1992 BMW 5 Series Consumer Discussions

BMW Bids Bangle Begone

• BMW Bigs Bangle Begone

  Written by: Mr_Shiftright on Feb 3, 2009 4:53:15 PM

  Well it's official. Chris Bangle, head of design at BMW since 1992, and the man who singlehandedly stirred up a hornet's nest of criticism with his 2001 designs, is leaving the German automaker. The article says this is strictly voluntary. What do you think?

Luxury Performance Sedans

• Re: Vigor/Accord, Common Chassis [art234]

  Written by: anon3 on Feb 11, 2008 5:29:37 PM

  Funny... I owned a 1992 Acura Vigor GS. It was my first "luxury" car. It was also my last Acura because it was absolutely the most unreliable car that I've ever driven of any kind manufactured on any continent. This thread brings back memories of endless visits to the shop and of tow trucks hauling my Vigor from the middle lane of the highway in rush hour traffic because it happened ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• 1992 Advice

  Written by: gypsydavey on Jan 23, 2008 9:10:43 PM

  Greetings, The transmission went on my 92 BMW 535 and I live in the island of kauai in Hawaii. I bought the car off a mechanic who did a bunch of work and then the dude left the island. I paid about 2300 for the car and six months later the trans went with only 140,000 miles. The interior is a bit beat up, the A/C doesnt work, and the car ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Transmission Questions

• Trans Program

  Written by: whitel80 on May 27, 2007 6:13:17 PM

  We have a 1992 Sedan, 252i. Sometimes the words "Trans Program" appear in the computer window, and the car is very slow to start up from a stop light. (My husband says it stays in 3rd gear.) The gears 1,2, and 3 help somewhat, but the only way we have found to get it back to the regular automatic transmission is to turn the car off, then restart it about 10 ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• Re: Questions [dkatl]

  Written by: div2 on Oct 8, 2006 8:06:22 AM

  I'd consider waiting for the 2008 models if the styling were about to change. Does anyone know when the next update is due to occur? With regards to the E60, I'd say that the traditional BMW "Facelift" is due within the next 12-18 months. BMW usually unveils the facelifted model @3 years after the introduction of an all-new platform. The E-Class now has 93,000 miles and feels nearly new--much tighter than ... Read More

• Questions

  Written by: dkatl on Oct 7, 2006 3:50:40 PM

  I'm the owner of an E-Class Mercedes and am considering a return to BMW, specifically the 550. I'm still not completely sold on the styling and was thinking the next update might tone down some of the Bangle features (along the lines of the current 3-Series sedans and coupes, which I think are lovely). I'd consider waiting for the 2008 models if the styling were about to change. Does anyone know ... 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

• Brand Loyalty

  Written by: sfcharlie on Oct 5, 2006 8:14:25 PM

  I haven't thought of auto-brand-loyalty as due to habit or "my father drove one," but rather "I like the way that brand looks and feels". Liking the way, say, the BMW 3-series looked from 1992 through 2004 might have led someone to keep buying/leasing one after another, despite evidence that some Japanese brands required less attention. If you think of "brand loyalty" as personal or family habit, then it's easy to ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• Re: 2004 or 2006 BMW 525i for a "First Timer" [sbrown8244]

  Written by: vicportland on Jul 15, 2006 8:10:17 AM

  I was thinking the same thing a few weeks ago and even drove down to the local BMW dealer to check out a used 2004 525i. Turns out that the 2006 and 2007 models have 30 more horsepower than the 2004 and 2005 versions (now 215 instead of 185). Of course the price also increased so you probably get what you pay for. In my case, I didn't think a BMW ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Maintenance and Repair

• Re: 525i to M5 upgrades with a 530i engine [joyrider147]

  Written by: shipo on Jun 20, 2006 8:16:12 PM

  Don't even think about trying to drop a 3 liter V8 into a 1992 525i. Why? Well among other reasons, there were no V8 engines even made to fit that car (although BMW did manage to fit both a 3.0 liter and a 4.0 liter V8 in the 1994 and 1994 vintage cars). Trust me, if the 2.5 liter mill ain't enough, then it will be far, FAR, FAR cheaper to ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• Re: Maintenance - does 5 series cost more? [330blast]

  Written by: srfast on May 21, 2006 6:10:22 AM

  Is your car CPO? Is your car still covered under the full maintenance program? Assuming it's not, IMO the expense of BMW maintenance is dependent on your approach. If you believe the car needs to be maintanined by the dealership's service dept., be prepared to pay premium prices for parts and labor. If you use a reliable indy shop and you are a regular customer, maintenance is a few dollars more ... Read More

• Update...

  Written by: fla528 on Jun 11, 2005 10:28:01 AM

  Just had H&R sport springs installed.. and what a difference. They made my 2004 525 handle about 90% of a sport packaged BMW. Of course I will NEVER order a BMW without the sport package again. I was trying to keep my cost down when I ordered the car back in 12/2004 ( I traded a 2000 323 with sports/premium) . However the lesson is : if you want a BMW ... Read More

Luxury Performance Sedans

• Re: M35x vs. RL vs. GS 300 [markcincinnati]

  Written by: jimbres on Jun 8, 2005 6:42:46 PM

  My smart, articulate, well-educated, well-traveled & well-read wife is, sad to say, something of a technophobe. AFAIK, she has never used an ATM & she has certainly never programmed a VCR. She has mastered (barely) the TV remote control & she can do basic computer stuff (e-mail, web browsing, the occasional Word document), but she won't willingly go much beyond that. (She can drive a stick & drive it well. In ... Read More

• kyfdx

  Written by: lexusguy on Jan 26, 2005 10:49:54 PM

  "Gee.. I read a little bit.. haven't you noticed?"   Nope, as you seem to think the new M is the old car with a body lift. "The G35 was basically an all new car, on an all new platform." So is the M. The old car sat on the Q45s platform. The new M rides on a specially developed stretched and tweaked G35 FM platform. Rigidity is up in huge ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• cmr530i

  Written by: div2 on Oct 17, 2004 8:01:33 PM

  The 1997 E39s suffered from the teething problems most new BMW platforms experience(by comparison, the 1992 E36s were a real nightmare). My 528iA has a 5/96 build date and had a few problems(water pump, thermostat, and the emissions air pump) all of which were covered by the BMW CPO warranty. In each case the part that failed was replaced with an improved part and the problem has not recurred. I later ... Read More

• riez

  Written by: div2 on Aug 8, 2004 10:18:29 AM

  1983 was when I bought my first Bimmer. My interest in BMWs began in 1971 when I noticed the first Bavaria ads-which described a 130 mph car that cruised at 120. Then I ran across a copy of DED Jr.'s "Turn Your Hymnals to 2002". I was hooked. As a matter of fact, one of my prized possesions is a copy of the C&D magazine containing that article. Mr. Davis was ... Read More

• "Prestige" Buyer (#9242)

  Written by: riez on Aug 7, 2004 8:34:29 AM

  div2... Amen. I remember the mid-80s where having a BMW was the be-all-and-end-all. Even mediocre cars like 318ia. Then Japan Inc. (Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti) launched its assault and by about 1992 BMW, Porsche, Audi, Jaguar, and MB had suffered crushing sales declines from their mid-80s peaks. Too bad cars like 740i suffer from all the BMW techno-overkill that removes driving utility and actually interfers with the driver-machine interface. Just look ... Read More

Luxury Performance Sedans

• no title

  Written by: merc1 on May 12, 2004 9:42:52 PM

  There has been a lot written and said about MB's position on Toyota entering the luxury car market. Some say that Mercedes-Benz was scared to death and thus responded just 2 years later with their first-ever V8 powered E-Class, the 400E. They did respond a year before BMW did with their V8 powered 540i. Neither BMW or Mercedes was in a position to offer their full size cars with a V8 ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• no title

  Written by: sirtiger on Jan 24, 2004 8:38:57 PM

  shipo, wow, I never thought about the car wash explanation for the rain sensor. That is interesting, thanks....now one logical reason not to gripe for the rain sensor issue. as for the survey 1. 1st time BMW owner 2. 2003 530i 3. 1992; followed BMWs since I was 18 after driving my uncles new 535. 4. I am 29. 5. I love tech gadgets but only if its useful and intuitive. ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Maintenance and Repair

• Lighten Up?

  Written by: div2 on Jan 6, 2004 1:00:39 PM

  Let's see, a non-BMW owner enters a discussion in a BMW topic proclaiming the superiority of a 13 year old FWD family/grocery hauler, then gets in a bit of a snit over a few well deserved barbs? I feel for you, friend. Actually, I usually recommend Accords(or Camrys) to my non-enthusiast friends. They are tough to beat if you want a benign driving experience coupled with excellent reliability. That said, I ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• tlmmhowell

  Written by: div2 on Oct 31, 2003 9:40:46 AM

  LOL!!! It seems like most every dealer has several E65s in the service bays- all in the process of having one or more of their computers reprogrammed, rebooted, or upgraded. New BMWs have always been notorious for having new model teething problems(ever wonder why you can't give a 1992 E36 away?), but the additional electronics really exacerbate the problem. FWIW, my 1997 E39 was an early build car, but the first ... Read More

• Infiniti M45 Following Footsteps of Infiniti M30?

  Written by: riez on Jul 3, 2003 4:58:13 AM

  designman... Concur with Habitat1's insightful comments. You might read the reviews on the M45 by various automobile magazines. The reviews were lukewarm at best. The M45 just doesn't work well as a total package. No overall synergy between engine, transmission, steering, braking, tires, and chassis. Synergy is key to BMW's success. Driving experience more than the sum of just some nice parts. M45 essentially a cut-and-paste job taking an odd Japanese-market ... Read More

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

• 3 Series

  Written by: riez on Jun 7, 2003 2:05:32 PM

  indiana97... If you like introduction and production data, check out Jeremy Walton's book, BMW 3 Series Enthusiast's Companion (Bentley Publishers, 2001). Per it, the first 3 Series (E21) was "announced in the first week of July 1975 to the German press and European LHD markets, the 3 Series was also sold in RHD...in Britain in Autumn, 1975.... On sale in US starting November 1976 [320i MY 1977]." The E30 3 Series ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• Engines

  Written by: riez on May 16, 2003 7:26:56 PM

  James Taylor's book, Driving Machines--The BMW Story (2000), has a wonderful lengthy appendix that goes over BMW's engines. For example the M88 24-valve I6, a variant of the M30 big block, was used in the E26 M1 supercar (3453cc) and then a revised version, the M88/3, later used in the E24 M635CSi (3453cc), and then revised again for the 1988 E34 M5 (3535cc), and (yet) again for the 1992 E34 M5 ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Maintenance and Repair

• Nikasil V8 Engines

  Written by: riez on Dec 3, 2002 5:00:47 AM

  mb22... Roundel and Bimmer magazines both have had extensive discussions about the Nikasil Engine Debacle. Issue is tied to premature cylinder bore wear. In USA it afflicted E34 530i V8s, E34 540i V8s, E32 740i/740iL V8s, and E31 840i V8s. These are the M60 V8s used from MYs 1992-1996: 3.0L (2997cc) and 4.0L (3982cc) engines. {Rest of world also had Replaced in MY 1996 by the M62 V8s, of which USA ... Read More

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• Have Good Independent Mechanic Familiar w/BMWs Inspect

  Written by: riez on Jul 4, 2002 5:03:20 PM

  gchua... Is worth it to spend a little bit of money to have a good BMW-familiar mechanic inspect the cars. Key things to look at include engine, drivetrain, and transmission, not to mention steering and suspension. Plus do some research on 530i V-8 reliability. From what I've read, there were some problems with these early 1990 small V-8s. That is why they didn't sell the 3.0L V-8 for long. The M60 ... Read More

• How is the reliability of the 525?

  Written by: puppycarmen on Apr 18, 2002 6:03:38 AM

  I have an opportunity to purchase a 1992 BMW 525 with 92K miles. I currently drive a newer vehicle in the compact class - meaning I am trading up in the quality and appeal of the ride, but will I regret all of the "problems" that could come with an older car? Any insight on this would certainly be appreciated.

• hnn

  Written by: div2 on Jan 8, 2002 8:11:56 AM

  US BMWs haven't used timing belts since @1992. Double VANOS utilizes a hydraulic mechanism to rotate the timing gears relative to the camshafts.

• Discrimination

  Written by: riez on Dec 11, 2001 3:08:59 PM

  Are we bad for wanting to own or owning a BMW? Almost every day over the past 2 weeks since I got my 540i 6-speed someone at work asks me "Is it true, did you get a BMW?" And others say things like "We don't drive a BMW." Or "You must think you're special, driving a BMW." Or "You must be rich to drive a BMW." Now people tell me I ... Read More

BMW 5 Series Sport Wagons

• ADVICE NEEDED

  Written by: firsttimer4 on Jun 22, 2000 2:50:40 PM

  I am on the verge of buying a 1992 BMW 5-series sports wagon. It has low miles and is very reasonably priced. As someone who has never owned a BMW, my questions are: Is this a good edition of the car, and will my maintenance costs be high? Any help would be appreciated.

BMW Owners Meet the Members

• Price and Mechanics

  Written by: doer78 on Jun 8, 2001 1:55:37 PM

  I looked at a 1992 BMW 325I today with 71K miles. Body and Interior in excellent condition. What should I be willing to pay for this car and what, mechanically, should I be looking for? Thanks

BMW 5-Series Sedans

• 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?