645i Buying Advice

Hello Everybody,

I'm new arround, I actually own a e90 320i but I would like to try a used high end bimmer.

I'm looking for a 2005 645i with just 18.000 miles on it. I need advice on the following:

1.- Is this specific model/year known to be trouble?
2.- Any specific mechanical problems to look at?

Some photos of the interior/exterior.

http://fotos.chileautos.cl/fotoautom..._2975315_7.jpg
http://fotos.chileautos.cl/fotoautom..._2975315_6.jpg
http://fotos.chileautos.cl/fotoautom..._2975315_8.jpg
http://fotos.chileautos.cl/fotoautom..._2975315_4.jpg
http://fotos.chileautos.cl/fotoautom..._2975315_1.jpg

Happy to read as much feedback as you can provide me.

There are a couple of mechanical problems to look at, most important would be to check for any leaks, if they let you inspect it. Remove the cover and see if there are any liquids leaking. I would also advice you to purchase extended warranty for that vehicle, as it will probably have a major repair in the near future. How much is the vehicle going for?

Read the sticky at the top of the page. It should provide you what you are looking for!

Good Luck@

Originally Posted by ferny

There are a couple of mechanical problems to look at, most important would be to check for any leaks, if they let you inspect it. Remove the cover and see if there are any liquids leaking. I would also advice you to purchase extended warranty for that vehicle, as it will probably have a major repair in the near future. How much is the vehicle going for?

Thank you, I will have that in mind, the oil leaks will leave a trail on the floor as the liquid find its way down?

In my country (Chile, south america) this kind of high end cars are really expensive because they are more rare than other places. This one in particular (because of the low mileage) costs around 40.000 USD.

Originally Posted by HerbP

Read the sticky at the top of the page. It should provide you what you are looking for!

Good Luck@

I did read it bu found nothing usefull in the first 5 pages. I will give it a more deep shot.

Thank you.

Checking the interior pics I can tell there's no sport package am I right?

Is there any way to tell if it has bluetooth or cd changer? (I know this is a hard one but for work reasons I won't be able to see the car until next week).

Originally Posted by RooK77

Checking the interior pics I can tell there's no sport package am I right?

Is there any way to tell if it has bluetooth or cd changer? (I know this is a hard one but for work reasons I won't be able to see the car until next week).

you can decode the VIN so see how it shipped. Try here for one but there are others too.

Originally Posted by RooK77

Checking the interior pics I can tell there's no sport package am I right?

Is there any way to tell if it has bluetooth or cd changer? (I know this is a hard one but for work reasons I won't be able to see the car until next week).

While it has the wheels that came with the sport package (in the US at least), the seats do not have the adjustable bottom portion and the outside trim around the windows is chrome. I would say no sport package.

Would it be feasible to buy a car in the US and ship it? That's a 20 to 25k car here.

Purchasing a 2005 with 18k miles, is not always a good thing. Cars like to be driven, & a BMW is no different. 18k miles seems very low & makes you wonder if the odometer might have been tampered with. The car looks very clean from the pics, but there could be a lot of unexpected repairs from not being driven much. If the asking price is around 40k, what are the normal wear & tear items going to cost in Chile? You can have a BMW dealer possibly pull up the history on the car, to help see how it has been serviced.

Hope this might help?

Originally Posted by FredoinSF

While it has the wheels that came with the sport package (in the US at least), the seats do not have the adjustable bottom portion and the outside trim around the windows is chrome. I would say no sport package.

Would it be feasible to buy a car in the US and ship it? That's a 20 to 25k car here.

Thank you for the info!

About buying it in the US, those prices sound really nice but I fear the shipping and taxes would rise the price a lot. Not to mention not beeing able to see and check the car before purchasing it. I will dig into it though.

Originally Posted by HerbP

Purchasing a 2005 with 18k miles, is not always a good thing. Cars like to be driven, & a BMW is no different. 18k miles seems very low & makes you wonder if the odometer might have been tampered with. The car looks very clean from the pics, but there could be a lot of unexpected repairs from not being driven much. If the asking price is around 40k, what are the normal wear & tear items going to cost in Chile? You can have a BMW dealer possibly pull up the history on the car, to help see how it has been serviced.

Hope this might help?

That's actually a good point. I don't think the odometer is manipulated because it's a known and trusted dealer.

A pricey service can cost around 2.000 and 4.000 dollars. An average one is around 600 (oil + filters). One tyre can cost up to 600 USD.

If I make a go for it I will have it checked in my trusted auto repair shop. Would you recommend a engine scan? I've readed a lot that this engines are really tough usually the electronics are most likely to give problems?

With all of the current technologies in programming, a lot of items can be deleted from throwing a code. If you have a local BMW dealer, that would be the best choice for diagnostics. A typical OBD2 handheld meter, will really not show much for a BMW.

Good Luck!

Thanks for all the feedback. I will go to see the car this weekend. One question, where physically can I see the VIN?

three places at least:
- VIN should stamped on the passenger side strut tower
- VIN plate should be visible at bottom of driver's side windshield
- Should be on a black sticker on driver's door jamb
This is for left hand drive US cars.

Make sure you get the car up to temperature for a while. Then leave idle for 1-2 minutes and then hit the gas. If there is a puff if blue smoke then you could be looking at a valve stem seal job $$$$. Its a design fault on the v8s and would be a recall at this stage if it was not for the age of the cars. If you can, I'd go for one that already had it done. It's not so much a mileage issue but is more down to the age and how the car was driven (lots of city driving etc..)


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I don't know, 40k seems insane to me. Don't get me wrong, love mine. But I only paid 24k with 43k miles on it.

If you can, get all the service history and see what's what before you do anything. If the car has been sitting, lowball the dealer and see how they react.

You know what seems kind of weird, the 19's on a nonsport model. Just who would upgrade to those rims after purchase, they're hideous.

I've gathered more info on the car as I went to see it to the dealer yesterday.

The car had a reserve of 2K made exactly 10 mnutes before my arrival... So my only chance to buy it would be that the other interested pulls back the deal.

My first impression on the car was a geniune "wow". The car was previously owned only by a sports car collector (maserati, jaguar and so on), the paintwork is mint and interiors looks like new. I wasn't able to see the car working but I will go again today just to check more details (including all your feedback).

About the price, compared to your luckly prices it is insane... paying almost double for the same car sucks. But this kind of machinery is a rare thing to see in Chile. You can see ten 3 series in a day, one 5 series in a week and the 6 series takes a couple of months to be seen. In this moment there are about 8 sixers in sell in the whole country, I think that can give you a good feeling.

BTW. there's another one less expensive with 60.000 milles about 20% cheaper. Would you recommend me to look at it? (the mileage does concerns me and black leather interior is not my favorite) Here you can see exterior/interior/engine photos:
http://www.destacados.cl/216831-BMW-645-2005-.aspx

Originally Posted by GetMeABeer

I don't know, 40k seems insane to me.

Rook77 is right. Cars cost a lot more there.

It is an insane price but you can't compare prices here to the international market. I travel internationally and am shocked at what cars cost for my friends and associates around the world. Here are some examples, and I'm not kidding.

Singapore: 2006 5 series, no nav, 50K miles, $78K

Singapore new BMWs are about 5x US prices plus a license to own a car can be over $10K. When he found out what my car cost he was ill.

Costa Rica: 2007 Kia small SUV with 40K miles $17K (while I was there he bought 4 new tires (Michelin) for $800

Sweden: Chrysler Mini Van fully loaded $60K

Next time you complain about a repair think about our international friends and what they have to do to get the same cars we love to drive. Oh yes, let's remember the gas prices here a way lower here too.

Finally bought it, the previous buyer did pull back

The car seems yo be in top notch conditions, I will post more info and photos as soon as possible.

Congratulations!! They're stunning cars.


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Originally Posted by RooK77

Finally bought it, the previous buyer did pull back

The car seems yo be in top notch conditions, I will post more info and photos as soon as possible.

You'll be the envy of every other driver! Enjoy it.

Good stuff, I would take it to a BMW mechanic asap to see if it has any issues.

Congrats on the new purchase!

Very cool, glad you purchased the car. It is amazing how rare it is in Chile, it will be awesome to have a 6 in an area that you don't normally see them.

Thanks for all the helps guys! I took a quick photo, haven't made a full session yet.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9568/...0511133139.jpg

I have some questions that I will publish in a new thread.