E61 General Knowledge

Kingy

Kingy

Kingy

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My old man is running a >200k 03 530i Sport Champagne II, and wants to change it for something newer, ideally more efficient, & ideally an estate.

The A6 is a handsome car, but it looks like the more efficient 3.0TDI didn't appear until 2009 which is more money than he's looking to spend really.

The E61 appears to fit the bill, & while I've got a general idea from scanning adverts, I wondered if anyone with a better general knowledge of the subject could bring me up to speed please?

When was the LCI introduced, & what did it change? I see LED rear clusters, but not sure about the rest from looking at AutoTrader photos.
When were the more efficient engines introduced (same time as LCI?), and what are the relevant engine codes (ie, he currently has an M54) for the 3.0 petrols/diesels either side of the efficiency upgrade?
Any particular issues to be aware of like the cheese cooling system in the E39? Are they expensive fixes at an indy? He's been doing ~30-40k a year, so does this mitigate any potential DPF clogging issues because they're actually given the chance to regen properly/regularly on a long run?
Is a warranty a must? BMW only, or consider Warranty Direct etc? Which warranty tier is the one to have? Are there any terms to consider before adding a BMW warranty to a currently non-warrantied car? ie like FSH/FBMWSH or the 111 point check that Porsche insist on?
Does the E61 have runflats as standard? Is there a hole in the boot floor if you want to upgrade to proper tyres & have a spare wheel or space saver?
Are Xenons/F&R parking sensors standard fit kit? Anything that you might think should be standard kit that isn't?
Any options to look out for? He likes the fully loaded aspect to his existing steed, so the more toys the better... :D
I gather the new Connected Drive is a cool toy? Can this be retrofitted, or is it standard fit but subject to activation / subscription?
Can the I-Drive be upgraded to CIC?
Does the standard I-Drive work with an iPhone? I'd seen (outdated?) reports of issues with the iPhone?

Cheers... :)
 
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Your questions warrant a larger reply than I have time for currently, but:

I assume he wants a 530d if he's been looking at the 3TDi A6. If so, an LCI one of these (really, mid 2007 onwards, but best to be really sure and get a 57 plate, at least) will be an M57TU2 with 230-235bhp depending on year. For an LCI Sport, very little changed externally (same bumpers) and only the lights and interior equipment were altered. As you know, the engines were refreshed too, across most of the range.

Cooling system is fine, some sticking thermostats which stop the engine from reaching operating temperature can stop DPF rengeneration. It should sit at around 95c all the time and needs at least 75C for DPF regen. DPF will also fail to regen if there are any glow plug issues (which won't show a fault or affect the driveability of the car). The 6spd ZF auto suits the 530d and 535d very well, and, although "lifetime" in service, the oil should be replaced around 80k especially for a car that's seen a lot of stop start driving.

Wheels: Tyically, the E61 will have runflats. These will be 18". The 19" 172 option alloys didn't fit the E61 (in staggered fitment). You basically had to have 4 x front wheels in order to fit the 19"s. I can't comment on the boot floor of the touring, but I do have a wheel well, and I have the 19"s non RFTs

Xenons and front rear sensors should have been standard in the later LCI cars.

Typical options: Full Media pack (widescreen sat nav / iDrive)
Adaptive Lights: Turn the corners with the wheel
Folding mirrors: A nicer option than it might appear
Comfort Access: If you can get it, is nice, although most features can be turned on / off with coding.
There is connected drive (or assist) with the E60 range, but it's subscription based, and not that great due to the limitations of the technology in the car.

Some very late E60s had CIC, and it can definitely be retrofitted.

LCI iDrive will most definitely work with the iPhone.

Oh, and warranty is a must. It's good value if the car is under 60k but probably still worth having a warranty for those over.

Having said that, and probably jinxing myself in the process, bar a blown turbo which was a dealer issue and replaced under warranty, I've not had one issue with my car in it's 80k miles, but I do have warranty :)
 
One note re the above, on our LCI E61 it came with F&R Parking sensors as standard, but not Xenons. The halogen lights did however have height adjusting projector lenses for the main beam, so should be good to stick a HID kit in if you so wish.

I believe the Xenons have only become standard fit on the LCI F10.
 
Xenons were never standard on the E61 front and rear parking sensors were though.
The 530d started off with the M57N engine and in 2006 received the M57N2 which added more efficiency and power. The LCI was released on March 2007 onward built cars so most 07 plates will be LCI cars, the easy ways to tell are newer rear lights and if its an auto it will have the electronic gear selector. The interior received quite a few changes. Check out this document for a full description. Power also bumped along with efficiency with the LCI.
All LCI cars with have BMW assist as standard (which gives you the ability to send google destinations to the car etc and a concierge service) BMW online which was the other part of connected drive didn't become standard until Sept 2007 which is when the term Connecteddrive first was used. Its £120 a year for the subscription though so you really have to use it a lot to get your money out of it.

The boot has room for the space saver kit from BMW to go under the floor if he wants to change to non runflats. Personally I bought the kit and changed but wouldn't do it again, the ride didn't improve that much.

As for a warranty the BMW one is the only one worth having and the car needs to be under 60k miles to get the better price (about £89 a month). If he can afford a few expensive bills then don't bother with the warranty as chances are the bills will be offset by the warranty cost if hes keeping the car a while.
 
He should really wait until he can afford an F11 instead, especially with something as nice as a Champagne II. Once you get over the more modern tech level, the E60 is perhaps BMW's worst effort at a 5 series in the firms history. I honestly think I'd prefer an A6 over an E60. My father went from an E39 to an LCI E60 (Which I drove many times and could only come up with 'it feels newer' when looking for advantages). It lasted 18 months before it was time for another E39...

The LCI changed all the petrol engines to more efficient stratified direct injection N53 engines. They are noticeably more economical but have considerably more reliability issues than the simplier N52 engine which is comparatively quite reliable.

Whats the budget here? Does it get an early current shape E class perhaps?
 
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By all accounts, the F10/F11 interior quality isn't all that great either. Sadly, the days of E39 and E46 build qualities are long gone. That said, all bar a few find the drive of the E60, it's ergonomics and comfort, a step up on the E39. With the E39, it would take the knocks to the interior, however, you had to treat the interior of the E60 with kid gloves, which I guess is sad. Fortunately, I do, but I've seen some far newer, less mileage E60s that appear proper ropey on the inside with scratches, peeling trim, etc.

The E39 always just felt old to me, and sadly does loose out in the technology areas, if that's in any of your criteria.
 
Two different cars, the E39 feels well built and taught the E60 feels hollow but is more modern easier more forgiving to drive, the tech in the E60 with the right options is fantastic, for family the E60 wins hands down with space, layout and features.

My 530i LCI has been in for coil packs, injectors, plugs and reprogramming more than once and one high pressure fuel pump in 52k
 
Given that his current car is pretty much worthless, I'd suggested hanging on as long as possible, ideally until F11, or at least until the more economical engines became better value, but there's a pressing desire to get into an estate sooner rather than later.

Trouble is he'd rather not dip too heavily into savings, & has found an early E60 530d. I've had a look around & found this & this, & I think spending a bit extra would be a decent idea.

I hadn't realised how expensive the BMW warranty is on these. I ran a quote on an 08 530d & it was around a grand for under 60k miles, and around £1700 for over 60k. That seems mental!
 
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Whats his budget? I'm assuming his car isn't worth that much anymore with 200,000 miles?

If so, surely he'd save cash theoretically (Apart from petrol) by running it into the ground? If he could get another 6 months - a year without major expense he will have saved a years worth of depreciation/get a newer car?
 
Dandle said:
The interior received quite a few changes. Check out this document for a full description.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, very interesting... :)

Was the audio upgraded as part of LCI? How can you tell the difference (visually) between standard and Logic7 (or whatever the upgrade is called?)

Does anyone know what comfort seats are? Are they SE seats in an M Sport? Or are they an upgrade from M Sport seats?
 
To answer a few of your questions. You'll be able to determine Logic 7 from the iDrive menu (far more options IIRC). Comfort seats are not SE seats, they are different again. Having said that, the M sport seats (part electric or full electric if you can find them) are very very comfy. I've driven for 10 hours straight (bar toilet stops) in that car and got out at the other end without so much as a yawn.

My long term fuel average is difficult to answer because I do such varied driving. If I'm sensible, and it's all motorway, I'll see 700miles to a tank. Around town, it will be just over 400 miles. That's roughly 13p a mile being frugal. Finger in the air would be very much mid to late 30s mpg wise.

Currently, I have a thermostat issue which is causing me to loose around 3 or 4 mpg. I'm rectifying it this weekend.
 
Django x2 said:
You have something wrong....(unless you were permanently above 80 and loaded up)
Click to expand...

You have got to be joking, right? His ecnoomy figures are exceptional - did you miss the bit where he says his car is a 530i, not a 530d?

500+ mile tank range from a 530i at 130mph is almost beyond the realms of plausability it's so good. It's impressive even if he meant 130kmh :p
 
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