Looking to buy this car, but I want to be sure of it. What should I look for besides common water bump and belts aswell as suspension and oil leaks around engine? Going to have the tranny checked out also. snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com Gus
buying a 98 528i...how do the plastic water pumps look like? and other things..
Feb 27, 2006
10 Replies
The '98 came with a metal-impeller water pump right from the factory.
Check the HVAC works properly. Including the aux electric fan which should run when the AC is on.
Check for wheel shimmy at around 60 mph.
Look for oil leaks around the power steering reservoir.
There's not a problem with water pumps or belts. Or the auto transmission.
Hi Dave,
What exactly is "wheel shimmy" and how does it manifest?
Many thanks
most important thing on my list was checking to see if the Nikasil block had been replaced.
A vibration and movement felt through the steering wheel - possibly worse when braking. Feels like warped discs.
If it's a US car, the E39 sixes didn't have nikasil blocks.
Further, the nikasil V8 issue was resolved by 1997, so NO 1998 V8 would have had that problem!
Further, the nikasil V8 issue was resolved by 1997, so NO 1998 V8 would have had that problem!
and since no 528's had a V8 anyway...
Ah, I have exactly that. Very slight if at all when accelerating through 60 but braking from 70 down through 60 its very noticeable.
So what can I do about it...?
Have so far re-balanced the wheels and my next move was going to be tracking then investigate the discs (in order of expense!)
TIA
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