High ish mileage e60 530d - What could go wrong!?
Discussion
Hi all,
£6k budget, I could push it a bit further but even at £6k I'd be looking at a 525d / 530d M Sport with 100k - 130k miles.
At this point, what potential big problems are there?
At that mileage, any common faults should of been sorted?
Old wives tale but are they just run in at 100k?
Given the condition of a few I've seen they still look immaculate (leather, seats, plastics etc).
I've been considering other cars but the more I look at the e60 the more I like it and the more you get for your money size / spec wise.
Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks.
£6k budget, I could push it a bit further but even at £6k I'd be looking at a 525d / 530d M Sport with 100k - 130k miles.
At this point, what potential big problems are there?
At that mileage, any common faults should of been sorted?
Old wives tale but are they just run in at 100k?
Given the condition of a few I've seen they still look immaculate (leather, seats, plastics etc).
I've been considering other cars but the more I look at the e60 the more I like it and the more you get for your money size / spec wise.
Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks.
Was up for £8k, dropped to £7.5k just before I spotted it online.
Got a reasonable part ex on mine so went for it.
Good points;
New turbo.
Good paint work.
All in one piece (I looked at some horrors, albeit at around the 6k mark)
Bads;
Feels down on power. I'm thinking a remap will fix but the more mechanically minded will be able to list a ton of (expensive) mechanicals that could cause it.
No idea if the swirls have been done already.
Got a reasonable part ex on mine so went for it.
Good points;
New turbo.
Good paint work.
All in one piece (I looked at some horrors, albeit at around the 6k mark)
Bads;
Feels down on power. I'm thinking a remap will fix but the more mechanically minded will be able to list a ton of (expensive) mechanicals that could cause it.
No idea if the swirls have been done already.
THX said:
Was up for £8k, dropped to £7.5k just before I spotted it online.
Got a reasonable part ex on mine so went for it.
Good points;
New turbo.
Good paint work.
All in one piece (I looked at some horrors, albeit at around the 6k mark)
Bads;
Feels down on power. I'm thinking a remap will fix but the more mechanically minded will be able to list a ton of (expensive) mechanicals that could cause it.
No idea if the swirls have been done already.
New turbo by 84k miles...Got a reasonable part ex on mine so went for it.
Good points;
New turbo.
Good paint work.
All in one piece (I looked at some horrors, albeit at around the 6k mark)
Bads;
Feels down on power. I'm thinking a remap will fix but the more mechanically minded will be able to list a ton of (expensive) mechanicals that could cause it.
No idea if the swirls have been done already.
When you say it feels down on power I'd not want to remap a car with issues they need to be rectified first - unless of course you mean it is pushing out the correct power it should just less than you have been used to?
THX said:
Would you prefer it had an old turbo?
I say 'down' on power, when compared to a knacker of a 530 I drove previously. However, that could have been remapped already? I don't know. But i think a rolling road and an expert opinion beckons.
Its low miles for a turbo to have gone - was it oil starvation and it could be it wasn't set up correctly hence it feeling down on power. I'd want a total health check before any remap car needs to be running 100%. I say 'down' on power, when compared to a knacker of a 530 I drove previously. However, that could have been remapped already? I don't know. But i think a rolling road and an expert opinion beckons.
Maybe put it through an MOT just to see how the emmissions are as that could be a tell tale sign / test drive another.
Thinking about it its possible it was remapped which ultimately caused the turbo to go at such low miles
No man.
I drive two 530s, a tatty one and mine. The tatty one felt like it had around 15% (although how I quantify that, I don't know) more 'umph'... More torque... More 'pazazz' than mine. It could have been that the tarty one had been remapped?
Who knows. I've got an AA warranty on it so I'll not lose too much sleep, and it's certainly not 'slow'. It's still a monster (for what it is).
Like I said, I'll get it on a rolling road and stomach the mega bills (if they come) later.
I drive two 530s, a tatty one and mine. The tatty one felt like it had around 15% (although how I quantify that, I don't know) more 'umph'... More torque... More 'pazazz' than mine. It could have been that the tarty one had been remapped?
Who knows. I've got an AA warranty on it so I'll not lose too much sleep, and it's certainly not 'slow'. It's still a monster (for what it is).
Like I said, I'll get it on a rolling road and stomach the mega bills (if they come) later.
Welshbeef said:
Its low miles for a turbo to have gone - was it oil starvation and it could be it wasn't set up correctly hence it feeling down on power. I'd want a total health check before any remap car needs to be running 100%.
Maybe put it through an MOT just to see how the emmissions are as that could be a tell tale sign / test drive another.
Thinking about it its possible it was remapped which ultimately caused the turbo to go at such low miles
It may have not been an issue with the turbo but the owner was told by the garage that it was.Maybe put it through an MOT just to see how the emmissions are as that could be a tell tale sign / test drive another.
Thinking about it its possible it was remapped which ultimately caused the turbo to go at such low miles
I put mine in to a local garage for investigation of an oil leak.
I was told both turbos on mine were leaking and needed replacing at 88k ! Also said that the manifold was cracked and needed to be replaced. I'm no mechanic but wasn;t convinced.
Then gave to CPC in Amersham who gave me total confidence. Diagnosed as oil leaks from what are common places on the 30d/35d with age.
Swirl flap seals (had them taken out and blanked off) and rear main seal.
Whilst it was all open I also had the glow pulgs & controller changed as it had been bathed in oil for a long time.
OP, at around 100k in my experience you need to consider
(i) both thermostats (c£250)
(ii) perished vacuum hoses (£100 if done at same time as other work)
(iii) rear main engine seal is apparently common(check the rear valance and the underneath of the car for oil residue) (£500)
(iv) precautionary gearbox oil change (£400ish)
(v) crank pulley (£650)
(vi) DPF issues (£300 to clean up to £1500 to replace). I chose to have my DPF cleaned rather than replaced.
My 335d has had a hard life and ran fine apart to 90k miles aside from the turbo actuator failing at 50k. It really cost me nothing bar servicing.
Since 90k I've done all 6 items listed above whcih I am led to believe are common on all E90/E60 3.0 diesel engines.
Vee said:
It may have not been an issue with the turbo but the owner was told by the garage that it was.
I put mine in to a local garage for investigation of an oil leak.
I was told both turbos on mine were leaking and needed replacing at 88k ! Also said that the manifold was cracked and needed to be replaced. I'm no mechanic but wasn;t convinced.
Then gave to CPC in Amersham who gave me total confidence. Diagnosed as oil leaks from what are common places on the 30d/35d with age.
Swirl flap seals (had them taken out and blanked off) and rear main seal.
Whilst it was all open I also had the glow pulgs & controller changed as it had been bathed in oil for a long time.
OP, at around 100k in my experience you need to consider
(i) both thermostats (c£250)
(ii) perished vacuum hoses (£100 if done at same time as other work)
(iii) rear main engine seal is apparently common(check the rear valance and the underneath of the car for oil residue) (£500)
(iv) precautionary gearbox oil change (£400ish)
(v) crank pulley (£650)
(vi) DPF issues (£300 to clean up to £1500 to replace). I chose to have my DPF cleaned rather than replaced.
My 335d has had a hard life and ran fine apart to 90k miles aside from the turbo actuator failing at 50k. It really cost me nothing bar servicing.
Since 90k I've done all 6 items listed above whcih I am led to believe are common on all E90/E60 3.0 diesel engines.
Exactly check it out first and repair where necessary then remap if you wish - to remap a potentially broken car (hopefully the mappers would pick it up) but if they remap and work around the problem when you do come to fix the fault's then your going to have to change the map for the best output. I put mine in to a local garage for investigation of an oil leak.
I was told both turbos on mine were leaking and needed replacing at 88k ! Also said that the manifold was cracked and needed to be replaced. I'm no mechanic but wasn;t convinced.
Then gave to CPC in Amersham who gave me total confidence. Diagnosed as oil leaks from what are common places on the 30d/35d with age.
Swirl flap seals (had them taken out and blanked off) and rear main seal.
Whilst it was all open I also had the glow pulgs & controller changed as it had been bathed in oil for a long time.
OP, at around 100k in my experience you need to consider
(i) both thermostats (c£250)
(ii) perished vacuum hoses (£100 if done at same time as other work)
(iii) rear main engine seal is apparently common(check the rear valance and the underneath of the car for oil residue) (£500)
(iv) precautionary gearbox oil change (£400ish)
(v) crank pulley (£650)
(vi) DPF issues (£300 to clean up to £1500 to replace). I chose to have my DPF cleaned rather than replaced.
My 335d has had a hard life and ran fine apart to 90k miles aside from the turbo actuator failing at 50k. It really cost me nothing bar servicing.
Since 90k I've done all 6 items listed above whcih I am led to believe are common on all E90/E60 3.0 diesel engines.
OP when was your car last serviced? I remember seeing the difference on 5th gear a car needing a service to one fresh serviced c10-15% difference. Maybe this is what's wrong.
mrmr96 said:
I think the DPF is a service item at 140k.
It is a service item be it LCI or pre LCI their life really is dependant on how its been driven/urban v Motorway. Frankly everything on a car is a "consumable" if you take it to the extreme ie seats windscreen steering wheel headlining its just that OEM expect those parts to last the life of the car or be so old that a user at that age and value would simply live with its short comings.
Vee said:
It may have not been an issue with the turbo but the owner was told by the garage that it was.
I put mine in to a local garage for investigation of an oil leak.
I was told both turbos on mine were leaking and needed replacing at 88k ! Also said that the manifold was cracked and needed to be replaced. I'm no mechanic but wasn;t convinced.
Then gave to CPC in Amersham who gave me total confidence. Diagnosed as oil leaks from what are common places on the 30d/35d with age.
Swirl flap seals (had them taken out and blanked off) and rear main seal.
Whilst it was all open I also had the glow pulgs & controller changed as it had been bathed in oil for a long time.
OP, at around 100k in my experience you need to consider
(i) both thermostats (c£250)
(ii) perished vacuum hoses (£100 if done at same time as other work)
(iii) rear main engine seal is apparently common(check the rear valance and the underneath of the car for oil residue) (£500)
(iv) precautionary gearbox oil change (£400ish)
(v) crank pulley (£650)
(vi) DPF issues (£300 to clean up to £1500 to replace). I chose to have my DPF cleaned rather than replaced.
My 335d has had a hard life and ran fine apart to 90k miles aside from the turbo actuator failing at 50k. It really cost me nothing bar servicing.
Since 90k I've done all 6 items listed above whcih I am led to believe are common on all E90/E60 3.0 diesel engines.
Spot on. Thank you for this information! Maybe 120k mile car will have all this done where as a 90k miles car may need it all so great info!I put mine in to a local garage for investigation of an oil leak.
I was told both turbos on mine were leaking and needed replacing at 88k ! Also said that the manifold was cracked and needed to be replaced. I'm no mechanic but wasn;t convinced.
Then gave to CPC in Amersham who gave me total confidence. Diagnosed as oil leaks from what are common places on the 30d/35d with age.
Swirl flap seals (had them taken out and blanked off) and rear main seal.
Whilst it was all open I also had the glow pulgs & controller changed as it had been bathed in oil for a long time.
OP, at around 100k in my experience you need to consider
(i) both thermostats (c£250)
(ii) perished vacuum hoses (£100 if done at same time as other work)
(iii) rear main engine seal is apparently common(check the rear valance and the underneath of the car for oil residue) (£500)
(iv) precautionary gearbox oil change (£400ish)
(v) crank pulley (£650)
(vi) DPF issues (£300 to clean up to £1500 to replace). I chose to have my DPF cleaned rather than replaced.
My 335d has had a hard life and ran fine apart to 90k miles aside from the turbo actuator failing at 50k. It really cost me nothing bar servicing.
Since 90k I've done all 6 items listed above whcih I am led to believe are common on all E90/E60 3.0 diesel engines.
SteveS Cup said:
Vee said:
It may have not been an issue with the turbo but the owner was told by the garage that it was.
I put mine in to a local garage for investigation of an oil leak.
I was told both turbos on mine were leaking and needed replacing at 88k ! Also said that the manifold was cracked and needed to be replaced. I'm no mechanic but wasn;t convinced.
Then gave to CPC in Amersham who gave me total confidence. Diagnosed as oil leaks from what are common places on the 30d/35d with age.
Swirl flap seals (had them taken out and blanked off) and rear main seal.
Whilst it was all open I also had the glow pulgs & controller changed as it had been bathed in oil for a long time.
OP, at around 100k in my experience you need to consider
(i) both thermostats (c£250)
(ii) perished vacuum hoses (£100 if done at same time as other work)
(iii) rear main engine seal is apparently common(check the rear valance and the underneath of the car for oil residue) (£500)
(iv) precautionary gearbox oil change (£400ish)
(v) crank pulley (£650)
(vi) DPF issues (£300 to clean up to £1500 to replace). I chose to have my DPF cleaned rather than replaced.
My 335d has had a hard life and ran fine apart to 90k miles aside from the turbo actuator failing at 50k. It really cost me nothing bar servicing.
Since 90k I've done all 6 items listed above whcih I am led to believe are common on all E90/E60 3.0 diesel engines.
Spot on. Thank you for this information! Maybe 120k mile car will have all this done where as a 90k miles car may need it all so great info!I put mine in to a local garage for investigation of an oil leak.
I was told both turbos on mine were leaking and needed replacing at 88k ! Also said that the manifold was cracked and needed to be replaced. I'm no mechanic but wasn;t convinced.
Then gave to CPC in Amersham who gave me total confidence. Diagnosed as oil leaks from what are common places on the 30d/35d with age.
Swirl flap seals (had them taken out and blanked off) and rear main seal.
Whilst it was all open I also had the glow pulgs & controller changed as it had been bathed in oil for a long time.
OP, at around 100k in my experience you need to consider
(i) both thermostats (c£250)
(ii) perished vacuum hoses (£100 if done at same time as other work)
(iii) rear main engine seal is apparently common(check the rear valance and the underneath of the car for oil residue) (£500)
(iv) precautionary gearbox oil change (£400ish)
(v) crank pulley (£650)
(vi) DPF issues (£300 to clean up to £1500 to replace). I chose to have my DPF cleaned rather than replaced.
My 335d has had a hard life and ran fine apart to 90k miles aside from the turbo actuator failing at 50k. It really cost me nothing bar servicing.
Since 90k I've done all 6 items listed above whcih I am led to believe are common on all E90/E60 3.0 diesel engines.
If I were buying at this level I'd be looking to see how much has been done and if not budgeting towards it.
Edited by Vee on Wednesday 15th October 10:00
I bought our E61 535d (06) last Christmas on 184k. I immediately changed the stats and gave it a mini service but since then it has need no work. There is a slight flywheel judder sometimes and the gearbox hunts around 40mph in top but im told can be fixed with a oil change.
Its a ticking bomb but it cost us 4,5k and if it lasts 4 years at our 10k a year then ill be more than happy. Its now on 193k and when i come back to the uk at Christmas ill do the gearbox oil and service it again.
It drives wonderfully, and you wouldnt know its done the miles to look at it. Its just like playing roulette as to when something big will go
EDIT- Ill ad some fuel economy info if it helps. All from trip comp.
Average since we owned it. 34,5mpg. However over the last 2k its about 36mpg. Thats what i belive its true average is as the other figure has some trips into alps with 3 downhill bikes on the roof which destroyed the economy. From Guildford to Munich loaded to the rafters it did 41,2mpg cruising around 80. If i sit around 60mpg i can see high 40's but it requires discipline
Its a ticking bomb but it cost us 4,5k and if it lasts 4 years at our 10k a year then ill be more than happy. Its now on 193k and when i come back to the uk at Christmas ill do the gearbox oil and service it again.
It drives wonderfully, and you wouldnt know its done the miles to look at it. Its just like playing roulette as to when something big will go
EDIT- Ill ad some fuel economy info if it helps. All from trip comp.
Average since we owned it. 34,5mpg. However over the last 2k its about 36mpg. Thats what i belive its true average is as the other figure has some trips into alps with 3 downhill bikes on the roof which destroyed the economy. From Guildford to Munich loaded to the rafters it did 41,2mpg cruising around 80. If i sit around 60mpg i can see high 40's but it requires discipline
Edited by Lord 
on Wednesday 15th October 15:25
on Wednesday 15th October 15:25Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff