08 BMW 520d M 177bhp - Any issues?

brian2me

Hi,

thinking of purchasing a 08 BMW 520d M, anyone have any issues with this car? Whats it like for MPG?
Does it have plenty of poke?

bazz26

The 177bhp 2.0 diesel has plenty of poke even in a car the weight of the E60. High 40mpg is about average for the car depending on your driving style. M Sport will have lowered and stiffer suspension with 18"/19" run on flat tyres so make sure you are happy with the very firm ride before committing to buying the M Sport version.

If you are not happy with the stock 177bhp then it can easily be remapped via software to 215bhp and torque increased to 440nM. I have a 08 318d M Sport which has the same engine but with less power, I got it remapped last week to just over 180bhp and increase in torque from 300nM to 385nM. It really has changed my car with power delivery at lower gear changes and the increase in torque is very noticable especially for take off and overtaking.

Things to watch out for - make sure it has a fully documented service history especially around oil changes. Ring the garages where it was serviced to verify It is very important that these engines get frequent oil changes to keep them in tip top shape especially the turbo. BMW use condition based servicing on these so the car will pop up on the screen when it needs fluids and other consumables changed. Personally I get the oil and filters changed every 15k km rather than the typical 24k km that the OBC tells you.

Have you a link to the one you are interested in?

pajo1981

**** it.

IMO the 520d is OK, but don't expect anything major in the way of poke. As the last guy said a remap will wake things up, perhaps.

also it's Nm not nM :pac:

btkm8unsl0w5r4

You wont get 215bhp out of it without seriously stressing the parts especially the turbo, 200 maybe. High 40's is also dreaming unless your a hyper-miler.

One thing that comes as standard with them is a brainwash pill that makes you think that the bottom of the range engine (ok the 520i is worse) is somehow a starship, enough car for anyone. Make you drone on about things like "the real world" "torque" and you bleat the word remap at any opportunity, as in "yeah I know the 330d is much better but a simple remap and...blah blah blah...."

I have drive them plenty and compare to other cars they are very good. But compared to bigger engined BMW's there unrefined, loud and the power band is very narrow need much stirring of the gears. This is overcome with the auto on the new F10 having so many gears. A fine car but not exactly the ultimate driving machine.

Gumbo

Lyra Small Cowhide wrote: »

You wont get 215bhp out of it without seriously stressing the parts especially the turbo, 200 maybe.

the Pre-LCI 163bhp engine remaps to 200bhp easily with no added stress at all, i had mine done up to 121k before i sold it without issue.

the LCI 177bhp engine is very very easily remapped to 215bhp no problem with the same stress as any other remap. of course you have to keep an eye on wear and tear items like clutch etc but aslong as your not silly with take offs etc then i dont see why the clutch etc wont last aslong as it would in an un-remapped car.

remember aslong as you get the remap from a decent company such as www.autoremap.ie or from Joe Power in chippedire then you should have no problems as the remaps are TUV approved.

Lyra Small Cowhide wrote: »

High 40's is also dreaming unless your a hyper-miler.

+1
low to mid 30's would be expected for city driving.

TheBazman

The tank will cost 90 - 95 euro to fill and you will get 1000 kms from that mixed motorway and city driving. It's no rocket ship but there is a nice bit of poke in it. Depends what you're moving from really.

bazz26

pajo1981 wrote: »

**** it.

IMO the 520d is OK, but don't expect anything major in the way of poke. As the last guy said a remap will wake things up, perhaps.

also it's Nm not nM :pac:

Ha, your dead right. I wrote that post after a few pints.

Blazer

TheBazman wrote: »

The tank will cost 90 - 95 euro to fill and you will get 1000 kms from that mixed motorway and city driving. It's no rocket ship but there is a nice bit of poke in it. Depends what you're moving from really.

yeah..at current prices it's about €90 to fill it.
I got mine last week (07 520D) and I reckon about 950 km out of a full tank.
This would be mainly country road/city driving with some motorway thrown in (30%).
Still working out the mileage from a full tank...I'm only halfway there yet
Sorry now I didn't take a week off from work

gpjordanf1

brian2me wrote: »

Hi,

thinking of purchasing a 08 BMW 520d M, anyone have any issues with this car? Whats it like for MPG?
Does it have plenty of poke?

My Old fella bought one of these for his retirement, a Late 08 M Sport with 19" alloys leather, tiptronic, all the toys.

Last week without warning the Turbo gave up on him, now this car has only 12k kms on the clock. Left stranded on the side of road.

Luckily it was under warranty and BMW collected it, fixed and delivered it back.

Needless to say its going for sale this week. The BMW garage that repaired it is also interested in buying it. But its getting road, thats brutal reliability!

sk8board

Sc@recrow wrote: »

yeah..at current prices it's about €90 to fill it.
I got mine last week (07 520D) and I reckon about 950 km out of a full tank.
This would be mainly country road/city driving with some motorway thrown in (30%).

isn't that a 70L tank? Are my maths correct to say that 950km's from 70L (13.5km per litre) is about early/mid 30's mpg? I'd have expected more

TheBazman

sk8board wrote: »

isn't that a 70L tank? Are my maths correct to say that 950km's from 70L (13.5km per litre) is about early/mid 30's mpg? I'd have expected more

Realistically you would be filling it when the fuel light comes on which is probably after 62/63 litres. Probably works out in the high 30's. And yes I guess if you really wanted to you could get mid 40's out of it.....but that would be veeerrryyy booorrrinnng

Heroditas

When the fuel light comes on, if you top up immediately you'll put about 57-58 litres in it.

Blazer

sk8board wrote: »

isn't that a 70L tank? Are my maths correct to say that 950km's from 70L (13.5km per litre) is about early/mid 30's mpg? I'd have expected more

so far it's showing 42.1mpg...and getting better the more I drive it...
I reset both the consumption and the journey indicator so I could better track it.

after about driving about 150km today it's now at 6.6l/100km or 43.4mpg.
I've a trip to Dublin next weekend which will increase it even more but I find that it takes about a month of driving before you can really get an accurate average overall.

unkel

TheBazman wrote: »

Realistically you would be filling it when the fuel light comes on which is probably after 62/63 litres.

That works out at 43MPG

Someone well outside of the Dublin area should be able to get high 40s no bother, without the need for a light foot

gpjordanf1

gpjordanf1 wrote: »

My Old fella bought one of these for his retirement, a Late 08 M Sport with 19" alloys leather, tiptronic, all the toys.

Last week without warning the Turbo gave up on him, now this car has only 12k kms on the clock.............

Even if it's on the oil it left the factory on that is brutal as you say.

unkel wrote: »

Someone well outside of the Dublin area should be able to get high 40s no bother, without the need for a light foot

There is traffic in Galway, Limerick, Cork, Waterford etc too old boy. When I lived in Clondalkin (Monastery Gate Close, behind the Ibis) I had a few miles spin to work (Grange Castle), less traffic then here at home to where I went to college (CIT) and one of the places I worked for a while.

brian2me

bazz26 wrote: »

The 177bhp 2.0 diesel has plenty of poke even in a car the weight of the E60. High 40mpg is about average for the car depending on your driving style. M Sport will have lowered and stiffer suspension with 18"/19" run on flat tyres so make sure you are happy with the very firm ride before committing to buying the M Sport version.

If you are not happy with the stock 177bhp then it can easily be remapped via software to 215bhp and torque increased to 440nM. I have a 08 318d M Sport which has the same engine but with less power, I got it remapped last week to just over 180bhp and increase in torque from 300nM to 385nM. It really has changed my car with power delivery at lower gear changes and the increase in torque is very noticable especially for take off and overtaking.

Things to watch out for - make sure it has a fully documented service history especially around oil changes. Ring the garages where it was serviced to verify It is very important that these engines get frequent oil changes to keep them in tip top shape especially the turbo. BMW use condition based servicing on these so the car will pop up on the screen when it needs fluids and other consumables changed. Personally I get the oil and filters changed every 15k km rather than the typical 24k km that the OBC tells you.

Have you a link to the one you are interested in?

Thanks for the detailed response, I was looking at this one http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/520d-m-s/201125203031031/advert?channel=CARS I'm currently driving an A4 140bhp getting about 650 miles to a tank of juice. Honestly I'm not very fond of the cabin BMW's, was only looking at the 520d due to the cheap tax. Think I may re-visit looking at this one http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A5/2.7TDI-1/201112201760776/advert?channel=CARS

unkel

RoverJames wrote: »

When I lived in Clondalkin (Monastery Gate Close, behind the Ibis) I had a few miles spin to work (Grange Castle), less traffic then here at hom

That's going against commuting traffic

-Corkie-

brian2me wrote: »

Thanks for the detailed response, I was looking at this one http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/520d-m-s/201125203031031/advert?channel=CARS I'm currently driving an A4 140bhp getting about 650 miles to a tank of juice. Honestly I'm not very fond of the cabin BMW's, was only looking at the 520d due to the cheap tax. Think I may re-visit looking at this one http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A5/2.7TDI-1/201112201760776/advert?channel=CARS

I would have the A5 especially when its Quattro.

fmul9798

12k kms on a late 08 5 series? That sounds very low, or is that 12k in addition to what was on it when purchased? If 12k total that car needs a lot more driving and yearly oil changes minimum....

gpjordanf1

fmul9798 wrote: »

12k kms on a late 08 5 series? That sounds very low, or is that 12k in addition to what was on it when purchased? If 12k total that car needs a lot more driving and yearly oil changes minimum....

RoverJames wrote: »

Even if it's on the oil it left the factory on that is brutal as you say.

Yeah it was a late registered 08 with 500kms on it a Demo Model. Really beautiful car, diamons silver, MSport, 19" Rims something like 275 on the rear with 235 on the front. Black leather with detailed stitching. Blacked out rear windows, nice tint on the front (factory spec), tiptronic all the bells & whistles.

It has been back to BMW after 3 or 5k kms for a service, cause that was after 12 months and the last one was at 10k kms, which wasnt long ago.

It is a weekend car, garaged and very well looked after. So its a huge disapointment for my Dad as you can imagine!

Now it does over 100 miles round trips when it is on the roads, so short jouney experts can rule that out.

R.O.R

brian2me wrote: »

Think I may re-visit looking at this one http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A5/2.7TDI-1/201112201760776/advert?channel=CARS

-Corkie- wrote: »

I would have the A5 especially when its Quattro.

The 2.7Tdi is FWD. Not bad to drive on long straight roads, but doesn't take the bends as well as a quattro.

Padraig Mor

brian2me wrote: »

Thanks for the detailed response, I was looking at this one http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/520d-m-s/201125203031031/advert?channel=CARS I'm currently driving an A4 140bhp getting about 650 miles to a tank of juice. Honestly I'm not very fond of the cabin BMW's, was only looking at the 520d due to the cheap tax. Think I may re-visit looking at this one http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A5/2.7TDI-1/201112201760776/advert?channel=CARS

I'd be wary of any garage only offering a 3 month warranty on an imported 08 5 series TBH.

Blazer

Padraig Mor wrote: »

I'd be wary of any garage only offering a 3 month warranty on an imported 08 5 series TBH.

most garages are only offering this.
The only exceptions are the registered BMW dealers offering the 2 year BMW warranty (premium selection),

You'll pay extra but it's worth it for peace of mind imo