[asharb123]

Hi,

I'm new to the site and could with some help and advice.

I did something out of character. I needed a car and bought one blind from an auction. I bought a 2005 BMW 320i SE Auto. I didn't do much research so didn't check what goes wrong with these cars.

When I went to pick the car up, the traction control light was on, bulb light and seat belt and air bag lights. My main concern was the traction control. I could also smell oil in the car.

To cut a long story short, I had the car checked by a independent BMW specialist, who said the traction control pump / module would need to be overhauled. There were oil leaks around the rocker cover gasket, 2 front O rings and the oil filter housing. He reset the seat belt and air bag lights. On the drive home the car went into limp mode.

I took the car back and he said the valve tronic motor had failed. He replaced this and the rocker cover gasket and the O rings. He also gave me the joyous news the timing chain was stretched.

Is there anything else that can go wrong with these cars or is this the worst of it? Are these usual problems or can I expect something else?

When i started the car up the other day from cold and put the car in D it made a strange sound, like something was bumping around. When I put it in netural you could not hear anything. Back in drive the noise it made a strange grinding type noise. It stopped after a little while.

Is there a decent independent BMW Specialist in Essex / East London area that can be recommended who will not charge ridiculous money? I need to do a cost benefit analysis. Is it worth the cost of getting repaired?

I'm in 2 minds as to whether to keep the car or cut my losses and get rid. I bought the car from BCA Brighouse and it drives great.

Thanks
Ash

[CS1984]

There'll be people far more tech savvy than me along to help you soon I'm sure, but out of interest, how much did you pay for it? How many miles?

[asharb123]

I paid £1,700 including auction fee's. It has done 72k miles with service history. It also has electric folding mirrors, heated seats and 17 inch alloys.

[Andystobbs]

Well you didn't over pay really. If thats any comfort. You bought a 14 year old car from the auction and in my personal opinion you're not doing too badly so far.
There's plenty can go wrong with every car out there. Joys of used car motoring unfortunately.

[asharb123]

What I'd like to find out is what are the main problems with these cars and are there any good independent specialists in the East London Essex area.

I know the timing chain needs to be done. How much will I roughly be looking at to pay?
There is also the gasket to be replaced on the oil filter housing.

Is there anything else I need to be concerned about? Gearbox service? How much would that be?

What are other members experience of owning these cars. I know this is the earlier model pre LCI and are these really problematic?

I have the traction control light on how much would that cost?

Thanks

[CS1984]

I had a 2007 E90 up to 130,000 miles and to be honest it had very little issues with it. VANOS solenoid & sensor at 70k miles for about £500 and alloys started cracking and needed patching up at around 100k miles. Perished radiator hose at about 120k miles and that was the only things I ever had to take it in for.

Obviously yours has some issues already which need to be sorted and I wouldn't be able to take a guess at how much you'll be needing to spend on it to sort those issues out but I would say, considering how little you paid for it, even after all the repairs to get it back up to scratch you'll have got yourself a decent deal.