BMW 5-Series E39 (1996 - 2003) - 01 3.0 Some advice...

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Tue 14 Jul 2009 15:51
01 3.0 Some advice... - CJay{P}
Some advice would be most appreciated?.

I am in the market for a car. Went to look at a BMW 530i sport. Considering it was a Y plate car, it was very well presented, almost totally rust free. The paperwork was okay, and seemed to have been regularly serviced, although it seemed to have missed a brake fluid change one of the designated intervals.

I requested that the car was started as soon as I saw the car, and leave it running while I checked over it. After about 8 or 9 minutes, the temperature rose beyond the midpoint. I currently have an E46, and the temperature never rises beyond the midpoint whatever I do. I then went for a test run, and the temperature needle duly settled at the midpoint. Is this a sign of a head gasket failure?

The DSC light was permanently on. The owner initially claimed that it was the ?steering sensor?. When I said that that this cannot be the case, he changed his story to and said ?it has always been on?, and ?I don?t know about a DSC, I just drive it and don?t muck around switches on the dash?. Depressing the DSC button on the dash does nothing to the light. The car has a very recent MOT without any advisories. Surely, a faulty DSC would make it impossible to pass a MOT?

It drove very well.
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