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BMW 530D advice

CRAIGR - 18/5/13 at 12:05 PM

Thinking of buying a 530d touring auto circa 54/55 plate with around 100k on it.
Any advice on what to look for/problems etc etc

fesycresy - 18/5/13 at 12:50 PM

My dual mass expired at 120k, check if he has had it done.

Engine totally shat itself at 140k, but I was really slack with servicing.

The trader that takes all our company cars said that he buys quite a few shagged high mileage BMW's. turbos can be problematic.

Jasper - 18/5/13 at 02:00 PM

I had one, lovely car to drive, BUT, turbo went at 75k cost me over Ł1000 including cleaning out the intercooler etc. Rear suspension airbag went at 90k, cost about Ł800+ to replace both.

I had mine remapped and it did go like stink and gave me 35+mpg.

It really was a lovely car to own and drive, but I'm not sure I'd have another high mileage one after those problems.

coyoteboy - 18/5/13 at 02:28 PM

My Bro had a 530d and had endless problems with suspension, electrics and engine after having a 320d which gave the same problems, and a 325i before that. Vowed never to touch them again after being a big fan.

CRAIGR - 18/5/13 at 02:37 PM

Mmmm . Many thanks for the input guys. I think i might stick with hunting down a v70 d5 instead then.

Doctor Derek Doctors - 18/5/13 at 03:20 PM

Just remember its only usually people who have had bad experiences that make a point of replying. I have just bought a 53' 330d but was also considering a V70 D5. I thought that the Beemer was a far superior car after driving both. The main thing that seem o cause BMWs to fail is the swirl flaps which cost Ł25 and 1hr to remove.

six mad - 18/5/13 at 03:21 PM

Not so fast, I am on my second 330d and they are the best balance of power/economy you can buy.

If its got FSH 100k it is just run in!

Only issues with high mileage cars are DPFs and crankcase vent valves.

The DPFs can be gutted and remapped to suit as mine is.
Crankcase Vent valves can be changed for Ł20

My car has 146k and is superb still silky smooth and runs 270bhp ish over 500ft lb

I carnt comment on suspension as mine is a 3 series but mine is still tight
i have replaced one rear shocker.

Turbo issues are the same as any high miler, make sure the oil services have been done
and there are no whistle or whines on test drive, it will be fine.

kipper - 18/5/13 at 03:54 PM

Hi Guys ,I have a 330d and I love it.
Could you tell me what a swirl flap and a dpf is. and do I need to get them seen to before they give me grief.
Regards Denis.

jase380 - 18/5/13 at 04:18 PM

Looked at the 530d myself a couple of years ago, same year and mileage as you considering. I also heard of a few problems with turbo's and electrics but what put me off was how small the boot space was ( got a german shepherd who likes a bit of space when he's travelling ). I ended up buying a 55 plate E320 cdi merc with 90 k on it, had it 2 1/2 years now done 35k and its not missed a beat. I had the dpf removed and a remap as soon as i bought it and other than tyres and routine services it's been a pleasure to own. Also had a v70 d5 a few years ago ( 53 plate ) and never had any trouble with that either, fantastic engine and the comfiest seats i've ever had in a car. You just need to keep an eye out for a car registered before 23/3/06 to avoid the Ł400 + road tax !!

six mad - 18/5/13 at 07:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by kipper
Hi Guys ,I have a 330d and I love it.
Could you tell me what a swirl flap and a dpf is. and do I need to get them seen to before they give me grief.
Regards Denis.

Swirl flaps are fitted in the inlet manifold on previous models before the e90 they sometimes
came off, the engine then ingested them with lots of damage to the engine.

Failures are rare on the e90 as they were upgraded.

DPF is a filter in the exhaust basically stops the car smoking it collects the soot then
puts extra fuel into the engine to (cycle) heat it up to burn off the soot when its full
You will get a warning light if there is an issue, worst case car will go into limp mode.

britishtrident - 18/5/13 at 07:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by kipper
Hi Guys ,I have a 330d and I love it.
Could you tell me what a swirl flap and a dpf is. and do I need to get them seen to before they give me grief.
Regards Denis.

Swirl flaps are vortex generators in the inlet manifold intended to give a better spread of torque through the whole RPM range and improve combustion. The problem is at higher mileages they break off and drop off and get sucked into the engine wrecking engine and turbo. BMW used them in both the 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder, some early versions for example the 4 cylinder used by MG-Rover (but not Landrover) didn't have them and don't suffer from the problem. The swirl flaps can be removed by either fitting a kit to plug the hole left in the manifold or simply away the bit that falls off.

The DPF (diesel Particulate Filter) is an issue on most recent diesels, the problems revolve around the self-cleaning "regeneration" of the DPF . The periodic regeneration brought about by the ECU triggering the injection of a a special fluid (EOYLS) upstream of the DPF. The problem which occur mainly in cars used in urban and suburban driving conditions which don't allow the regeneration to complete resulting a blocked exhaust and malfunction warning lights and possible engine shutting down into "Safe Mode"
Loads of info on both of these issues on the net.

Simon - 18/5/13 at 08:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by six mad

If its got FSH 100k it is just run in!

Funny how it's only ever BMW drivers/riders that say this

Running in was gentle use of cars to let everything settle down and bed in properly, prior to a service at approx 800 - 1000 miles. If your car has taken 140k miles to get run in, it must've been made really badly

Heard the same thing from a bloke on a BMW boxer bike - which was in the train's goods compartment - it was so good he couldn't ride it in the wet. Pissed meself all the way home

And yes, I think the 330D would make a great 7esque donor - they're nearly cheap enough now

ATB

Simon

[Edited on 18/5/13 by Simon]

six mad - 18/5/13 at 08:18 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Simon

quote:
Originally posted by six mad

If its got FSH 100k it is just run in!

Funny how it's only ever BMW drivers/riders that say this

Running in was gentle use of cars to let everything settle down and bed in properly, prior to a service at approx 800 - 1000 miles. If your car has taken 140k miles to get run in, it must've been made really badly

Heard the same thing from a bloke on a BMW boxer bike - which was in the train's goods compartment - it was so good he couldn't ride it in the wet. Pissed meself all the way home

And yes, I think the 330D would make a great 7esque donor - they're nearly cheap enough now

ATB

Simon

[Edited on 18/5/13 by Simon]

I take it you like BMWs

Simon - 18/5/13 at 08:29 PM

quote:
Originally posted by six mad

I take it you like BMWs

I'm sure they are as good as anything else out there (but not British/Korean/Japanese etc

), but people in this country seem to have given them a standing way above their station.

Like I said, I'd be more than happy to use a 320/330D as a donor - torques and economies not available from breaking Brit (Jag/LR) or French (Pug) diesel for that little money

I had a BMW K100 biked back in about 1990, 5 years old and it was falling apart but was ok apart from that. Never had another strangely.

Apologies to OP for distraction

ATB

Simon

[Edited on 18/5/13 by Simon]

marco - 18/5/13 at 09:38 PM

Here's my opinion,

We have two E39 530d manuals. one saloon and one touring, 180k and 160k miles, manuals don't have the swirl flaps btw. Both return over 40MPG average the saloon been better than the touring. Auto's are known for been worse on fuel..
Both have all the toys you need and full black leather..

I service them myself, service parts are cheap as chips as are most suspension parts... The in tank fuel pump just went on the higher miler and it cost me a whole Ł29 for a replacement

We were going to sell the saloon when we got the touring, but to be honest we could get a newer car that's not as reliable, not as comfortable and feels cheap...

Talking of cheap we paid under each Ł1500 for both cars..

Bare - 19/5/13 at 02:59 AM

BMW's don't get me going :-)
A genuine triumph of skilled /expensive advertising over common sense.
Having said that: Ever wonder WHY? such an expensive to buy new car was reduced to Beer Tokens value on resale??

DavidW - 19/5/13 at 06:40 AM

I really miss my e39, it was the best car I ever had.

I replaced it with a petrol 530i e60 as they didn't seem to have the horror stories of the diesel and are cheap to buy.

It never went wrong but wasn't as engaging as the e39. It was almost too capable is that makes sense.

That was replaced with a discovery 3 which is a whole new world of horrow stories but is very good when working.

David

marco - 19/5/13 at 07:53 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Bare
BMW's don't get me going :-)
A genuine triumph of skilled /expensive advertising over common sense.
Having said that: Ever wonder WHY? such an expensive to buy new car was reduced to Beer Tokens value on resale??

Isn't that the way now of all new expensive cars unless you know of a particular model that retains it's value much better than others.

Mecercdes,Audi,Bmw,Jaguar to name a few, how many of these now over 10years old are worth a great deal compared with there new price and not as you say "reduced to beer tokens" ..

Having in the past been out and bought many new and nearly new cars, I learnt my lesson in losing many thousands of pounds, never again. Go figure, what you loose in depreciation will more than cover what it costs to keep these older models on the road and looking half decent for years to come..

On the other hand if you have loads of disposable income and want to keep up with the Jones's then that's anyones perogative..

ashg - 19/5/13 at 08:33 AM

i have got a 3series still a bit too new to know what may go wrong with it (only 55k so far) fingers crossed nothing :-) the only thing i would say is that i went for the full m/sport experience and the ride is pretty hard with the stiffer suspension big wheels and runflats. if you press on hard and hit a rutt going round a corner it can be a little bit skitty (not unsafe but feels a little unplanted) having the choice over again i think i would opt for the softer se suspension on the msport car. when the runflats are dead i am going to fit normal tyres hopefully that will help the ride.

overall experience of the car..... I love it and would buy another.

six mad - 19/5/13 at 08:51 AM

quote:
Originally posted by ashg
i have got a 3series still a bit too new to know what may go wrong with it (only 55k so far) fingers crossed nothing :-) the only thing i would say is that i went for the full m/sport experience and the ride is pretty hard with the stiffer suspension big wheels and runflats. if you press on hard and hit a rutt going round a corner it can be a little bit skitty (not unsafe but feels a little unplanted) having the choice over again i think i would opt for the softer se suspension on the msport car. when the runflats are dead i am going to fit normal tyres hopefully that will help the ride.

overall experience of the car..... I love it and would buy another.

From experience change the runflats straight away, the car will feel completely different (much better)

six mad - 19/5/13 at 08:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by marco
Here's my opinion,

We have two E39 530d manuals. one saloon and one touring, 180k and 160k miles, manuals don't have the swirl flaps btw. Both return over 40MPG average the saloon been better than the touring. Auto's are known for been worse on fuel..
Both have all the toys you need and full black leather..

I service them myself, service parts are cheap as chips as are most suspension parts... The in tank fuel pump just went on the higher miler and it cost me a whole Ł29 for a replacement

We were going to sell the saloon when we got the touring, but to be honest we could get a newer car that's not as reliable, not as comfortable and feels cheap...

Talking of cheap we paid under each Ł1500 for both cars..

Thats a great looking and practical car for Ł1500

six mad - 19/5/13 at 09:24 AM

[img]
Description [/img]

Here is mine, ready to take on any British/Korean/Japanese diesel

[Edited on 19/5/13 by six mad]

Simon - 21/5/13 at 09:27 PM

quote:
Originally posted by six mad
[img]
Description [/img]

Here is mine, ready to take on any British/Korean/Japanese diesel

[Edited on 19/5/13 by six mad]

Yeah, but sorry, I've already formed an opinion of you (which may or may not be true, but a stereotype

) based on your car choice. Sadly it's not very flattering

This should amuse you!

ATB

Simon

[Edited on 21/5/13 by Simon]

six mad - 22/5/13 at 07:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Simon

quote:
Originally posted by six mad
[img]
Description [/img]

Here is mine, ready to take on any British/Korean/Japanese diesel

[Edited on 19/5/13 by six mad]

Yeah, but sorry, I've already formed an opinion of you (which may or may not be true, but a stereotype) based on your car choice. Sadly it's not very flattering

This should amuse you!

ATB

Simon

[Edited on 21/5/13 by Simon]

You are entitled to your opinion, but i purchased this car for

1 power 231 bhp standard
2 torque 500nm
3 40+ to the gallon
4 practical/comfy + decent boot and a good tow car.

I dont like the stigma around BMWs and i didnt buy it for the badge or the styling, although it looks fine.

Show me an option with similar spec for less than 6k? I may then consider your comments

hobzy - 22/5/13 at 08:43 PM

We have a 55 plate 530d. Had the swirl flaps done when we bought it at 88k, but could be done yourself. The webby that sells the blanking plates has good downloadable instructions.

Ours has only had a minor issue with a bit of water ingress into the battery compartment through a vent but sorted once found. Now on 104k and still going strong. Servicing by local indy BMW specialist is not as high as I was expecting.

Lovely to drive, loads of pull through the range on the auto - great on the motorway. Not so great in town though.

42mpg on a motorway run, but our 15 mile commute (10 motorway 5 town) averages out at 30mpg.

Would go for a 3 series next time as there is not as much room in the back for the third passenger as I thought there would be and its a BIG car. Love it though and glad we've owned it.