Not a good day :(

[RoyW]

A couple weeks ago I sold my 2006 e61 530Xi touring... took a deposit, got the balance due last Friday, paid off the loan, waiting for the title (7 to 10 days per the RMV), notice oil leak spots on the driveway in different locations over the last month or so (thought it was my truck, as it has a slight leak), then late last week I noticed a big oil spots on the barn floor after moving the 530 out after a minor detailing for the new owner (thought for sure it was from one of the cars I had detailed over the previous week).

Just for drill, I threw a piece of cardboard under the 530... checked it later that day... big leak!!

Now, I had it at the dealership in August for an oil service, an A/C charge, and replacement of a leaky Schrader valve. Everything check out fine, no mention of oil leak, etc. Oil level from computer says the level is a green "OK" (no dipstick)

Monday I took the car up to a friend's shop that is relatively close by to get it up on a lift....removed the large plastic panel, a smaller one, and an aluminum panel that together cover over the entire under-side of the engine and then some, to discover lots of oil/sludge mixed with dirt, sand, etc on the top surfaces of these panels.... clearly its been accumulating there for quite a while! Brake cleaned things off pretty good under there... ran the car for a while, and it looked like it was coming from an area that could only be the rear main seal Trailered it up to VSR yesterday and it was confirmed this morning that it is indeed the rear main that's leaking bad.

This is going to be a big repair bill, plus it takes a special tool to remove and install the new seal, which VSR will need to find/borrow. That couple thousand $ I made selling it myself, rather than trade it in when I bought the ML350 a few weeks ago, is soon to be gone!!!

I plan to call the guy that bought it tonight and tell him the news... shouldn't queer the deal., especially since I'm getting it fixed, but man, what a bummer. How does a 90K mile, well maintained car have this problem?? Shit happens, but this really pisses me off! That large plastic tray hides everything, and you'd never know you had a problem like this, or any other leak for that matter, until it gets big enough to spill over the edge somewhere.... unbelievable!

-RoyW

[wkohler]

Oh wow. That sucks Roy! At least you know what the right thing to do is. Good luck.

[athayer187]

I agree - many others would clean it up and hide the problem until the car is with the new owner. Another case where it absolutely pays to buy a car from a known good seller!

[davintosh]

Wow that is a bad deal. That would be a nasty surprise for a new owner, but good on you for getting it sorted out.

Who hasn't bought a car that had undisclosed problems? My most memorable one was a '73 Pontiac Bonneville -- it was in beautiful shape and I paid a premium price, but a week after driving it off the lot, several camshaft lobes self-destructed. The place I bought it from refused to stand behind it, and I was left with an expensive repair, and a chip on my shoulder.

[Mike W.]

While it's enough to make your shoulders drop more than a little, it's less than I feared. I was envisioning something more along the lines of something that will get the that'll buff right out reply.

And you're been here long enough to know what that means.

[Tammer in Philly]

And that is good character summed up. Well done, Roy.

[Coldswede]

I'm proud to say I know you Roy!


But yeah, that does suck about the leak. here's to hoping it is cheaper to fix than predicted.

[Mark 88/M5 Houston]

Bad news on the 530Xi Touring oil leak; good for you on doing the right thing and getting it repaired. Hopefully the buyer will really appreciate your forthrightness and offer to pitch in on the repair costs. I've done that in the past on the purchase of an airplane that had some problem avionics that didn't show up in the PPI.

[BRRV]

I feel your pain. Indeed: how does a 90,000 mile vehicle wind up with a rear main seal going out like that?

[oldskool]

Good day for the tech. . .

[Eddie in TO]

That sure is shitty news.
I understand the purpose of the underbody covers but it is a pain to remove for simple inspections.

I’m not surprised that you’re taking care of it though. That’s simply the type of gentleman you are.

It’s a real shame more sellers aren’t as honest about their so-called well maintained vehicle(s).

[a]

I feel your pain. Indeed: how does a 90,000 mile vehicle wind up with a rear main seal going out like that?

The answer to that is even more expensive.

Roy , I'm hoping. your due diligence will come back to you ten fold.

[GBel]

Well done Roy. That is why there isn't one guy on this forum that would think twice about buying a vehicle from you.


Gary

[L_N_Love]

Feel for you Roy. You are a person with integrity though.

You would think that BMW would have learned how to build a car by now but apparently they don't give a shit once it leaves the showroom and runs longer than the lease terms.

I love my old one but when it dies, it will probably be my last.

[Duke]

Good karma......what goes around, comes around.

[Motronic]

So that's where the drops of oil in my driveway came from Thought it was from the 5 but haven't seen oil since.

[Cactus]

That's a bummer, Roy. I wonder how long ago it started. It's not a modern car failing at 90k, It sounds like a failure well before that. Still, good on you for doing the right thing.

[tsmall07]

Man, that sucks, Roy. Something like that has happened to most of us, I'm sure, so we understand your frustration.

[TSMacNeil]

Roy-
That you are fixing it post-sale speaks volumes regarding your character. I'm very sorry for your ill-timed news, but good on you for being the stand-up guy we all know you to be.

Mac

[1st 5er]

Bummer.
You, Roy, set a very good example.

For the sake of perspective; if you'd known about the leak, and had it fixed just prior to deciding to sell, would it have changed the asking/selling price?

[RAL]

Actually with respect to the original poster it is a good day, albeit from a different perspective: in a world filled with too many bullshit artists, liars, and thieves, it is nice to see that there are still people of integrity. Good for you, and thank you.

[rmiddendorf]

This is not cool man! But you, like I would do, are totally doing the right thing. Huge thumbs up for how you're handling the situation.

[rmiddendorf]

I sent a link to this thread to the liars who ripped me off on eBay for $842.74. I thought I'd show eBay member sakifisher how an honest person behaves.