1999 BMW 5-Series BMW 5-Series 1999

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1999 BMW 5-Series repairs by problem area

Engine (49%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (0%)

Brakes and Traction Control (7%)

Suspension and Steering (17%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (22%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (2%)

Other (2%)

Chart based on 89 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 1999 BMW 5-Series.

1999 BMW 5-Series repair cost distribution

$2500+ (7%)

$1000 - $2499 (24%)

$500 - $999 (16%)

$100 - $499 (25%)

< $100 (28%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 75 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

1999 BMW 5-Series

Engine not specified

BMW in Pennsylvania, United States
Apr 2012 - Jun 2012
May 2012

187000 mi

US $200
Cam position sensor was bad. Replaced both. 
BMW in Minnesota, United States
Nov 2012 - May 2014
Sep 2013

154000 mi

US $30
Check engine light came on - replaced fuel cap 
BMW in Massachusetts, United States
Feb 2012 - Jan 2013
Apr 2012

91200 mi

US $1200
replaced radiator and airflow meter. 
BMW in British Columbia, Canada
Sep 2011 - Jun 2012
Jan 2012

69020 mi

C $2000
Engine oil leaks 
BMW in Washington, United States
Mar 2011 - Sep 2011
Jun 2011

139000 mi

US $400
Car would not start after stopping. I got a jump and was able to get car home. Battery was bad so replaced. Eventually found that the alternator was bad as well so had the alternator rebuilt. 
Jul 2011

142000 mi

US $50
ABS speed sensor went bad. No speedometer, or computer displays of MPG, etc.. for remainder of trip. Ordered new speed sensor to be installed. 
Aug 2011

142000 mi

US $50
ABS module sent to be rebuilt. 
BMW in Connecticut, United States
Dec 2010 - Dec 2015
Jan 2011

139000 mi

US $250
Radiator replaced due to leak. Coolant replaced.  
Feb 2011

140000 mi

US $4000
replaced shocks, replaced control arms front/rear, replaced ball joints front 
Jun 2011

146000 mi

US $200
Hub 
Dec 2011

150000 mi

US $1100
Replace valley pan gasket 
Jan 2013

139800 mi

US $3400
timing chain guide broke 
Jun 2013

160000 mi
fixed squeak in front door latches 
Jan 2014

158700 mi
Faulty battery 
Feb 2014

166700 mi

US $150
Leaky radiateur 
Apr 2014

167700 mi

US $50
Coolant hose 
May 2014

168100 mi
Power steering pump bracket failure 
BMW in California, United States
Sep 2012 - Jun 2013
Nov 2012

203100 mi

US $312
Steering link replacement. Found during pre-purchase inspection. 
Jan 2013

206000 mi

US $2394
Replaced cooling system hoses, valley cover/manifold, and thermostat. 
Jun 2013

206000 mi
cooling leak cracked piston 
BMW in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2015 - Dec 2015
Dec 2015

78740 mi

C $300
Lower right control arm replaced. 
BMW in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2013 - May 2014
Nov 2013

117800 mi

C $90
On start airbag and transmission warning lights came on. Turned radio on. Turned sun visor vanity light on which caused radio to go off. Various interactions between unrelated electrical components. Fault - defective ignition switch. 
BMW in Washington, United States
May 2009 - Dec 2013
Jun 2009

97000 mi

US $50
Expansion Tank leaking, replaced Expansion Cap. 
Apr 2011

119000 mi

US $2000
Cooling system failed. 
Jul 2011

121000 mi

US $1900
Strut/Shock replacement 
BMW in Connecticut, United States
Dec 2013 - Dec 2014
Dec 2013

178000 mi

US $75
Replaced spark plugs and coil 
Jul 2014

188800 mi

US $200
Replaced compressor, drier, and orifice tubing. Compressor was making a god-awful noise. Rear ball joints, the car felt like it was "skiing" a little. 

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1999 BMW 5-Series 4-door

turbocharged 6-cylinder manual AWD

BMW in Georgia, United States
May 2009 - Mar 2012
Jun 2009

74000 mi

US $2600
Air conditioner compressor and related parts 

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1999 BMW 5-Series 4-door

supercharged 8-cylinder manual 2WD

BMW in Georgia, United States
May 2009 - Jun 2018
Dec 2009

193000 mi

US $240
Camshaft position sensor replacement. 
Feb 2010

195000 mi

US $2400
ABS computer died, as is normal on these cars. 
Nov 2010

213800 mi

US $150
MAF replaced due to common failure. 
Dec 2010

217000 mi

US $80
Xenon headlamp light bulb began functioning intermittently. Replaced. 
Dec 2011

226000 mi

US $1200
DSC module failure 
Jun 2013

245000 mi

US $4350
ABS module and hydro unit Secondary air pump dead. Replaced. 
Jan 2014

222300 mi

US $60
Upper radiator coolant hose burst 

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1999 BMW 5-Series 4-door

8-cylinder manual 2WD

BMW in California, United States
Jun 2017 - Jun 2018
Mar 2017

134200 mi

US $200
Replaced window regulators. I have now replaced all 4. 
BMW in Florida, United States
Jun 2017 - Jul 2018
Oct 2017

205000 mi

US $650
Replaced cracked radiator and thermostat. 
Jan 2018

207000 mi

US $405
Water pump, thermostat, pullies 
Jun 2018

225000 mi

US $1100
Replaced worn out shocks, struts, springs, dampers, spring pads and control arm. 
Jul 2018

225000 mi

US $958
Replaced the expansion tank,  valve cover gasket  and repaired a secondary air pump pile in the front of the engine. 
BMW in New York, United States
Jul 2010 - Dec 2010
Sep 2010

110000 mi

US $1100
New front end links and shocks were needed. 
BMW in Kentucky, United States
May 2009 - Mar 2010
Oct 2009

120000 mi

US $2100
Timing chain guides are made of an exceptionally brittle plastic, as is the oil separator (PCV valve). Both disintegrate with age, causing the engine to run terribly and smoke, as well as allow the cams to jump time. 
BMW in Ontario, Canada
May 2009 - Oct 2009
Jun 2009

65720 mi

C $800
100,000 km maintenance discovered worn rear ball joints and swaybar links. Trip 1 was to repair those items. 
Jul 2009

66960 mi

C $1000
Aircon condenser failed. Replacement of condenser and dryer. 
Aug 2009

67580 mi

C $800
Mass Air sensor failed. Replaced. 
Oct 2009

68200 mi

C $20
Fuel filler door hinge replaced because door would not remain open. 
BMW in Texas, United States
Jan 2010 - Oct 2013
Feb 2010

68000 mi
igniter for xenon headlights was broken, repaired by dealer. 
May 2010

72000 mi

US $75
AC 'freon' recharge warning lights for lowbeam headlights, brake lights, rear lights randomly coming on.  
Jul 2010

76000 mi

US $160
warning lights still not repaired 
Oct 2010

80000 mi

US $440
Coil and spark plugs 
Sep 2011

92000 mi

US $1500
bracket holding power-steering fluid pump broke, causing belt to fall off, radiator overheated and popped. 
Dec 2011

94000 mi

US $1100
Water pump 
May 2013

107900 mi
A/C compressor is broken. I will sell the car rather than repair 
Oct 2013

110000 mi
A/C compressor broken. 

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1999 BMW 5-Series 4-door

8-cylinder automatic 2WD

BMW in New Jersey, United States
May 2009 - Sep 2010
Aug 2010

125000 mi

US $97
Broken electrical thermostat replaced.  
BMW in California, United States
Jun 2017 - Apr 2019
Jun 2018

98000 mi

US $1100
Replace O2 sensors 
BMW in Georgia, United States
May 2009 - May 2011
Jun 2009

112000 mi

US $525
alternator replaced, MAF sensor died the next week Mass Airflow Sensor 
Jan 2010

US $200
DSP amp failed. Stealer wanted $ 1635 for new amp! No aftermarket solution poss. Ordered used one fromj BMW junkyard for $ 200. 
Mar 2011

136000 mi

US $200
DSP amp died again. Bought a used part that didn't work. Work around is to short +/- pins & on amp wait 5 min. when it dies. Have since sold car. 
BMW in New Jersey, United States
May 2009 - Mar 2014
Feb 2010

38000 mi

US $970
Valve Cover gaskets were leaking slightly 
May 2011

52000 mi

US $1000
Replaced entire cooling system including radiator, belts, fan clutch, coolant pump, thermostat and hoses 
Jan 2013

42300 mi

US $1100
Replace radiator Power steering hoses replaced due to leak 
Apr 2013

64000 mi

US $760
Valve cover gaskets replaced 
Jun 2013

66000 mi

US $500
Replaced sway bar bushings 
BMW in Wisconsin, United States
Nov 2010 - Apr 2011
Jan 2011

US $4200
Timing chain and tensioner, plugs and other misc. 
BMW in Illinois, United States
Nov 2010 - Jun 2011
Dec 2010

130000 mi

US $1200
radiator and hoses.  Also needed a new fuel pump. 

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1999 BMW 5-Series 4-door

6-cylinder manual 2WD

BMW in North Carolina, United States
Jul 2010 - Feb 2012
Dec 2010

149000 mi

US $400
Radiator cracked where upper radiator hose attaches. 
May 2011

152000 mi

US $850
Fitting at back of engine block was leaking coolant. Repair was expensive because it required removing the intake manifold. When shop removed intake manifold, they loosened banjo bolt on high pressure oil line to VANOS unit and forgot to re-tighten, resulting in complete loss of ALL engine oil. 

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1999 BMW 5-Series 4-door

6-cylinder automatic 2WD

BMW in British Columbia, Canada
Jun 2009 - Mar 2011
Jul 2009

132680 mi

C $9
Bleed screw on expansion tank broke and caused car to overheat. 
Mar 2011

151900 mi
The rear wiper stopped working but something was binding and wouldn't let the wiper move. The wiper motor itself was fine but I didn't get a chance to look into it any further 
BMW in Ohio, United States
Nov 2009 - Jun 2011
May 2010

177000 mi

US $500
radiator was leaking and needed replacement (replaced original).  power steering line was leaking, repaired. 
BMW in New York, United States
Jun 2009 - Nov 2011
Jul 2009

173000 mi

US $950
Crankcase valve went bad. 
Jun 2010

179000 mi

US $130
Steering fluid leak, suspension loose will fix later. 
Nov 2011 AC seized Severe body rust. Steering leak and loose suspension parts never fixed. ABS/traction control didn’t work (tried to refurb unit to no avail) Gauges read wrong, temp controls didn't work properly. 

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1999 BMW 5-Series Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 1999 BMW 5-Series problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.