E61 V8 Bearding

[Nuisance]

That'll sit for as long as their manual E39 549i Touring has.

[smashie]

tobinen said:

What're the panel's thoughts on this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-550i-TOURING-COMFOR...

This is my old car. Someone missed out on a bargain if they bought this as I offered it at just over 2k before part ex'in it (but not here as advertising not allowed).
What can I say about the car:
Good:
- New pads and discs at front (week before lockdown).
- It was a absolute beast. Spent a lot of money on it. It has had the rear looms replaced - repaired initially but repair failed, so had replaced by Munich legends.
- Has had the glass boot lid switch replaced as it has had the usual issues.
- has new engine block by BMW. The previous block had a score in the bore of cylinder 5. This is what most likely has knackered the cats (see bad). It passed on emissions no problem though.


BAD:
- Scratch on rear passenger side wheel arch (plastic part). Wasn't paying attention and scraped low wall at work (last space in car park).
- BMW picked up small oil leak when they did the pads and discs. Cannot say if bad or not as I got rid of it.
- Engine management light comes on. Can be turned off long enough to pass MOT. I have been told this is because a hole has been blown through the cats. Could just be sensors but unlikely, so be prepared for new cats (£3500) or cats from a dismantles (£400??)
- if anyone is looking at this, test drive it for at least an hour so the EML comes on and then negotiate HUGE discount.
- It is still running winter tyres. My summer wheels and tyres (identical wheels to winters) have now gone, but the weeks needed a refurb and couldn't be bothered, so left winters on
- Does not have the locking wheel nut key. BMW lost it when they did the pads and discs. They were ordering one in for me, but I never collected due to lock down so just part ex'd it.


Overall a good car, but not at what they were advertising at. When I put it on the BMW FB groups for a week or so with everything listed (apart from wheel nut as I would have got hold if it) at £2100 no offers, I had 1 bite and he pulled out as he was too scared because of the EML).
I do miss it, but not the huge bills. I am now driving an electric car for the time being (2nd electric car, 1st time as main car).

[ATM]

smashie said:

This

- It was a absolute beast

Fixed that for you

Anyone reading this needs to know these cars are beasts

I think 5 and a bit seconds to 60 for a big heavy which has a sloppy full slusher auto box is proper beastly

What you dont realise looking at that stat is the in gear acceleration

The big v8 has enough shove to make these big cars hustle along in a way that will give you fun

I've had mine for just over 5 years now and had much less issues

Although yes my glass boot lid things plays up, it smokes and it drinks like F

[JakeT]

ATM said:

it smokes and it drinks like F

Oliver Reed in BMW form.

[ATM]

JakeT said:

ATM said:

it smokes and it drinks like F

Oliver Reed in BMW form.

It feels a bit more reliable than Oliver Reed. I mean its smoked and drank like F consistently for the whole 5 year tenure. Even the cats haven't complained even though they have been smoked with burnt oil for the whole time. Even if it suddenly implodes tomorrow I will still believe I had a very good run. Other than occasionally adding electricity and a little oil and copious amounts of Tesco 99 it just goes and goes and goes. Really can not recommend these cars enough. You can't beat a big v8 which is rarely stressed.

[alistair267]

I have my first proper road trip coming up in mine next week: London to the Alps to meet my new nephew. I am very much looking forward to properly stretching the car's legs for the first time.

[six wheels]

Does anyone know where all the petrol E61’s are?!

Autotrader only has 4 cars - one 530, two older 545’s and a single 550SE.

I was sure 530’s at least were fairly common.

Do I need to be patient or have they disappeared?

[ATM]

This looks nice

523i which is a 2.5l
2009 59
78000 miles

£7,495.00

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313055174011

[james_zy]

ATM said:

This looks nice

523i which is a 2.5l
2009 59
78000 miles

£7,495.00

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313055174011

I saw this. Problem (for me) is the engine tune, which was limited due to emissions. I think it puts out about 190bhp, which for me isn’t quite enough for a car this big. The previous 525i produced 218bhp, with a real shove as it approached 7k rpm, but was in the top tax bracket as a result...

[six wheels]

james_zy said:

I saw this. Problem (for me) is the engine tune, which was limited due to emissions. I think it puts out about 190bhp, which for me isn’t quite enough for a car this big. The previous 525i produced 218bhp, with a real shove as it approached 7k rpm, but was in the top tax bracket as a result...

I hadn’t seen this but I’d agree. Personally I’d prefer a 530 or ideally a 550 for a bit of shove to push the thing about.

[ATM]

six wheels said:

james_zy said:

I saw this. Problem (for me) is the engine tune, which was limited due to emissions. I think it puts out about 190bhp, which for me isn’t quite enough for a car this big. The previous 525i produced 218bhp, with a real shove as it approached 7k rpm, but was in the top tax bracket as a result...

I hadn’t seen this but I’d agree. Personally I’d prefer a 530 or ideally a 550 for a bit of shove to push the thing about.

Well yeah im loving the 550 but I presumed this guy was talking about other options because for some reason that 550 doesn't fit for him.

[BrownBottle]

james_zy said:

I saw this. Problem (for me) is the engine tune, which was limited due to emissions. I think it puts out about 190bhp, which for me isn’t quite enough for a car this big. The previous 525i produced 218bhp, with a real shove as it approached 7k rpm, but was in the top tax bracket as a result...

That's a 523i but the lci 525i has a 3l engine with over 200bhp.

[james_zy]

six wheels said:

Does anyone know where all the petrol E61’s are?!

Autotrader only has 4 cars - one 530, two older 545’s and a single 550SE.

I was sure 530’s at least were fairly common.

Do I need to be patient or have they disappeared?

I was thinking the same thing of late. Could be that the market is a little slow at the moment!

[six wheels]

james_zy said:

I was thinking the same thing of late. Could be that the market is a little slow at the moment!

Frustrating as my lease went back last week so I’m ready now.

The SE on AT looks lovely if a little pricey. I’d hate to buy that and see M-Sports start to come up.

[phil_cardiff]

Are fans of the 3.0 allowed in here?

Considering an E61 or E91 for next family wagon.

Do they drive similarly?

[ATM]

I had an e91 335i and the e61 550i at the same time. And I bought the e91 to replace the e61 but in the end I preferred the e61 so I kept it and sold the e91. I'm still not sure if i did the right thing and it's not like there was a clear and outright winner. One of the things I preferred about the e61 was the na feel of the engine compared to the turbo delivery in the 335i. The big v8 really is a peach. The e61 can still hustle. I thought the e91 would be so much more fun to hustle but it's not a massive difference. Both can be fun. The e61 won out in the end because its just a bigger more grown up package. If that's what you want then I'd say you want the e61. I still find myself looking at e91 335i and I'm still tempted to go back. My 550i is 15 years old now and I'm wandering how long I can keep the old girl. So at some point I'll need to replace it with something but for now I'm not sure what that is.

[bmwmike]

phil_cardiff said:

Are fans of the 3.0 allowed in here?

Considering an E61 or E91 for next family wagon.

Do they drive similarly?

You in cardiff? ive a f10 530i (six pot) and it has been a great family car. Shifts well for a large girl too, 8spd autlbox helps with that.

[phil_cardiff]

bmwmike said:

phil_cardiff said:

Are fans of the 3.0 allowed in here?

Considering an E61 or E91 for next family wagon.

Do they drive similarly?

You in cardiff? ive a f10 530i (six pot) and it has been a great family car. Shifts well for a large girl too, 8spd autlbox helps with that.

Moved to Ogmore a few years back but never updated my name.

Haven't thought about an F10 really, they still look fresh to me and the extra space would be handy.

[phil_cardiff]

ATM said:

I had an e91 335i and the e61 550i at the same time. And I bought the e91 to replace the e61 but in the end I preferred the e61 so I kept it and sold the e91. I'm still not sure if i did the right thing and it's not like there was a clear and outright winner. One of the things I preferred about the e61 was the na feel of the engine compared to the turbo delivery in the 335i. The big v8 really is a peach. The e61 can still hustle. I thought the e91 would be so much more fun to hustle but it's not a massive difference. Both can be fun. The e61 won out in the end because its just a bigger more grown up package. If that's what you want then I'd say you want the e61. I still find myself looking at e91 335i and I'm still tempted to go back. My 550i is 15 years old now and I'm wandering how long I can keep the old girl. So at some point I'll need to replace it with something but for now I'm not sure what that is.

Thanks, I used to own an E91 and it was great to drive for a family car. I was hoping an E61 would replicate much of what I enjoyed about the E91 just on a bigger scale. Just need to find one now...

[ATM]

phil_cardiff said:

ATM said:

I had an e91 335i and the e61 550i at the same time. And I bought the e91 to replace the e61 but in the end I preferred the e61 so I kept it and sold the e91. I'm still not sure if i did the right thing and it's not like there was a clear and outright winner. One of the things I preferred about the e61 was the na feel of the engine compared to the turbo delivery in the 335i. The big v8 really is a peach. The e61 can still hustle. I thought the e91 would be so much more fun to hustle but it's not a massive difference. Both can be fun. The e61 won out in the end because its just a bigger more grown up package. If that's what you want then I'd say you want the e61. I still find myself looking at e91 335i and I'm still tempted to go back. My 550i is 15 years old now and I'm wandering how long I can keep the old girl. So at some point I'll need to replace it with something but for now I'm not sure what that is.

Thanks, I used to own an E91 and it was great to drive for a family car. I was hoping an E61 would replicate much of what I enjoyed about the E91 just on a bigger scale. Just need to find one now...

I'd say it will replicate but its tricky. I've heard some people talk about BMW spending more on the 5 in terms of development than the 3 as it sells in higher volume. No idea if that's true but the 5 is a good car. I'm not sure how much better my 550 feels because it has the big v8 and the new bilstein shocks and the new brakes and the auto box service etc etc. So I can't say if a different car would feel as good. Dont wanna sound like a Dick but these cars are getting older now so bare that in mind. Also the 5 is a bigger heavier car so I dont know if the smaller 6 cylinder can haul the bigger car around and a tired 5 might feel poor compared to a fresher 3 so its difficult to say which I think you would prefer. But simple things like the size of the seats differentiate it for me. The 3 feels like a smaller car which is trying to be bigger. It doesn't feel small but it feels smaller. The 5 feels just right size wise. People can sit in the back without moving the front seats forward and everyone has leg room. The 5 estate can swallow 3 bikes without putting the seats down so 3 adults and 3 bikes is no drama. You could probably do 3 bikes and 5 adults but I've never had to try that. I'm waffling now so not sure if this is helping or not. Lets just say that fun and excitement aside the 5 makes more sense size wise if you need to move people or stuff or people and stuff. Can you enjoy throwing one around is a different set.of variables. But let's face it the 5 series can't be a bad car if its BMW's main product right?