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Used 1993 BMW 5 Series Consumer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
34 reviews

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We have a limited number of reviews for the 1993 5 Series, so we've included reviews for other years of the 5 Series since its last redesign.

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Pros
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4.75 out of 5 stars

Investing in the past pays in the Future

Stacy, 05/09/2006
1993 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
10 of 10 people found this review helpful

I purchased a 1993 BMW 525i when it had over 121,000 miles on it. I did not blink when this great automobile came my way. I paid under market value for the car and it was in excellent condition. I have not had any problems with this thirteen year old beauty. It drives smooth and incredibly quiet. The style is a little dated, but the interior features are not. This old car is still quite a luxury. Anyone thinking about owning an older BMW should not think too hard, because my car is proof that reliable engineering will last over 200,000 miles. This 13 year old BMW is the first one that I have owned and I now claim to be an exclusive BMW owner.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

I just didn't know...

Tony Holland, 07/19/2009
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
12 of 13 people found this review helpful

I purchased my 92 525i for 2900 cash. It had 204,000 on the odometer. 4 years later it is still a daily driver. A red 5 speed with all the options. I have replaced about everything under the hood from the a/c compressor to the alternator. Water pump, fuel pump and a new radiator. This sounds like a lot, but the absence of a car payment made it worth the money. The car is a joy to drive. The 5-speed makes up for the lack of power. The car is very at home at interstate speeds and will cruise "Way" over the speed limit for as long as the fuel lasts. This has been a great used car that is a blast to drive. Now I know..."BMW The Ultimate Driving Machine".

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Best Car of My Life

Mike, 02/07/2008
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Wagon
4 of 4 people found this review helpful

This car has been all over the country, and has never let me down. I have put an insignificant amount of money into it for repairs, and it now has 240,000 miles on it and still going strong. I am planning another cross-country trip with this car in a few months!

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4.25 out of 5 stars

Now I understand ...

sotampa, 09/09/2005
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Wagon
4 of 4 people found this review helpful

This car is not a speedster. Gearing is for practicality (wagon and 'touring' version). This is a road car. A dream on the highway. Solid cornering. It is a GREAT car. I'm up over 212,000 miles on this car and it is still GREAT! Sample problems have been: Door latch had to be replaced. Brake light module failed. Fuel pump replaced. Got to fo the a BMW pro on this car. Parts are always from the dealer. You can feel nickel and dimed (dollar and fived?). I have had several excellent up-end Japanese cars. The power is with the Japanese but the car itself along with the driveability goes to the BMW. I NEVER expected to get hooked. I am.

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5 out of 5 stars

one excellent car

ted phillips, 04/07/2002
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Our '92 525I 5 speed is the best all around sedan I have ever owned. With a 5-speed the performance is quite good and the gas mileage is 26mpg at 75-80 on the highway and about 21-22 used locally. The body and paint look new and the interior leather is still quite good. There has been only one significant repair to replace engine oil seals, otherwise the car has been absolutely trouble free for 108000 miles (still original perfect clutch).

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4.25 out of 5 stars

Keep the dealer on speed dial.

JosephJ, 12/03/2002
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Wagon
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The car handles curves and cruising on the highway like no other car I have ever owned, but on acceleration the car lacks any real power. It is the slowest BMW I have ever driven. You might be 0 to 60 in half a minute. The car eats cash. Minor repairs are still in the hundreds of dollars. The smallest of plastic parts are expensive and when you include labor at ANY BMW dealer, you can count on even a dashboard light replacement costing you about $200. I have owned this car for 2 years and have spent nearly $4000 in repairs and upkeep. In addition, I have had three dead stops and had to be towed to the dealer.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Best car I've ever owned

Alison Woods, 07/22/2004
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Wagon
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I bought this car as a dealer demo with about 3,000 miles on it. I've had it for 11 years and it is still a great car. The only major repair I've had to do on this car was to replace the onboard computer, but I replace my desktop computers about every 3 years! I also had to replace the fuel pump which seems to have been a problem with this particular model. The last major service cost $400.00. I may keep it another 5 years!

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Smooth as silk, though expensive to keep

Cruiser-Joel, 07/01/2003
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Wagon
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Got this car in 1997 from a guy who babied it. Had 68k miles and was perfect and maintained on schedule. This car rides so nice, I hate to part with it. I have 138K miles on it and it still drives like new. Down side is it is so fricking expensive to maintain. I only have it serviced by BMW. However, it will do 200K easily and I intend to keep it for at least another 2 years. Some rust on the doors but nothing serious. I have spent at least $10,000 on repairs over 5 years. But, it was worth it.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

More than a grocery getter

Midamrail, 12/27/2004
1993 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Wagon
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I bought this car with 109K from a BMW dealership for commuting to work and hauling our Labradors. It has proven to be reliable, enjoyable to drive, relatively economical, and one of the best vehicles we've ever owned.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Aged very well

Alex, 06/05/2007
1993 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Wagon
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I enjoyed driving this car especially on the open road where it excelled. I had a few unexpected problems with the injector system. Also the rear hatch and window gave me some trouble. I only wish the driver's seat would move back 2 more inches!! I am only 6'0" tall, but I would get uncomfortable on longer trips and my wife, same height, actually disliked the seats even more. The switch for the heated seats is badly located. When you fold down the rear seats you can carry a ton of stuff! Even at over 100k miles it was a purring cat. The extra long double sun roof was awesome. Gas mileage was a problem with high prices, but the power and stable ride are the trade off. No cup holders, though!

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5 out of 5 stars

93 BMW 525i

NJBMWowner, 09/13/2003
1993 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Wagon
2 of 4 people found this review helpful

I have owned this car for 10 years and it has been great. It still drives as if on rails. Acceleration and handling are outstanding. The five speed manual is smooth as silk. Interior is holding up well. Heated seats are great in the winter. When in for service, I get a free loaner. It is always a comfort to get my car back as I believe it actually drives better than the loaner cars even after these many years.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

RW 92 525i

Richard Wamboldt, 05/02/2002
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Caris basically excelent,however, numerous mechanical problems have been encountered: 3 burnt exhaust valves between 96000 and 123000 miles, A/C compressor failure at 82000, water pump total failure at 90000, fuel pump failure at 97000. The clutch, which I drove for 104000 required replacement recently and then, only the throwout bearing actually required replacement. The car is in excelent condition, no body damage and the leather interior is clean and undamaged. All functions are working.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Cool Ride

Duane Barrett, 06/30/2006
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I recently bought this car with 168,584 miles for $3000.00. This is my first BMW and aside from the interior cosmetic problems, the body is still in excellent condition and the car runs GREAT!!! Looking forward to owning and driving the Bad Man Wagon!!!

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Best of all!

Luke B., 10/22/2004
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

This is my first BMW and I am hooked! I have owned Saabs, Sterlings and a Range Rover, but after driving and owning this car I can confidently say that I will have it for a long long time and my next car will be another BMW. I have owned the car for the last 16,000 and have had no serious issues, only a few minor problems like replacing sensors and some difficulty with the seat motors. My most expensive bill so far has been the 90,000 mile service, but other than that, all is quite well!

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4.88 out of 5 stars

awesome

Casey Pickell, 09/15/2005
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

this BMW is a solid ride. i bought it with 114000 miles for 4000 dollars. it was the steal of the century. the engine is smooth as butter with effortless acceleration in the top end(it could use some more low end power) it gets great fuel economy for a 6cyl, 20 city 28-30 at 65 mph on highway. the seats are incredible and hold their age magnificently. the trunk is huge and the same for the sunroof.the computer is nifty as well, i didnt think they had that stuff in 1992. i have had no problems at all with the car in 6000 miles of driving.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

1993 bmw

eneed, 06/22/2004
1993 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
2 of 6 people found this review helpful

excellent value very reliable great on fuel perfect finish leather interior like new great handling

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5 out of 5 stars

Great car like all needs TLC

B lund, 02/11/2016
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Wagon
1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Make sure there is no pstr hose leaks

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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4.75 out of 5 stars

Better than expected...

dkisme2, 07/29/2008
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This it the first BMW I've ever owned, and I will happily buy one again. I've had to do very minor repairs with it since I got it almost a year ago. It came with just over 360,000 miles (yes that's correct, not a typo). And currently it's got over 372,000 miles on it. I've had to repair the oil seal and that's been about it. I'm going to be buying tires for it soon, otherwise it's in great shape (interior is nearly flawless). There's minor rust along the bottoms of the doors, but what do you expect for any car that's driven in Wisconsin? Overall, I couldn't be happier, and I definitely plan on running it till over 450,000, hopefully 500,000 miles.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

My BMW 525i

Trevor Cooper, 06/27/2009
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

My father got me a 1992 BMW 525i after I got out of high school; that car was the best - it had a cellular phone and anti-theft system, heated front seats leather seats, 10 way power adjuster and the best trip computer ever. That car can be a pain in your wallet. When my headlight went out in 1994 I paid 129.42 for a new bulb.The car lacks in power; it actually takes you about 8.5 seconds to get to 60 but has the best sound when you accelerate. I still have that car today, the car drives basically the same from 17 years ago.The car has the same features from 17 years ago that includes the cellular phone anti-theft system, the leather has no cracks, 6 disc cd changer -- still I can't believe the phone works.

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5 out of 5 stars

Best Car I Ever Owned

Joey Bag , 07/29/2002
1992 BMW 5 Series 535i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

She is a 1992 535i 5 speed. I have owner her since 1999 and havent had any major problems at all. She now has 215,000 miles on her and runs really strong. I changed the clutch and throw- out bearing at 180,000 miles. That cost $800. I did the front-end and replaced all the gastket including the head gasket at 200,000. was around $2000.00. She rides like a brand new car, people are always asking me what year it is and when i say 92 they are like wow, and everyong always compliment the smooth ride. She has great power and with the 5 speed its alot of fun, I added 17 inch wheels and now she handle awesome.

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3.88 out of 5 stars

1992 525 BMW

kuda, 07/26/2004
1992 BMW 5 Series 535i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Overall this is an excellent car! I would highly recommend picking one up especially if you can find a low mileage vehicle.

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5 out of 5 stars

Excellent choice !

Serega, 05/22/2005
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Straight to the point: 1) Reliable car. Bought the car with 138K miles on it - not a single complaint during the first year. 2) The performance is awesome, just shift AT into S mode and you can outrun most of the cars. Handles corners like it's glued to the ground. Definitely a fun to drive. 3) The only competitors at this price lack style and/or performance. 4) Comfort is superb: climate control, noice isolation, power everything. The list is unlimited. 5) Fuel economy: I get 20 mpg in mixed conditions with agressive driving. 6) Interior design: everything is where it's supposed to be. 7) Exterior still turns heads. 8) Overall:has 50K$ car feel:)

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4.63 out of 5 stars

1992 525i

dmoss, 03/15/2003
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This has been a great car! The car is built like a tank, and it is still solid at 11 years old.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Luv my Bimmer

Kenny, 10/07/2005
1992 BMW 5 Series 535i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This auto has been a joy to own and drive. I am fortunate in that I can do most of my own routine repairs, of which there have been few. Good Luck.

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5 out of 5 stars

Loved this car

eeeeerik, 06/14/2003
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Got this car 2 years old out coming out of college, fella before me put 76K miles on it in the first two years so I got a great deal. In the next 2 years I put another 60K miles on it, never a hiccup. Gave it to my wife when we got married. Now with 2 kids and over 200K miles, the maintenance cycle has picked up beyond what I'm willing to commit (which is quite a bit). The engine/tranny is still solid. It's the belts, water pump, alternator, battery, leather seats are starting to rip, you get the point. Hate to call it quits but the time has come.

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4 out of 5 stars

1992 was a great year

Jake, 01/03/2017
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I am 16 years old and i purchased my 525i 5 speed for a few different reasons... I wanted a car that me and my grandfather would be able to fix up together. He is a great mechanic and has helped me a lot with it. We had to fix a lot considering we bought the car for just $1000. We fixed the brakes, shocks and struts, clutch, flywheel, slave cylinder, lights, new tires, all new seals in the engine, windows, and a new valve cover gasket. That sounds like a lot but the gentleman we bought it from had it sitting in his driveway for 10 years and never drove it and it has around 230,000 miles. In total I was probably in around $4,500 but it is totally worth it. It shifts great, sounds great and is actually pretty fast when you want it to be. The thing is an absolute tank. The way it drives and the amount of fun it is makes up for the quite dated interior. If you do not drive it crazy it gets great MPG around 25-35 miles to the gallon! I love this car and I think it is a great first "classic" car.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
3 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
3 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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3 out of 5 stars

Classic Dream

Charlie H., 09/20/2019
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Currently inoperable, excellent body, no dents. Good leather interior. Perfect car for restoring. Minor repairs and reconditioning needed.

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5 out of 5 stars

bullet proof

bmw fan, 06/04/2002
1993 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This is the best car I have ever owned. Hope the new model is as good.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Love My 5-series Touring

Maggio Slooter, 07/14/2010
1993 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This car was super-clean at the time of purchase, and had close to 80,000 miles on her. I was a bit apprehensive about purchasing a vehicle with that many miles, but this car has been the most reliable we have ever owned, and now has over 180,000 miles. I replaced the 15" wheels with M-series 17" of that era, replaced the springs with M springs, and added a performance chip. I never tire of driving her and continue to admire the styling, which to my eye, is timeless. For a car which is now 18 years old, it very much holds its own in looks and performance. It's also damn practical. I've hauled all kinds of heavy stuff, and the self-leveling system works brilliantly. I give BMW an A+

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Very excited

Radley Espadron, 08/07/2002
1993 BMW 5 Series 535i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

The feel and power of this car makes me feel like I'mm actually driving a sports car. But the roominess reminds me that I'm in a sedan.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

Old school fun

ucancallmenick, 04/07/2014
1993 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This car was purchased in 2010 as my first car. I have loved it since the day we bought it with 149,000 miles, it's been reliable, comfortable, and it has superb handling. Now that it has 184,000 miles it still drives like a champ. It did have a few missteps, but you don't buy a $1,800 BMW and expect it to be perfect. First the passenger side window motors went out in 2010, then the alternator in 2012, and the cooling system finally in 2014. Still, it never really let me down, it has gone through three accidents relatively unscathed too. Awesome german engineering.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

This is th one!

5alive, 01/21/2003
1993 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I have been BMW shopping for months and then I find this 525i on Ebay of all places. What can I say. This is it. A gem of a car. Fun to drive and looks to kill. The automatic sport trans is a thrill and the power is never ending. These are great values right now. Get a good one with low miles. Mine is at 77k.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

A grocery getter for those who love cars

Midamrail, 11/09/2003
1993 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This car has so far been a flawless performer. It's enjoyable to drive, and I'm convinced it's one of the best wagons ever made. The car is very well built and designed inside and out and has delivered on the BMW name and reputation.

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3.88 out of 5 stars

A Bad Year

Joe, 11/01/2006
1992 BMW 5 Series 525i 4dr Sedan
0 of 2 people found this review helpful

Amid the favorable reviews I must interject some objective facts. We purchased our 525IA on a lease turn-in and spent $9,000 repairing and maintaining it over the course of 3.7 years. Reliability was awful, having stranded my family four times. Once each for fuel pump, A/C compressor seizure, self-destructing water pump, and seized belt idler pulley. When asking BMW of North America, they apologized for my model year being one of the "Dark Ages" vehicles where they outsourced the offending parts and/or labor. When the question of service came up, they sent me a standard form letter. Stay away.

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