E61 530i - What should I be looking for? (Advice)
Discussion
axel1990chp said:
As above! Apologies for the poor rushed picture, I may start a little readers thread as I dive into the car!
I’m not that mechanically savvy when it comes to the nitty gritty, but I aren’t stupid either! I’m looking forward to what this car brings
Just popped in for alignment check and it’s fine, so the pulling is coming elsewhere (it’s only minor). A quick google suggests tie rods may be a place to look!
Always really liked the E61 touring; just never made the move from my E39s... Did have an 2006 E65 730D Sport though, facelift too thankfully
Re pulling; BMWs are very well known for their trackrods to seize solid 32 milliseconds after them being fitted from new
so buy new ones (get the inner CV joints too); Moog are my go to from local motorfactors; get them fitted and then get tracking/alignment double checked againShould all be sorted then
Learn your way around www.realoem.com too - if you pop the last 7 digits of your VIN into the box at the top right of the page, it'll bring up your car
For the trackrod ends etc; you need the steering diagram and then 'steering/tie rods':
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partgrp?id=NC72-E...
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partgrp?id=NC72-E...
Thank you gents!
Looking into bush replacement all around as I start to play too. Keeping all these things hidden from the missus haha.
Will report back in a week or so as it progresses!
Looking into a CarPlay unit with USB connectivity for it over the new few days too, there’s an integrated automotive unit that seems all the bells and whistles, all be it on the pricier side
Looking into bush replacement all around as I start to play too. Keeping all these things hidden from the missus haha.
Will report back in a week or so as it progresses!
Looking into a CarPlay unit with USB connectivity for it over the new few days too, there’s an integrated automotive unit that seems all the bells and whistles, all be it on the pricier side
Mr Tidy said:
That looks great OP.
I took my Z4 for a 4 wheel alignment and it needed 2 new track rods as they were seized solid - it seems to be a common problem!
Just curious but does yours have the N52 or N53 engine?
Hey man! Thank you! I took my Z4 for a 4 wheel alignment and it needed 2 new track rods as they were seized solid - it seems to be a common problem!
Just curious but does yours have the N52 or N53 engine?
Trying to keep her as pristine as possible, ceramic coat end of the month
It is indeed the N53! I’m constantly checking to make sure there’s no leaks as I’ve been instructed to do haha
How’s the Z4 treating you?
I've recently purchased an LCI E61 535D and i'm just tidying things up and making it as mint as possible, Its my second E61 535 the last was a pre LCI they really are a thing of beauty and they certainly get under your skin, Its already been into my mates bodyshop for a front end / rear bumper respray (at mates rates) top top job though... Ive just finished repainting the calipers / refurbished the spiders.. replaced some of the switchgear inside (heated seat buttons had faded etc) also had a MMI Apple carplay box installed its starting to look seriously sexy, Its currently unmapped but i'm already considering the gearbox XHP as its a little dim-witted sometimes (having had a F31 340 for the past 4 years I was a bit spoilt).
Next job is a 2 stage machine polish with the trusty DAS Pro and possibly get the spiders changed to Anthracite which should look good against the space grey paintwork, Overall I'm really enjoying bringing it back to its former glory, pics will follow.
axel1990chp said:
Thank you gents!
Looking into bush replacement all around as I start to play too. Keeping all these things hidden from the missus haha.
Will report back in a week or so as it progresses!
Looking into a CarPlay unit with USB connectivity for it over the new few days too, there’s an integrated automotive unit that seems all the bells and whistles, all be it on the pricier side
That looks great. I kept our 525i (also an N53) longer than any other car I've owned. 4 years and approx 50k miles. It was pretty dependable though was getting a little niggly in the end which is why I sold it on. A friend bought it and of course it has been faultless for him! TBH, looking back we didn't actually have too many issues, it's just that a few came at once and we stopped trusting it and I was always a little fearful of the injector issue though your's should be grand on that front. We did have to do an auto gearbox rebuild, a couple of coils and a starter motor and wiper motor failed. One rear suspension air bag (easy fix) and a couple of silly electric things. Otherwise it was all servicing and preventative stuff. Speaking of which, it's well worth doing the cam chain tensioner if it's not been done lately. It's a very easy job and about £100 for a quality new one IIRC. Looking into bush replacement all around as I start to play too. Keeping all these things hidden from the missus haha.
Will report back in a week or so as it progresses!
Looking into a CarPlay unit with USB connectivity for it over the new few days too, there’s an integrated automotive unit that seems all the bells and whistles, all be it on the pricier side
Tailgate wiring can be an issue so if your boot lock, rear wiper, lights or heated rear screen start playing up there are some well documented remedies.
On the carplay front, FWIW I fitted an andream unit. They're about £250 for the E61 and it worked excellently. Completely transforemed the car. I've since bought 2 more for other BMW's. Highly recommended from me.
Good morning!
Apologies for the late replies, I’ve been at a festival all weekend and I’m only just recovering!
Thanks for all the info for going forward. I’ve set myself aside a 3 month schedule to do preventative maintenance as much as possible, track rods are booked in soon. I’ll definitely get on the tensioner and I’ve already started eyeing up a few big jobs to be done in may after works bonus payments!
I ordered an andream unit after a bit of research so I’ll give it a shot at installing that when it arrives!
Car is an absolute delight at the moment and I love just looking at it from the front room! The slight blue tint glows when the suns out!
Ceramic coating end of the month and having a full interior valet. This is the most love a car has had in a fair few years, so it speaks volumes to me
Apologies for the late replies, I’ve been at a festival all weekend and I’m only just recovering!
Thanks for all the info for going forward. I’ve set myself aside a 3 month schedule to do preventative maintenance as much as possible, track rods are booked in soon. I’ll definitely get on the tensioner and I’ve already started eyeing up a few big jobs to be done in may after works bonus payments!
I ordered an andream unit after a bit of research so I’ll give it a shot at installing that when it arrives!
Car is an absolute delight at the moment and I love just looking at it from the front room! The slight blue tint glows when the suns out!
Ceramic coating end of the month and having a full interior valet. This is the most love a car has had in a fair few years, so it speaks volumes to me
axel1990chp said:
Good morning!
Apologies for the late replies, I’ve been at a festival all weekend and I’m only just recovering!
Thanks for all the info for going forward. I’ve set myself aside a 3 month schedule to do preventative maintenance as much as possible, track rods are booked in soon. I’ll definitely get on the tensioner and I’ve already started eyeing up a few big jobs to be done in may after works bonus payments!
I ordered an andream unit after a bit of research so I’ll give it a shot at installing that when it arrives!
Car is an absolute delight at the moment and I love just looking at it from the front room! The slight blue tint glows when the suns out!
Ceramic coating end of the month and having a full interior valet. This is the most love a car has had in a fair few years, so it speaks volumes to me
Great stuff. It's funny how blue BMW black is. My cousin has a black F10 and my F11 is 'imperial blue' yet in certain lights they look identical. Apologies for the late replies, I’ve been at a festival all weekend and I’m only just recovering!
Thanks for all the info for going forward. I’ve set myself aside a 3 month schedule to do preventative maintenance as much as possible, track rods are booked in soon. I’ll definitely get on the tensioner and I’ve already started eyeing up a few big jobs to be done in may after works bonus payments!
I ordered an andream unit after a bit of research so I’ll give it a shot at installing that when it arrives!
Car is an absolute delight at the moment and I love just looking at it from the front room! The slight blue tint glows when the suns out!
Ceramic coating end of the month and having a full interior valet. This is the most love a car has had in a fair few years, so it speaks volumes to me
I have a top tip for the andream install on these. Your's being a facelift car, I assume has a cubby in the centre console?
If you take it out during install and drill a 16mm hole through the side of it, you can fit one of these sockets to the side wall. They can just be glued in place (superglue worked fine). It means that you don't need to have a permanent dangling USB cable anywhere and it's pretty much invisible until you plug a cable in to use it. Makes for a very neat install, especially if you'll mainly use wireless connection.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081KRFQKQ?psc=1&r...
If you take it out during install and drill a 16mm hole through the side of it, you can fit one of these sockets to the side wall. They can just be glued in place (superglue worked fine). It means that you don't need to have a permanent dangling USB cable anywhere and it's pretty much invisible until you plug a cable in to use it. Makes for a very neat install, especially if you'll mainly use wireless connection.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081KRFQKQ?psc=1&r...
Gad-Westy said:
I have a top tip for the andream install on these. Your's being a facelift car, I assume has a cubby in the centre console?
If you take it out during install and drill a 16mm hole through the side of it, you can fit one of these sockets to the side wall. They can just be glued in place (superglue worked fine). It means that you don't need to have a permanent dangling USB cable anywhere and it's pretty much invisible until you plug a cable in to use it. Makes for a very neat install, especially if you'll mainly use wireless connection.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081KRFQKQ?psc=1&r...
Absolute superstar Westy! Ordered it this second! If you take it out during install and drill a 16mm hole through the side of it, you can fit one of these sockets to the side wall. They can just be glued in place (superglue worked fine). It means that you don't need to have a permanent dangling USB cable anywhere and it's pretty much invisible until you plug a cable in to use it. Makes for a very neat install, especially if you'll mainly use wireless connection.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081KRFQKQ?psc=1&r...
I’m sure it’s a one off…. Hoping! Haha, but this morning I had a little bit of a rough start-up! 3/4 seconds the revs dropped and felt a bit chuggish? Disappeared on its own, worth monitoring!
axel1990chp said:
Gad-Westy said:
I have a top tip for the andream install on these. Your's being a facelift car, I assume has a cubby in the centre console?
If you take it out during install and drill a 16mm hole through the side of it, you can fit one of these sockets to the side wall. They can just be glued in place (superglue worked fine). It means that you don't need to have a permanent dangling USB cable anywhere and it's pretty much invisible until you plug a cable in to use it. Makes for a very neat install, especially if you'll mainly use wireless connection.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081KRFQKQ?psc=1&r...
Absolute superstar Westy! Ordered it this second! If you take it out during install and drill a 16mm hole through the side of it, you can fit one of these sockets to the side wall. They can just be glued in place (superglue worked fine). It means that you don't need to have a permanent dangling USB cable anywhere and it's pretty much invisible until you plug a cable in to use it. Makes for a very neat install, especially if you'll mainly use wireless connection.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081KRFQKQ?psc=1&r...
I’m sure it’s a one off…. Hoping! Haha, but this morning I had a little bit of a rough start-up! 3/4 seconds the revs dropped and felt a bit chuggish? Disappeared on its own, worth monitoring!
I did chuck some of this stuff in our N53.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005GDC46E/ref...
Not normally a fan of snake oil type products but this gets a lot of love with N53 owners in the US and I was paranoid about injectors at the time and was having the off grumpy start up so gave it a go. Car still going strong in my pal's ownership now several k miles on and he hasn't reported any weird start up issues but of course that may well have been the case had I not put the magic potion in too. Seemed worth a punt at twenty quid.
Just as an update on track rod ends.
Bought the parts myself with the aim to do it myself, but alas - long story short, I sold all my tools, my house and my old belongings for an adventure and I’ve never got myself back into that situation. Live on a one way narrow terraced street so working on your vehicle is a bit bothersome.
That being said I’m using a mechys garage to complete the work.
Firstly; why are so many garages refusing to do work with parts that aren’t their own order! Ridiculous, I even waived the right to warranty and they won’t!
Secondly; went through a few local BMW specialists, I’ve been quoted as much as 187.50 for the labour, 95 for alignment from one garage, which WOULD take my parts.
The next garage want 220 all in, with their parts included.
The third garage quoted me 455 for the same job!!
Do they pull those figures out of their proverbial A* holes?!
Be cheaper for me to buy some tools and drive it to my mates driveway, then pay for alignment at a local kwikfit!
Bought the parts myself with the aim to do it myself, but alas - long story short, I sold all my tools, my house and my old belongings for an adventure and I’ve never got myself back into that situation. Live on a one way narrow terraced street so working on your vehicle is a bit bothersome.
That being said I’m using a mechys garage to complete the work.
Firstly; why are so many garages refusing to do work with parts that aren’t their own order! Ridiculous, I even waived the right to warranty and they won’t!
Secondly; went through a few local BMW specialists, I’ve been quoted as much as 187.50 for the labour, 95 for alignment from one garage, which WOULD take my parts.
The next garage want 220 all in, with their parts included.
The third garage quoted me 455 for the same job!!
Do they pull those figures out of their proverbial A* holes?!
Be cheaper for me to buy some tools and drive it to my mates driveway, then pay for alignment at a local kwikfit!
axel1990chp said:
Just as an update on track rod ends.
Bought the parts myself with the aim to do it myself, but alas - long story short, I sold all my tools, my house and my old belongings for an adventure and I’ve never got myself back into that situation. Live on a one way narrow terraced street so working on your vehicle is a bit bothersome.
That being said I’m using a mechys garage to complete the work.
Firstly; why are so many garages refusing to do work with parts that aren’t their own order! Ridiculous, I even waived the right to warranty and they won’t!
Secondly; went through a few local BMW specialists, I’ve been quoted as much as 187.50 for the labour, 95 for alignment from one garage, which WOULD take my parts.
The next garage want 220 all in, with their parts included.
The third garage quoted me 455 for the same job!!
Do they pull those figures out of their proverbial A* holes?!
Be cheaper for me to buy some tools and drive it to my mates driveway, then pay for alignment at a local kwikfit!
Issue is BMW track rod ends love to seize for the fun of it and can be sods to removeBought the parts myself with the aim to do it myself, but alas - long story short, I sold all my tools, my house and my old belongings for an adventure and I’ve never got myself back into that situation. Live on a one way narrow terraced street so working on your vehicle is a bit bothersome.
That being said I’m using a mechys garage to complete the work.
Firstly; why are so many garages refusing to do work with parts that aren’t their own order! Ridiculous, I even waived the right to warranty and they won’t!
Secondly; went through a few local BMW specialists, I’ve been quoted as much as 187.50 for the labour, 95 for alignment from one garage, which WOULD take my parts.
The next garage want 220 all in, with their parts included.
The third garage quoted me 455 for the same job!!
Do they pull those figures out of their proverbial A* holes?!
Be cheaper for me to buy some tools and drive it to my mates driveway, then pay for alignment at a local kwikfit!
Go with a garage that'll do it and do the alignment too; that £220 sounds about right. The others are pisstakes
I did mine on my previous E39 & F01; both seized, took me close to 2 hours each to get the damn things off as they were just rounding etc... Lots of Wurth Rost Off ice and heat won in the end! That was on my pals ramps!
Used Moog parts with plenty of Liqui Moly anti seize paste too
My pal did the tracking/alignment etc
A little update, and some more advice seeking!
Track rod end replacement worked a charm, installed the andream unit too, and after some frustration trying to figure it out, a quick email to the Chinese gentleman who sent me it, I got a passcode and all worked magically!
Had a few little jobs done over the last couple of months, all in the name of peace of mind, had the auxiliary belt and tensioner done last and before that had a new battery installed, cooling flush and AC unit check up/top up.
Since then I had my front and rear BMW badge nicked at Humberside Airport at the end of August, nice £160 spent at BMW for some sparkly new ones
Unfortunately had a puncture on the rest left, so whilst it’s a little unaffordable before Xmas, I’ve taken the plunge and I’m swapping all 4 to new Michelin PS5’s NRFs. Sourcing a spare 18 inch to keep in the boot just in case, because I know my luck!
New spark plugs and coil packs after the new year, with the final reassurance job being the discs and pads around March!
My advice comes in the form of spacers!
I’ve never dabbled in spacers as I’ve typically had already menacingly looking cars and it’s not really been necessary, however the wheels sit so far in the arches on this, especially at the rear, so I think it’s a job I’m going to throw in with the discs and pads in March.
Has anyone done this to an E61? What size/brand/type did you go for? Worried I order completely the wrong part if I’m honest!
I would say 10mm probably seems right for the front but the rear probably more!
Absolutely love the car and I’ve had floods of compliments of older chaps, even some of the Barry boys at my gym have given it a good staring at!
Once the back end of winter is gone I’ll be having a fairly good dose of ceramic coating at a local detailers and hopefully that’s me done until something ugly shows up!
Track rod end replacement worked a charm, installed the andream unit too, and after some frustration trying to figure it out, a quick email to the Chinese gentleman who sent me it, I got a passcode and all worked magically!
Had a few little jobs done over the last couple of months, all in the name of peace of mind, had the auxiliary belt and tensioner done last and before that had a new battery installed, cooling flush and AC unit check up/top up.
Since then I had my front and rear BMW badge nicked at Humberside Airport at the end of August, nice £160 spent at BMW for some sparkly new ones
Unfortunately had a puncture on the rest left, so whilst it’s a little unaffordable before Xmas, I’ve taken the plunge and I’m swapping all 4 to new Michelin PS5’s NRFs. Sourcing a spare 18 inch to keep in the boot just in case, because I know my luck!
New spark plugs and coil packs after the new year, with the final reassurance job being the discs and pads around March!
My advice comes in the form of spacers!
I’ve never dabbled in spacers as I’ve typically had already menacingly looking cars and it’s not really been necessary, however the wheels sit so far in the arches on this, especially at the rear, so I think it’s a job I’m going to throw in with the discs and pads in March.
Has anyone done this to an E61? What size/brand/type did you go for? Worried I order completely the wrong part if I’m honest!
I would say 10mm probably seems right for the front but the rear probably more!
Absolutely love the car and I’ve had floods of compliments of older chaps, even some of the Barry boys at my gym have given it a good staring at!
Once the back end of winter is gone I’ll be having a fairly good dose of ceramic coating at a local detailers and hopefully that’s me done until something ugly shows up!
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