Re-cond 523/525i E60

[echoesian]

Hi guys, please share your opinion on owning one recond unit of 523/525i. Because of my budget constraint of about 180k, so I have narrowed down to recond unit mostly in the year 2005 or 2006. I have some concerns:1) UK or Japan Spec better?2) What are the important to look for?3) How to test thoroughly to check if there is any problem?4) Heard UK spec will have more problem because of the rusting during winter?5) What is the average interest rate of a recond car?6) Is the iDrive GPS workable in Malaysia?7) 523i or 525i?8) Any recond owners please share your experience, especially on the fuel consumption? I heard 5 series is very makan minyak....9) How to check if the mileage is genuine?

 

[alxy]

Hi guys, please share your opinion on owning one recond unit of 523/525i. Because of my budget constraint of about 180k, so I have narrowed down to recond unit mostly in the year 2005 or 2006. I have some concerns:

Hi Bro, Am sure you will get lots of responses on this, so here's my 2 cents worth (I got myself a Jap-spec 530 BTW)

1) UK or Japan Spec better? JAP IN GENERAL ARE BETTER SPECCED. SOME UK CARS DON'T EVEN HAVE POWER SEATS, AUTO AIRCOND OR HID LIGHTS! SO CHECK CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BUY. IN GENERAL ALSO, BMW IN JAPAN IS STILL CONSIDERED LUXURY CAR SO THEY TAKE CARE OF IT MORE. UK IS MORE LIKE MID RANGE CAR SO IT'S TRASHED AROUND A BIT MORE. JAP SPEC ALSO LOWER MILEAGE (BUT CAN BE FAKED). HOWEVER IN GENERAL IT IS ALSO TRUE, SINCE PARKING IN JAPAN IS HELL EXPENSIVE, SO MOST CARS ARE JUST USED AS WEEKEND RIDES
2) What are the important to look for? MAIN THING IS ENGINE & GEARBOX, WHICH YOU SHOULD BRING ALONG A GOOD MECHANIC TO SEE. THEN SECONDARY FEATURES SUCH AS ACTIVE STEERING (REPLACEMENT UNIT COSTS RM10K!), ALTERNATOR, IBS. OTHERS WOULD BE WHAT FEATURES IT HAS (E.G. SATNAV, 8.8" IDRIVE SCREEN, AUTO AIRCOND, POWER SEATS, HID LIGHTS, ETC)
3) How to test thoroughly to check if there is any problem? BRING UR MECH
4) Heard UK spec will have more problem because of the rusting during winter? TRUE IN A SENSE, BUT JAP ALSO GOT SIMILAR PROBLEMS. CERTAIN RUBBER PARTS ARE NOT MEANT FOR OUR WEATHER.
5) What is the average interest rate of a recond car? NO IDEA NOW
6) Is the iDrive GPS workable in Malaysia? NOT FOR JAP-SPEC
7) 523i or 525i? 530! ... SERIOUSLY, DEPENDS WHAT KIND OF DRIVER YOU ARE. TO APPRECIATE THE CAR BETTER, SHOULD BE 525 M-SPORT

 

[louiswaw]

go for 525 M-Sport.( Ori M-sport ok). No regret

 

[echoesian]

Hi Bro, Am sure you will get lots of responses on this, so here's my 2 cents worth (I got myself a Jap-spec 530 BTW)

1) UK or Japan Spec better? JAP IN GENERAL ARE BETTER SPECCED. SOME UK CARS DON'T EVEN HAVE POWER SEATS, AUTO AIRCOND OR HID LIGHTS! SO CHECK CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BUY. IN GENERAL ALSO, BMW IN JAPAN IS STILL CONSIDERED LUXURY CAR SO THEY TAKE CARE OF IT MORE. UK IS MORE LIKE MID RANGE CAR SO IT'S TRASHED AROUND A BIT MORE. JAP SPEC ALSO LOWER MILEAGE (BUT CAN BE FAKED). HOWEVER IN GENERAL IT IS ALSO TRUE, SINCE PARKING IN JAPAN IS HELL EXPENSIVE, SO MOST CARS ARE JUST USED AS WEEKEND RIDES
2) What are the important to look for? MAIN THING IS ENGINE & GEARBOX, WHICH YOU SHOULD BRING ALONG A GOOD MECHANIC TO SEE. THEN SECONDARY FEATURES SUCH AS ACTIVE STEERING (REPLACEMENT UNIT COSTS RM10K!), ALTERNATOR, IBS. OTHERS WOULD BE WHAT FEATURES IT HAS (E.G. SATNAV, 8.8" IDRIVE SCREEN, AUTO AIRCOND, POWER SEATS, HID LIGHTS, ETC)
3) How to test thoroughly to check if there is any problem? BRING UR MECH
4) Heard UK spec will have more problem because of the rusting during winter? TRUE IN A SENSE, BUT JAP ALSO GOT SIMILAR PROBLEMS. CERTAIN RUBBER PARTS ARE NOT MEANT FOR OUR WEATHER.
5) What is the average interest rate of a recond car? NO IDEA NOW
6) Is the iDrive GPS workable in Malaysia? NOT FOR JAP-SPEC
7) 523i or 525i? 530! ... SERIOUSLY, DEPENDS WHAT KIND OF DRIVER YOU ARE. TO APPRECIATE THE CAR BETTER, SHOULD BE 525 M-SPORT

How do you check if the mileage is genuine or not? Can you recommend a good mechanic?

 

[azamin99]

Re-cond 523/525i E60

Hi Echoesian..saw the thread, n looks exactly like my current issue..just sayin that u're not t only one wit this dilemma..and also highly anticipating all seniors to flush all the required info/facts to help us resolving this pressing concern..just for info, if u're lucky enough u can find a 523i 07 LCI selling below rm180k..thats the new gearbox ones, 190hp..525 unreg, best price seen around rm190-195k..happy hunting..:ciao::

 

[Herbert]

Given a choice, I would anytime preferred local CKD e60 coz full service records are available from dealers (AB, Quill, Ingress), no worries about navigation/radio systems, non issue on approved permit & customs duties (fake APs & under-declaration of car value to avoid paying full duties & taxes). Generally local CKD cars command a better second-hand value.

 

[echoesian]

Given a choice, I would anytime preferred local CKD e60 coz full service records are available from dealers (AB, Quill, Ingress), no worries about navigation/radio systems, non issue on approved permit & customs duties (fake APs & under-declaration of car value to avoid paying full duties & taxes). Generally local CKD cars command a better second-hand value.

Yeah heard many cases of stolen/fake AP/under declared recond cars... but many said Naza is reputable so can trust

 

[EL118]

Hi Echoesian..saw the thread, n looks exactly like my current issue..just sayin that u're not t only one wit this dilemma..and also highly anticipating all seniors to flush all the required info/facts to help us resolving this pressing concern..just for info, if u're lucky enough u can find a 523i 07 LCI selling below rm180k..thats the new gearbox ones, 190hp..525 unreg, best price seen around rm190-195k..happy hunting..:ciao::

just be cautious not to get one with N53 injectors, ( especially LCI from UK) may face problems with our high sulphur petrol.

 

[echoesian]

just be cautious not to get one with N53 injectors, ( especially LCI from UK) may face problems with our high sulphur petrol.

So which year onwards should I look for?

 

[alxy]

Yeah heard many cases of stolen/fake AP/under declared recond cars... but many said Naza is reputable so can trust

That is true. If you're going to buy recond, get from reputable dealers only.

 

[alxy]

How do you check if the mileage is genuine or not? Can you recommend a good mechanic?

You can try Ah Meng (MSpeed). He's used by a lot of us here in the forum. Search past threads for more info on him and his workshop

 

[aoch88]

Yeah heard many cases of stolen/fake AP/under declared recond cars... but many said Naza is reputable so can trust

Actually it's not easy to do all these hanky panky now. All the government systems are linked so in short, the only hanky panky that can occur is under value of the car. All these fake AP, etc is impossible to happen. JPJ will verify with MITI to ensure they have the AP before registration can take place. The AP holder also have to pay tax before the car can be registered. Instead of worrying about this, my suggestion is that you should try to find a car that is good in value and condition

 

[echoesian]

Actually it's not easy to do all these hanky panky now. All the government systems are linked so in short, the only hanky panky that can occur is under value of the car. All these fake AP, etc is impossible to happen. JPJ will verify with MITI to ensure they have the AP before registration can take place. The AP holder also have to pay tax before the car can be registered. Instead of worrying about this, my suggestion is that you should try to find a car that is good in value and condition

Any recommendation for used car dealers?

 

[aoch88]

There's one 525i '07 with my dealer now with HUD I'm not sure about the price but you can PM me if you're really interested, I can hook you up with him.

 

[EL118]

So which year onwards should I look for?

normally LCI model from UK is using N53. but best way to check is get the last 7 digits of the chasis no. VIN no to check at www.realoem.com

 

[echoesian]

normally LCI model from UK is using N53. but best way to check is get the last 7 digits of the chasis no. VIN no to check at www.realoem.com

So N53 or N52 better?

 

[EL118]

So N53 or N52 better?

N52 more suitable for our petrol and also Australia. i understand BMW change to N52 for local car although in europe they use N53.

 

[echoesian]

N52 more suitable for our petrol and also Australia. i understand BMW change to N52 for local car although in europe they use N53.

Meaning between which year is a better buy?

 

[EL118]

Meaning between which year is a better buy?

Well as far as i understand, for UK recon car, pre-LCI models are those before 2007. if you are getting local skd model than pre/ post should be fine. ( better cross check the Chassis no to be for sure)

 

[echoesian]

Well as far as i understand, for UK recon car, pre-LCI models are those before 2007. if you are getting local skd model than pre/ post should be fine. ( better cross check the Chassis no to be for sure)

Meaning to say if buy a CBU Recond from UK/Jap, it's better to buy pre-LCI models year 2007 below which is the N52 engine?