Biggest mistake?

So, I purchased the car from here http://www.bigmotoringworld.co.uk/

Big Motoring World,, selling Second hand used BMWs, for sale in Kent, BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, X3 M3 Z3 Z4", where you can "pick up used BMW X5 Series at Big Motoring World Kent as well as used BMW 1 Series at Big Motoring World Kent

perhaps my biggest mistake yet....

The car is with them, the owner Peter is perhaps the rudest man alive and refuses to have a normal conversation.

The current faults;

Leaking exhaust manifold

Windscreen wipers permanently on

All safety devices not working (air bags, seat belts tensioners)

No power steering - fluid has all leaked out

No remote central locking

Clocking from OSF suspension

The car was collected on the 17th October and the owner refuses to give the car back to me! Having been to collect last Saturday I was told that I have to give 24 hour notice and that I cannot have the car until monday!

Having researched the company on the internet I find this;

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=275155

If only I had read this thread first......

The central locking has stopped working, so everytime I open the car with the key, the alarm sounds.
There are also fumes leaking into the cabin again, suspected exhaust manifold leak.

Volvo binned!

So, the D5 has been traded (172000), the Five is here. What a disaster.
Having handed over serious wads of cash I am left with what seems to be a dog.

Jobs to complete;

Brakes all round
Exhaust manifold repair
Heater plugs
Front O/S wishbone
Front tyres
Central locking fault

So the purchase price was ok, the mileage was at 139k at purchase.

Brakes have been changed the manifold has been welded and we have just completed server trips around europe;

1. London to Devon (400 miles)
2. London to Bolton (500 miles)
3. London to Bergerac (France) (1400 miles)

Overall the E61 now stands at 142000 miles.

Its the 1st of September, the autum is coming in hard. Lets see how it fairs in the months to come. Any more problems and its likley to be traded!

So 7 months on and now we are at 170k she passed the MOT only requiring new rear brake pads, which was a surprise.

We've only done 500 miles since the MOT in January, and now the debate rages about whether to upgrde to a newer BMW 5 series... personally is we must spen out i'd like a 530d, leather interior and all of the toys.

Something like this would be nice;

So, Just got back from a 1600 mile blast around france.

Calias - Amboise - Cognac - Bergerac - Amboise - Calias

One emergency stop and two faults.

1. The boot decided to lock itself and not open, luckly there is a manuel key release hidden underneath

2. Autmatic transmission service required. I checked the ATF, then the fault dissapeard.

So, we almost hit 166k the old girl did us well, but will she remain to be the car of choice or will I be forced to replace her with a newer model by the wife?

Remains to be seen.

Now at 163.500, not really using the car much these days as I am commuting by train in to the city. Had a disaster lastweek, rear tire puncher and nort repairable. Two front tyres also need replacement.

So four new tyres and an aircon recharge... bang £400.

So te quesiton;

What tyres to use?
Go budget?
Go premium?
or go for the middle ground?

I got 16k out of the fronts - Pirelli p6000's. Not good.

No have somthing called Arrowspeeds... I dont hold out for them, but it would be good to see atleast 20k.

Now at 160350, and it been just over 1k since the last service. I noticed that the engine tone changed after 200 miles, does oil take this long to bed in?

Averaging about 45 mpg combined, not bad but I prefer to see 60mpg having done a long run.

Last week I changed the rear brakes on another S60 that I own, its a 2001 2.0 turbo with 119k.

Apparently the rear beake shoe delaminate and can cause damage to the hub assembly. See here for details; http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=89899

If you have an S60/V70/S80 now might be the time to check them out. Other that potential delamination probles the only other problem seems to be the dam retaining springs for the rear shoes. Here comes the best bit, they seem to always brake or bend when being taken off and cost £4 each to replace from Volvo! (4 required)