e60s - any good?
Discussion
Thought I'd revive this thread.
I'm in the market for a new daily smoker, which needs to fit one or both of two main criteria - it needs to have four doors and be big enough for a pram and baby seat in the back. If the right car comes along, it also would then need to be a more economical touring than my B8 S4 Avant.
It'll be replacing an E46 325i saloon which currently carries out daily duties for runs around town with the little one in the back, but is also OK with a roof box o it for the odd weekend away if needed.
I've spent more than I ever should have getting the E46 upto scratch mechanically, but the bodywork will soon start to need attention and I don't think it's worth sinking more into the car.
Anyway, a year ago I happened upon a very early 2003 E60 530I saloon, six speed manual (yes you read that correctly). It had everything on it including the 14-way comfort seats. Unfortunately though it was in Inverness.
Well I went and bought it, and within 48 hours it was up for sale as spares. It was completely rotten underneath. The car was a complete basket case. My fault for buying a car from Scotland I guess, but in my case yes, E60s do rust!
I'm still in the market for another daily so I'm back looking at E60s again, this time knowing what to look out for. The early cars carried over the same engines as the E39, so the M54 will be in the petrol variants upto around 2005. The N52 then replaced those until 2007 ish when the N53 was released with the LCI. Although the earlier cars look a bit dated, those 05-07 N52 petrol engined 3 litre cars didn't suffer any HPFP issues, therefore are the ones to go for.
If you're in the market for a later LCI, it seems like the 3 litre diesel is the star for performance and reliability, as they didn't suffer the same swirl flap issues as the 535D.
I'm in the market for a new daily smoker, which needs to fit one or both of two main criteria - it needs to have four doors and be big enough for a pram and baby seat in the back. If the right car comes along, it also would then need to be a more economical touring than my B8 S4 Avant.
It'll be replacing an E46 325i saloon which currently carries out daily duties for runs around town with the little one in the back, but is also OK with a roof box o it for the odd weekend away if needed.
I've spent more than I ever should have getting the E46 upto scratch mechanically, but the bodywork will soon start to need attention and I don't think it's worth sinking more into the car.
Anyway, a year ago I happened upon a very early 2003 E60 530I saloon, six speed manual (yes you read that correctly). It had everything on it including the 14-way comfort seats. Unfortunately though it was in Inverness.
Well I went and bought it, and within 48 hours it was up for sale as spares. It was completely rotten underneath. The car was a complete basket case. My fault for buying a car from Scotland I guess, but in my case yes, E60s do rust!
I'm still in the market for another daily so I'm back looking at E60s again, this time knowing what to look out for. The early cars carried over the same engines as the E39, so the M54 will be in the petrol variants upto around 2005. The N52 then replaced those until 2007 ish when the N53 was released with the LCI. Although the earlier cars look a bit dated, those 05-07 N52 petrol engined 3 litre cars didn't suffer any HPFP issues, therefore are the ones to go for.
If you're in the market for a later LCI, it seems like the 3 litre diesel is the star for performance and reliability, as they didn't suffer the same swirl flap issues as the 535D.
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