BMW E60 530i - Dad wants a upgrade - Any good?

AshD93

AshD93

AshD93

Associate
Joined
21 Oct 2009
Posts
1,613
Hi guys,

Anyone got any info on the BMW E60 530i AUTO that would be useful to know while looking for one?

He's got a Audi A4 B7 2.0 TDI Multitronic at the moment and he finds the ride too harsh/stiff but loves the gearboxes smoothness (bar at idle/lights where is judders).

He's also test drove a 2009 520d M Sport from new but also found the ride too harsh/stiff.

Needs a straight 6 cylinder and petrol would be better as he wants smoothness/comfort over economy. Only does 10 miles total to work and back.

Is the 525i a better car? Or worth spending the extra for a 535i (Can you even get these in the UK)?

Budget is around £10k so they will be "high" mileage.

More info, the better.

Thanks in advance

Ash


TL;DR : BMW E60 530i AUTO - Any good?



EDIT: Needs to be a Auto
 
Last edited:
530i sounds like a great option, particularly with his low miles.
Sure, won't be as fast as a 535i, but if he's running a diesel, he probably doesn't care about whether or not he can try to scare old supercars.
In addition, the 530i doesn't have the additional complexity of the turbos, so "should" be more reliable.

The 525i is in most cases a detuned 3ltr engine, and is no more economical, meaning that it's frankly pointless, at least unless they are a good deal cheaper to buy.

The suspension question is a tricky one. I know whilst trying the E90 series, that I hated the ride on the Sports so much, that I went with an SE. He'd need to try both to confirm. Making up for that, the sears in the Sports variant are definitely better. Additionally, the bodykit on the E60 sport makes it look (IMO) like a road going stealth bomber. I think it looks ace.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
530i sounds like a great option, particularly with his low miles.
Sure, won't be as fast as a 535i, but if he's running a diesel, he probably doesn't care about whether or not he can try to scare old supercars.
In addition, the 530i doesn't have the additional complexity of the turbos, so "should" be more reliable.

The 525i is in most cases a detuned 3ltr engine, and is no more economical, meaning that it's frankly pointless, at least unless they are a good deal cheaper to buy.

The suspension question is a tricky one. I know whilst trying the E90 series, that I hated the ride on the Sports so much, that I went with an SE. He'd need to try both to confirm. Making up for that, the sears in the Sports variant are definitely better. Additionally, the bodykit on the E60 sport makes it look (IMO) like a road going stealth bomber. I think it looks ace.
Click to expand...

That is the 525i out then.

We had a E90 320d Auto as a hire car and while the suspension was nice, he found the gearbox a bit slow to change/gave a slight jolt, especially from 1st to 2nd (City drive).

As far as I know, the stock suspension on the E60's was superb (as long as it had decent wheels on it)? Is this correct?

Have you had any experience with the Auto box in the 530i? I know its best to get a facelift version of the actual car but gearbox is a key buying point for him. He is used to the multitronic which is super smooth once you move off.
 
Hmmm, why does it need to be auto? Must be very boring to drive one, point where you wanna go, press accelerate..thats about as exciting as your journey gets.
 
MooMoo444 said:
Hmmm, why does it need to be auto? Must be very boring to drive one, point where you wanna go, press accelerate..thats about as exciting as your journey gets.
Click to expand...

He's 50 next year.

Also, my Mum has a auto only licence so it's good if she can drive it.

He suffers from gout (spelling?) from time to time on his left foot so using a clutch is a pain.

But generally, he's getting on a bit. And in all fairness, it's a big saloon (and it's not a M5). It's not going to be trashed much. That's not to say he doesn't enjoy the occasional drag race at the lights.
 
MooMoo444 said:
Hmmm, why does it need to be auto? Must be very boring to drive one, point where you wanna go, press accelerate..thats about as exciting as your journey gets.
Click to expand...

Most people start out with that mentality, then realise that 90% of your day-to-day driving is in start stop traffic, or on the motorway, neither of which particularly benefit from driving a manual.

A decent auto (or IMO semi auto, such as a DSG type box) makes for a far more relaxing drive, and can still allow for some fun (more so with a semi auto/tiptronic).
 
Your dad wants a 530i E60 Auto SE Pre-LCI (as it will be tricky to find one, let alone an LCI model for the £10k budget. If you manage to only find a sport model, pick the one with 19"s as it won't have RFTs and will give a much better ride (not as soft as an SE, but they look so much better). The auto gearbox in the later LCI E60s is a far far cry from the crapbox in the earlier models, IMO.

Engine is a dream and high mileage shouldn't be an issue for it as long as it's been maintained nicely.
 
Lucero said:
Your dad wants a 530i E60 Auto SE Pre-LCI (as it will be tricky to find one, let alone an LCI model for the £10k budget. If you manage to only find a sport model, pick the one with 19"s as it won't have RFTs and will give a much better ride (not as soft as an SE, but they look so much better). The auto gearbox in the later LCI E60s is a far far cry from the crapbox in the earlier models, IMO.

Engine is a dream and high mileage shouldn't be an issue for it as long as it's been maintained nicely.
Click to expand...

Forgive my stupidity if I'm wrong but weren't the LCI models released in 07?

In which case..

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif.../1/postcode/le52ae/keywords/530i_se?logcode=p

would be post-LCI and "better". Agreed, it's £1k over budget (specced up it seems - no new iDrive) but it's just a example.
 
Last edited:
Yep, perfect. It's got a banging stereo, but no Nav (not that he should need it, but it is a very befitting option given the car).
 
Lucero said:
Yep, perfect. It's got a banging stereo, but no Nav (not that he should need it, but it is a very befitting option given the car).
Click to expand...

Okay, brilliant. We'll have to wait to find a decent one but sounds good. I'll get him to go and test drive a random over budget one to see how he likes it.

Anything else we should look out for? Known faults, recalls, and just general info?

He wants to drive the Audi A4(B8) / A6 just to get a comparison too.
 
The only major recall was the boot battery terminal last March (2012). Check that has been done.

There have been some issues with the ECU in the rear of the car. It sits in a Styrofoam pocket and could be subject to water ingress.

Some swear by a fluid change in the "sealed for life" auto boxes. I can't say I've had an issues with mine (on 82k) but would seriously consider it now that I don't do as much motorway driving.

The E60 forum seems to suffer from threads about the injectors failing on the N53 ED engines.

Having said all of that, bar some questionable servicing at my BMW dealer, my E60 has not skipped a beat in 4 years and 76k miles :)
 
Lucero said:
The only major recall was the boot battery terminal last March (2012). Check that has been done.

There have been some issues with the ECU in the rear of the car. It sits in a Styrofoam pocket and could be subject to water ingress.

Some swear by a fluid change in the "sealed for life" auto boxes. I can't say I've had an issues with mine (on 82k) but would seriously consider it now that I don't do as much motorway driving.

The E60 forum seems to suffer from threads about the injectors failing on the N53 ED engines.

Having said all of that, bar some questionable servicing at my BMW dealer, my E60 has not skipped a beat in 4 years and 76k miles :)
Click to expand...

Brilliant, thanks for that. Which model do you have? How is the suspension? I'm making a big deal about it because I know he will! :p
 
I have an LCI 530d M Sport Auto. It's the best car I've ever owned, and longest!! I waft along the highways and byways without any issues but can also chuck it into super pursuit mode when the mood suits. It builds speed rapidly and handles amazingly well given its size. I have the 19" 172 Alloys with non run flats. You know the bumps are there but they are very far removed from the cabin and not intrusive at all. Nothing like an SE on balloon tyres though, but more than comfortable for my needs. :) You know everything the car is doing through the steering and you can predict the outcome of it's ability to deal with a cornering or handling situation before you even get there.
 
Lucero said:
I have an LCI 530d M Sport Auto. It's the best car I've ever owned, and longest!! I waft along the highways and byways without any issues but can also chuck it into super pursuit mode when the mood suits. It builds speed rapidly and handles amazingly well given its size. I have the 19" 172 Alloys with non run flats. You know the bumps are there but they are very far removed from the cabin and not intrusive at all. Nothing like an SE on balloon tyres though, but more than comfortable for my needs. :) You know everything the car is doing through the steering and you can predict the outcome of it's ability to deal with a cornering or handling situation before you even get there.
Click to expand...

Sounds excellent!

Do you think the gearbox requires a more torque filled engine or a petrol variant would suffice? Just saying as we also have a 206 auto with a torque converter box and well, it's terrible. No power compared to the manual version.
 
The 6 speed ZF box in the 530d is the same as the 530i, which removes most of the pointless / endless debate about gearing and torque. My torque delivery is very low but the 272bhp 530i isn't without it's punch either. It's a very relaxed drive in both cars
 
Lucero said:
The 6 speed ZF box in the 530d is the same as the 530i, which removes most of the pointless / endless debate about gearing and torque. My torque delivery is very low but the 272bhp 530i isn't without it's punch either. It's a very relaxed drive in both cars
Click to expand...

Other than the gear ratios actually being different....

Some of the stuff you come out with is classic.
 
Nothing wrong with wanting an auto - it suits the car type perfectly and is by far the most common choice making it easier to find a nice example.

The trouble we have here though is a bit of a Catch 22 situation. The pre LCI E60:

a) Is fitted with the generally very reliable M54 and later the N52 engines.

BUT

b) Has a fairly terrible looking interior full of wacky styling that probably looked quite futuristic 10 years ago when it came out but today just looks naff. Plus almost all of them have really basic climate control with cheap plastic knobs and no sunload sensor etc etc.

So, obviously, the E60 LCI is the better car. They sorted the interior styling out to something more conventional and much nicer looking and the Advanced Climate became standard fit on 6 cylinder models. It also re-introduced things like projector headlights and LED rear lights which they removed when the E39 was replaced presumably to give them something to facelift. It also introduced the electronic control stick for the autobox which is lovely.

However, at the same time the engine range was replaced - out went the N52 and in went the N53. In theory, the N53 is a fantastic engine. It offers 272bhp in 530i form yet has a combined consumption figure of 36mpg. It's smooth and economical because it has a stratified direct injection engine. Unfortunately this cool tech is its downfall as its less than reliable and NOT cheap to fix when it goes wrong.

So, you want an N52 engined E60 LCI. Sadly, such a car doesn't exist. Personally this is when the E60 just starts annoying me, I genuinely believe it's the worst 5 Series ever made, but I've sounded out about that enough on here.

I wouldn't necessarily discount a 525i either. Like for like its pointless as the 530i is as economical yet more powerful but they are never the same price used, the 525i is often thousands of pounds cheaper. My father had an E60 LCI which we thought would be a nice replacement for his trusty E39. It was a 525i - when it worked it was great, but the reliability was irritating and it then took an age to sell (For about 2k under your budget, too!).

Personally I think I'd buy an Audi A6.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom