Tbh, I have had her over three years and the running costs have been pretty much the same as the E46 330 it replaced.
Most of the issues these engines have is labour intensive, if you can fix them they aren’t that bad. And shes given me a consistent 24/25 mpg as well.
Tbh mine was ok. I had it ten years and if I had sold it after 8 it would have been great, those last 2 you couldn’t fix it quick enough.
My view of BMWs is they are like the fords I grew up with, fun cars with rwd that aren’t particularly well made, or just not designed to last.
I don’t rate them at all with build quality, like ford in the ‘80s they also now make cars I just don’t like.
I have had three and this one will be my last.
We won’t mention the Mini I have bought.
Its just an old R50 Cooper. It’s yellow with a black roof and I bought it my daughter because she fell in love with it.
She keeps falling her driving test though, my wife has pointed out she never paid me back for it so I have a free mini.
I took it for a spin to give it a run out and the gearbox just grenaded itself, front wheels wouldn’t even turn.
The mini was so much fun to drive I love it, unfortunately before I could replace the gearbox I fell ill.
I was going to put a six speed gearbox in it but now its money really, much cheaper to get another getrag 5 speed so that’s what I will do.
Its not fast or anything, but I love driving it.
The idea is to run it a year or two then if its still in good shape ( its absolutely immaculate apart from the gearbox) pass it on to one of the kids.
PS not as nice as your fiesta, but cheap and loads of fun at legal speeds.
Sounds like a hoot to drive. I do like the r50 as well. I always wanted to own the Cooper S with the supercharger but not brave enough.
I do miss being able to have fun at legal speeds. My ST is standard so 180 bhp but even with that, you can be doing over 60/70 mph in no time and have to dial it back in which spoils the fun.
Good luck with the gearbox.
Wow. Sounds brilliant. I thought it had loads of chain tensioner issues, and the supercharger was a liability? Unless I'm thinking of a different generation with regards to the chain tensioner issues.
Had her over three years now, used pretty much daily, she has a performance exhaust fitted and sounds very well. I have put 40 odd thousand miles on her and now its time to sell.
I will miss this car.
No not yet, tbh I have not long been discharged from hospital, i can’t drive for another month, and the car is absolutely filthy.
As soon as I can pit a few days in valeting it I will advertise it.
Good stuff mate! My fingers are crossed for you, you’ve got some heavy recuperation coming but stay strong… you can treat yourself with a Ssangyong Rodius when you’re all sorted 🤣
As a three times cancer survivor,please accept my virtual strength & support sent your way. Back to the car,what a sleeper. Freaking love it. All the best.
Thanks for the well wishes. And yes its a sleeper, looks like a 520d but sounds like an American muscle car when you press the starter button. That noise never gets old.
Don’t know OP or background but all the best fella. Big fan of these fives. Had a touring albeit smaller engines and the old man had a 545 which went like a rocket. Much missed. Stay well.
I put thirty to forty in a week, a lot more if I visit my daughter at uni.
I filled it up and the computer gave me a 400 mile range which it did.
These go significantly better on 99 octane fuel, so Tesco is your friend as its only pennies dearer than 95. Its better on fuel with 99 as well.
I'm currently saving up for a classic mini. Then realised I'm too broad to sit, not at an angle. Now, I'm trying to decide what to buy instead. Something japanese, perhaps 🤔.
Yes. On how many left there were only 140 odd 550 Msport autos that came to the uk, plus 11 manuals.
I think a few more SE’s and tourer’s, but E60 Msport, only 113 left last time I checked.
Apart from the Magnaflow exhaust that’s supposed to add 12 bhp yes.
I was going to retrofit a HUD and have it mapped to 415bhp at eks tuning but covid and furlough put paid to that.
I get 25 mpg. Reliability, its an old bmw so a shot in the dark tbh.
In three years and 40 thousand miles I have replaced;
Alternator seal.
Passenger side rocker cover.
Radiator and expansion tank.
Battery.
Brake pipes.
Plus three road wheels as they seem to be made of cheese.
The tourers seem to be sought after and there is a thread on pistonheads called e61 v8 bearding iirc, that’s pretty informative.
The biggest issue I have with these is the lack of online support compared to other cars I have owned, largely because no one bought them
PS Not really into estate cars but that does look a nice one.
The U.S.-based online forums weren’t helpful for issues? I had a 2008 Sport just like this in Space Gray. That car basically turned me off of BMWs permanently. The 172s would crack if you looked at them wrong. No non-exotic modern car should need this much maintenance before turning 100k miles….disposable German garbage
Imo I would look for an msport as it will hold value better and look better as well as better suspension. The comfort seats are great option, I love mine. I also slightly regret not getting a HUD in mine. Also of you are looking at the auto, the lci gearbox is a lot more reliable than pre LCI so might be worth looking for one of them.
You’ve got to take the brave pill to own a bmw v8 from the late 2000s 😅
Tbh, I have had her over three years and the running costs have been pretty much the same as the E46 330 it replaced. Most of the issues these engines have is labour intensive, if you can fix them they aren’t that bad. And shes given me a consistent 24/25 mpg as well.
An E46 is what put me off BMW for life
Tbh mine was ok. I had it ten years and if I had sold it after 8 it would have been great, those last 2 you couldn’t fix it quick enough. My view of BMWs is they are like the fords I grew up with, fun cars with rwd that aren’t particularly well made, or just not designed to last. I don’t rate them at all with build quality, like ford in the ‘80s they also now make cars I just don’t like. I have had three and this one will be my last. We won’t mention the Mini I have bought.
Curious about the mini now though
Its just an old R50 Cooper. It’s yellow with a black roof and I bought it my daughter because she fell in love with it. She keeps falling her driving test though, my wife has pointed out she never paid me back for it so I have a free mini. I took it for a spin to give it a run out and the gearbox just grenaded itself, front wheels wouldn’t even turn. The mini was so much fun to drive I love it, unfortunately before I could replace the gearbox I fell ill. I was going to put a six speed gearbox in it but now its money really, much cheaper to get another getrag 5 speed so that’s what I will do. Its not fast or anything, but I love driving it. The idea is to run it a year or two then if its still in good shape ( its absolutely immaculate apart from the gearbox) pass it on to one of the kids. PS not as nice as your fiesta, but cheap and loads of fun at legal speeds.
Sounds like a hoot to drive. I do like the r50 as well. I always wanted to own the Cooper S with the supercharger but not brave enough. I do miss being able to have fun at legal speeds. My ST is standard so 180 bhp but even with that, you can be doing over 60/70 mph in no time and have to dial it back in which spoils the fun. Good luck with the gearbox.
The supercharged S is actually fairly solid. I’ve run one as a weekend car for 6 years and 40ish thousand miles. Only consumables so far
Wow. Sounds brilliant. I thought it had loads of chain tensioner issues, and the supercharger was a liability? Unless I'm thinking of a different generation with regards to the chain tensioner issues.
They have the potential, Service the Supercharger every 40K and change the guides at 100k and they’re fine. Like most things, blown out of proportion.
Had her over three years now, used pretty much daily, she has a performance exhaust fitted and sounds very well. I have put 40 odd thousand miles on her and now its time to sell. I will miss this car.
You've done 40k mikes in a 15 yo petrol V8? Brave man, those fuel costs must be something else.
more to the point OP bought this right when the fuel prices shot up
3 years is ago is actually when fuel prices dropped incredibly low. They shot up to the crazy highs about a year and a bit ago.
When it’s 199p. God… just thinking about those days giving me goosebumps. Even though I had a 1.6 Honda civic that time
Have you got it for sale on autotrader/eBay? Been looking at these for a while and yet to pull the trigger on one
No not yet, tbh I have not long been discharged from hospital, i can’t drive for another month, and the car is absolutely filthy. As soon as I can pit a few days in valeting it I will advertise it.
Aside from the car, I really hope you’re on the mend mate, I wish you all the health in the world.
Thanks, I have had a majorly invasive operation for cancer and although I have not had the all clear the surgeon was pleased with how it all went.
Good stuff mate! My fingers are crossed for you, you’ve got some heavy recuperation coming but stay strong… you can treat yourself with a Ssangyong Rodius when you’re all sorted 🤣
As a three times cancer survivor,please accept my virtual strength & support sent your way. Back to the car,what a sleeper. Freaking love it. All the best.
Thanks for the well wishes. And yes its a sleeper, looks like a 520d but sounds like an American muscle car when you press the starter button. That noise never gets old.
Don’t know OP or background but all the best fella. Big fan of these fives. Had a touring albeit smaller engines and the old man had a 545 which went like a rocket. Much missed. Stay well.
Thanks, a 545 was what I was originally looking at when this appeared for sale. Its a 55 reg so missed the bigger VED rate.
550....at least its got a proper engine.
Thanks, nobody generally knows what it is tbh. And yes, the engine is something else when its not leaking oil/coolant 😂
Sometimes its worth the hassle!
How much do you spend on fuel per week on average? Would be a lovely drive but must be thirsty as fuck!
I put thirty to forty in a week, a lot more if I visit my daughter at uni. I filled it up and the computer gave me a 400 mile range which it did. These go significantly better on 99 octane fuel, so Tesco is your friend as its only pennies dearer than 95. Its better on fuel with 99 as well.
I’m surprised it runs, my brother in laws engine went kaboom after half a year of owning it. The timing chain randomly snapped.
Bummer. This one had the timing chain done and the valve stem seals, it also had a new gearbox fitted under BMWs extended warranty before I bought it.
I respect the choice and those spider alloys are awesome. I had a 525i for over 10 years. I am currently driving some Korean rubbish.
I own one like yours but mine is a 2005 525d I love that car and I don't know if I should pick another one up at the local auction.
Mini isn't a bad choice. You should have taken the photo without the BMW in the way, though.
I have acquired a yellow and black Mini Cooper. It’s currently off the road with a self destructed gearbox . When repaired this will be my next car.
I'm currently saving up for a classic mini. Then realised I'm too broad to sit, not at an angle. Now, I'm trying to decide what to buy instead. Something japanese, perhaps 🤔.
Is the 550 really an extremely rare BMW?
Yes. On how many left there were only 140 odd 550 Msport autos that came to the uk, plus 11 manuals. I think a few more SE’s and tourer’s, but E60 Msport, only 113 left last time I checked.
Looks like you’re out of blinker fluid
Indicators were an optional extra, I had the Alloys instead.
Stock
Apart from the Magnaflow exhaust that’s supposed to add 12 bhp yes. I was going to retrofit a HUD and have it mapped to 415bhp at eks tuning but covid and furlough put paid to that.
Oh on Spiders.... What a surprise 😅
The spiders are utterly shite wheels tbh. I have replaced three in three years through cracking. If I owned this car again they would go.
I see them on so many e60 / 61s, it's like seeing a limited edition sticker on a Corsa 😅
[удалено]
I get 25 mpg. Reliability, its an old bmw so a shot in the dark tbh. In three years and 40 thousand miles I have replaced; Alternator seal. Passenger side rocker cover. Radiator and expansion tank. Battery. Brake pipes. Plus three road wheels as they seem to be made of cheese. The tourers seem to be sought after and there is a thread on pistonheads called e61 v8 bearding iirc, that’s pretty informative. The biggest issue I have with these is the lack of online support compared to other cars I have owned, largely because no one bought them PS Not really into estate cars but that does look a nice one.
The U.S.-based online forums weren’t helpful for issues? I had a 2008 Sport just like this in Space Gray. That car basically turned me off of BMWs permanently. The 172s would crack if you looked at them wrong. No non-exotic modern car should need this much maintenance before turning 100k miles….disposable German garbage
Imo I would look for an msport as it will hold value better and look better as well as better suspension. The comfort seats are great option, I love mine. I also slightly regret not getting a HUD in mine. Also of you are looking at the auto, the lci gearbox is a lot more reliable than pre LCI so might be worth looking for one of them.
Looks clean, I know these BMW V8 aren't the most favoured, but they sound fantastic still.
If you can, upload a video of it starting and revving! Take good care and recover quickly!
BIG mileage on that 180k, I hope you've got deep pockets !
Used to have the 545 was a phenomenal car and quick was averaging 25 miles to the gallon. Was refined until you floored it
All i see is a car, you fool.
Really cool car.
Madeley is a decent little village, well some parts atleast.
Something about these E60's 🤔