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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
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YOUR RESEARCHAnyone here have a 545
Reported or suspected cause
notoriously unreliable; control systems
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Read evidence and context
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Reported cause
THe I-drive system has proven to be notoriously unreliable; control systems which previously had a virtually zero failure rate now have frequent outages.
Leading evidence: 'notoriously unreliable; control systems' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'notoriously unreliable; control systems' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Recommend never owned a bmw' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I am sure you can get a pretty good deal on a 545 since the 550i's have replaced the 545.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The previous beautiful, waterfall grill which dropped seamlessly to the bumper on the E39 and E46 has been replaced by a cheaper to produce, flat and square hood with a Pontiac like sheet metal gap across the face of the car.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The older driver-oriented cockpit has been replaced with a straight, stylized driver DIS-oriented dashboard.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The previous beautiful, waterfall grill which dropped seamlessly to the bumper on the E39 and E46 has been replaced by a cheaper to produce, flat and square hood with a Pontiac like sheet metal gap across the face of the car.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
notoriously unreliable; control systems
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Reported cause
THe I-drive system has proven to be notoriously unreliable; control systems which previously had a virtually zero failure rate now have frequent outages.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
17 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261027T044418Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Sorry for the post here, but I need another daily car and I value the knowlege here plus I guess that most of us share the same taste. I am looking to pick up a CPO BMW 545 with sport. Likes/Dislikes?
The BMW 545 is a great car. It is pretty darn quick too for a sedan. The heads up display is well worth it...(dont know if it is an option or comes standard). I am sure you can get a pretty good deal on a 545 since the 550i's have replaced the 545. I almost thought about getting the 550i but realized that 65k + was too much for a daily driver.
You wont be dissapointed with the 545.
Where are you located? Remember that rear wheel drive cars don't do so well in snow - I get to laugh at flailing BMWs each winter that get stuck on snow and ice.
Well, people do drive them, but personally I wouldn't drive them in icy weather. Each Winter I see one get stuck in conditions htat other cars are having no problems with.
This winter a guy was stuck half way up a minor incline spinning his wheels on ice - the wheels were moving like crazy and the car was going nowhere.
My 2 cents... The problem these days are that all these high perf cars arrive with summer only tires. Even a dusting will leave you stranded or in a world of trouble. I don't limit my car driving choices based on what tires they come with, I just change their shoes as appropriate. There are snow tires and there are winter tires. Many of the winter tires are geared towards high perf cars such that they still offer good dry perf and feedback yet give you the safety you need when it is cold and snowy outside. Problem with summer only high perf tires is that they have zero grip in snow, zero steering/zero braking. I just switch out all my cars to their winter wheels/tires late every fall and switch back mid April.. worked in NJ/Philly works here in DC.
BTW: I got tired of looking out the window in the winter when I had my M3 or 911 somewhere hoping it wouldn't snow on me and how I would be stuck or have to stop along the way and wait it out. With winter tires mounted I just go about my business as usual and when the weather person goofs and there is white stuff everywhere I at least know I can manage my car home safely.
Also, I ran Blizzak Snow tires on the M3... one word....WOW. Blizzard...excuse me Mr. SUV can you move over please.. great grip and very confident stopping. Most people just know how terrible the M3 is in the snow.... not with snow tires
5 Series or above I recommend, never owned a BMW before but that was what I was told to go for as apparently you cannot go wrong.
BTW...what is Snow? We don't get that stuff here
I have to agree to Paul's statements about winter tires! I owned several RWD BMWs back in the Alps and with good (relatively new) winter tires I never had any issue on snowy Alpine passes. Now I've an AWD X3 and drive it all year round in our mild Northern Virginia weather with all season tires. The car has no grip at all on snow compared to my RWD BMWs with snow tires. I'd say winter tires make 75% of the grip in snow and AWD only 25%, so don't worry about a 545 but invest at least every 3 years in new winter tires and you'll love the car year round.
I too have been looking at a 2004 545. I saw one on cragislist with 59K highway miles and a 100K warranty for $31,500. A screaming deal in my opinion, but I still have 3 months left on my lease for my DD.
I've had 6 BMWs: 3's, 5's, 7's. Great driving cars. Will do great in the snow WITH proper tires (all seasons, at least).
The current 5 series is turdlike ugly. The previous beautiful, waterfall grill which dropped seamlessly to the bumper on the E39 and E46 has been replaced by a cheaper to produce, flat and square hood with a Pontiac like sheet metal gap across the face of the car. The trunklines are also awful. If you put a really nice set of wheels on the car it will distract from the slab-sidedness enough to at least make the side view tolerable. The older driver-oriented cockpit has been replaced with a straight, stylized driver DIS-oriented dashboard. THe I-drive system has proven to be notoriously unreliable; control systems which previously had a virtually zero failure rate now have frequent outages.
There is less engine intrumentation than a Kia mini-van. There is no voltmeter, no oil pressure gauge, not even a temperature gauge (though I think the water temperature may be available finally on the the heads up display). As a long time BMW fan, I think this car is a miserable embarassment to the great heritage of BMW. Just my opinion, of course, harsh as it may be!
I think that's the problem here in PA, is that Winter is so mild - we have maybe a couple of snowstorms and maybe a few ice stroms - nothing that warrants switching tires, so consquently the cars are miserable in the few days of bad weather that we do have.
I've driven a 545i, both a 6speed, and a SMG, and I love them both.
As for looks/styling...they're just OK, but performance and handling is excellent.
I've a buddy who owns a 545i and has had no problems or complaints.
GO for IT!
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