BMW E60/E61 Yes/No/Maybe
Discussion
I'm a confirmed BMW nut (I think i'm safe to admit this in the BMW forum 
), and currently run a 330i Touring (E46) and the perennial PH favourite an MX-5.
The two car philosophy was great when I had a company car, but now, having the 330i means that I don't need to jump from a boring diesel Euro-box into the 5 at weekends (As the 3er is a great car in itself). It also means two lots of tax...and insurance...and maintenance...and grief...
So, I was thinking of amalgamating, and fancy a 5 (I used to have an E39).
So where's all this going?
Just wondered of everyones thoughts on E60/E61 £7500 - £12000, which one, why, which one to avoid etc. Or something else? It is very much a 'seed' at the moment, but all opinions/thoughts are welcomed (And indeed hoped for!).
Thanks in advance!
), and currently run a 330i Touring (E46) and the perennial PH favourite an MX-5. The two car philosophy was great when I had a company car, but now, having the 330i means that I don't need to jump from a boring diesel Euro-box into the 5 at weekends (As the 3er is a great car in itself). It also means two lots of tax...and insurance...and maintenance...and grief...
So, I was thinking of amalgamating, and fancy a 5 (I used to have an E39).
So where's all this going?
Just wondered of everyones thoughts on E60/E61 £7500 - £12000, which one, why, which one to avoid etc. Or something else? It is very much a 'seed' at the moment, but all opinions/thoughts are welcomed (And indeed hoped for!).
Thanks in advance!
The facelift was March 2007 - IMHO its a much improved car, better interior is the main improvement. If you are not fussed on spec you can buy 525i's and 520d's with low enough mileage for a meaningful warranty for well under £15k now.
The top spec M Sport models with the decent engines, though, are still near £20k.
The top spec M Sport models with the decent engines, though, are still near £20k.
£15k is plausible, £20k less so - what were the issues with the pre-facelift? (Other than the trim, which I have heard discussed before). I looked at a 525d '07 plate with 70k for sub £11k - would that be a facelift? If not, I assume a March specific car would not be a huge amount more. It seemed a good price - but what is the easiest way to tell the difference (Other than the build date). I seem to recall that the auto models got a different selector, and something to do with the door cards?
Also to call on your knowledge a little more - how are the E90/E91 similar year and budget? Anything to look out for on those? (Thinking six-cylinder petrol, probably 325i, but could be swayed by 4 cylinder diesel if they have got rid of that pesky swirl flap issue yet! )
Also to call on your knowledge a little more - how are the E90/E91 similar year and budget? Anything to look out for on those? (Thinking six-cylinder petrol, probably 325i, but could be swayed by 4 cylinder diesel if they have got rid of that pesky swirl flap issue yet!
)Some March 07 cars are facelift, some are not. It's pot luck unfortunately as there are plenty of pre facelift cars around on 07 plates.
The best way to get a nice one in budget is to pick a spec nobody really wants (Thats how we ended up with a 525i with a manual gearbox and no nav!).
The E60 is, IMHO, a better car than the E90 - especially as facelift E90's are all still £20k+.
The best way to get a nice one in budget is to pick a spec nobody really wants (Thats how we ended up with a 525i with a manual gearbox and no nav!).
The E60 is, IMHO, a better car than the E90 - especially as facelift E90's are all still £20k+.
Pick a spec no one wants?? Manual 6 pot petrol with no nav sounds perfect to me!?!? (It's those other people that are wrong, don't listen to them! )
Thanks for your help and information with this - I may well go and study some more cars a little closer then, and see if my budget can be stretched to an '08/'58 plate car!
Thanks again!
)Thanks for your help and information with this - I may well go and study some more cars a little closer then, and see if my budget can be stretched to an '08/'58 plate car!
Thanks again!
I think you're mad 
A year ago I had an E61 545i Touring and a mk1 MX5 (and an E39 540i Touring which I sold shortly after)... only kept the 545i for about 7 months because it wasn't really fun to drive. I went back to an E46 330i Sport Touring which is a little less refined than the 5-series, and a bit slower than the 545i, but so much more fun to drive.
A year ago I had an E61 545i Touring and a mk1 MX5 (and an E39 540i Touring which I sold shortly after)... only kept the 545i for about 7 months because it wasn't really fun to drive. I went back to an E46 330i Sport Touring which is a little less refined than the 5-series, and a bit slower than the 545i, but so much more fun to drive.I know it's not very 'PH' but running two cars is expensive! And the MX-5 was for when I had a diesel Passat, and needed to get into something a bit more 'raw' to drive.
The other option is to keep the MX-5 and have a cheaper 'station/shed' car...
I can't believe the bad rep the E60/61 seems to have here though...no one has spoken up for it at all!
Go and try an E60 but make sure you get a decent test drive; I simply didn't like the way it handled compared to the E39 and E46. Or F10 for that matter. My E61 despite being an SE had the sport suspension and 18" wheels; same as the MSport versions, btw.
As for running costs, I reckon a £12k E60 will depreciate quickly enough to totally negate the fixed costs of an MX5 as a second car: £215 to tax, £170 to insure and ~£100 for a service (all annual figures). But then I would say that; it's the philosophy I've gone for!
As for running costs, I reckon a £12k E60 will depreciate quickly enough to totally negate the fixed costs of an MX5 as a second car: £215 to tax, £170 to insure and ~£100 for a service (all annual figures). But then I would say that; it's the philosophy I've gone for!
Feedback on a 55 plate 525d E61 auto (100k miles, one prev owner, fsh, SE, bought last year for a circa £8k)
Very boring interior (but hard wearing) it has grey leather but I can only assume it does not come from a cow but more likely an elephant (very hard)
No bangs, rattles, lose trim, reasonably quite on the motorway (estates are always a tad more noisy) world’s biggest steering wheel that is also unbelievably thin and hard, poor headlights, engine smooth and quite, automatic gearbox is fair, a little slow to change up but little or no jerkiness
Fuel economy – 25-30 on short school runs, 35 on fast motorways runs, early to mid 40’s on 80mph motorway runs (normally get circa 450 to a tank full combined driving)
Overall – good solid car, does not feel or look that special (probably a result of being below spec (no cd changer, nav or xenon’s, side skirts) feels like it will easily do another 100k miles with no problems, going through the full history they are no receipts for any work beyond regular servicing and tyres...
Conclusion should have probably spent an additional 60% and bought a like for like 535d m sport.
Very boring interior (but hard wearing) it has grey leather but I can only assume it does not come from a cow but more likely an elephant (very hard)
No bangs, rattles, lose trim, reasonably quite on the motorway (estates are always a tad more noisy) world’s biggest steering wheel that is also unbelievably thin and hard, poor headlights, engine smooth and quite, automatic gearbox is fair, a little slow to change up but little or no jerkiness
Fuel economy – 25-30 on short school runs, 35 on fast motorways runs, early to mid 40’s on 80mph motorway runs (normally get circa 450 to a tank full combined driving)
Overall – good solid car, does not feel or look that special (probably a result of being below spec (no cd changer, nav or xenon’s, side skirts) feels like it will easily do another 100k miles with no problems, going through the full history they are no receipts for any work beyond regular servicing and tyres...
Conclusion should have probably spent an additional 60% and bought a like for like 535d m sport.
My inlaws E61 535d was pretty dull to drive too and the RFTs were offensive. And at 4 months old the i-drive caused the entire car to die. It was a late 2006 model bought new. It was also "Barbara red" which was utterly minging.
Not sure how or why but our E91 335d (SE with M Sport suspension and non RFT tyres) somehow manages to be many times better.
Not sure how or why but our E91 335d (SE with M Sport suspension and non RFT tyres) somehow manages to be many times better.
Jobbo said:
That's a good point - the E92 335i MSport on 19"s that I test drove rode fine, as did the F10 530d with 20"s which I borrowed for a couple of days. I'm not sure why the E60/61 is so bad.
Maybe the tyre / chassis teams were still getting their heads around RFTs. The first cars were bloody awful.I must say I'm pretty pleased with my E60 535d M sport. The ride is harsh on runflat tyres, and I intended on sorting that out with non RF's but ended up finding a set of 19's on 30 profile tyres which don't ride any better, but to be fair don't ride any worse.
It's plenty quick enough and the torque it puts out is so addictive. For a 1700 odd kg saloon I think it handles pretty well, although not much feedback through the servotronic rack.
The SE versions look crap but the M sport looks a million times better. Xenons, pro nav were must haves for me but not essential if your on a budget and have a Tom Tom.
I don't know why Fox knocks the interior so much. It isn't as nice as the facelift cars but it only looks to be door card and slight centre console changes. Oh yeah, the gear lever on the facelift is cool too!
I suppose i would be happy with mine as the engine is a peach and probably masks it's flaws, but I honestly think the pros far outweigh the cons
All IMO of course!
It's plenty quick enough and the torque it puts out is so addictive. For a 1700 odd kg saloon I think it handles pretty well, although not much feedback through the servotronic rack.
The SE versions look crap but the M sport looks a million times better. Xenons, pro nav were must haves for me but not essential if your on a budget and have a Tom Tom.
I don't know why Fox knocks the interior so much. It isn't as nice as the facelift cars but it only looks to be door card and slight centre console changes. Oh yeah, the gear lever on the facelift is cool too!
I suppose i would be happy with mine as the engine is a peach and probably masks it's flaws, but I honestly think the pros far outweigh the cons
All IMO of course!
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