2006 BMW 530d M Sport - The Motorway Chugger
Discussion
Hello all
Thought i'd create a little thread to track progress/maintenance for a motorway chugger, bought purely for driving back and forth work. Its a 56 plate 530d, compromising of:
-Usual M Sport styling
-Auto
-Comfort Seats (Heated)
-Factory Xenons
-Widescreen Pro Nav
-19'' Spyder wheels with Conti's
-Full history - Main dealer and BMW Specialists
-DPF Deleted, Swirl Flaps blanked
-Remapped - 270bhp & 450 lb/ft Torque
This is being run alongside my beloved C63 (found here if your bothered! http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... ). The AMG is cracking, but its a low mile example and is mint - i didnt want to rack up the miles or for the car to loose its 'specialness' hence having a second car to do roughly 400 miles a week. I had a 320d coupe for 6 months for this job - it was a cracking car, but being a coupe it was a bit small and i just hated having a manual diesel (they do NOT go well together at all in my opinion!). It did however run on thin air, it was incredibly Frugal. With that said, i was willing to take a hit on economy for something a little better specd and comfy and more importantly an auto.
it is absolutely marvelous. Its fully stamped up to the 120k miles its on now, but im Not quite convinced it actually had its last service - the last owner bought it from a used car dealership and they've stamped it but theres not much evidence its been serviced - the oil was on the minimum, considering it was serviced 5k miles ago in Sept i wasn't quite convinced they had done anything or had done the bare minimum - so i will be taken it to a local specialist for a full once over inc. gear box oil for my peace of mind over the next week or so.
Its in silver grey on 19'' Spyders wrapped in Conti's all around, and im pretty confident its been lowered, its subtle so i'd say its on springs. It's by no means a harsh or crashy though, i love how it sits. Its also been remapped - 270bhp and circa 450lb/ft torque it is brilliant and would probably give my C63 a good run for its money in real world driving for mid- gear grunt! As with all diesels the power band is short lived - over taking and quick bursts of acceleration are giggle-worthy, but planting your foot to the floor for a straight line bolt it doesn't feel 'that' exciting although the speedo will say otherwise. I find the gearbox acceptable - I read online a few people calling the gearbox a bit prehistoric. It is, but its not to say it doesn't work a treat - mated to the 30d it is perfect. Granted, its no DSG etc etc - it does feel a bit clunky and lazy. I imagine the later ZF8 box paired to this engine to be a real peach. Its a proper magic carpet ride, even on 19s and with it being lowered - i imagine SE's feel even better on smaller wheels and standard suspension although they do nothing for me personally.
I Read a few things about owners not getting on with this first gen 'CCC' iDrive - its pretty decent and certainly does the job. We have a 4 series with the latest iDrive (CIC) and it is by far worlds better - but the older iDrive isnt as slow or as clunky as what i thought it would be to be honest. Radio reception seems to be a bit crap in places.
Juice wise its hard to tell how good (or bad) it is yet but as a comparison on 35miles into my office, 90% motorways (and simply going off the trip display) :
C63 6.2- 24mpg (Auto) (270miles to tank) £65 super unleaded
320d e92 - 52mg (manual) (600/650miles to tank)
530d - 38mpg (Auto) (600 miles to tank)
I was hoping the 530 would deliver a little better than 38, but i think after a good service that should rise slightly.
I gave it some TLC on the weekend compromising of a mini detail to get the paintwork up to my picky standard and to get it sealed up, making cleaning a doddle after the motorway grime has graced it. It came up wonderful - infact i was overly impressed that this car is 11 years old, its immaculate. The previous owner had quite a good relationship with kerbs, so the spyder wheels could do with a refurb but that not on the priority list for now. The other bits i need to do for now are:
-Remove that stupid M Sport front grille - why do people fit these! i like the brack grille so will likely spray the coloured m sport slats black. Luckily have the original chrome grille to hand if that goes pear shaped.
-Fit private plate - gets it off retention, hides the age and should generally smarten it up
- Fit normal rear numberplate lights or dimmer led ones - The white ones fitted now are so bright they illuminate the floor!
Essay aside, here are the pics;
Even managed to get the soot encrusted rear pipes back to chrome again!
So overall, compared to the 320d Coupe this has replaced, the 530d is cheaper to ensure, better equipped my a mile, much more comfortable, easier to drive, looks far nicer and was also cheaper to buy! So far, i'm glad with my choice.
Cheers
Irfan
Thought i'd create a little thread to track progress/maintenance for a motorway chugger, bought purely for driving back and forth work. Its a 56 plate 530d, compromising of:
-Usual M Sport styling
-Auto
-Comfort Seats (Heated)
-Factory Xenons
-Widescreen Pro Nav
-19'' Spyder wheels with Conti's
-Full history - Main dealer and BMW Specialists
-DPF Deleted, Swirl Flaps blanked
-Remapped - 270bhp & 450 lb/ft Torque
This is being run alongside my beloved C63 (found here if your bothered! http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... ). The AMG is cracking, but its a low mile example and is mint - i didnt want to rack up the miles or for the car to loose its 'specialness' hence having a second car to do roughly 400 miles a week. I had a 320d coupe for 6 months for this job - it was a cracking car, but being a coupe it was a bit small and i just hated having a manual diesel (they do NOT go well together at all in my opinion!). It did however run on thin air, it was incredibly Frugal. With that said, i was willing to take a hit on economy for something a little better specd and comfy and more importantly an auto.
it is absolutely marvelous. Its fully stamped up to the 120k miles its on now, but im Not quite convinced it actually had its last service - the last owner bought it from a used car dealership and they've stamped it but theres not much evidence its been serviced - the oil was on the minimum, considering it was serviced 5k miles ago in Sept i wasn't quite convinced they had done anything or had done the bare minimum - so i will be taken it to a local specialist for a full once over inc. gear box oil for my peace of mind over the next week or so.
Its in silver grey on 19'' Spyders wrapped in Conti's all around, and im pretty confident its been lowered, its subtle so i'd say its on springs. It's by no means a harsh or crashy though, i love how it sits. Its also been remapped - 270bhp and circa 450lb/ft torque it is brilliant and would probably give my C63 a good run for its money in real world driving for mid- gear grunt! As with all diesels the power band is short lived - over taking and quick bursts of acceleration are giggle-worthy, but planting your foot to the floor for a straight line bolt it doesn't feel 'that' exciting although the speedo will say otherwise. I find the gearbox acceptable - I read online a few people calling the gearbox a bit prehistoric. It is, but its not to say it doesn't work a treat - mated to the 30d it is perfect. Granted, its no DSG etc etc - it does feel a bit clunky and lazy. I imagine the later ZF8 box paired to this engine to be a real peach. Its a proper magic carpet ride, even on 19s and with it being lowered - i imagine SE's feel even better on smaller wheels and standard suspension although they do nothing for me personally.
I Read a few things about owners not getting on with this first gen 'CCC' iDrive - its pretty decent and certainly does the job. We have a 4 series with the latest iDrive (CIC) and it is by far worlds better - but the older iDrive isnt as slow or as clunky as what i thought it would be to be honest. Radio reception seems to be a bit crap in places.
Juice wise its hard to tell how good (or bad) it is yet but as a comparison on 35miles into my office, 90% motorways (and simply going off the trip display) :
C63 6.2- 24mpg (Auto) (270miles to tank) £65 super unleaded
320d e92 - 52mg (manual) (600/650miles to tank)
530d - 38mpg (Auto) (600 miles to tank)
I was hoping the 530 would deliver a little better than 38, but i think after a good service that should rise slightly.
I gave it some TLC on the weekend compromising of a mini detail to get the paintwork up to my picky standard and to get it sealed up, making cleaning a doddle after the motorway grime has graced it. It came up wonderful - infact i was overly impressed that this car is 11 years old, its immaculate. The previous owner had quite a good relationship with kerbs, so the spyder wheels could do with a refurb but that not on the priority list for now. The other bits i need to do for now are:
-Remove that stupid M Sport front grille - why do people fit these! i like the brack grille so will likely spray the coloured m sport slats black. Luckily have the original chrome grille to hand if that goes pear shaped.
-Fit private plate - gets it off retention, hides the age and should generally smarten it up
- Fit normal rear numberplate lights or dimmer led ones - The white ones fitted now are so bright they illuminate the floor!
Essay aside, here are the pics;
Even managed to get the soot encrusted rear pipes back to chrome again!
So overall, compared to the 320d Coupe this has replaced, the 530d is cheaper to ensure, better equipped my a mile, much more comfortable, easier to drive, looks far nicer and was also cheaper to buy! So far, i'm glad with my choice.
Cheers
Irfan
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