1991 BMW 5 Series Consumer Discussions

FWD, AWD, RWD and the Luxury Performance Sedans

• Re: First comes the GT-R...Next...a Sedan [circlew]

  Written by: habitat1 on Dec 29, 2007 1:56:53 PM

  Wow, this sounds a lot like the "death of the manual transmission" predicions over in that other forum. Let's review. AWD costs, on the average $2,000 more than RWD (my guess - about that on a 3 series, $5,800 on a 911, less on others). It adds anywhere from 150 to 250+ pounds to the vehicle's weight. It dulls the handling, steering and overall dry weather performance of the more sporting ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Audio Questions

• Audio Problems

  Written by: sportfreak69 on Oct 21, 2007 6:31:50 PM

  OK here is the deal... I recently bought a sound system for my 1991 525i bmw. I bougth the addapter for the deck in the front... The speakers are working but my subswoofers will not play. does anyone have nay comments on what I should do??

BMW 5-Series Maintenance and Repair

• 525i won't budge - anti theft device? Keeps asking for code

  Written by: mhiaa on Jul 8, 2007 1:00:37 PM

  Bought my BMW home. Sat in garage for 3 weeks. Battery went dead. Charged the battery. Vehicle is locked up - back wheels won't budge. Keeps asking for my code. Punch in my code, still nothing happens. Did like manual said; disconnected battery, tried again, hit code button, punch in code, hit sr button; still no luck. It starts up fine, I just can't get the back wheels to move. What ... Read More

• 1991 BMW 325i

  Written by: fordhorror on Jun 23, 2007 2:23:16 AM

  My friend owns one of these. He has a rebuilt engine on it. The car is fine except it will take 10-20 seconds to strat , he has to keep turning the ksy give it gas for that time till the ignition kicks off. He says the mecahnic said it was a problem with some valves or something not sure what he said. am planning to buy this car from him ... Read More

• Re: I'm thinking of purchasing 1991 525i [kturner00]

  Written by: malone2 on Apr 29, 2007 4:36:05 PM

  It depends on how you look at it.......Its more expensive to stick alot of money in a car (Ford etc.)on a yearly basis or have a BMW with little or no repairs for years. I just had a clutch and flywheel put in and the last time I had to put maintenance in it was '99. I have '94 525i so its how you look at expense!! Its been a good ... Read More

Luxury Performance Sedans

• Re: Car People [pat]

  Written by: markcincinnati on Oct 7, 2006 9:56:37 AM

  Selling England by the Pound -- Genesis. You win the cupie doll, Pat! Here in Cincinnati, the new generation of BMW's with that spanky new "35" twin turbo engine are rolling out -- at this point, the 335 sedan and coupes are RWD, but already the 328 is offered with AWD and next year the X drive option will be added for about $1900. It promises to be a brisk seller. ... Read More

• Re: The BMW "Brand" [drtravel]

  Written by: lexusguy on Aug 10, 2006 2:43:15 PM

  Back in 1991 I was standing in line at a movie theater and I saw this great looking car drive by... it was the brand new Lexus SC 400. So a few months later I had to buy one. They still look great although the new style SC looks worse than even Bangle's nightmares. I remember when I first drove the original SC being extremely impressed by how modern and intuitive ... Read More

• Re: The BMW "Brand" [lexusguy]

  Written by: drtravel on Aug 10, 2006 1:30:38 PM

  The Calty studio did a great job with the SC400 back in '91, and since then.. well.. Back in 1991 I was standing in line at a movie theater and I saw this great looking car drive by... it was the brand new Lexus SC 400. So a few months later I had to buy one. They still look great although the new style SC looks worse than even Bangle's nightmares. ... Read More

Buying a used 5 Series

• Vintage 5 Series Purchase Options

  Written by: djjay on Jun 8, 2006 8:17:27 PM

  I am looking at 3 different older 5 Series cars to purchase and would like some wisdom to narrow it down (& negotiating info). Mileage is approx. & price is asking. 1988 535iT, $3,500, 80k on new eng/trans 1990 535i, $2,500, 207k 1991 525i, $4,500, 120k plus The 88 & 91 both come from an auto shop specializing in BMW repairs/restoration and so will be thoroughly tuned in and out with ... Read More

Good, Bad or Ugly - Current and Future styling trends of BMW

• Modern BMWs....

  Written by: merc1 on Aug 3, 2005 2:47:27 AM

  While I've always liked BMWs they have slipped behind Audi in design, imo. My favorites of the past are the original 6-Series Coupe, 1989-1995 5-Series and the 1991-1997 8-Series, which I'm most likely in the minority on. The current models: 2006 3-Series - Not nearly as bad as the 2002 7-Series and about tied with the current 5-Series. Since I know a coupe and a convertible are coming I'll wait to ... Read More

Luxury Performance Sedans

• Re: No insecurity [rich545]

  Written by: hihomike on Aug 3, 2005 10:44:17 AM

  Sorry if you took my comments about MB "bashing" when in reality I used to love MB. I had a 1985 300E, 1987 420 SEL, 1989 300D, and a 1991 300E. All were excellent vehicles, almost problem free. What I was referring to was what my friend, who is the GM at a MB dealership on the west coast of Florida commented on. He told me he has been taking back ... Read More

BMW Owners Meet the Members

• Love my M roadster

  Written by: david91569 on Jul 9, 2001 10:14:45 PM

  My wife and I purchased our 2000 Estoril blue M roadster Dec of 00'. We have really enjoyed the car and we had a blast at the BMW "homecoming" in SC. We look forward to returning this year. If anyone has any questions about this wonderful car, feel free to email me. david 2000 M Roadster 1991 Galant VR4 1971 340 Dart Swinger

BMW 5-Series Prices Paid and Buying Experience

• Re: I want to buy a 540i [erice]

  Written by: habitat1 on Oct 15, 2004 2:27:27 AM

  A friend of mine has a 1991 525i w/ 235k miles and it still runs very strong. However, he is of the opinion that BMW V8's do NOT have the same reliability factor as the old I-6's. His independent mechanic that specializes in BMW's (and drives a 1979 M1 himself) steered me away from looking at V8's with more than 100k miles on them unless I wanted to be one of ... Read More

• my new car

  Written by: putneyswope on Jul 21, 2003 5:08:51 PM

  I bought the following car on Saturday: 530i stick shift premium package sports package xenon premium sound I paid $41,800 for the car ($45,700 out the door). The dealer also agreed to install Sirius satellite radio at cost (a surprisingly high $470). I bought the car at Allison BMW in Mountain View: good service, no hassle, no problems. Like sawxray, I had an awful experience at two other Bay Area dealerships ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• Dinan and AC Schnitzer M5 Upgrades

  Written by: joyrider147 on Jun 6, 2003 1:46:47 AM

  I read in an article that the new M5 has throttle bodies for each of the 8 cylinders and they made them larger, as well as add 30,000 in upgrades so now its an 105,000 luxury car with the speed of a rocket. I'd like to know if the 1990-93 M5 has the same upgrades available through Dinan or AC Schnitzer and would the 1991 version have those throttle bodies for ... Read More

BMW European Delivery

• ED Part 2

  Written by: shipo on Mar 3, 2003 6:59:40 AM

  Regarding negotiations with the dealer: I got on the BMWUSA web site, obtained the name and phone number of the four closest dealers (all within 15 miles), that took 10 minutes, tops. I then called the first dealer, got a salesman on the phone and said, "Will you sell me a 530i via the BMW European Delivery Program for $1,500 over ED Invoice?" His response was, "Hmmm, we don't usually do ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• ED Part II

  Written by: shipo on Feb 28, 2003 8:43:57 AM

  Regarding negotiations with the dealer: I got on the BMWUSA web site, obtained the name and phone number of the four closest dealers (all within 15 miles), that took 10 minutes, tops. I then called the first dealer, got a salesman on the phone and said, "Will you sell me a 530i via the BMW European Delivery Program for $1,500 over ED Invoice?" His response was, "Hmmm, we don't usually do ... Read More

• Vertical Maximum Price Fixing

  Written by: riez on Mar 31, 2002 6:17:30 PM

  Happened to be looking over the 1997 US Supreme Court case State Oil v. Khan (96-871, 93 F.3d 1358). Case in which the court overruled its own prior precedent to now hold that vertical maximum price fixing (e.g., by a manufacturer to its retailers) was no longer a per se (in and of itself automatic) violation of anti-trust laws. Now all future such actions would be "evaluated under the rule of ... Read More

• rlemos1

  Written by: div2 on Jul 16, 2001 8:26:17 PM

  We bought a 1997 528iA(build date 5/96) in March of this year. My research indicates that the 1997 5ers had some teething problems but most cars have had them corrected. We bought a BMW Certified car and the only problem has been a stuck(open)thermostat. Otherwise the car has been flawless. I'd have the car checked by a qualified BMW tech and go for it if it checks out. As for Volvos, ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Maintenance and Repair

• I'm thinking of purchasing 1991 525i

  Written by: kturner00 on May 10, 2001 11:37:05 AM

  I have the opportunity to purchase a 1991 525i. Its a pretty clean car and only has 108K miles on it. My concerns are the high cost of repairs/maintenance (?) and the use of premium gas (considering how much it costs at this time). I've heard that some repairs are typical with bmw (like upper brushing or control arm?) I'd like to know if there are any other major repair items ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• selburn

  Written by: div2 on Feb 1, 2001 4:19:25 PM

  In late 1991 BMW switched to the M50 engine in the 525i. Unlike it's predecessor, it has a timing chain and hydraulic lifters. It's a jewel of an engine.

• 1991 & 1992 5-series eng differences

  Written by: selburn on Feb 1, 2001 12:29:47 PM

  In edmunds description of new features for the 1992 BMW 525, there is no reference to engine changes, yet when I see pictures of that car, the engine looks very different from the 1991 model yr. Can anyone give me engine difference info?