BMW 5-Series Saloon (1996 - 2003) 525d SE 4d (2002/52) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Can't believe how awful it is and how rubbish dealer is, have scared approaching £250k of sales away from them by making sure to tell everyone I can about how bad the dealer is and how hard it was to get BMW UK to take an interest and get work done at another dealer who actually had good mechanics.

Would you buy this car again and why?

NEVER EVER EVER EVER!! just so awful in every respect, I've been stuck with a horrible car that I can't sell until I've fixed it from my own pocket - unless I give it away. Can't afford to sue dealer/bmw and stand no chance of getting anywhere.

What are you likely to buy next?

Lexus? Mercedes? maybe Audi?

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchise

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£13,950

When did you buy the car?

December 2005

Did you get a good deal and why?

No, Paid a good £2K premium for the'quality' of care and prep of a fine car on the approved used scheme, needed a reliable car, thought a BMW would be a no brainer "BEST CAR EVER MADE? HA HA HA!

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Thought an approved used BMW would be a good reliable buy - HOW WRONG CAN YOU BE!!

What was the dealer like?

Nice when buying, utterly useless from 1 second later. ZERO integrity spivvy bunch of pikeys, utterly incompetent totally worthless, always polite though, and the girls are very pretty, not much consolation...

What's it like to drive?

horrible, amazingly awful, mid corner feels like an anvil sliding around in the boot, skips sideways alarmingly, hideous vibration through seat from transmission tunnel, less since various works and replacements, never had a good mile in it, the absolute opposite of what it should be, a fine german cruiser, just such a dissapointment.

What's it like to park?

easy - pdc front and rear - and that hasn't actually broken - YET!!!

Have you had any problems with the car?

paintwork, turbo, steering rack, steering arms, injectors,engine and gearbox mounts, clutch, dual mass flywheel, propshaft couplings, lights, rear subframe bushes, shocks, bearings, just about every single part of the suspension, both front and rear, put it this way, in first 10k miles, 71 days in workshop under warranty - do you really need me to go on?

What's most practical about your car?

comfortable seat.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

xenon headlights are good