If you have ever perused the online car classifieds, whether you’re actually in the market for a car or not, you’ve seen them. You have probably even daydreamed about them. Those older luxury cars – like BMWs and Audis – that you once thought you could never afford, but now, thanks to the magic of depreciation, you can afford them without even breaking the bank.

Don’t do it! Repairs are costly and before you know it, you’ll be better friends with your mechanic that you are with your significant other. But if you must, here are five used luxury cars that you should pass on. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

2001-2008 BMW 750li

The E65 BMW 750li, which was the fourth-generation 7 Series — made from 2001 to 2008 – might seem like the bargain of the century. And why not? It retailed for anywhere from $85,000 to $100,000 when it was new and now you can buy one for less than $10,000 just about anywhere in the U.S. But try not to get sucked in as many owners of the 7 Series in this vintage have complained about transmission issues including troubles with it downshifting or shifting into a different gear, as well as engine oil leaks and random car fires, according to one owner on Carcomplaints.com.  

According to Edmunds, there are also complaints of the iDrive system and navigation failing, all of which are extremely costly to repair. The 01 to 08 BMW 7 Series might seem enticing but, unless you like watching money leave your wallet, we suggest staying away.

2009-2012 Audi A4

Sure, an Audi A4 might seem harmless. After all, it’s like the “Honda Accord” of Audis. It’s too bad it’s not as reliable as an Accord, as 2009 to 2012 A4 models were plagued with issues ranging from oil leaks from the camshaft tensioner to faulty ignition coils and spark plugs. Consumer Reports even scored the 2009 Audi A4 a 1 out of 5 on the reliability index, and it doesn’t get much better until the 2013 model year.

2013 – Present Maserati Ghibli

What’s not to like about the Maserati Ghibli? It’s elegant styling, lavish interior, and buttery smooth engine choices are just about second-to-none. However, if you’re going to buy one, then we would suggest at least staying with a newer model as the older ones have issues concerning fuel pumps and faulty spark plugs, according to True Delta. What might be more concerning are the recalls that include faulty wiring shorts and fuel leaks, as listed on Consumer Reports.

2005 – 2013 Lexus IS 250

While it might sound a little weird that a Lexus is on this list, just know that it’s not really for reliability issues. In actuality, the Lexus IS 250 is just as reliable as you would expect, however, it is pretty slow for a “sporty sedan.” In fact, the IS 250 of this vintage was powered by a 2.5-liter V6 engine that produced 205 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, which resulted in a 0 to 60 time of 7.1 seconds, as tested by Car and Driver. And while that might not sound super slow, it’s not very good compared to others in its class at the time, including the BMW 3 Series. If anything, step up to the IS 350 with the bigger engine, you’ll be happy that you did.

2013 BMW X5 5.0

While it’s easy to get caught up in the glorious sounds and magnificent power of the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 under the hood of the 2013 BMW X5 5.0, we would actually suggest turning a blind eye to it. Sure, it makes 400 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque and can get to 60 in around 5 seconds, but it’s not worth the added sums of money that you might have to pay for the possible oil leaks and valve guide repairs, as reported by owners on Edmunds. In this case, it seems that performance has a steep price associated with it.

Not worth the cheap cost of entry

Don’t get us wrong, you can easily buy any of the cars on this list and have no issues whatsoever during the time that you own it, however, we always suggest doing your research to see what other owners had to say about their cars. Just like with any used car, you never really know what you’re getting, so we always advise you to get a pre-purchase inspection done on any used car that you plan to buy. Otherwise, just stay away, your bank account will thank you later.