Re: '97 540ia questions (archive)

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1) There should be a couple of ways to check up on the service history on the car. First of all, as a lease car, it should have always been serviced at a BMW dealership. If that's the case, the warranty and service manual (included with the owner's manual) should have been updated each time the car was serviced. That documentation should also tell you where the car was serviced allowing you to call that location if you want additional info.

4) BMW's 90-100k service is an "Inspection 2". The warranty and service manual in the car will outline everything that's included in this service (no timing belt). Mine was done by an independent BMW mechanic for a little over $400. If you have this service done by a dealer, it will probably be around $5-600. On top of that, BMW suggests that the O2 sensors be changed after 100k. There are 4 of them on the 540 and the replacement will cost you between $500 and $600. You don't have to do this, but the O2 sensors will, eventualy, fail after 100k so you might as well do it at the time of the inspection 2 (preventative maintenance).

Don't worry too much about the 88k on that car. It's still a really good deal at 24k. Besides, if the car has been (and will be) well-cared for, 88k is no big deal. I'm at 112k on my 540 and everything's cool (and there are a lot of others on this board who are close to, at or beyond the 100k mark and still going strong).

First I'd like to thank all who responded to my query last week about a Canyon Red/Tan '97 540ia I was looking at to replace my '92 Audi 100CS Quattro. I had a chance to take a ride in it yesterday, and I loved it! Engine was very smooth, shifted great, and was an overall blast to drive. Interior is in perfect condition (looked like it was never sat in!), and exterior was in good shape (no dents, just a few scratches here and there). It is a 12/96 build date car (has glass sunroof), so its not an early production car (was told they were more troublesome). Ran the VIN through CARFAX, and it came up clean as a 1-owner lease car. I originally thought the car had 68k on it, but it turns out its 88k. I am really not worried about the higher mileage, especially of the car had been well maintanined. Asking price is $23.9k, which seems to be a pretty good price. Now the questions:
(1) Does BMW have a computerized nationwide service history system like Audi does so you can just give the local dealer the VIN and they have the service history there?
(2) Are there any preferred extended warranty companies that actually pay for repairs anyone here has used (this dealer uses a company called Great Lakes Warranty)?
(3) How long is the BMW powertrain warranty (50k like Audi?)?
(4) What is required for the 90k service? Anything $$$ like a timing belt, etc?
I am going to have the car checked out by the guy who services my Audi (does a lot of Bimmers too), and if it checks out OK, hopefully will have it by next weekend! Thanks.

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