520d - older car, likely problems?

[xcentric]

looking at buying a 520d, ~100k miles, ~10 years old, ~£5-6k - are there any major points to look out for on these?
good service history a must, I know.....

[Locknut]

The timing chain is famous, just type "BMW timing chain" into Google and watch what happens.

[Collectingbrass]

My experience of older & higher mileage BMWs (all petrol) is that at that age they throw up electrical gremlins on a regular basis more than anything mechanical. I appreciate your mileage may vary but it's one I'd watch for.

[xcentric]

thanks.

The timing chain is an interesting (and worrying one) - it's just relevant for the cars I'm looking at (~100k miles, 2007-8) - the earlier engine is much less economic, so prefer this one. Clearly regular oil changes are helpful, but proof of that is hard to come by. Can see that getting figures of actual problems are hard too, but as an owner of a Porsche that had an IMS go, i'd rather not buy into another weakly engineered engine (and its the diesel that I'm looking at).

I'm guessing cars with fixed/replaced timing belts will be clearly advertised as such, as it seems too expensive to simply ask a dealer to do before buying one.....

Do they also have the swirl flap problem?

[Sheepshanks]

xcentric said:

looking at buying a 520d, ~100k miles, ~10 years old, ~£5-6k - .

Are they really that much?

Turbo and swirl flaps would be my immediate concern.

[smashy]

That years car would have had a BMW recall a couple of years ago to check the chain...has it been done thats the thing?

[xcentric]

and if the recall has been done. will it be shown in the service book clearly? I'm happy enough if it's been sorted but it does seem that there have been a spate of failures, so its unclear whether many we actually recalled and sorted.

[smashy]

xcentric said:

and if the recall has been done. will it be shown in the service book clearly? I'm happy enough if it's been sorted but it does seem that there have been a spate of failures, so its unclear whether many we actually recalled and sorted.

xcentric this is by far the best thread on this http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=72191

As for me buddy id walk away my 57 plate 105k miles scrapped and BMW couldnt have cared less.What nobody ever mentions is this. when it goes you lose all power thankfully I was not on the outside lane of a motorway or anywhere on a motorway to be fair.

[helix402]

Why not just buy an M47 520d or a 530d (the N47 isn't really a lot more economical than the M47)? I was in a queue of traffic this week, for a split second I thought I had a problem as my engine was louder than usual.
Then I realised it was the N47 520d next to me!

[xcentric]

smashy said:

xcentric this is by far the best thread on this http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=72191

As for me buddy id walk away my 57 plate 105k miles scrapped and BMW couldnt have cared less.What nobody ever mentions is this. when it goes you lose all power thankfully I was not on the outside lane of a motorway or anywhere on a motorway to be fair.

thanks - interesting thread. So, if I find one that did have the QE work done and it's documented, then it's probably ok. If not documented or not done, then it's not.

So it does open it up as an option again to me (had partially ruled it out)..... might look at the 2.5d too, and broaden search to other marquees as well, however.....

[kurt535]

xcentric said:

looking at buying a 520d, ~100k miles, ~10 years old, ~£5-6k - are there any major points to look out for on these?
good service history a must, I know.....

don't. bmw 4 pots are shyte. stretch to the 530d and sleep at night.

[xcentric]

kurt535 said:

don't. bmw 4 pots are shyte. stretch to the 530d and sleep at night.

That's quite strong - why do you say that?! Many people like them. Agree the 530 is quicker, but I don't need this car to be my quick one - just need a comfy commuter with ok performance and decent reliability (hence the thread) and mpg......

[smashy]

xcentric said:

That's quite strong - why do you say that?! Many people like them. Agree the 530 is quicker, but I don't need this car to be my quick one - just need a comfy commuter with ok performance and decent reliability (hence the thread) and mpg......

That 2ltr in my 120d auto did an excellant job ,it was my gokart,had some go it was great right up till the Turbo went at 90k New BMW Turbo then it was like a boxer who suddenly runs out of steam basically never run right again till chain snapped at 105k.....I just wouldnt go there again.

[kurt535]

xcentric said:

kurt535 said:

don't. bmw 4 pots are shyte. stretch to the 530d and sleep at night.

That's quite strong - why do you say that?! Many people like them. Agree the 530 is quicker, but I don't need this car to be my quick one - just need a comfy commuter with ok performance and decent reliability (hence the thread) and mpg......

4 pot 2 litres have various issues associated with them. internet search will identify. the 530d has decent fuel economy and being a 6 pot less stress on it. i started out a few years ago looking to buy a 520 but ended up buying a beautiful low mile 6 pot 525d back in 2013. 48mpg on a run down to 38 around town. then i got greedy and went full fat up to 535d. post LCI the ones to buy. infact if you can find a 525d, Id go for that?

[xcentric]

hum hum de hum.

So, 520d is out - too many horror stories.

530d is in - good mix of power and economy. But, at the £5-7k, am looking at 80-130k miles, 2004-2007ish (pre LCI). Happy enough with spec levels and performance/economy mix, but wondering how likely it is I'll be hit with big bills. On one hand, seeing quite a few cars with nearly 200k miles shows they do get there, but also if it dumps me with turbo, manifold, clutch, and iDrive bills all in a few months I'll be fed up.

So, how much of a risk do you reckon it will be? Or will it be flowers and grass and long endless summer sun fun.....

[kurt535]

xcentric said:

hum hum de hum.

So, 520d is out - too many horror stories.

530d is in - good mix of power and economy. But, at the £5-7k, am looking at 80-130k miles, 2004-2007ish (pre LCI). Happy enough with spec levels and performance/economy mix, but wondering how likely it is I'll be hit with big bills. On one hand, seeing quite a few cars with nearly 200k miles shows they do get there, but also if it dumps me with turbo, manifold, clutch, and iDrive bills all in a few months I'll be fed up.

So, how much of a risk do you reckon it will be? Or will it be flowers and grass and long endless summer sun fun.....

Have a look for a 525d? they really are the bridesmaid but i feel exactly what you would appreciate - and also be £ achievable in post LCI models.

[xcentric]

interestingly, there's not a vast difference in price between them, as far as i can see - they seem to have levelled off at about the same value - but I'll have another look around.....

[SebringMan]

xcentric said:

hum hum de hum.

So, 520d is out - too many horror stories.

530d is in - good mix of power and economy. But, at the £5-7k, am looking at 80-130k miles, 2004-2007ish (pre LCI). Happy enough with spec levels and performance/economy mix, but wondering how likely it is I'll be hit with big bills. On one hand, seeing quite a few cars with nearly 200k miles shows they do get there, but also if it dumps me with turbo, manifold, clutch, and iDrive bills all in a few months I'll be fed up.

So, how much of a risk do you reckon it will be? Or will it be flowers and grass and long endless summer sun fun.....

I'd rather have a higher miler 530d over the 520d. Their issues are just far too well documented (even by Watchdog of all people!) for me to consider them, despite the power and MPG.

That said, any car at this age will be one that could be great or...

[kurt535]

did you see this?

clearly its a cat car so buyer tread lightly but dependant on the repair, i am sure he would shift a lot lower.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...