E91 Straight Six Bearding

[Naldrett]

Might well be tempting fate here but just to give another side to the N53 debate - I've been running a 2007 530i for nearly 10 years which has now done 125k miles and so far all good. Had one injector replaced under warranty very early in its life by the original owner (I am only 2nd owner) but nothing else and runs as sweet as ever. What might be helping is the fact that it has always been run on Super Unleaded since new and in recent years I have been adding a bottle of STP injector cleaner every other tank (could be snake oil but it doesn't cost much).

Appreciate many on forums have had a nightmare with the N53 but not my experience (so far!). So if the price is right and it runs fine on a test drive then could well be worth the risk.

[RSTurboPaul]

Coming back to the previous suspension discussions, do we know if replacement 'oem' dampers bought from BMW have BMW embossed branding on them?

Or are they just generic black / yellow / silver Bilstein units (or whatever) with stickers?


I guess the real question is whether there is anything that looks 'oem'/standard in both terms of physical appearance and vehicle 'stance' (so wouldn't/shouldn't need insurance company notification), but which is uprated / betterer than the standard BMW kit (which appears much derided as being poor in terms of ride and handling)...


TIA!

[helix403]

Standard dampers are black. I think made by Sachs.

[bmwmike]

Naldrett said:

Might well be tempting fate here but just to give another side to the N53 debate - I've been running a 2007 530i for nearly 10 years which has now done 125k miles and so far all good. Had one injector replaced under warranty very early in its life by the original owner (I am only 2nd owner) but nothing else and runs as sweet as ever. What might be helping is the fact that it has always been run on Super Unleaded since new and in recent years I have been adding a bottle of STP injector cleaner every other tank (could be snake oil but it doesn't cost much).

Appreciate many on forums have had a nightmare with the N53 but not my experience (so far!). So if the price is right and it runs fine on a test drive then could well be worth the risk.

Mine treated me well in 7 years and fairness, an 2012 530i but it did get a set of injectors at 37k under warranty, a nox sensor and 3 sets of coil packs by 83k miles. When running properly they are great engine. Just very expensive when they go wrong. Yours not even showing nox errors, impressive…

[JakeT]

Naldrett said:

Might well be tempting fate here but just to give another side to the N53 debate - I've been running a 2007 530i for nearly 10 years which has now done 125k miles and so far all good. Had one injector replaced under warranty very early in its life by the original owner (I am only 2nd owner) but nothing else and runs as sweet as ever. What might be helping is the fact that it has always been run on Super Unleaded since new and in recent years I have been adding a bottle of STP injector cleaner every other tank (could be snake oil but it doesn't cost much).

Appreciate many on forums have had a nightmare with the N53 but not my experience (so far!). So if the price is right and it runs fine on a test drive then could well be worth the risk.

Good effort! I’ve still got your old 330i, on 239k now.

[pits]

beambeam1 said:

I've kept an eye on that one and another in the same colour. On the lookout for a second car again and trying to decide between another E91 (my third) or go for an e92

My 92 is up for sale, 330i/6 with extensive service history.

[beambeam1]

I've seen it, it's a good chunk higher than I'd want to spend just now but thanks.

Now this is unique, coupe converted to a Ute!

[p1stonhead]

JakeT said:

Naldrett said:

Might well be tempting fate here but just to give another side to the N53 debate - I've been running a 2007 530i for nearly 10 years which has now done 125k miles and so far all good. Had one injector replaced under warranty very early in its life by the original owner (I am only 2nd owner) but nothing else and runs as sweet as ever. What might be helping is the fact that it has always been run on Super Unleaded since new and in recent years I have been adding a bottle of STP injector cleaner every other tank (could be snake oil but it doesn't cost much).

Appreciate many on forums have had a nightmare with the N53 but not my experience (so far!). So if the price is right and it runs fine on a test drive then could well be worth the risk.

Good effort! I ve still got your old 330i, on 239k now.

Good effort. I got an E93 over the summer, a 330i. What a lovely engine.

Only on 90k so hopefully it lasts as long as yours!

[pits]

beambeam1 said:

I've seen it, it's a good chunk higher than I'd want to spend just now but thanks.

Yeah I appreciate that, I am in no rush to sell it anyway it can sit there as long as it needs to really, the joys of having a unicorn car in a world where a vast majority want a diesel drift stter (not saying that's what you want).

[RSTurboPaul]

helix403 said:

Standard dampers are black. I think made by Sachs.

Thanks!


On a similar note...

Is there a guide anywhere that covers part numbers etc. for converting to M3 suspension or similar?


You know, while everything is apart for other work already...

[AmirGSXR]

Hi All,

I am thinking of buying a set of steel wheels for my 05 E90 330i. I can then shod these with some winter tyres. My current rim setup is the standard 225/45/17 on all four corners.

Where is the best place to buy some direct fitment 17inch steel wheels? Also, what is a suitable winter or all season tyre that suits our cars?

[RSTurboPaul]

AmirGSXR said:

Hi All,

I am thinking of buying a set of steel wheels for my 05 E90 330i. I can then shod these with some winter tyres. My current rim setup is the standard 225/45/17 on all four corners.

Where is the best place to buy some direct fitment 17inch steel wheels? Also, what is a suitable winter or all season tyre that suits our cars?

I stumbled on this place previously:

https://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloys/bmw-1...

[danb79]

AmirGSXR said:

Hi All,

I am thinking of buying a set of steel wheels for my 05 E90 330i. I can then shod these with some winter tyres. My current rim setup is the standard 225/45/17 on all four corners.

Where is the best place to buy some direct fitment 17inch steel wheels? Also, what is a suitable winter or all season tyre that suits our cars?

AS for the wheels, not sure - see what’s on eBay and maybe look on MrWinterWheels

As for tyres; all seasons will be more than enough and I’d highly recommend Goodyear Vector Gen3 all seasons, or Michelin CC2s or CC3s

I run the Goodyears on my E39 and the F31 and they’re superb; the F31 coped very well up in the Highlands in Feb 2023 and 2024 in the fairly deep snow and cold (we never made up up last Feb because of my illness)

I ran the Michelin CC2s on my previous 130i over winter 2024/2025 and again they were excellent; very comfy/quiet too and super-grippy wet & dry

[Mr Tidy]

AmirGSXR said:

Hi All,

I am thinking of buying a set of steel wheels for my 05 E90 330i. I can then shod these with some winter tyres. My current rim setup is the standard 225/45/17 on all four corners.

Where is the best place to buy some direct fitment 17inch steel wheels? Also, what is a suitable winter or all season tyre that suits our cars?

I have a set of OE Style 158 alloys with winter tyres on my 330i at the moment that I will be parting with in the Spring!

Tyres are Hankook I cept evo2 225/45 x 17. Daft name but I tested them on some ice yesterday and they worked pretty well.

[g3org3y]

Mr Tidy said:

AmirGSXR said:

Hi All,

I am thinking of buying a set of steel wheels for my 05 E90 330i. I can then shod these with some winter tyres. My current rim setup is the standard 225/45/17 on all four corners.

Where is the best place to buy some direct fitment 17inch steel wheels? Also, what is a suitable winter or all season tyre that suits our cars?

I have a set of OE Style 158 alloys with winter tyres on my 330i at the moment that I will be parting with in the Spring!

Tyres are Hankook I cept evo2 225/45 x 17. Daft name but I tested them on some ice yesterday and they worked pretty well.

I had those (the original versions) on my E36 328. They were decent.

[g3org3y]

danb79 said:

AmirGSXR said:

Hi All,

I am thinking of buying a set of steel wheels for my 05 E90 330i. I can then shod these with some winter tyres. My current rim setup is the standard 225/45/17 on all four corners.

Where is the best place to buy some direct fitment 17inch steel wheels? Also, what is a suitable winter or all season tyre that suits our cars?

AS for the wheels, not sure - see what s on eBay and maybe look on MrWinterWheels

As for tyres; all seasons will be more than enough and I d highly recommend Goodyear Vector Gen3 all seasons, or Michelin CC2s or CC3s

I run the Goodyears on my E39 and the F31 and they re superb; the F31 coped very well up in the Highlands in Feb 2023 and 2024 in the fairly deep snow and cold (we never made up up last Feb because of my illness)

I ran the Michelin CC2s on my previous 130i over winter 2024/2025 and again they were excellent; very comfy/quiet too and super-grippy wet & dry

+1

TBF all the next gen All Seasons from the premium manufacturers are excellent.

I have the CCs on the X5 and the Goodyears and the E91. I'm running the standard staggered (18 inch) set up on the E91.

[AmirGSXR]

Thanks for all the replies gents, the information is very helpful.

Mr Tidy - I currently have the style 158 alloys so I maybe tempted to getting a second set with your winter tyres when you part with them. I may need rims/tyres a bit sooner dependent on how the weather is for the remainder of winter but will update here if that happens.

[tiger roll]

I’m looking at manual 4-seat convertibles, mainly N52 E46 vs N53 E93. Finding myself firmly in the 2000s BMW rabbit hole so have enjoyed reading back through this thread.

I like the E93’s hardtop but prefer the E46’s engine. Prices are similar, about £8k for decent below 50k miles 325Ci/325i examples, more for 330Ci/330i.

I'm trying to quantify the worst-case N53 costs:
> Injectors. Could be £4000 fitted if needed six at £500 each plus labour
> High-Pressure Fuel Pump say £1000
> NOX catalyst say £500

So £5500 ish. Somewhat offset by £400/yr lower VED vs N52. The N52 wouldn't cost zero either.

So trying to put a number on it, and recognising it's an over-simplification, does it sound sensible to say the expected downside of N53 is something like £4000, and issues could hapen anytime but especially at something like 60 to 80k miles? Assuming all work done by a well regarded independent.

[JakeT]

Not to be a pedant, but an E46 will have an M52 or M54 engine, not the N52.

For injector costs, I looked at an E61 530i with an N53 last year. Six injectors had been fitted to that car at a specialist and it cost £3,000. N53s really need a specialist to sort them out, or diligent owner that can work on them.

The 6 series cabrio also came with an N52, so you could try for one of them?

[g3org3y]

tiger roll said:

I m looking at manual 4-seat convertibles, mainly N52 E46 vs N53 E93. Finding myself firmly in the 2000s BMW rabbit hole so have enjoyed reading back through this thread.

I like the E93 s hardtop but prefer the E46 s engine. Prices are similar, about £8k for decent below 50k miles 325Ci/325i examples, more for 330Ci/330i.

E46 would be M54 engine no? (v early ones would have been M52TU)