2005 525 se petrol auto estate
Discussion
I've only run diesels but a friend had a 525i of similar age and was very pleased. Yes, the 530i is quicker with similar mpg and the 520d gives more mpg with similar performance (on paper though different delivery) but you already knew that I'm sure. He had no issues other than standard servicing and wear & tear items - the engines are strong and the gearbox is ok but needs its oil changed every 60k miles or so regardless of what BMW say. Some electrics can be a problem, particularly the idrive so make sure everything works. Also, if it has a pano roof check the boot area for leaks - the drainage holes can become blocked causing water ingress and there's a lot of electrics in the boot that can get fried.
IMHoO, If you're looking for a comfortable and generally reliable barge and absolute performance nor high fuel efficiency are essential then it's a fine car, just do the usual checks prior to buying. I'd choose it over Merc, Audi or Jag and, at the time, so did pretty much every car mag. Do you have a specific one in mind or just browsing?
IMHoO, If you're looking for a comfortable and generally reliable barge and absolute performance nor high fuel efficiency are essential then it's a fine car, just do the usual checks prior to buying. I'd choose it over Merc, Audi or Jag and, at the time, so did pretty much every car mag. Do you have a specific one in mind or just browsing?
Can't speak for the Volvo but assume it's the deisel if it's the 2.0 as a petrol would be a turbo version which I wouldn't have thought would be gutless?
Hud would be a funky option and if the original owned specced that then he put a few other goodies on too? I guess at the end of the day it'll depend on the mileage/price and condition but the 525i is a decent car. Be interested how it goes.
NB. not sure how familiar you are with these cars but on top of the usual checks take a look at the tyres to make sure they're either all run flats or all standard and not a mix of the two which can happen and is not recommended!
Hud would be a funky option and if the original owned specced that then he put a few other goodies on too? I guess at the end of the day it'll depend on the mileage/price and condition but the 525i is a decent car. Be interested how it goes.
NB. not sure how familiar you are with these cars but on top of the usual checks take a look at the tyres to make sure they're either all run flats or all standard and not a mix of the two which can happen and is not recommended!
Any chance of more info? Price/mileage/history etc?
I have to say most people who care about their cars get stuff fixed when it goes wrong. If the previous owner just lived with stuff failing it begs the question what else is wrong. This said, if the price is right anything is forgivable. As I said the 2.5/6 is a strong engine so as long as it hasn't been abused it should be fine.
On the other stuff it depends what you're after. I got a fairly good bumper re-spray of my mothers A Class Merc for £200 from someone I knew. Upholstery no idea but replacing a single section should be fairly easy or there's ebay for replacement seats. Front light (does this mean it has adaptive Xenons?) not sure, ditto parking sensors though the latter is a common problem and is usually, I believe, an easy and relative cheap fix. Non of these problems seem terminal but it depends of price..
I have to say most people who care about their cars get stuff fixed when it goes wrong. If the previous owner just lived with stuff failing it begs the question what else is wrong. This said, if the price is right anything is forgivable. As I said the 2.5/6 is a strong engine so as long as it hasn't been abused it should be fine.
On the other stuff it depends what you're after. I got a fairly good bumper re-spray of my mothers A Class Merc for £200 from someone I knew. Upholstery no idea but replacing a single section should be fairly easy or there's ebay for replacement seats. Front light (does this mean it has adaptive Xenons?) not sure, ditto parking sensors though the latter is a common problem and is usually, I believe, an easy and relative cheap fix. Non of these problems seem terminal but it depends of price..
gaz1234 said:
He reckons it's the larger 218 bhp engine, but I can't see anything about this so called larger engine...
He's sort of right. The engine isn't larger but from 2005 the 525i gained the then-new N52 engine which despite still being 2.5 litres had 218bhp. The first E60 525i's had the M54 2.5 with 167bhp carried forward from the E39.Though it's never going to set the world on fire 218bhp isn't slow in the E60 - the N52 is a great engine.
Fox- said:
He's sort of right. The engine isn't larger but from 2005 the 525i gained the then-new N52 engine which despite still being 2.5 litres had 218bhp. The first E60 525i's had the M54 2.5 with 167bhp carried forward from the E39.
Though it's never going to set the world on fire 218bhp isn't slow in the E60 - the N52 is a great engine.
M54 2.5 is a quoted 192hp Though it's never going to set the world on fire 218bhp isn't slow in the E60 - the N52 is a great engine.
Hmm
N53 revised version 6 cylinder 525i petrol with Valvetronic can suffer bore ovalisation at moderately high mileage (90k) due to dribbling injectors. Oil consumption can rise to 500 miles a litre. Only remedy is a new short engine.
15-4-2014: Worldwide recall of 489,000 BMW cars with six-cylinder 2.5 and 3.0 litre petrol engines of which less than 3,000 are in the UK. These are: N51 (1991-1995), N52 (from 2005) and the N55 6-cylinder petrol turbo (from 2009). The screws for the housing of the adjustment unit of the variable camshaft timing (Vanos) for the intake and exhaust camshafts could potentially become loose or break. An engine warning lamp ‘should ’ appear in such circumstances, but if drivers experience any loss of power they should contact their BMW dealer immediately.
N53 revised version 6 cylinder 525i petrol with Valvetronic can suffer bore ovalisation at moderately high mileage (90k) due to dribbling injectors. Oil consumption can rise to 500 miles a litre. Only remedy is a new short engine.
15-4-2014: Worldwide recall of 489,000 BMW cars with six-cylinder 2.5 and 3.0 litre petrol engines of which less than 3,000 are in the UK. These are: N51 (1991-1995), N52 (from 2005) and the N55 6-cylinder petrol turbo (from 2009). The screws for the housing of the adjustment unit of the variable camshaft timing (Vanos) for the intake and exhaust camshafts could potentially become loose or break. An engine warning lamp ‘should ’ appear in such circumstances, but if drivers experience any loss of power they should contact their BMW dealer immediately.
Edited by gaz1234 on Sunday 2nd November 17:39
gaz1234 said:
Hmm
N53 revised version 6 cylinder 525i petrol with Valvetronic can suffer bore ovalisation at moderately high mileage (90k) due to dribbling injectors. Oil consumption can rise to 500 miles a litre. Only remedy is a new short engine.
It doesn't have an N53 - that was the stratified direct injection engine introduced at the facelift in 2007. It's an N52.N53 revised version 6 cylinder 525i petrol with Valvetronic can suffer bore ovalisation at moderately high mileage (90k) due to dribbling injectors. Oil consumption can rise to 500 miles a litre. Only remedy is a new short engine.
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