Instructions: Please add your combined real-life cost experiences!
In a recent post, someone asked for a repair budget which I blithely figured was about $200 a month overall for the E39.
Then I got to seriously wondering about the repairs I had (from 35K miles to 85K miles) and what all that DIY effort cost and how much it might have cost at an Indy or Stealer, and so, I pondered some more.
Basically, I couldn't arrive at the budget because I didn't really have the right cost equations (I haven't done my Vanos, nor my radiator, for example). Plus I stay away from the Stealer and avoid the Indy.
But that didn't stop me from trying to come up with some numbers (and then asking for you to improve the algorithm)!
Here's what I roughly come up with for each of the major jobs you're likely to run into on an E39.
What to fix in the first month (DIY/Indy/Stealer):
- cracked plastic radiator (replace entire system) ($700/$1400/$2800)
- CCV and ICV ??? (cn90?)
- replace brittle OEM buna Vanos seals with viton ($200/$400/$600)
- crumbling windshield & back window molding ($50/$100/$200)
- missing jack pads ($50/$100/$200)
- recode annoying automatic door-lock ($250carsoft/$75/$150)
- blown cluster pixels ($500/$800/$0secretwarranty)
- blown MID pixels ($250/$500/$1000)
- cracked wood trim ($400/$800/$1200)
- ???
PLEASE add YOUR EXPERIENCE & PRICING!
What to fix when it breaks (DIY/Indy/Stealer):
- broken ABS control module steel power wire ($150/$600/$1200)
- erratic fan-control (FSU/FSR) module ($100/$200/$300)
- loose rear vapor barrier seals ($50/$100/$200)
- clogged cabin-filter housing drain hose ($0/$25/$50)
- washed-out roundels ($25/$50/$100)
- crumbled headlight adjusters ($200aluminum/$500/$1000)
- frayed trunk loom wiring harness ($25/$200/$1200)
- bump brake shudder front shocks worn ($500/$1000/$2000)
- stuck window regulators ($150/$300/$600)
- curb-crushed ambient temperature sensor ($100/$200/$400)
- fragile front & rear cupholders often break ($100/$250/$500)
- wobbly thrust arm bushings, pair ($75/$150/$300)
- ???
PLEASE add YOUR EXPERIENCE & PRICING!
Maintenance items (DIY/Indy/Stealer):
- synthetic oil & Mann filter change ($75/$125/$175)
- front & rear brake pads ($100/$300/$800)
- front & rear rotors ($300/$600/$1200)
- ???
PLEASE add YOUR EXPERIENCE & PRICING!
Overall Used BMW E39 DIY Repair Budget (assume 50K miles or so):
$1k for the first month
$100 a month thereafter (ad infinitum)
Overall BMW E39 Indy Repair Budget (assume 50K miles or so):
$2k for the first month
$200 a month thereafter (ad infinitum)
Overall BMW E39 Stealer Repair Budget (assume 50K miles or so):
$3k for the first month
$300 a month thereafter (ad infinitum)
In a recent post, someone asked for a repair budget which I blithely figured was about $200 a month overall for the E39.
Then I got to seriously wondering about the repairs I had (from 35K miles to 85K miles) and what all that DIY effort cost and how much it might have cost at an Indy or Stealer, and so, I pondered some more.
Basically, I couldn't arrive at the budget because I didn't really have the right cost equations (I haven't done my Vanos, nor my radiator, for example). Plus I stay away from the Stealer and avoid the Indy.
But that didn't stop me from trying to come up with some numbers (and then asking for you to improve the algorithm)!
Here's what I roughly come up with for each of the major jobs you're likely to run into on an E39.
What to fix in the first month (DIY/Indy/Stealer):
- cracked plastic radiator (replace entire system) ($700/$1400/$2800)
- CCV and ICV ??? (cn90?)
- replace brittle OEM buna Vanos seals with viton ($200/$400/$600)
- crumbling windshield & back window molding ($50/$100/$200)
- missing jack pads ($50/$100/$200)
- recode annoying automatic door-lock ($250carsoft/$75/$150)
- blown cluster pixels ($500/$800/$0secretwarranty)
- blown MID pixels ($250/$500/$1000)
- cracked wood trim ($400/$800/$1200)
- ???
PLEASE add YOUR EXPERIENCE & PRICING!
What to fix when it breaks (DIY/Indy/Stealer):
- broken ABS control module steel power wire ($150/$600/$1200)
- erratic fan-control (FSU/FSR) module ($100/$200/$300)
- loose rear vapor barrier seals ($50/$100/$200)
- clogged cabin-filter housing drain hose ($0/$25/$50)
- washed-out roundels ($25/$50/$100)
- crumbled headlight adjusters ($200aluminum/$500/$1000)
- frayed trunk loom wiring harness ($25/$200/$1200)
- bump brake shudder front shocks worn ($500/$1000/$2000)
- stuck window regulators ($150/$300/$600)
- curb-crushed ambient temperature sensor ($100/$200/$400)
- fragile front & rear cupholders often break ($100/$250/$500)
- wobbly thrust arm bushings, pair ($75/$150/$300)
- ???
PLEASE add YOUR EXPERIENCE & PRICING!
Maintenance items (DIY/Indy/Stealer):
- synthetic oil & Mann filter change ($75/$125/$175)
- front & rear brake pads ($100/$300/$800)
- front & rear rotors ($300/$600/$1200)
- ???
PLEASE add YOUR EXPERIENCE & PRICING!
Overall Used BMW E39 DIY Repair Budget (assume 50K miles or so):
$1k for the first month
$100 a month thereafter (ad infinitum)
Overall BMW E39 Indy Repair Budget (assume 50K miles or so):
$2k for the first month
$200 a month thereafter (ad infinitum)
Overall BMW E39 Stealer Repair Budget (assume 50K miles or so):
$3k for the first month
$300 a month thereafter (ad infinitum)