Questions and Answers

BMW 528i Concerns Q. Dear sir, I have recently purchased a BMW details are as under: 1997 528i 208,000 kilometers (129,245 miles) My queries are as under:

What is the average life of a 528i series engine in terms of kilometers?

How can I know whether my engine is in good shape?

What do I need to do immediately as a new owner?

What is the top speed I can drive safely with this 208,000 kilometers old engine?

I took it in $12,000.00 US dollars, is the price okay?

I feel substantial vibrations in my car when I start it in the morning but fades away when the engine is hot. The ambient temperature here in Saudi Arabia is approximately 30° to 40° C (83° to 105° F). What can be wrong?

What engine oil should I use for my car?

I would appreciate if you take out a little time from your busy schedule and answer my queries

Thanks
Rashid

A. You can reasonably expect to get about 200,000 to 250,000 miles (320,000 to 400,000 kilometers) from the engine. It all depends on how well you take care of it. The one thing you can do that will prolong the life of the engine is regular oil and filter changes every 3,000 miles. Keep a clean air filter in it. Saudi Arabia is a dusty country and the air filter will need to be changed more often.

The best way to find out what kind of shape the engine is in is to do a wet/dry compression test. This will give you an idea on how good the rings and valves are.

As a new owner of a used car, it's best to start from scratch. I would do an oil and filter change, transmission service and tune-up with all the filters. This way you know it was done and you have the basis for a regular service schedule.

I don't recommend going over the legal speed limits for your area, but, hypothetically speaking, 75 mph to 85 mph would be a good cruising range for that car.

According to the Kelly Blue Book, a 1997 BMW 528i with 130,000 miles in good condition is worth about $16,300.00 US. So I would say that the price is a good one.

You may have a coolant temperature sensor that is bad. The only way to test it is with a BMW scan tool.

I would recommend using at least a 10W-30 motor oil. You don't have to worry about low temperatures so you can go with a little heavier oil. If the temperature stays in the 95° or higher range for an extended period of time, you might even consider a 15 W-30 oil.

I hope this helps.

Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA