2004 BMW 5-Series BMW 5-Series 2004

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2004 BMW 5-Series repairs by problem area

Engine (41%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (9%)

Brakes and Traction Control (3%)

Suspension and Steering (13%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (30%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (1%)

Other (3%)

Chart based on 268 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2004 BMW 5-Series.

2004 BMW 5-Series engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (6%)

$1000 - $2499 (12%)

$500 - $999 (26%)

$100 - $499 (32%)

< $100 (24%)

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

Chart based on 95 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2004 BMW 5-Series

Engine not specified

88000 mi

£1600
Glow plugs 
98000 mi

£400
Cracked exhaust manifold 

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2004 BMW 5-Series 4dr Sedan

325-horsepower 4.4L V8 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD

42160 mi

C $300
Charge voltage was spiking in a range between 13.7 and 15.7 volts, replaced the regulator myself, repair done by owner.. Fault code for re-cat O2 sensor bank 1-4 (right side), replaced sensor owner did job himself. 
53940 mi

C $350
DURING MY ATTEMPT TO FLUSH THE COOLANT THE "OVER-ENGINEERED" BMW DRAIN VALVE PLUG BROKE AND I HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE RADIATOR. NEW RAD. HAS NO LONGER A DRAIN VALVE!! WHICH IS A MUCH BRIGHTER IDEA THAT THAT RED PLASTIC CONTRAPTION. 
58900 mi

C $65
Replaced spark plugs @95000 kms 
75640 mi Lost all four M8 nuts from the exhaust manifold to muffler pipe flange connections and car sounded like a hole in my muffler, replaced and torques to 33 ft/lbs. 
83080 mi

C $110
The additional waterpump providing residual heat died and I replaced it and flushed coolant pump was $86 and coolant around 30. 
95480 mi

C $12
Alternator bracket oil gasket leaking, a well known problem with the bmw v8. Replaced the gasket. 
73780 mi

C $550
Thermostat error codes. Replaced Thermostat housing 
75640 mi

C $1700
Valve cover gaskets leaking so badly the alternator was threatened. Parts were $257 and labour was $1200. A couple of other small things, total of $1700. Apparently a big job to change these gaskets on the N62 engine. 
83700 mi

C $400
Replace oil sensor due to leak 
55180 mi

C $107
Vacuum pump - replaced O-ring seal causing oil leak 
72000 mi

US $425
Leaky water pump. 
49600 mi

$300
PCV valves replaced on both banks. PCV Valves Replaced on both banks 
176000 mi

US $7323
Engine heads repaired 
67000 mi

US $148
Service Engine Soon light. Code P0348 Bank 2 Intake Camshaft Position Sensor Purchased sensor from BMW Dealer and replaced myself. 
75500 mi

US $54
Cooling System leaking - broken vent pipe (connects expansion tank to radiator). Purchased new vent pipe from BMW Dealership and replaced it (15 minute repair job). 
84000 mi

US $480
Coolant leak - replaced Water Pump and Expansion Tank. Parts and Labor ($480.00) by Indy Shop, Former BMW Tech. 

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2004 BMW 5-Series 4dr Sedan

325-horsepower 4.4L V8 6-speed manual RWD

98000 mi

US $134
Replace oil pressure sensor 
99000 mi

US $472
New mass air flow sensor 
94300 mi

US $175
low oil pressure switch failed. required replacement which cleared problem. seemed to be intermittent but necessary to replace considering risk of ignoring it. part seal leaked oil on switch wiring causing short. and false positive alarm 
55300 mi

US $200
Oil leak from oil pressure switch 
66300 mi

US $1200
Secondary air injection code; Replaced secondary air intake valve Bad thermostat 
78500 mi

US $3000
Cross over tube R&R via kit 
81000 mi

US $800
Fuel pump 
77000 mi

US $2400
Vacuum pump replacement 
74300 mi Replaced serpentine belt Leaking valve cover gaskets, leaking alternator bracket gasket. 
76000 mi

US $120
Replaced water pump, serpentine belt and ac belt. 
79500 mi

US $70
Coolant expansion tank ruptured, replaced with new one. Replaced common n62 issue, alternator bracket oil gasket. What a pain, but repair usually costs $1500 at an independent. Thermostat sensor o-ring failed, replaced with new one. 
101000 mi

US $200
Radiator began to weep at side tanks. Removed radiator and sent to repair shop. Aluminum radiator cannot be soldered, was epoxied and pressure tested. Repair failed in one week, leaks from same place as original. 
85000 mi

US $250
Radiator leaked; tried to quicksteel the old one, it did not work. Purchased new radiator and installed. No more leaks (FOR NOW). 

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2004 BMW 5-Series 4dr Sedan

325-horsepower 4.4L V8 6-speed automated manual RWD

66000 mi Small amount of smoke coming from engine, valve gaskets and timing gaskets replaced. Vehicle bought from private party, previous owner paid for repairs. 
91000 mi

US $870
Replaced water pump and themostat; used dealer discount of 15% off 1,000 estimate Replaced water pump and themostat; used dealer discount of 15% off 1,000 estimate 
91800 mi Replaced engine vacuum pump for brakes; BMW USA covered the repair after complaint that recall should have covered it. 
90000 mi

US $708
valve cover gaskets replaced 
88500 mi

US $4000
oil leak from valve cover gaskets...replace gaskets and valve timing houseing gaskets 
92000 mi

US $848
coolant leak upper coolant hose, replace hose to water pump,upper radiator hose. all coolant tank hoses. Check cylinder walls for scoring from overheating ( via scope through spark plug holes). 
94000 mi

US $1750
oil leakage-moderate, alternator seal replaced and leaking left motor mount. Replaced alternator seal and 2 new engine mounts. 
97000 mi Check engine light came on following a non-name brand gas refill, Mechanic did diagnostic for re-map fuel system, worked and all is well after 500 miles since that fill-up. 
98000 mi

US $780
cracked crankcase vent(131.88), replaced spark plugs 
102000 mi

US $865
Belts and new pulleys,alt.,etc. Had been making noise. 
89700 mi

US $1500
leak at back of block and timing cover. Dealer estimate to repair was 4200.00 to 5200.00 
92700 mi

US $88
Replacing Cooling expansion tank and cap 
110675 mi

US $180
Engine cooling system (radiator, water pump, thermostat, heater core, etc.), repair Engine cooling system (radiator, water pump, thermostat, heater core, etc.), repair 
123000 mi

US $670
Valve cover gaskets. 
126700 mi

US $450
Replaced all four oxygen sensors 
130000 mi

US $800
Valve cover gasket kept leaking after the January repair. Kept taking it back, but they couldn't fix it. Went to a second shop, which found that first shop had damaged the vale cover. Had to replace it along with gasket. 

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2004 BMW 5-Series 4dr Sedan

225-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD

69000 mi

US $589
Thermostat stuck; mediocre heat; dealer repaired problem under CPO warranty 
82000 mi

US $500
Head gasket replacement. 
111600 mi

﷼300
Oil leak 
103540 mi

R 4000
Mass Air Flow sensor being cleaned but needs replacement. 
103540 mi Poor acceleration. 
148000 mi

US $6000
Engine motor leaks and  
106420 mi White smoke, warning low oil message. CCV and pipes replaced 
130000 mi

US $900
Thermostat & Programming 
134000 mi driveshaft sensor 
118000 mi

US $500
mass air flow sensor 
33880 mi

$350
Coolant pipes and pump replacement 
126000 mi

US $500
Apparently the intake system likes to 'create leaks', this has been an ongoing issue for months and prevented my car from passing smog... damn touchy computers. Over 100k the Valve Cover Warps because its made of cheap plastic and started to leak all over the headers making it smell like a city bus and spew smoke like TJ Taxi. 
128400 mi

US $800
Cooling system... water pump bearings failed as well as the gaskets. 
89360 mi

C $2000
waterpump and cooling system replacement 
63860 mi Air valve got stuck 
69440 mi

C $700
Crankshaft sensor shorted internally. Part replaced. 
77190 mi

C $740
Replaced MPM (Micro Power Module) in the trunk of the car. The module had shorted out.  
124660 mi

C $200
Replaced broken DISA valve. 
152000 mi

US $50
replaced valve cover gasket 
200000 mi

US $80
Replaced water pump and drive belts 
75000 mi CAS computer replaced. 
82000 mi Starting problem continues. Factory recommended cleaning intake system. 
82000 mi Replaced oil sensor that, if shorted, could cause erratic starting. 
84000 mi Continuing starting problem was fixed with a new fuel injector 

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2004 BMW 5-Series 4dr Sedan

225-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD

72000 mi

US $50
Low oil pressure warning - replaced oil pressure sensor low oil pressure warning - replaced oil pressure sensor // 
72500 mi Oil pressure dropping at low speed/idle and triggering intermittent low oil pressure warning. Replaced oil pump. Problem has not recurred. 
142600 mi

C $500
- valve cover gasket replacement; small oil leak was dripping into the exhaust manifold; smoke and burn odor coming into cabin as spilled oil burned on the hot manifold. 

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2004 BMW 5-Series 4dr Sedan

225-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed automated manual RWD

102000 mi

US $270
Car would not start after being parked 3 cold days. Dealer said that engine was flooded with fuel. Spark plugs were removed and cleaned. Problem has not reoccurred. 
181800 mi

US $500
Then the cooling system developed a leak. 
240000 mi

US $600
Supplemental air pump failure ECU fan faillure 
120860 mi

C $500
Coolant flush one hour labour plus coolant. Coolant $28 plus tax. Alternator belt cracked replaced. One hour labour plus parts $ 19. tensioner pullies. $72+172 plus... brake fluid flush.... one hour labour plus paarts. $.. total 500 
116580 mi

C $765
replaced :jan 14. new CCV gasket, rondonts.leaking -changed. Oil seperator and breather hoses. set of 4.clogged. replaced. oil filter housing gasket leaking- changed. 6 NGK PLUGS 
128960 mi

C $161
Disa valve changed. kit labour and parts $161. 
167400 mi

C $400
replace coils - and the cc cover gasket and oil filter. parts and labor $700 
51400 mi

US $292
cooling thermostat,, fluid leakage 
45000 mi Hard cold morning starts... Shop says that the fuel pump went out, again last year it did that same thing and replaced fuel pump.. 

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2004 BMW 5-Series 4dr Sedan

184-horsepower 2.5L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD

132060 mi

$250
Error message about low oil pressure. Diagnosed as faulty sensor, sensor replaced. 
133300 mi

$2000
Low oil pressure warning came on with warm engine on idle. Oil-pressure sensor replaced, computer (re-)programmed. Situation with warning improved, but not completely alleviated. New trip to shop scheduled. 
133300 mi

$1800
Low oil pressure warning came on with engine on idle. Sensor(-s) replaced, computer re-programmed, engine checked, fault did not appear again. 
40672 mi

$500
Coolant leak, lower radiator hose and temp sensor replaced Valve cover gasket oil leak Engine cooling system (radiator, water pump, thermostat, heater core, etc.), repair Engine, other than above, repair 
44640 mi

$3500
Vanos line blocked 
60340 mi

$2000
Coolant tank, hoses replaced Oil sump gasket replaced 
195000 mi

US $745
fuel pump went out again fuel filter and sender seal 

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2004 BMW 5-Series 4dr Sedan

184-horsepower 2.5L I6 6-speed manual RWD

90000 mi

US $60
Valve cover gasket was leaking oil onto exhaust manifold. Replaced valve cover gasket 
114700 mi

US $55
Thermostat failed in open position resulting in little to no heat from vents. Replaced thermostat 
145000 mi

US $300
Crank case ventilation system was broken and leaking oil. Replaced entire system 

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2004 BMW 5-Series Engine Problems

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