BMW 5 Series 520i SE Review

Overall Rating

Great ride, engine and auto transmission

too complicated for BMW to repair

Had this car 18 months and like it. First 6 months spent visiting dealers trying to sort out a whole string of faults that the dealer tried to pass off as features. After 7 trips the faults were rectified and havent returned. Engine is great once the revs get over 3000 rpm. Economy isnt bad either considering 6 cyls (30mpg). Best feature is the auto transmission which changes up/down so smoothly that it changed my mind about not liking auto boxes. Nice car let down by having too many faults from new.

Members' Comments onPaul Nadin.'s Review

• biyoushi. on 5th Jan 2002

  As most BMW's are over-rated, it doesn't surprise me you had faults with this vehicle. I used to own an BMW M3 (1990) and in the six months I had the 'excuse' for a car, it was garaged for 2 of them trying to sort out major problems... I could go on chapter and verse about most people who own cars by this manufacturer. They constantly moan about the problems they experience with them and could quote them... but they all sound the same. When will people learn that german designed 'eastern block' manufactured cars are not worth their salt. The blue and white badge is becoming a sign likened to a tattoo across the forehead which reads 'M.U.G.'
  I drive from Edinburgh to Yorkshire regularly, and without a doubt the most popular car to be beached on the 'hardshoulder' is BMW.

• SIMONSEZ. on 28th Jan 2002

  Obviously you both don't know what you are talking about. In 3 years i have owned 4 bmw's and my friends have owned a couple too. I have never had a fault with my bmw [now a 2001 M5]. It is well equipped for the amount of cash i payed, it goes like a rocket and it handles like a greek goddess in bed. So guys, you must have got the worst two cars bmw have ever made cause i know i didn't !

• Jasboy. on 5th Mar 2002

  I have been in the AA for 22 years now and I shall tell you that the car I least see breaking down is a BMW. So much so that I cashed in a Nissan Skyline for an Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo....and believe me thats a car. Stop berating BMW.

• karnautrahl. on 4th Apr 2003

  I have owned 2 older BMW's a 735il and a currently a BMW 635csi. Despite the fact that the 6 series is tired due mainly to high mileage among other things and has a number of "gremlins" she has never yet refused to start and the auto runs smoothly at an easy 100+mph and better over distance. Running hard around town etc the only thing that gets me is the feeling of tiredness in the suspension-but I kind of expected that when I got her. Niether of the cars ever left me stranded and now I am about to acquire a 98 S reg 520i SE (hence why I am here). The main reason I chose it was I tried several other cars I fancied and hadn't considered the 5 series at all-yet this particular one looked very good. Having been out in several other examples of precisely the same year and model I then came back to the dealer and tried this car-it was about the best drive I had ever had overall. The Audi TT obviously was faster and was sharper on the handling but apart from that car this was the most precise one I had actually driven. Due to various jobs etc I have been able to drive a fair number of new cars from various companies-none of them bar a Mercedes E 320 and the Audi TT were as good. I do find the dealer very pricey on parts but I guess if I want cheap i either get lucky and find a very good independent parts guy or I buy a ford (no!) or something. Just my two penny worth.

• mikedalden on 30th Dec 2003

  I too have an e39 2003 520ies which is great above 3000 revs. This is my main concern, BMW have re-programmed the engine which did initially improve the revs lower down. My main gripe is that the car is sluggish and almost hesitant when using low gears and low revs, put your foot down gently and it almost feels like the vacumm advance pipe on an old car is disconnected (for all of you that remember this far back) Anyone any ideas?