BMW Problems

If they won’t come to the party and help you out you could go to the NSW consumer affairs people and ask for their advice. You could also contact the consumer affairs people in Queensland, as the dealer is based there, and would come under the Queensland law. I doubt that you will get far, however, as you signed the contract without properly checking it.

You would be able to move up to a 2011/2012 model for the money you have to spend, and for that you get a much safer car, with much lower kilometres, which should be much more reliable. Even though your 20-year-old car has been very reliable, there’s nothing to say that won’t all change tomorrow, and BMWs can be expensive to fix.

My best advice to you is to not buy an old used BMW; they will only soak up whatever money you might have saved up. An ageing BMW with high mileage is a money pit; it will cost plenty to service and keep on the road, whether you use a dealer, which I would not recommend, or an independent mechanic. Buy a well-respected Japanese brand, such as a Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer, or Mazda 3.

There is a cooling-off period in Victoria. You have three clear business days from the time you sign the contract of sale to change your mind, but you automatically lose that right if you accept delivery of the car within that period. By taking it home your wife forfeited the right to the cooling-off period.

I doubt the E39 will ever be considered a classic, particularly a run-of-the-mill model like the 525i. If I were to buy one I would buy the six-cylinder.

The value depends on the particular model, whether it’s a short or long wheelbase, six, eight or diesel engine etc., hence the value is a broad one, from $30,000 to $50,000.

I’m reluctant to recommend the Touareg, or the X5 for that matter. They are good cars, but can be expensive when things go wrong, and they are more likely to go wrong than is a Prado. I would definitely go for the Prado.

That’s a tough one given that the traditional chauffeur cars are no longer made. If you are aiming at business type clients and want to impress them consider a BMW 5-Series or a Mercedes-Benz E-class.