Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

I have a 1993 'L' reg 525i SE Automatic Touring, Calypso Red with dark grey cloth. I love it, I've always wanted one.... but I'm just not using it. I bought it because I thought I wanted to put my Porsche in the garage for winter, however on December 10th I re-insured the Porsche and the BMW has been sat doing nothing until today when I nipped out in it. Unless I put the Porsche back in the garage I don't really have anywhere to keep the BMW so am considering selling it. I'm being genuinely honest about the car - there's no point in being anything else. If I don't sell it I don't mind and as soon as the weather is warmer I'll be fixing the few problems listed below.

Good points -
Very good bodywork with only one small bit of rust.
Only 79000 miles, last 'old couple' owner did 28000 in eleven years.
Unmarked no-smoker interior.
Upgraded Blaupunkt radio cassette (that I have installed) with 10CD stacker (I believe to be original kit).
6 cassette holder in centre console
Everything works except the heated rear window.
Full BMW service history
Four recent tyres
Recent battery
Tax and MOT to April 2011
Really really comfortable! (but then I do spend most of my time riding around in an old Porsche).

Bad points -
The 'coolant level' light comes on when I turn the ignition on and again when I turn it off. I've read on this forum that I need to take the coolant level sensor plug off and clean it, if that doesn't work then take the sensor out of the radiator and clean the threads where it screws in - a build up of residue over the years means that the contact between the sensor thread and the radiator thread is lost, therefore the earth is lost and the warning light comes on.
Headlights - the high beam light bulbs need changing for newer brighter ones. They will be the same wattage, it's just that bulbs fade over time and when I changed the low beam ones for Halfords ultra brilliant ones it made a massive difference. Unfortunately I can't get the backs off the main beam light units as they have been on there so long! I've read on this forum to try hot water and that should free them. I'll persevere.
Rear hatch sometimes takes a while to open, sometimes have to hold the handle and wait a few seconds.
Rear hatch window sometimes opens, sometimes doesn't
Heated rear screen doesn't work.
I believe that all the 'rear' faults will be a wiring fault, the loom bends as the hatch opens and closes, eventually the wires break - a common fault and one that I have had to repair on next door's 2003 Mercedes E270CDi..... twice.
Doors - front nearside door has a small dent in it that I will smooth out once the weather warms up. The same door also has a 'lazy' central locking solenoid - it usually works though. Again it's more likely to be a wiring fault.

I think that a dealer would ask around £1500 for this mileage and spec car, indeed privately it was up for £1300. I would say that £1000 is a fair price.

It would be interesting to hear other members' views on the above.

If anybody's interested I'll e-mail pictures.

Just ask - johnward1@btinternet.com

John colour & interior colour would be good. Pics may help as well.

gearbox ?

Yup it has got one! An Auto, first line of ad!

Colour - Calypso Red metallic with Dark Grey cloth.

Gearbox - 5 speed switchable auto - snow / economy / sport.

Pictures - I'll sort some tomorrow.

Yup, it has one calypso red first line of ad !!

Doh!

To be fair to Jim I edited the post and added the colour after he pointed it out to me.

Jim - you may retract your 'Doh!'.

I thought I wasn't going mad Retracted D'oh!