Overview & Reviews
The 5 Series has been completely redesigned for 2004. Along with a new V8 and the iDrive vehicle management system, buyers can expect even greater handling from this premier midsize sedan than before.
- Available V8 power, handles more like a sports car than a sedan, luxurious yet sporty cabin.
User Reviews:
Showing 1 through 10 of 343.00-
Unload it before the warranty expires ! - 2004 BMW 5-Series
By junkyard2 - October 21 - 2:04 pmI bought my 530i automatic with around 100K miles. First off DO NOT believe BMW that the Auto Trans fluid is "lifetime" fluid (mine was black in color) Theres no such thing. I used to do 100% of my maintenance until I bought this car. Had to have a shop do the trans ($840) I did the front brakes ($540) At around 115K it was one issue after another. At 117K at 75 mph the trans downshifts into 4th gear. The i-drive states that there is a trans malfunction code. Had the codes checked and the car was diagnosed with a bad trans. $4200 for a used one ! I loved driving the car and the mpg but WAY to expensive to maintain after warranty is out. I lost $4500 in the 7 months that I owned it !
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Worst car Ive ever owned. Beautiful looking but leaves you stranded. - 2004 BMW 5-Series
By nickafan - May 10 - 1:06 amThe only thing this car has going for it is looks. The car is a worthless piece of crap in my opinion. I bought it with 70,000 miles and a month later, the car died. It needed a new battery and had $3,000 worth of oil leaks. My mechanic told me the oil leaks are standard maintenance on this BMW. A week later the car wouldnt start again & threw a check engine light. It needed a new thermostat, coolant, and MAF sensor. Two weeks later I discovered another oil leak at the oil pressure sensor! This is ridiculous. Ive owned a 2006 Toyota from 0 miles all the way to 140,000+ miles and it never needed a new battery, never had oil leaks, never a check engine light, and it never left me stranded.
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Transmission fault - 2004 BMW 5-Series
By daisy2 - August 5 - 8:48 pmTransmission fault came on and then i have to stop in the middle of the road to restart for light would go off . This is the worst BMW ever the car only have 85k . and my friends has a kia with more miles and there no problems with his car even the BMW shop tried to fix the car but they fix the wrong thing, i hate i ever got this car
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Its a trap! - 2004 BMW 5-Series
By Collin B - August 8 - 4:54 amI owned a 2004 530i that I purchased in 2013 for a year and six months and 20,000 miles. In those 20,000 miles the vehicle needed more than $5,000 in maintenance and repair items, and this was a clean 1 owner example that had been meticulously maintained. It needed 4 new brake pads and rotors for $2200, 4 new tires for $1200, all new PCV hoses for $850, Spark Plugs for $300, transmission fluid and filter exchange for $900, water pump and coolant for $75 (DIY), $200 for a sunroof leak and the subwoofer it took out (DIY), and $300 in oil and filter changes. I cringe when I think about how much I spent on this car, only to have it totaled in a flood. However, it was the most solid driving, comfortable and beautiful car I have ever owned. All of the features it had worked from the heated steering wheel, to the complex iDrive system, even after 11 years and 120,000 miles. The engine still purred like a kitten, could bounce off the rev limiter, and the car would still hit 155mph and pull 0.90g in the bends just like when it was new. It never broke down, nor had any problems. All of the items listed above are either wear items, or were replaced preventatively. I cant imagine owning another BMW of this age, as the rubbers and plastics used simply dont hold up over time, however Id definitely consider owning another newer one. This car is not for the faint of heart, and if you just need a cheap luxury car to drive everyday, Id go for a Lexus. On the other hand, if you like to work on cars yourself, or want a fun daily driver and are willing to pay for it, the BMW is the best youll find.
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530i/Totally Unreliable - 2004 BMW 5-Series
By Kevin P. Kelly - August 4 - 10:00 amPurchased in 10/03...software on "i" drive replaced., LCD screen would not work in cold weather ..had to be repaired/replaced..radio stopped working., and has been replaced., towed to the dealer 3 times...engine justed died while driving., i drive toggle stopped working and had to be replaced., car creeked and rattled... In all this vechicle had been in the dealers shop for more than 20 days.My wife has an 03.... no problems at all. Wait for Bmw to work the bugs... and rattles out before you plunk down 50k
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Great car when it works - 2004 BMW 5-Series
By karenw - November 15 - 10:00 amIf I could keep this car out of the shop, I think it would be a fun car to drive. Radio - what radio, cant get AM stations and FM teases you by coming in once in a while- dealer cant fix. Air bag - sometimes it engages, sometimes not - dealer cant fix. Engine, sometimes car will run, sometimes warning signs come on and tell you to go directly to the dealership - kind of like Monopoly with go directly to jail and do not pass go - dealer has no clue whats wrong.
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Miserable $60,000 Car - 2004 BMW 5-Series
By Rich D. - November 28 - 2:30 amThis car, while brilliant in performance characteristics, is utterly unreliable. With only 23,000 miles driven, the list of mechanical and electrical problems I have experienced are too numerous to mention. Suffice it to say that this car and the BMW service from the dealer where the car were purchased have provided me with the worst car ownership experience I have ever had. Although born in Germany, I will never purchase another German made car - Japanese cars are simply far superior - an imperceptible loss in performance is worth the peace of mind of knowing you own a reliable, well built machine.
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Lemon - 2004 BMW 5-Series
By A.Ortiz - June 20 - 4:19 amThe look of the car is attractive.The looks are not worth the troubles and headaches of the vehicle. It has too many electrical problems.The windows roll down automatically while the ignition is turned off. The car also beeps like its going to flat line when the car is in motion. The dealers do not know how to fix these problems. They reset the computer for the beeping sound and put a new motor in the doors for the windows and the same problems still occur. I have taken the vehicle to the dealer for service and repairs 7 times and I just scheduled an appointment for an 8th time in 2 weeks.
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2004 530 is OK but not like previous 5s - 2004 BMW 5-Series
By RiceOwls - January 17 - 7:20 pmThis is my second 5 series, and is lacking compated to the 2002 model. The active steering is OK, as is i-drive, zip is good as is braking. I-drive is overkill (e.g. buttons for radio would be better), interior feels like a Camry or Avalon instead of a BMW, its got more squeaks and rattles than an 80s vintage GM car, it "floats" when hit by strong winds, problem with the gas tank such that it thinks its full after being filled with 1-2 gallons (even if it needs a full tank), had to have i- drive fixed by dealer within first few months, inferior storage and cup holders (OK so thats standard BMW and not specific to 2004 5 series), and in general does not stack up to the previous 530.
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A dangerous LEMON - 2004 BMW 5-Series
By RRand - January 10 - 6:28 pmI obtained this, my third BMW, with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the car was a lemon from an electrical standpoint with multiple problems from the start. The worst were that the heated seat burned through the seat leather and burned through my clothes and into my wallet which was all that saved me. Now the seat is under recall. Next the assisted steering system failed on the freeway. I have returned the car most unsatisfied!!
