2004 BMW 5-Series

I have a 2004 BMW 530i that was purchased new when the current body style first came out, towards the end of 2003. I test drove many cars before buying and while it was a much higher priced car than I would normally buy, this car drove like a dream and I had to have it. If you have never driven BMW, try it. If you have driven BMW, take their driver training course and you will appreciate your car even more. What I like most about the current 530i is cornering, braking and general interior esthetics. Take a look under the hood. The engine is what you are paying for.

The car I purchased had a problem that took about 5 visits to the dealer before they fixed it. There was an idiot light and warning about the seatbelt/airbag system that kept getting triggered for no reason. I presume it was fixed through software. The BMW dealer gave me an equivalent car to use every time I had to come in for this problem. They were less generous when I had to leave the car for general maintenance. I have not had any other significant problems with the car. Make sure you get warranty coverage if considering a pre-owned car. Out of warranty repairs are probably very expensive for this car.

While this car has amazing feel, there are a few flaws:

Going over a speed bump at moderate speed tends to bottom out the front suspension. This car feels heavy but it is supposed to be light, as aluminum is used. Maybe that is why it feels very susceptible to side winds.
The cost for winter tires on wheels is high. Snow tires are definitely needed for snowy driving conditions, otherwise the rear end swings far too easily. Service costs for out of warranty work is very high, relative to US domestic cars.

If you can get it for a good price, do not hesitate to buy. I rate the 2004 BMW 530i a full 5 out of 5. Actually, I would give it a six, if i could.

I have a 2004 BMW 530i that was purchased new when the current body style first came out, towards the end of 2003. I test drove many cars before buying and while it was a much higher priced car than I would normally buy, this car drove like a dream and I had to have it. If you have never driven BMW, try it. If you have driven BMW, take their driver training course and you will appreciate your car even more. What I like most about the current 530i is cornering, braking and general interior esthetics. Take a look under the hood. The engine is what you are paying for.

The car I purchased had a problem that took about 5 visits to the dealer before they fixed it. There was an idiot light and warning about the seatbelt/airbag system that kept getting triggered for no reason. I presume it was fixed through software. The BMW dealer gave me an equivalent car to use every time I had to come in for this problem. They were less generous when I had to leave the car for general maintenance. I have not had any other significant problems with the car. Make sure you get warranty coverage if considering a pre-owned car. Out of warranty repairs are probably very expensive for this car.

While this car has amazing feel, there are a few flaws:

Going over a speed bump at moderate speed tends to bottom out the front suspension. This car feels heavy but it is supposed to be light, as aluminum is used. Maybe that is why it feels very susceptible to side winds.
The cost for winter tires on wheels is high. Snow tires are definitely needed for snowy driving conditions, otherwise the rear end swings far too easily. Service costs for out of warranty work is very high, relative to US domestic cars.

If you can get it for a good price, do not hesitate to buy. I rate the 2004 BMW 530i a full 5 out of 5. Actually, I would give it a six, if i could.