problem you can pay for it and if not you keep your dough. Warranties are so readily available because, like insurance, they make people money, and a lot of it too. There's no way I'd re-new a warranty on mine when it finishes, it's drop your trousers, (pants to you guys) and bend over time, then all the exclusions and this is'nt covered, that is'nt covered, the what's not covered list is half a mile long and what is covered will fit on the back of a postage stamp, unless you pay BIG bucks.

Hey just IMO, others have a different view, it's what makes the world the big happy smiley place it is..... :roll:

Best of luck and pics on purchase if you will please.

 

[Angie4m]

Put the equivalent warranty money in a separate interest paying bank account, let it build up then IF you get a problem you can pay for it and if not you keep your dough. Warranties are so readily available because, like insurance, they make people money, and a lot of it too. There's no way I'd re-new a warranty on mine when it finishes, it's drop your trousers, (pants to you guys) and bend over time, then all the exclusions and this is'nt covered, that is'nt covered, the what's not covered list is half a mile long and what is covered will fit on the back of a postage stamp, unless you pay BIG bucks.

Hey just IMO, others have a different view, it's what makes the world the big happy smiley place it is..... :roll:

Best of luck and pics on purchase if you will please.

Maybe need to also consider that the OP is in the US and warranties many not be so readily avalible. The BMW fully comp warranty coveres everything apart from consumable and seals as long as the car has been maintained within the spec.

Also talk of cutting interest rates in the UK - so good luck with finding a decent savings account. As for the US, not sure what the deal is with that but of course all food for thought.

I can't envisage any issues with the 28i assuming it has been serviced correctly, on time and treated well.

 

[john-e89]

Put the equivalent warranty money in a separate interest paying bank account, let it build up then IF you get a problem you can pay for it and if not you keep your dough. Warranties are so readily available because, like insurance, they make people money, and a lot of it too. There's no way I'd re-new a warranty on mine when it finishes, it's drop your trousers, (pants to you guys) and bend over time, then all the exclusions and this is'nt covered, that is'nt covered, the what's not covered list is half a mile long and what is covered will fit on the back of a postage stamp, unless you pay BIG bucks.

Hey just IMO, others have a different view, it's what makes the world the big happy smiley place it is..... :roll:

Best of luck and pics on purchase if you will please.

Maybe need to also consider that the OP is in the US and warranties many not be so readily avalible. The BMW fully comp warranty coveres everything apart from consumable and seals as long as the car has been maintained within the spec.

Also talk of cutting interest rates in the UK - so good luck with finding a decent savings account. As for the US, not sure what the deal is with that but of course all food for thought.

I can't envisage any issues with the 28i assuming it has been serviced correctly, on time and treated well.

I would have thought there are plenty of warranties available in the US Angie, but whatever let's stick with the BMW fully comp you mention, that's £600 a year give or take a few quid, and as you say yourself you can't envisage any issues with the 28i which I totally agree with and was the point of my post in the first place, £1800 over 3 years which we both agree may well not be used is considerable in my book. If you spend £800 of it on niggles that's still a grand in th OP's bank rather than BMW's.

 

[Angie4m]

Put the equivalent warranty money in a separate interest paying bank account, let it build up then IF you get a problem you can pay for it and if not you keep your dough. Warranties are so readily available because, like insurance, they make people money, and a lot of it too. There's no way I'd re-new a warranty on mine when it finishes, it's drop your trousers, (pants to you guys) and bend over time, then all the exclusions and this is'nt covered, that is'nt covered, the what's not covered list is half a mile long and what is covered will fit on the back of a postage stamp, unless you pay BIG bucks.

Hey just IMO, others have a different view, it's what makes the world the big happy smiley place it is..... :roll:

Best of luck and pics on purchase if you will please.

Maybe need to also consider that the OP is in the US and warranties many not be so readily avalible. The BMW fully comp warranty coveres everything apart from consumable and seals as long as the car has been maintained within the spec.

Also talk of cutting interest rates in the UK - so good luck with finding a decent savings account. As for the US, not sure what the deal is with that but of course all food for thought.

I can't envisage any issues with the 28i assuming it has been serviced correctly, on time and treated well.

I would have thought there are plenty of warranties available in the US Angie, but whatever let's stick with the BMW fully comp you mention, that's £600 a year give or take a few quid, and as you say yourself you can't envisage any issues with the 28i which I totally agree with and was the point of my post in the first place, £1800 over 3 years which we both agree may well not be used is considerable in my book. If you spend £800 of it on niggles that's still a grand in th OP's bank rather than BMW's.

£600 a year? I paid £420. I also just had an issue with the handbrake not working due to a wheel speed sensor issue. Only required a software but it could have been a faulty unit the update ended up taking 2 days. They almost resorted to new command boxes in the car, that wouldn't have been cheap! So if they need to code something and it fails. They'll try a few times but after 3 chances they usually look at replacing the boxes.

Some guys on here have had issue with the roof, if one of those micro switches goes it will be expensive as with 22 I think in there it's a needle in a haystack sometimes.

In the US they allow tuning using aftermarket upgrades via BMW dealership and this could have an impact on the engine and turbo. It will almost undoubtedly be an auto and again if something goes wrong with that, expensive but not as expensive as the DTC.

Like I said I wouldn't expect any issues but I've seen an oil temp issue with the 28i in the US as seen on here and it took a while to sort.

We've both given our opinions and it's for the OP to make a decision. We can't guarantee that it will be trouble free and likewise we can't advise that you would save more by sticking the cash in the bank and speculating how much may be spent over that time.

 

[john-e89]

Maybe need to also consider that the OP is in the US and warranties many not be so readily avalible. The BMW fully comp warranty coveres everything apart from consumable and seals as long as the car has been maintained within the spec.

Also talk of cutting interest rates in the UK - so good luck with finding a decent savings account. As for the US, not sure what the deal is with that but of course all food for thought.

I can't envisage any issues with the 28i assuming it has been serviced correctly, on time and treated well.

I would have thought there are plenty of warranties available in the US Angie, but whatever let's stick with the BMW fully comp you mention, that's £600 a year give or take a few quid, and as you say yourself you can't envisage any issues with the 28i which I totally agree with and was the point of my post in the first place, £1800 over 3 years which we both agree may well not be used is considerable in my book. If you spend £800 of it on niggles that's still a grand in th OP's bank rather than BMW's.

£600 a year? I paid £420. I also just had an issue with the handbrake not working due to a wheel speed sensor issue. Only required a software but it could have been a faulty unit the update ended up taking 2 days. They almost resorted to new command boxes in the car, that wouldn't have been cheap! So if they need to code something and it fails. They'll try a few times but after 3 chances they usually look at replacing the boxes.

Some guys on here have had issue with the roof, if one of those micro switches goes it will be expensive as with 22 I think in there it's a needle in a haystack sometimes.

In the US they allow tuning using aftermarket upgrades via BMW dealership and this could have an impact on the engine and turbo. It will almost undoubtedly be an auto and again if something goes wrong with that, expensive but not as expensive as the DTC.

Like I said I wouldn't expect any issues but I've seen an oil temp issue with the 28i in the US as seen on here and it took a while to sort.

We've both given our opinions and it's for the OP to make a decision. We can't guarantee that it will be trouble free and likewise we can't advise that you would save more by sticking the cash in the bank and speculating how much may be spent over that time.

I was curious and honestly was thinking over the £500 mark so I phoned and got quoted £607.00 based on my reg number Angie, so you got a good price there. I'd still bank it at your price but each to their own, we're all different.

 

[jackyw]

Just reserved this Certified Z4 28i '13. Only 13k miles and comes with tech package, sport package, cold weather package. Since it has low miles, I received the Certified Pre-owned Elite with it (2 Extra year of what is left on the warranty up to 75,000 miles). A few more paperwork tomorrow and it'll be shipped to me! Not the exact vehicle I was looking at but the warranty and the options sold it.