528i - running condition

1997 BMW 5-Series Description

***** Notice: This car has sold three times. And each time, the winner bidder never responded to my attempts to contact them. Please, if you don't want to buy the car and do not plan to pay for the car, don't bid. Not only does it deprive someone else of buying the car, but also increases my expenses. Thanks!*****
Up for bid is my 1997 BMW 528i. This is a two owner car and I have most of the receipts for the repairs made during the eight years or so that I owned the car. The 279k miles are mostly highway miles - my daily commute is 70 miles round trip and I've driven the car from NJ to Indiana and CT many times, VA a dozen times or so, VT a few times, and Montreal. I would drive to any of those, or anywhere else, now.

Runs fine: no problems with engine, transmission, or drive train. It does use a quart or two of oil between 7,500 miles oil changes, but does not smoke. The oil was changed recently. The “Check Engine” light is on sometimes, but it is a false reading of the catalytic converters that were replaced last year.

Drives fine: recent repairs include replacing various front and rear supports. Suspension and handling are fine. Brakes are good and will not need service for some time.

Tires are fine, two are almost new.

A/C works as it should. No issues. Has working heated seats and heated steering wheel. All windows work.

The only known issue with the car is a strange one: when it is cold, below 25 degrees or so, SOMETIMES the wipers will not work, the hazard lights trigger automatically, and the interior dome lights do not automatically go off when you exit the vehicle. The only one of the three that is a big deal is the wipers, particularly on those cold days when the roads are salted and wet. The main electronic module has been replaced ($1,000) but (to the best of my knowledge) the issue persists. I drove the car on 2/27/16 for about an hour and the hazard lights triggered randomly once – while it was warming up. The wipers worked fine the whole time, but the temperature was in the upper 30's. My mechanic did remove the carpeting to ensure there was no split or chafed wires under it, so the issue is likely a bad terminal connection – but where? If you know how to troubleshoot electrical issues, or know someone who does, this car could be the one for you especially since you likely have the spring, summer, and fall to find and fix the problem. Again, I have never encountered the wiper issue when the temp was above 25 degrees or so and they have worked even when it was really really cold, near zero degrees which is why it is so hard to zero in on the problem.

There is a dent in the rear drivers side door from where some one backed into it in a parking lot. I had it pulled out enough that the outside handle was no longer pinched, so the door works. The front rocker panel has taken a beating over the years so is duct taped on the passenger side. Both can be seen in the photos. Otherwise, the car shows the normal signs of being driven daily for almost 20 yrs, but still looks good when cleaned up.

I've always taken care of the car mechanically. When the cold weather passes, I would drive it anywhere with confidence. I am still driving it back and forth to work occasionally so the mileage will go up. Buy it and you can drive it home.

The car is also for sale locally on Craig's List so I reserve the right to discontinue the auction at any time.

*** Added 4/1/16: If you are looking at the listing before Monday, April 4th, please check back on Monday. I will try to add links to vids of the interior and exterior of the car to give a better view of it than the current photos. Thanks!

Please text 973 945-8006 or email any questions. Thanks for looking and good luck bidding!

On Apr-03-16 at 17:44:12 PDT, seller added the following information:

Seems I can not add links to the brief videos I took. If you care to see them, email me and I will be happy to share them.