[EN] Is it okay to buy an old BMW F10 528i 2011 car?

 

 

The Things That Exhausted Me After Owning Multiple Domestic Sports Cars

1. The parts are weak and easily break down.
2. Noise while driving? It's just something you have to accept. Want to listen to music quietly? No way—high output means loud sound.
3. The chassis is weak and breaks easily, the paint is fragile, scratches form quickly, and rust appears everywhere.

 

So, I started considering different options—from the SM5 to Nissan, Mitsubishi, Audi, and BMW—searching for information and weighing my choices...

 

The Conclusion?

 

 

A foreign car? Repair costs—that was my biggest concern... So, I decided on a domestic car, specifically the Genesis BH350.

I went back to the dealership, and the car looked fine... But the moment I started it cold, I checked the muffler emissions.

A white color, but not pure white... And the smell was acrid... The exhaust kept coming out.

The Engine Sound?

Well, of course, it wasn’t great, so I just passed on it.

 

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After returning home, I did more research... Maybe a BMW fits my taste after all?

I searched through various websites, found a car model, and made my decision:

• I'm going with a gasoline vehicle.
• Turbocharged engines? Nope. I’ve had too many struggles maintaining them for too long.

A few month after.

I went to a another used car dealership in Suwon to check out some options, but nothing stood out. The available cars were limited.

Then, a dealer offered to sell his own car—a diesel. I took it for a test drive, and I could feel the acceleration push my body back slightly.

It drove straight, was quiet... But still, a diesel with a turbo... The exterior and engine bay were well-maintained, but I decided to pass.

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June 5th

I went back to another dealership in Suwon and came across a 2011 BMW 528i on display in the lot.

It was covered in dust... but the body still had a good shine. The interior? Clean.

As per my usual test, I walked to the back of the muffler and asked the dealer to start the engine.

 

Huh? At first, there was a slight volatile smell, but after 5 seconds—just the scentless warmth, like a hairdryer. No exhaust smoke at all.

Ok. good~!

 

Next step, I opened the engine bay. The engine sound was smooth and rhythmic.

I took it for a test drive. It didn’t accelerate as fast as the 520D, but... I thought about it... and made my decision.

 

I Bought It!

In June 2019.

In gray.

After owning four white cars and one black car, I was tired of washing them all the time—so I went with gray.

• 2009-2011 model
• 98,000 KM mileage
• Price: 17,000,000 KRW ($11,700)

 

 

About two months after purchasing, I bought a polish, washed the car, and hand-polished it...

Then I noticed something sparkling?

The paint wasn’t just gray—it was Titanium Silver.

And the paint condition? It never faded at all. Every time I washed it, it looked as good as new.

That’s when I realized— This is what owning a foreign car is like.

 

 

 

**"This is a video of the engine noise.

Since it was right next to the road, there was a lot of background noise."**

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After car washing.

 

 

First Drive Impressions

When I first drove it, the steering felt really heavy, making my arms tired... But on the plus side, it was quiet and… the acceleration?

It was slower than expected and felt a bit sluggish.

The speed climbed well on the highway, but not particularly fast.

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However, considering my past experience driving only domestic sports cars like the Scoupe Turbo, Turbulence, and Tiburon (Elisa 2.7)—and taking every car through the same winding mountain roads to enjoy cornering—it felt less responsive in comparison.

It seemed like the previous owner mainly used it for daily commutes and work, which probably contributed to its calm and gentle driving behavior.

 

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The Beginning of the AC Problem

Right after purchasing the car, I drove down to Gyeongsang-do… and the air conditioner started blowing lukewarm air.

That was just the beginning.

It was hot... Was the AC broken? 😰

 

 

Oh No~~~~b~~~!!!!!!

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(Now, as I rewrite this in 2025, here’s the conclusion...)

For the first six months, no matter how much I floored the accelerator, it felt sluggish and slow...

But as it neared a year, acceleration became noticeably faster, and I could overtake on single-lane highways with ease, just like other cars.

By the one-and-a-half-year mark, acceleration during overtaking became sharp and quick—it felt great.

Then, through 2023 and 2024, after consistently filling it with premium fuel for several months, the car now jumps forward like a motorcycle.

Even at 150 km/h, if I floor the accelerator and let off slightly, it immediately surges forward, just like a bike. Driving it has become incredibly fun.

Two years ago, it was quiet at high speeds, but now, as it approaches 260,000 km, it has gotten a bit louder. (I’ll upload a driving video later.)