E60 530d Daily Hack. *Refusing to buy a newer car*
Discussion
Hi Gents,
Welcome to my thread. This isn't going to be a huge build (I don't think) - but rather something that was meant to be a daily beater and is gradually growing the more and more I fall in love with it.
Big, comfy, 270bhp, 42mpg combined RWD daily!
This is slightly disjointed but i'm not very good at documenting/taking photos as I do stuff - hopefully I will be better now!
So, I bought a 530d SE on a 53 plate 2 years ago. FBMWSH and 90k, for the mighty sum of 4k. I do about 20k a year so needed something that would eat up the miles whilst still being a bit fun. Originally I planned on keeping this standard and having a toy seperately, but the more I drove this thing the more I fell in love with it.
Bought it, got it home. Gave it a clean, chucked some spare wheels on as the 16s weren't cutting it
The following day took it to my mates just over the Welsh border for a remap and so I could sort my swirl flaps out. Had pre-ordered the kit as I knew I wanted this model
So swirl flaps deleted, EGR blanked, remap done.
No DPF as pre-dpf.
Instantly 100% better to drive!!
Wheels were awful, 2 had cracked. Got rid and got some (similar) Japanese lightweight equivalents. BMW wheels are the worst for cracking. New wheel specs 19x8.5 and 19x.9.5 - 20mm front spacers 10mm rear.
Chucked the wheels on, replaced the crank pulley as it was shot.
Bought some prosport coilovers, used them before. Always been the best out of the "cheap" units available. Chucked them on
The wheel colour wasn't doing it for me, gave them to my mate who powdercoated them. Colour is his own blend of hyper silver.
Looking sorry for herself on the original wheels
got the tyres on...
Better!
Painted the brake calipers, cleaned them up and regreased all 4:
then just drove it for a while and did some maintenance bits (new brakes & fluid, full service etc)..I go all over the place with work! Some random pics...
A guy I know came out and mopped the whole car. Did a sterling job - paintwork is suprisingly good!
Missus drove the car once and scuffed the bumper....had it sorted by another friend
Then I lost a load of recent photos....
I've since had all the window trims off and used BMW shadowline tape to black them out.
Next step is hybrid turbo as mine is slowly dying. I also want to tint the windows and might end up throwing some money at it (new bumpers/wheels etc).
Some of my previous cars:
Welcome to my thread. This isn't going to be a huge build (I don't think) - but rather something that was meant to be a daily beater and is gradually growing the more and more I fall in love with it.
Big, comfy, 270bhp, 42mpg combined RWD daily!
This is slightly disjointed but i'm not very good at documenting/taking photos as I do stuff - hopefully I will be better now!
So, I bought a 530d SE on a 53 plate 2 years ago. FBMWSH and 90k, for the mighty sum of 4k. I do about 20k a year so needed something that would eat up the miles whilst still being a bit fun. Originally I planned on keeping this standard and having a toy seperately, but the more I drove this thing the more I fell in love with it.
Bought it, got it home. Gave it a clean, chucked some spare wheels on as the 16s weren't cutting it
The following day took it to my mates just over the Welsh border for a remap and so I could sort my swirl flaps out. Had pre-ordered the kit as I knew I wanted this model
So swirl flaps deleted, EGR blanked, remap done.
No DPF as pre-dpf.
Instantly 100% better to drive!!
Wheels were awful, 2 had cracked. Got rid and got some (similar) Japanese lightweight equivalents. BMW wheels are the worst for cracking. New wheel specs 19x8.5 and 19x.9.5 - 20mm front spacers 10mm rear.
Chucked the wheels on, replaced the crank pulley as it was shot.
Bought some prosport coilovers, used them before. Always been the best out of the "cheap" units available. Chucked them on
The wheel colour wasn't doing it for me, gave them to my mate who powdercoated them. Colour is his own blend of hyper silver.
Looking sorry for herself on the original wheels
got the tyres on...
Better!
Painted the brake calipers, cleaned them up and regreased all 4:
then just drove it for a while and did some maintenance bits (new brakes & fluid, full service etc)..I go all over the place with work! Some random pics...
A guy I know came out and mopped the whole car. Did a sterling job - paintwork is suprisingly good!
Missus drove the car once and scuffed the bumper....had it sorted by another friend
Then I lost a load of recent photos....
I've since had all the window trims off and used BMW shadowline tape to black them out.
Next step is hybrid turbo as mine is slowly dying. I also want to tint the windows and might end up throwing some money at it (new bumpers/wheels etc).
Some of my previous cars:
Edited by bullawayo on Tuesday 25th July 11:30
Edited by bullawayo on Tuesday 25th July 15:39
giblets_ said:
They really get under your skin.
My E60 LCI is the only car I have ever regret selling.
I bought an SE as I wasn't really bothered about it. Could have held out for an msport but my only criteria was a 530d in manual with good service history.My E60 LCI is the only car I have ever regret selling.
I've driven a few other cars since with the intention of buying a 2014/15 plate instead. However, none of them tick the boxes that this does. They are either not as fast, not as comfortable, not as economical or a combination of the 3.
I'm 6"6 and obviously that is a factor for me too. I feel ultimately comfortable in this.
As i'm incapable of leaving cars alone i'm now looking at futureproofing this and keeping it for a few years. It owes me nothing and has given me 40k of trouble free mileage. I fancy a hybrid turbo and a few other bits.
EDIT: *TROUBLE FREE MILEAGE*
Had a blow out this morning after catching a nail on the M4. managed to hold it in a straight line. An hour later, mobile tyre guy arrived and replaced both rears. Annoying but no harm done.
Edited by bullawayo on Tuesday 25th July 13:18
Edited by bullawayo on Tuesday 25th July 13:19
AyBee said:
It's amazing what wheel colour can do - I saw the photos with black wheels and thought "that looks s
t", then scrolled down to the silver, looks much better 
Personal taste is an amazing thing, I thought the car looked ace on the black rims, not fussed on the silver at all!t", then scrolled down to the silver, looks much better Cambs_Stuart said:
Love the wheels on that audi estate.
Thanks, super rare. Great car that was! Sold it on 240k and it was still going strong. PD130 engines are incredible.Some more photos from over the last few months....
The love is endless....
Rolling road pic...
Removing far too much for an air filter!
Sub wiring....
Paintwork...
Headlights needed sorting, a couple of hours later they were a lot better
And dechromed window surrounds. Needs tints now!
My mate in work has a silver one of these that's a few years newer. He's had it for ages now and it's also been remapped. He keeps saying he wants to get rid but just can't seem to sell it. He's has had a few issues with it but i think it's a better-the-devil-you-know mentality he's got with it now. Plus, he's replaced so much on it over the years that it's practically a new car with not much else to go wrong! 
I do love the look of yours OP. The wheels and the lows do look rather smart in my eyes. Not everyone's cup of tea, i'm fully aware, but i really like it. I'm a fan of the OEM+ look and styling aswell. I do love the idea of a big, comfy and quick saloon that's lowered with some decent alloys on it. I've always wanted to do that with an old Lexus of some sort. I'm sure my time will come eventually. Looking forward to more updates
I do love the look of yours OP. The wheels and the lows do look rather smart in my eyes. Not everyone's cup of tea, i'm fully aware, but i really like it. I'm a fan of the OEM+ look and styling aswell. I do love the idea of a big, comfy and quick saloon that's lowered with some decent alloys on it. I've always wanted to do that with an old Lexus of some sort. I'm sure my time will come eventually. Looking forward to more updates
culpz said:
My mate in work has a silver one of these that's a few years newer. He's had it for ages now and it's also been remapped. He keeps saying he wants to get rid but just can't seem to sell it. He's has had a few issues with it but i think it's a better-the-devil-you-know mentality he's got with it now. Plus, he's replaced so much on it over the years that it's practically a new car with not much else to go wrong!
I do love the look of yours OP. The wheels and the lows do look rather smart in my eyes. Not everyone's cup of tea, i'm fully aware, but i really like it. I'm a fan of the OEM+ look and styling aswell. I do love the idea of a big, comfy and quick saloon that's lowered with some decent alloys on it. I've always wanted to do that with an old Lexus of some sort. I'm sure my time will come eventually. Looking forward to more updates
Agree on all of the above. To be fair aside from the crank pulley mine has been great, but that is a wear and tear on these. Otherwise its just been service items.I do love the look of yours OP. The wheels and the lows do look rather smart in my eyes. Not everyone's cup of tea, i'm fully aware, but i really like it. I'm a fan of the OEM+ look and styling aswell. I do love the idea of a big, comfy and quick saloon that's lowered with some decent alloys on it. I've always wanted to do that with an old Lexus of some sort. I'm sure my time will come eventually. Looking forward to more updates
Rough running costs until now, excluding servicing are as follows:
Car 4000
Wheels 400
Coilovers 300
Remap + EGR 200 (good friend)
Swirl flap mod 40
Crank pulley 100
Shadowline trim for windows 20
Sub/amp Free (mine already)
Decat 150
Backbox delete 150
Video of exhaust:
https://youtu.be/mLqeOZUibPQ
Sounds good for a diesel. Only noisy on WOT
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