Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 525i, 192 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €593 | €5,200 | 85 | Petrol (98) | M54B25 | Automatic (5) | 2000–2004 |
| 520i, 170 PS, 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Research | €551 | €3,999 | 81 | Petrol (98) | M54B22 | Manual (5) | 2000–2004 |
| 530d, 193 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €579 | €4,999 | 59 | Diesel | Automatic (5) | 2000–2004 | |
| 520i, 170 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €573 | €4,000 | 58 | Petrol (98) | M54B22 | Automatic (5) | 2000–2004 |
| 525i, 192 PS, 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Research | €570 | €4,490 | 57 | Petrol (98) | M54B25 | Manual (5) | 2000–2004 |
At a glance
- Years: 1995 to 2004, saloon and Touring. The facelift came in autumn 2000 with new six-cylinder engines.
- Reliability: 2/5. ADAC rates breakdowns as poor, though well-serviced cars last. Cooling, oil use and the V8 timing chain pull the score down.
- DIY: 3/5. Hoses and the thermostat are common swaps. Gearbox and timing-chain work needs a workshop.
- Prefer: a 525d or 530d diesel (AMS: 500,000 trouble-free km is not rare), or a six-cylinder with proof of cooling and oil work.
- Avoid: a V8 with no proof of timing-chain work, and a diesel with the GM automatic and no fluid records.
Engines and gearboxes
- M52 six-cylinder petrol (520i, 523i, 525i, 528i; 1995-2000): acceptable with checks. Check the DISA intake flap, the VANOS and the oil use. See Known issues.
- M54 six-cylinder petrol (520i, 525i, 530i; 2000-2004): acceptable with checks on the crankcase valve and oil use. Crank and cam sensor faults make the engine stall.
- M62 V8 petrol (535i, 540i): avoid unless the timing chain guide has been checked or replaced.
- S62 V8 petrol (M5): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- M51 diesel (525tds): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- M47 diesel (520d, 2000-2004): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- M57 diesel (525d, 530d): prefer. AMS says 500,000 trouble-free km is not rare on these.
- 5-speed manual: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 6-speed manual: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 5-speed automatic (ZF 5HP and GM 5L40-E): avoid the GM box in diesels without fluid records. The petrol ZF box has no typical problems, according to CarWiki.
- 4-speed automatic: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| V8 timing chain guide wears | M62B35, M62B35TU, M62B44TU (535i, 540i) | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Cooling system parts fail | All engines | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Oil use and oil leaks on six-cylinder petrol engines | M52 and M54 six-cylinders (520i to 530i) | Rings: up to about 200,000 km (M54, Kolesa.ru) | No confirmed price |
| Automatic gearbox fluid and torque converter | 5-speed automatic (GM 5L40-E) in diesels | Often before 200,000 km (Gebrauchtwagenberater) | No confirmed price |
| Rust at sills, jacking points and the Touring tailgate | All cars; Touring tailgate is a named weak point | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Brittle wiring and ignition switch | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| DISA intake flap failure | M52TÜ (1998-2000), M54 (2000-2004) | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Front suspension joints and tie rods wear | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- V8 timing chain (535i, 540i): listen for a rattle or chain noise from the front of the engine. Ask for proof of timing-chain work. Bad result: a rattle, or no proof of work. Needs no tools.
- Oil use and leaks (six-cylinder petrol): ask how often the oil is topped up. Look for oil at the oil filter housing, the valve cover and the oil pan, and for heavy smoke under the bonnet. Bad result: oil at the filter housing, or use above the normal 1 litre per 3,000-5,000 km.
- Cooling: with the engine cold, check the expansion tank cap, the hoses and the bottom corners of the radiator for wet spots. Bad result: wet joints, a weeping radiator, or a temperature gauge that climbs.
- Automatic gearbox (diesel GM box): ask for fluid-change records. A change every 100,000-125,000 km is the norm. Drive in D and check the shifts. Bad result: no records, or late and harsh shifts.
- VANOS (M52): read the fault memory with a scanner and look for solenoid codes. Bad result: codes for the VANOS solenoids. A scanner is needed.
- DISA intake flap (M52TÜ, M54): after switching off, listen for a hiss. On the road, check for jerky acceleration and lost power. Bad result: a hiss after shutdown, or a jerky, weak car.
- Touring rear air suspension: check that the car sits level at the back. Ask for records of the air bellows and compressor. Bad result: a low rear end, or no records on a high-mileage car. Touring only.
- Rust: check the sills, jacking points, spare-wheel well, Touring tailgate and bonnet edge. Use a thickness gauge if you can. Lift the carpet under the driver. Bad result: rot in the sills or floor, or damp under the carpet.
- Front end and steering: lift the car and check the control arms, tie rods and bushes for play. Check the power steering pump and hoses for wet fluid. Bad result: play, knocks, or wet hoses.
- Electrics and display: test every switch, lever, light and the rear wiper. Check the instrument display for dead pixels. Bad result: a dead light or wiper, an ignition that glitches or stops the car starting, or dead pixels.
Running costs
| Operational | €309 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €145 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €141 |
| Total per month | €595 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €38 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 502
- 25th percentile
- €3,200
- Median price
- €4,900
- 75th percentile
- €6,999
- Median mileage
- 258,925 km
- Median first registration
- 2002
- Dealer share
- 13%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €9,067
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.