[ziggyk]

I am considering purchasing a 2012 535i xDrive that has a number of codes showing and has a Drivetrain malfunction warning when put into drive. I've never owned a BMW but have worked on many Mercedes and want to buy a decent project car. I was hoping someone with BMW experience could review these codes and let me know if they think it would be a decent project car or one you would run away from because it has too many problems. Images attached. Thanks in advance.

P13C9: VANOS, exhaust: control fault, camshaft stuck. My research shows this is mostly fixed by replacing the missing insert inside the oil filter.

P2138: Throttle/pedal position sensor/switch 'D'/'E' voltage correlation.

P16FC: DME, monitoring, 5 V sensor supply: Voltage outside valid range

P12A4: Absolute pressure sensor, intake pipe, plausibility, coastdown: Pressure too low

P15DF: High pressure fuel system, plausibility, cold start: Pressure too low

U11E7: Couldn't find any information.

[StradaRedlands]

These are all way above my pay grade... usually these things are sort of straightforward, it's just diagnosis that's the sticking point.

[M_Bimmer]

Maybe this could help you....https://bmwfault.codes/. I would never use generic emission codes to assess a problem with a BMW, and if you end up going forward with your purchase, I would highly recommend using ISTA+.

[wesamjaber2004@gmail.com]

Idk I think you shouldn’t buy it unless it’s for maybe a grand. Depends how many miles. Those codes are correlating towards a few possibilities you may need to purchase/work on. Those are the Vanos solenoids, new battery or computer which is very pricy to code. A new high pressure fuel pump which if the 5 series is pre lci that will cost 1100 for the part alone. I think that it’s a headache and you could find another 5 series with less headaches.

[StradaRedlands]

Have it taken to a BMW specialist garage that knows their stuff, and get a pre-purchase inspection. You may even have some mobile garage people specializing in BMWs in the area. Find out the problems and how much the fixes are, and better yet, why so many things are wrong.
Take all that information into consideration for figuring out a price. Could be no big deal and just swap out a few parts like the fuel pump, VANOS sensors, battery as mentioned above. If that's it, those are relatively easy, just pricey to do. But if that's reflected in the transaction price, everyone's happy!