e61 6cyl reliable?

[briers]

I'm looking for a new car for the Mrs.

I'm thinking of an e61 530I or even a 525I. A few years old, perhaps 08 or 57. I think the Ed engines came in then.

I have no idea about the 5 series, are these reliable with those engines. Slightly concerned as the Ed engines are hpfp etc

The car will be a work horse. She has always had diesels recently, which I don't like despite having a 335d myself. I would like a 550I myself but as this will be ferrying our family around the UK at weekends I think mpg will be important. But I don't think I should go diesel this time because In the week it's purely a town and supermarket car. This would kill the dpf, egr and economy over 3 miles max is piss poor anyway.

Edited by briers on Saturday 27th August 01:06

[Moar]

N53 had injector issues no?

90 a piece, 150 ish to fit.

[tgr]

If you get a cheaper, older E61 you'll get the N52 which is a better bet (without direct injection but with valvetronic). Only real complaints about this engine have been in the US re head replacement, negligible problems here in Europe. I would always go for the 3 litre for obvious reasons

[Fox-]

There are quite major issues with the later direct injection N53 engined 3 litre 525i and 530i - mostly around the high pressure fuel pump, injectors and coil packs. Our N53 525i has now had all the injectors, the pump and the coil packs replaced in its reasonably short life.

Dont buy one without a good warranty.

[briers]

Fox- said:

There are quite major issues with the later direct injection N53 engined 3 litre 525i and 530i - mostly around the high pressure fuel pump, injectors and coil packs. Our N53 525i has now had all the injectors, the pump and the coil packs replaced in its reasonably short life.

Dont buy one without a good warranty.

That's what i was thinking

The latest HPFP petrols are even more un-reliable then the diesels.

I'm still trying to decide which to go for. I think for the difference in MPG at around 30mpg on a run i might as well get the 540i that i originally wanted.

However borrowing a works car for a weekend away saw just shy of 50mpg for the whole holiday. It was a revelation, something i'm not used to, only using perhaps half a tank. I would normally be doing 2 fills. It makes you think, but the car was so dog slow. I was hoping the ED 530i was going to turn out ok as you have a nice engine, good mpg and space but oh well.