E60 528i/530i Advice Needed. Encourage me or Talk Me Out of It.

[navid41691]

Things are changing in my life and I need to get myself a more practical car. My vert is my daily (for sale) and it isn't cutting it anymore and to be frank, I need something I can be taken seriously in when going to a meeting or picking up a new girl or whatever.

With e60 5 series being pretty affordable now, it's a serious option. I test drove a 530i and I really like it. My budget is around 15k and i've been able to make a list of a few 530i's with 75k-95k miles for sale by private sellers for under that amount.

Now what are your thoughts on the 5 series? I've read great things and I've read horror stories so if anyone has any personal experience I'd love to hear about it.

[ilateapex]

I have an '06 530i. It is my wife's daily. Purchased in 2008 with 19k miles and just turned over 100k the other day. Had to replace two coils. One around 80k and one around 90k. Was easy to diagnose and got two when replaced the first one. Made the second one get fixed in 10 minutes. Have orderd two more to keep on hand. Had some bulbs burn out. Had a rear eccentric bolt break while doing a DIY alignment. That about it.

I change oil at around 5000 miles and do the other stuff when the car tells me (or there abouts). It is the longest my wife has ever kept a car. It drives very well. Has tons of power. And she does not plan to replace anytime soon.

Her previous daily was a '97 E39 528i. Purchased with 110k miles and drove to close to 200k. This car was my favorite all around BMW to date.

I forgot to mention her daily driving is stop and go, short trips, kids to practice, etc.

Michael
E60 530i
E36 M3
E30 M3
Spec E30
Previously
E39 528i
E28 535i
E24 635CSi
E24 Euro 635CSi

[navid41691]

that's def good to hear. I'm starting to hear more stories about how bulletproof they are. I think i'll be getting one soon. Thanks

[doucy2]

I have not owned an e60 but know a few people that have. All good reviews. Engines are strong, misc odds and ends needs regular maintenance. If you find one with around 75k that has a good maintenance history I say pull the trigger on it.

[Freakshow]

If you Own any BMW you will be taken seriously Whether you drive a m5 or a Isetta. As far as girls go they do have soft spots for e30's.

Here's why i would keep your vert: Looks better than the e60.
Easier to work on/mod and parts are much affordable.
Your e30 wont ever go into limp/safe mode.
Put almost whatever engine you like/make it as fast as you want.
If you keep it long enough it will be worth way more than it is now.

[mcr_driver]

depends on what motor you end up with an M-series motor of a N-series. Any N series motor will have quirks I talked to a few people recently about this venture myself and this was one of their responses:


My experience comes from the E9Xs so some things may be different. Access to regular maintenance items is a bit harder on that motor, but it's not enough of a reason not to live with one. E.g., VCG is a pain because of clearance of the valvetronic unit when removing it. Cooling system work is simple because of electric water pump that automatically bleeds the system, but it's a very expensive unit if it fails. OFHG (also seals coolant, which is scary) fails and is a pain to do because of hard to reach torx bolts. Intake manifold is actually pretty easy to remove, though, so that's a plus. The other expensive thing is the valvetronic stuff. If the eccentric shaft grinds away, prepare for expensive replacement parts. The motor doesn't fail too often, but the sensor does lose a seal and fail a bit, like the frequency of intake CPS on M52s. Hydraulic lifters and then the head oil path were redesigned because they can develop a tick like M52s and M54s. Not serious. The head bolts break, though, which is pretty crappy. Most have had service done to replace them with better bolts, though.

This guy knows his stuff and has worked on m20's to s54's and s85's, so his opinion does carry a good amount of weight with me.

[flyboyx]

my wife drives a 06 525 with the n52. same engine as 530. we have about 140k on the clock. we have had some pricy problems with it over the last couple years. mostly due to the previous owner not maintaining it well. we purchased it with about 80k. unfortunately, i was not with her when she bought it, so i wasn't there to provide input.

we are always having trouble with the vanos. the oil filter housings are notorious for leaks. it is a hassle to replace the seals. if it gets bad, you will mix oil in the coolant system and it will make one hell of a mess.

it thoroughly pisses me off that this engine has no dipstick. the only way you have to know if the oil is low is that when you get down to a quart or two, the low oil light comes on.

[mikeedler]

that's def good to hear. I'm starting to hear more stories about how bulletproof they are. I think i'll be getting one soon. Thanks

hahahahhhahhahahah yeah right!!!!
just wait until the head wears out the vanos cam rings and you need a new head, or let a few of those all so great modules that are everywhere burn out............ maybe if your lucky, the navigation will still work, and you won't need a new $1500 CIC. The cars aren't that bad, but they aren't that great either.

[mikeedler]

depends on what motor you end up with an M-series motor of a N-series. Any N series motor will have quirks I talked to a few people recently about this venture myself and this was one of their responses:


My experience comes from the E9Xs so some things may be different. Access to regular maintenance items is a bit harder on that motor, but it's not enough of a reason not to live with one. E.g., VCG is a pain because of clearance of the valvetronic unit when removing it. Cooling system work is simple because of electric water pump that automatically bleeds the system, but it's a very expensive unit if it fails. OFHG (also seals coolant, which is scary) fails and is a pain to do because of hard to reach torx bolts. Intake manifold is actually pretty easy to remove, though, so that's a plus. The other expensive thing is the valvetronic stuff. If the eccentric shaft grinds away, prepare for expensive replacement parts. The motor doesn't fail too often, but the sensor does lose a seal and fail a bit, like the frequency of intake CPS on M52s. Hydraulic lifters and then the head oil path were redesigned because they can develop a tick like M52s and M54s. Not serious. The head bolts break, though, which is pretty crappy. Most have had service done to replace them with better bolts, though.

This guy knows his stuff and has worked on m20's to s54's and s85's, so his opinion does carry a good amount of weight with me.

have done all of that, and that is just the icing on the cake... wait until you get into the chassis problems.-- the best is when they don't start on fire and burn up because of the crappy alluminum battery cable that corrodes away under the car.
like said before, if you stay with an early M54 car, you shouldn't have to worry about much at all, the later LCI cars are alot nicer, but have plenty of problems-- the direct injection was new, so high pressure pumps, sensors, as well as the heads carboning too.

[flyboyx]

hahahahhhahhahahah yeah right!!!!
just wait until the head wears out the vanos cam rings and you need a new head,

huh....are you talking about the n52 here?

[325ix]

If you need a nice car to pick up girls you are doing something wrong. Also, e30's tend to be chick magnets. More so than any other car i've ever had.

[word is bond]

I mean - I know R3v loves RSes and French lights, but just going with a stock look will come off as a bit more grown up.
On the other hand - I really like the E60 (particularly the E61 wagon). I think it's aging exceptionally well (definitely prefer to the F10). It's the best looking Bimmer that BMW produced under Bangle (Z4 is damn good too), and I think it might end up being a future classic.
Slight tangent - If I was a wealthy man, I would snatch up the rare e60 M5 6spd, as a driver and investment. A sedan with a NA V10 that goes to 8k rpm, with a stick? That's something special, that probably won't be produced ever again.

[navid41691]

If you need a nice car to pick up girls you are doing something wrong. Also, e30's tend to be chick magnets. More so than any other car i've ever had.

I should probably reword that then. To pick up women. I'm over the days where I picked up girls in college with the top down/hooked up in the back seat blah blah blah. No offense to you, by all means do your thing but I need to drive something a little more up to date.

Everyone else, thanks for the input.

[Solarian]

Have you owned a "grown up" car before? I sold my 240SX when I turned 22 and started my first full time job out of university, because I "wanted to be taken more seriously". Worst decision I ever made. I didn't even get that lame of a car to replace it, it was a G35 coupe with the 6 speed, sport pack, forged rays 19's, etc... It was fantastically reliable, drove better in every measurable way than my 240, looked great, everyone loved it, but it wasn't me. I'm not that guy.

Before you go blaming the car, I've driven tons of other "nice" cars, including an E92 335i with JB4, new A4, C350 and my mom owns a 128 that I sometimes borrow. The 128 is the only one on that list that I even sort of like, and it's still not me. When I'm married and have kids, my wife will drive a "grown up" car. My new moto is "You can have my 20+ year old shitbox when you pry it from my cold dead hands."

Anyway, that's just me. Lots of people have gotten modern, responsible "nice" cars and loved them, maybe you will too. Or you might regret it like I did. I never expected that I'd own an E30 when I was selling my 240SX. Oh, and I'm turning 28 now, it took me nearly 6 years to come back to the type of car that I never should've parted with. I would've bought back my 240, but the new owner totaled it weeks after I sold it to him.

[agent]

...the E60... It's the best looking Bimmer that BMW produced under Bangle...and I think it might end up being a future classic.

Not sure if serious.

The E60's styling makes it look like it came from Japan.

OP, if you want a "grown up" car you can do most of the work on yourself, find a well-sorted facelift E39 (with an M54).