530d V 535d Lci reliability

[Robmilford]

Hi, yes I'm still looking for a 5 touring, i have been horified by some of the reliability stories on here regarding the 535d, 530i so my thoughts are may be go for the 530d M sport as I can get a lower mileage car (roughly 70000)and there is only one turbo compared to the 535d so less complicated and less to go wrong. Is this correct? I now have about £15000 to spend and have a 2007 530d M sport with Zenons and pro media pack and a 530i with a very similar spec to look at in the next couple of days. There are some 535d SE's about but genrally they have more miles on (80000-90000).

[rassi]

I may be blind & deaf, but haven't heard horror stories about the 35d engine (be it LCI or not), whereas the LCI 30i and 35i have been mentioned relatively often.

[Cheib]

I've been running a 35d engine since it first came out in 2004...first in a 535d and now in an X5 SD.....hope I am not tempting fate but I've had nearly eight years of faultless motoring.

[GR4]

My LCI 530d will hit 100,000 miles in the next month and is showing no signs of wear. I would certainly be interested in hearing at what mileage people have had turbos fail as that seems to be the potential big bill, although mine does not smoke at all and doesn't seem to use any oil between services.

[Robmilford]

Thanks for the replys, I was worried about the turbos and wondered how many miles they last. I have read about just how brilliant the engine is and from what your saying it does sound prity reliable. The 530i I was looking at come with a one year BMW comprehencive waranty but thats £1300 a year and a lot of extra cost year on year.The two 530d's I'm going to look at both have 70000 on the clock for a 2007 car and I'll probably put 40000 on the car in the next four years.

Cheers Rob.

[TIMSTURLA]

Well, I did 135,000 miles in my '07 535D and only "got rid" because I was at the end of my contract. In that time it had pads all-round a few times (rears more often than fronts) - NO DISCS, a DVD drive for the sat-nav (£200), some tyres of course and 2 x track rod ends @ £200 all-in. The car was as fresh when it went back as the day I had it. I know this because I stepped straight into another 535D (with very few miles) and that felt no different.

The car had been thrashed as much as you can an auto diesel, and it never let me down.

I'm on my third 535D, and when you're driving 45,000 miles per year, got a young/messy/loads of kit family, want to "get a move on", don't want shares in an oil company - it's THE tool for the job.

Tim