2.5l BMW Efficient Dynamics - common problems?

rocky · 17-09-2012 4:12pm #1

I'm looking at 07/08 5 series with this engine (or up to 3.0), are there any common problems with these? Hopefully not on the same scale as the diesel timing chain...

I was originally looking at 3 series but there are not many over 2 litre and petrol...

M-Sport, auto, leather, ISOFix (is this common on the 5 series?)

rocky · 17-09-2012 7:46pm

Noone knows what petrol is in Ireland anymore... with all the diesel lovin...

Leonard Hofstadter · 17-09-2012 8:24pm

rocky wrote: »

I'm looking at 07/08 5 series with this engine (or up to 3.0), are there any common problems with these? Hopefully not on the same scale as the diesel timing chain...

I was originally looking at 3 series but there are not many over 2 litre and petrol...

M-Sport, auto, leather, ISOFix (is this common on the 5 series?)

Injectors and coil packs. Avoid at all costs.

Only the 520d is affected by the timing chain problem after September 2007 and that is until the current car came out in 2010, E60 525d/530d and 535ds have a different engine and therefore do NOT have the timing chain problem. If you want a petrol, get the pre-faclifted model, there are a few early 07s that won't have the dreaded Efficient Dynamics nonsense.

rocky · 17-09-2012 8:28pm

How much for the injectors or coil pack repair, and how often would I expect it happen? I like the facelifted models much more...

Is it all ED petrols that are affected?

Drummerboy08 · 17-09-2012 8:33pm

Petrol ED engines eat coil packs fairly regularly. Cant remember what I paid for the last set.

Leonard Hofstadter · 17-09-2012 8:33pm

rocky wrote: »

How much for the injectors or coil pack repair, and how often would I expect it happen? I like the facelifted models much more...

Is it all ED petrols that are affected?

All six cylinder petrol E60s anyway, the V8s don't suffer this problem but they have a problem with some o-ring leaking and it costs over €7,000 to repair, although admittedly it's very rare for it to happen.

To be honest, I would go for a six cylinder diesel if you want an LCI E60, ideally a 530d, that's more than quick enough for Irish roads and a 535d will be more of a thief magnet not to mention have another turbo to potentially go wrong!

rocky · 17-09-2012 9:51pm

6k km a year, I wouldn't go for diesel.

Pre ED then, no major faults?

ongarite · 17-09-2012 9:53pm

I have a 2.5L ED E60. I've had no problems with injectors or coil packs in the year I have owned the car.

rocky · 17-09-2012 10:04pm

^what year? and have you any other problems?

impressive list of problems here, a search for N52 yields no results:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/bmw/5-series-e60-2003/?section=bad

bazz26 · 17-09-2012 10:09pm

The pre ED engines were sold upto the middle of 2008, the engine code began with M whereas the ED engines begins with N.

Jellicoe · 17-09-2012 10:10pm

rocky wrote: »

6k km a year, I wouldn't go for diesel.

+1, i'd love to only have that mileage so I could go back to petrol.

Diesel is the fuel of satan

ongarite · 17-09-2012 10:15pm

rocky wrote: »

^what year? and have you any other problems?

07 LCI model with N53 2.5L ED engine. No problems with the car bar normal servicing parts.

Crackity Jones · 17-09-2012 10:19pm

Jaysus that honest John link is scary! Think I'll be hanging on to my pre ED 325i. Have had no issues at all in almost 5 yrs of ownership. (touch wood!)

rocky · 17-09-2012 10:21pm

bazz26 wrote: »

The pre ED engines were sold upto the middle of 2008, the engine code began with M whereas the ED engines begins with N.

I thought 2005-2007 the engine code was N52, M5x was for E39 and pre-05 E60 (wiki

)

ongarite wrote: »

07 LCI model with N53 2.5L ED engine. No problems with the car bar normal servicing parts.

I'm reading about injector and HPFP recalls, are the replaced parts still prone to failure??

bazz26 · 17-09-2012 10:31pm

rocky wrote: »

I thought 2005-2007 the engine code was N52, M5x was for E39 and pre-05 E60 (wiki )

I think your right, I was thinking of the diesel engines.

Leonard Hofstadter · 17-09-2012 11:23pm

bazz26 wrote: »

I think your right, I was thinking of the diesel engines.

E60 525d/530d/535d are M57 as well, pre and post Efficient Dynamics. The sixes only switched to the N57 when the F10 model came out, and by 2010 the timing chain problem was *apparently* sorted. The N57 has been revised since then as well.

The 523i/525i/530i E60s used the N52 engine from 2005-March 2007, and they're not ED models either. The N52 has a problem with valve lifters making an annoying noise, but it doesn't seem to affect the overall reliability of them, they're a very solid engine apart from that.

rocky · 18-09-2012 12:52am

Looks like non-ED is the way to go then, even though I quite liked the new gear shifter when compared to previous one.

Anyone know if the replacement injectors and coil packs are still failing on the post 07 E60s?

R.O.R · 18-09-2012 7:45am

I'm not sure if the issue affects the auto versions - we've only ever had issues with Manual Petrol ED BMW's. Stop/Start didn't come in to the Auto's until fairly recently and the 3 Series Auto's we had seemed to run OK.

The ED 523i Manual that we had, had at least 14 coils replaced and was still running like a bag of spanners when it was sold. The car that replaced it (same model, year newer) has been better, but still not trouble free.

rocky · 18-09-2012 8:59am

Thanks ROR.

@ongarite, is yours an auto?

ongarite · 18-09-2012 9:43am

rocky wrote: »

Thanks ROR.

@ongarite, is yours an auto?

Yeah its an auto.

If you are looking at E60s with the N53 engines a check of service history with BMW should tell you if the coils/injectors were replaced before. Also you will be able to hear from the engine if there are problems (noisy injectors, misfiring)

Leonard Hofstadter · 18-09-2012 9:52am

R.O.R wrote: »

I'm not sure if the issue affects the auto versions - we've only ever had issues with Manual Petrol ED BMW's. Stop/Start didn't come in to the Auto's until fairly recently and the 3 Series Auto's we had seemed to run OK.

Six cylinder BMWs didn't have start/stop until very recently though - the only E60 manual that ever had it was the (four cylinder) 520d.

rocky · 18-09-2012 11:49am

This one looks interesting, it's local to me but jesus it's expensive when Sarsfield (:eek:) have a 2008 one for 550 less:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/525-525I/201230209303906/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/523I-SE-/30213477094481030/advert?channel=CARS

rocky · 18-09-2012 1:30pm

The one in Galway is sold for 15k... right, 1.5k over asking :rolleyes:

Probably traded in and the allowance was 15k...

bazz26 · 18-09-2012 7:41pm

rocky wrote: »

This one looks interesting, it's local to me but jesus it's expensive when Sarsfield (:eek:) have a 2008 one for 550 less:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/525-525I/201230209303906/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/523I-SE-/30213477094481030/advert?channel=CARS

The first one is a 3.0 litre M Sport, the second one is a 2.5 litre SE. M Sports are more desirable and has nearly half the mileage of the SE from the garage.

rocky · 18-09-2012 7:46pm

It's a 525, even worse, 3 liter tax for 525 performance.

plus, 2007 vs 2008 with cheaper tax...

bazz26 · 18-09-2012 7:58pm

rocky wrote: »

It's a 525, even worse, 3 liter tax for 525 performance.

plus, 2007 vs 2008 with cheaper tax...

I'd rather a well cared for 2007 on high tax than a well knackered 2008 with cheaper tax. Motor tax rate is not the most important figure here.

18-09-2012 7:59pm

You'd be off your tree to reckon that 2008 one at 129k miles compares favourably to the M sport 2007 model tbh.

rocky · 18-09-2012 8:13pm

The point is moot, the 2007 one was sold for 15k (:rolleyes:), but for the sake of argument, low miles is not the most important figure either...

Let's say both have the same options, except the MSport having the MSport specific visual options + harder suspension + larger wheels (more expensive tyres). If the SE has Electric seats, I'd almost prefer it to the MSport. Plus the add specifies full main dealer service history which if it checks out is preferable to a private sale...

Tax while not the most important figure is 668 compared to 1400, adding to that the fact the 2007 is more expensive to buy...

Of course, the sweet spot for me would be a 525, so I'll wait for one...

Leonard Hofstadter · 18-09-2012 8:16pm

The E60 is pretty ugly in SE spec - it really needs the M Sport for the looks. Also the spec in the M Sports tend to be higher than SEs, plus they'll handle better because of the lower suspension.

The only thing I'd do is get rid of the run flats for standard tyres - it will make it a LOT more comfortable.

rocky · 18-09-2012 8:20pm

Agree it's not a beauty, but the facelift (here I go again...) looks ok in SE I think. I don't much care how a car looks, as long as I'm happy with the interior(where I'll be spending the time) and the engine/drivetrain...

rocky · 18-09-2012 8:43pm

Ha! how about this

no-image-large.gif&width=400&height=300

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/545-I-E6/6213356044711340/advert?channel=CARS

THIS IS QUICKER THAN ANY OTHER M5 FULLY CHIPPED !!!!

ongarite · 18-09-2012 8:58pm

rocky wrote: »

I don't much care how a car looks, as long as I'm happy with the interior(where I'll be spending the time) and the engine/drivetrain...

If the interior looks are important to you, I would definitely be looking at the LCI models then. Much improved centre console, radio & door card design. Not a fan of the pre-LCI interior look.

rocky · 18-09-2012 11:51pm

Got any pics of yours?

The vast majority of leather is beige, at least in the range I'm looking at, 1 grey and a few black. Was there a limited choice when buying new?

R.O.R · 19-09-2012 7:18am

I don't have an old E60 brochure anywhere, but from memory the leather was usually Black or Beige. Grey must have been an option, but not a very popular one (I find it very bland on the couple of F10's I've seen with the Grey) and I have seen an M-Sport with Brown leather so that must have been an option at some point.

There was an option in Black or Beige of Fusion, which is artificial leather. I think it's actually quite a decent option, but I wouldn't pay the same for a car with Fusion as I would with Dakota leather. Fusion was around €350 in 08, Dakota was around €2,500.

rocky · 19-09-2012 12:27pm

I'd like to see a brown leather E60, couldn't find any. How do I tell the difference between Fusion and real, is it obvious? Does in come in the same colors as Dakota?

Edit: Walnut dash and light leather looks good I think. Unfortunately the climate control does not seem to be available on pre LCI, and the normal manual AC looks too low spec for this type of car.

Edit 2: what about Nappa leather, better/ worse than Dakota?

R.O.R · 20-09-2012 7:03pm

rocky wrote: »

I'd like to see a brown leather E60, couldn't find any. How do I tell the difference between Fusion and real, is it obvious? Does in come in the same colors as Dakota?

Edit: Walnut dash and light leather looks good I think. Unfortunately the climate control does not seem to be available on pre LCI, and the normal manual AC looks too low spec for this type of car.

Edit 2: what about Nappa leather, better/ worse than Dakota?

Looks to be Brown leather in an M-Sport.

Fusion only came in Beige or Black. Don't think there is a really easy way to tell the difference though - might sound strange, but smell it?

Is Walnut the light wood? If it is, I really don't like that, but I don't really like wood trim anyway. Have Dark wood trim in mine which isn't too bad, but would have preferred the standard silver.

The upgraded A/C was probably available on pre-LCI cars, it was just an expensive option and didn't really add much functionality. The standard Climate Control works well enough for me.

Dakota was the normal option for Leather, Nappa was a more expensive option so is fairly rare.

bazz26 · 20-09-2012 7:53pm

Fusion easily marks or scrapes, Dakota or the more expensive Nappa are more forgiving.

rocky · 22-09-2012 3:47pm

I started reading after I asked the questions

ROR, I was hoping to an even darker shade of brown, sort of like the cinnamon on the F10 only less red/pink. Oh well, can't be too picky with SH cars... I thought walnut was the darker wood, that or piano black I think looks good. Initially I preferred the aluminium too, but now I think the darker woods look classier... And the normal A/C leaves too much blank space on the dash. I've yet to sit in one... :rolleyes:

There's a pretty high spec E60 for 7k asking on donedeal, it's not MSport. Is it costly to replace the front/back bumpers with the MSport one? Seems it already has the Msport SW.

Of course I started looking at E39s also (my original preferred car) and for 4k you can get a pretty top of the line one...

The search continues..

bazz26 · 23-09-2012 1:37pm

rocky wrote: »

I started reading after I asked the questions

ROR, I was hoping to an even darker shade of brown, sort of like the cinnamon on the F10 only less red/pink. Oh well, can't be too picky with SH cars... I thought walnut was the darker wood, that or piano black I think looks good. Initially I preferred the aluminium too, but now I think the darker woods look classier... And the normal A/C leaves too much blank space on the dash. I've yet to sit in one... :rolleyes:

There's a pretty high spec E60 for 7k asking on donedeal, it's not MSport. Is it costly to replace the front/back bumpers with the MSport one? Seems it already has the Msport SW.

Of course I started looking at E39s also (my original preferred car) and for 4k you can get a pretty top of the line one...

The search continues..

There was a recent thread over on bmw-driver.net about this. Somebody over there did the converstion at around €2k and he was in the trade. Money you will never get back.

It's not about just fitting M Sport bumpers, you also have different front foglights, the SE sits higher than the M Sport so you will have to upgrade the suspension and als the rear bumper has a diffuser. It would be cheaper to just buy a genuine M Sport.

2.5l BMW Efficient Dynamics - common problems?

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