2003 BMW 530 D

martin gillespie

Hi people, would like to know what anyone driving a 530d is getting to the gallon , its the manual model im looking at .Any thing to look for when going to see the car.
Thanks in advance

Leonard Hofstadter

Check if the swirl flaps have been removed, as if they get injested into the engine it's bye bye engine.

Make sure the HVAC works if it's got climate control, as it may have the 'hedgehog' problem and that can be expensive to put right. Watch for missing pixels on the instrument binnacle and the radio display. Most importantly, make sure the suspension doesn't need to be overhauled, don't buy if there's squeaks coming from the suspension, as the aluminimum suspension can be a bit weak (but when it's working the car handles really well for such a big car and the ride is remarkably composed).

Other than that, check the car's service history (walk away if there's none or very little - they were very expensive cars when new so there should be plenty of history) and the usual signs of wear and tear and general abuse.

They're a great, solid, reliable car - so long as they've been looked after.

M Sports are more desirable, because they look better (in my opinion), have better spec, and are more likely to have been owned by an enthusiast (which will mean most of the major problems will have been fixed and the car will have been looked after), but run a mile from a scuffy M Sport as it's probably been abused.

Try and get as much spec as possible; given the car's age and high tax rates the only people that will want these cars if you wish to sell it on are enthusiasts and they will not settle for a car with cloth seats, basic a/c and no luxuries, personally I wouldn't buy one unless it had leather (or alcantara if it's an M Sport - alcantara is actually nicer than leather IMO), climate control, multi-function steering wheel, and if it had the fancier on board computer and radio, electric seats, rain sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear view mirror, then all the better .

Foxhole Norman

martin gillespie wrote: »

Hi people, would like to know what anyone driving a 530d is getting to the gallon , its the manual model im looking at .Any thing to look for when going to see the car.
Thanks in advance

A friend of mine has a 2003 530D SE Manual and says he gets 40+ MPG on Motorway spins and around 25-35 in the city.

Stella Virgo

just the small matter of the 1,494 road tax per year.......:eek:
if you keep the car say, three years it will cost you 4,482 in road tax alone,before diesel,insurance.nct and off course repairs

Gumbo

Stella Virgo wrote: »

just the small matter of the 1,494 road tax per year.......:eek:
if you keep the car say, three years it will cost you 4,482 in road tax alone,before diesel,insurance.nct and off course repairs

Or he could buy a punto with 1.0 tax and die of boredom....

OP enjoy yourself, buy a nice car. My old 530d done 24mpg in 99% city driving but it was an auto.

martin gillespie

captainspeed wrote: »

Check if the swirl flaps have been removed, as if they get injested into the engine it's bye bye engine.

Make sure the HVAC works if it's got climate control, as it may have the 'hedgehog' problem and that can be expensive to put right. Watch for missing pixels on the instrument binnacle and the radio display. Most importantly, make sure the suspension doesn't need to be overhauled, don't buy if there's squeaks coming from the suspension, as the aluminimum suspension can be a bit weak (but when it's working the car handles really well for such a big car and the ride is remarkably composed).

Other than that, check the car's service history (walk away if there's none or very little - they were very expensive cars when new so there should be plenty of history) and the usual signs of wear and tear and general abuse.

They're a great, solid, reliable car - so long as they've been looked after.

M Sports are more desirable, because they look better (in my opinion), have better spec, and are more likely to have been owned by an enthusiast (which will mean most of the major problems will have been fixed and the car will have been looked after), but run a mile from a scuffy M Sport as it's probably been abused.

Try and get as much spec as possible; given the car's age and high tax rates the only people that will want these cars if you wish to sell it on are enthusiasts and they will not settle for a car with cloth seats, basic a/c and no luxuries, personally I wouldn't buy one unless it had leather (or alcantara if it's an M Sport - alcantara is actually nicer than leather IMO), climate control, multi-function steering wheel, and if it had the fancier on board computer and radio, electric seats, rain sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear view mirror, then all the better .

It has leather , multifunctional steering wheel , the hedgehog thingy is been replaced , showed me that today , new front calipers, i will check swirl flaps., i run a e200 and its a pig on juice , plus the tax is 400 cheaper than my Ls400 , but its of the road .Thanks

Gumbo

martin gillespie wrote: »

It has leather , multifunctional steering wheel , the hedgehog thingy is been replaced , showed me that today , new front calipers, i will check swirl flaps., i run a e200 and its a pig on juice , plus the tax is 400 cheaper than my Ls400 , but its of the road .Thanks

The hedgehog resistor is a common problem which runs the battery down. Hopefully he replaced it with one of the newer units.

ian87

I used to get 45 on a run in my e60. Could squeeze up to 50 with a feathery foot..

George Dalton

They are great on diesel for such a big car/engine. Will do well over 50mpg on a long run.

My E280 CDI does 40mpg in mixed driving and I would say a 530d would easily do 45mpg if not more.

trabpc

My old e39 m sports 2002 manual. 44mpg motorway every day.47 achievable driving under 120.

YbFocus

My early e60 never quite reaches these figures, 38 normally, 41 trying a bit and the girlfriend can manage 45 on a long trip.
Maybe there is a bit more weight or something i don't know.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Is it an e39 or an e60?
e60 would probably be better on mpg.


My e60 (albeit a 535d) never really got above 25-30 unless you were on a motorway/dualway and sticking to the limits.

Gumbo

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

Is it an e39 or an e60?
e60 would probably be better on mpg.


My e60 (albeit a 535d) never really got above 25-30 unless you were on a motorway/dualway and sticking to the limits.

2003 could be either, but the hedgehog comment threw me towards the E39, common E39 problem.

Idbatterim

are there far less 525d than 530d? the 525 tax is E1080 v E1494 for the 3L...

Gumbo

Idbatterim wrote: »

are there far less 525d than 530d? the 525 tax is E1080 v E1494 for the 3L...

Plus the 30d engine is worth the extra. I've had both. Found the 30d more economical than the 25d, strangely enough my LCI remapped 535d was more economical than the 30d and 25d!!!!

Foxhole Norman

Idbatterim wrote: »

are there far less 525d than 530d? the 525 tax is E1080 v E1494 for the 3L...

When it comes to E39's the 525D's are way rarer than the 530D's, only came in face-lift versions of the car while the 530D existed throughout but was less powerful in the pre-facelift models.

Mandzhalas

Get 525i msport and LPG it. That's what I have done. Feckin love that car!

martin gillespie

kceire wrote: »

2003 could be either, but the hedgehog comment threw me towards the E39, common E39 problem.

E39 it is Dark blue /tan leather , i would prefer a auto , but that's a minor niggle

Idbatterim

530d here with 2L tax, the driver seats certainly looks like it has had more than 94k miles, looks more like 294k!!!


http://cars.donedeal.ie/damagedcars-for-sale/bmw-530d-2-0l-tax/7698849

MortGoldman

I get 31mpg average from my M-Sport Auto. But I keep it in sport mode most of the time, it's a bit slow to respond in 'normal' mode when I want a quick overtake.

galwaytt

kceire wrote: »

Or he could buy a punto with 1.0 tax and die of boredom....

OP enjoy yourself, buy a nice car. My old 530d done 24mpg in 99% city driving but it was an auto.

You mean a Yaris/Micra.

Nothing wrong with jolly Punto's ........ ðŸ˜

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

When it comes to E39's the 525D's are way rarer than the 530D's, only came in face-lift versions of the car while the 530D existed throughout but was less powerful in the pre-facelift models.

AFAIR it wasn't sold here for virtually all of the e39's run, meaning that most of the 525d e39s that you see are actually UK imports.

bear1

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but are the 525d any good? Saw one come up for sale, a 03 manual, leather and seems to have the digital climate control.
Am I right in thinking they don't have the swirl flaps?

Idbatterim

well you will get the nice 6 pot and somewhat reasonable tax v the 3 litre, kceire said the 3L was actually more economical though. But will obviously cost more to tax and possibly cost more to insure...

bear1

The tax doesn't bother me that much tbh but from what I'm reading the 2.5 is a good compromise between the 520d and the 530d and with plenty of power.
Mpg I see can be slightly less than with the 3.0

fmcg_scribe

MortGoldman wrote: »

I get 31mpg average from my M-Sport Auto. But I keep it in sport mode most of the time, it's a bit slow to respond in 'normal' mode when I want a quick overtake.

Have an E60 535d M-Sport auto and can get about 32 mpg from mixed driving and about 39 mpg from motorway driving. Allowing for some E39/E60 diffs, your mpg is not beyond criticism. Presumably, you have the car serviced regularly and your driving style isn't manic?

fmcg_scribe

bear1 wrote: »

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but are the 525d any good? Saw one come up for sale, a 03 manual, leather and seems to have the digital climate control.
Am I right in thinking they don't have the swirl flaps?

A manual 5 series, especially a diesel, will be difficult to sell on. For E39, M5 was manual only, so that's the only exception. For E60 or later 5 series, manual would be frowned upon unless talking about M5 cars sold in the US.

In general, once you move beyond a 3 series into 5, 6, or 7 series, only auto transmissions are acceptable to most buyers (SMG or DCT options generally apply only to M cars). The same applies to models from Audi, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes.

bear1

May I ask why that is? I was always of the opinion that a manual car is more of a drivers car. More control.
An auto just gives me the idea that it's more of a lazy drive.

fmcg_scribe

bear1 wrote: »

The tax doesn't bother me that much tbh but from what I'm reading the 2.5 is a good compromise between the 520d and the 530d and with plenty of power.
Mpg I see can be slightly less than with the 3.0

If you're worried about car tax, go for the 520d. If you care more about performance, mpg, and are not concerned about car tax, go for the 530d. The happy medium of the 525d is "neither fish nor flesh".

ian87

fmcg_scribe wrote: »

A manual 5 series, especially a diesel, will be difficult to sell on. For E39, M5 was manual only, so that's the only exception. For E60 or later 5 series, manual would be frowned upon unless talking about M5 cars sold in the US.

In general, once you move beyond a 3 series into 5, 6, or 7 series, only auto transmissions are acceptable to most buyers (SMG or DCT options generally apply only to M cars). The same applies to models from Audi, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes.

I had a manual e60. It was on Donedeal for the grand sum of 6 days and I had plenty of interest. Some people will only drive a manual after all, myself included.

quadrifoglio verde

fmcg_scribe wrote: »

A manual 5 series, especially a diesel, will be difficult to sell on. For E39, M5 was manual only, so that's the only exception. For E60 or later 5 series, manual would be frowned upon unless talking about M5 cars sold in the US.

In general, once you move beyond a 3 series into 5, 6, or 7 series, only auto transmissions are acceptable to most buyers (SMG or DCT options generally apply only to M cars). The same applies to models from Audi, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes.

Automatic doesn't give me the ultimate driving experience. It takes away that control that I have over the rev range. Give me a manual any day over an auto, except in a-b cars.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

fmcg_scribe wrote: »

If you're worried about car tax, go for the 520d. If you care more about performance, mpg, and are not concerned about car tax, go for the 535d. The happy medium of the 525d is "neither fish nor flesh".

fyp

fmcg_scribe

bear1 wrote: »

May I ask why that is? I was always of the opinion that a manual car is more of a drivers car. More control.
An auto just gives me the idea that it's more of a lazy drive.

Multiple reasons for this (this list is not exhaustive):
- For most luxury/premium cars, especially German ones, auto transmission is one of the few upgrade options that will add value to the car over its life, so there's a financial angle.
- Increasingly, many high powered diesel cars can work only with auto transmissions because of the high torque levels, for example, the BMW E9x 335d, E6x 535d, and E6x 635d; so there's a technical/engineering angle.
- A large luxury car (5 series or above) usually has a different sort of buyer from, say, a 1 series or a 3 series, and despite talk about sport specs and trims and high performance engines, most large luxury saloons and estates are bought by people who want to use them as cruisers, not as sports cars; so there's a market segment angle.
- Automatic transmissions are convenient to use and if driving in urban areas and crawling along in queues on dual carriageways and motorways, you get to prefer auto over manual.

fmcg_scribe

ian87 wrote: »

I had a manual e60. It was on Donedeal for the grand sum of 6 days and I had plenty of interest. Some people will only drive a manual after all, myself included.

Good for you. However, two points:

• You would have probably sold the car for more money if it was auto.
• Clearly, you sold privately. If you had tried to trade it in, you would have received a better valuation if it had been auto.

fmcg_scribe

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

fyp

I have a 535d but that was available in E60 or later 5 series - the 530d variant has been around longer.

fmcg_scribe

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

Automatic doesn't give me the ultimate driving experience. It takes away that control that I have over the rev range. Give me a manual any day over an auto, except in a-b cars.

You're entitled to your opinion.

I've owned manual and auto transmission cars. The last manual I owned was an E46 M3.

To be fair, in small sports cars, I think that manual transmissions are still expected but once you move to high performance cars and luxury cars, the ground starts to shift.

Increasingly, double clutch and sequential or automated manual gearboxes of one sort or another are being fitted to many newer cars and many people in the motor industry are predicting that manual gearboxes are in long-term decline.

YbFocus

fmcg_scribe wrote: »

- Increasingly, many high powered diesel cars can work only with auto transmissions because of the high torque levels, for example, the BMW E9x 335d, E6x 535d, and E6x 635d; so there's a technical/engineering angle.

That's the same engine across the board, so hardly many and they could have but it wasn't cost effective.
To say they "couldn't" is silly.
Manual all the way!
Much better drive than an auto, even in my 530d.
Resale will be slightly less but then was it not bought for slightly less??
I won't be left with a car, they all sell very quickly.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

For cruising or driving around lazily, the refinement of the e60 6 cylinder engine is totally lost with a manual 'box.

I've had the pleasure of being in two manual e60 530d cars and while they were nice cars, I couldn't help but feel that the lack of an autobox ruined the luxury/refined feel of the car.

It's a repmobile lads not an m5 so an auto box is the way to go. Diesel =/= sportscar!

fmcg_scribe

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

For cruising or driving around lazily, the refinement of the e60 6 cylinder engine is totally lost with a manual 'box.

I've had the pleasure of being in two manual e60 530d cars and while they were nice cars, I couldn't help but feel that the lack of an autobox ruined the luxury/refined feel of the car.

It's a repmobile lads not an m5 so an auto box is the way to go. Diesel =/= sportscar!

Indeed.

YbFocus

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

For cruising or driving around lazily, the refinement of the e60 6 cylinder engine is totally lost with a manual 'box.

I've had the pleasure of being in two manual e60 530d cars and while they were nice cars, I couldn't help but feel that the lack of an autobox ruined the luxury/refined feel of the car.

It's a repmobile lads not an m5 so an auto box is the way to go. Diesel =/= sportscar!

You don't count you can't drive one

To it it doesn't ruin it at all, what difference does it make really.
I enjoy the use of it too, I'd miss it in fact.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

YbFocus wrote: »

You don't count you can't drive one

To it it doesn't ruin it at all, what difference does it make really.
I enjoy the use of it too, I'd miss it in fact.

They don't make many 'murican cars with stick shift so I won't need to :P
Fast in a straight line, like the 535 slushbox.

YbFocus

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

They don't make many 'murican cars with stick shift so I won't need to :P
Fast in a straight line, like the 535 slushbox.

That was a quick car i must say!
That new car you've got, with all that power, it's all lost with an auto

Cleveland Hot Pocket

YbFocus wrote: »

That was a quick car i must say!
That new car you've got, with all that power, it's all lost with an auto

Aye it was. . Still miss her, stupid stupid decision to sell it if I'm honest. I came out of it a couple of grand better by swapping for the skoda but I still regret it.

The mopar isn't just an auto it's a 3 speed auto...
With foot to the floor she doesn't switch to top gear till well north of 110 mph!

fmcg_scribe

YbFocus wrote: »

That's the same engine across the board, so hardly many and they could have but it wasn't cost effective.
To say they "couldn't" is silly.
Manual all the way!
Much better drive than an auto, even in my 530d.
Resale will be slightly less but then was it not bought for slightly less??
I won't be left with a car, they all sell very quickly.

Yes, basically the same engine in all BMW previous generation x35d models (engine was updated at least twice since launch in E60 535d about 10 years ago) but the point about toque levels carries through to the current versions of those BMW models.

Equally, BMW argues that the newer M cars are just not suited to manual boxes - they cave in on the issue with US buyers of M cars if only avoid losing sales there.

Most reviews of the current 3 series, especially the 320d, have talked about the 8 speed auto transmission being the better transmission option to pick.

There are rumours that next 7 series might have a 720d variant. Imagine a 720d with a manual transmission! :mad:

You're entitled to your opinion but I believe that your views are out of step with current technological advances and market demands.

YbFocus

fmcg_scribe wrote: »

Yes, basically the same engine in all BMW previous generation x35d models (engine was updated at least twice since launch in E60 535d about 10 years ago) but the point about toque levels carries through to the current versions of those BMW models.

Equally, BMW argues that the newer M cars are just not suited to manual boxes - they cave in on the issue with US buyers of M cars if only avoid losing sales there.

Most reviews of the current 3 series, especially the 320d, have talked about the 8 speed auto transmission being the better transmission option to pick.

There are rumours that next 7 series might have a 720d variant. Imagine a 720d with a manual transmission! :mad:

You're entitled to your opinion but I believe that your views are out of step with current technological advances and market demands.

My views are not those of the majority that's the only problem.
Do bmw make a manual 7er? I'd have no interest in them. But it should come in no less than a 30d.

Look the journalists can write about what gearbox is best to pick and what color is best but that doesn't effect me, I'll take what i want.

I totally agree my views are out of step with the times but i love my manuals. For you to say that a manual shouldn't be in X car is wrong, it's someone's option to have it.

That dictatorish stuff grinds my gears.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

YbFocus wrote: »

My views are not those of the majority that's the only problem.
.

They are the majority of people who like to drive though.
Manual > Auto for "spirited" or track driving. Auto is for wafting along.

YbFocus wrote: »

Do bmw make a manual 7er? I'd have no interest in them. But it should come in no less than a 30d.
.

No, and they should never make a manual 7'er because that's not what that car is for. It's a luxobarge, wafting along and letting the car (or chauffeur :P) do the work!

YbFocus

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

They are the majority of people who like to drive though.
Manual > Auto for "spirited" or track driving. Auto is for wafting along.

No, and they should never make a manual 7'er because that's not what that car is for. It's a luxobarge, wafting along and letting the car (or chauffeur :P) do the work!

I would buy an auto 7er is i was getting one for sure but the e60 makes a nice manual!
And i rarely waft along, not unlike yourself

Cleveland Hot Pocket

YbFocus wrote: »

I would buy an auto 7er is i was getting one for sure but the e60 makes a nice manual!
And i rarely waft along, not unlike yourself

In a bangernomics e60 like an '03 523i or something I would prefer a manual alright, more fun to "keep 'er lit, laaaad" in a manual.
Diesels are meant to be driven for the necessity (high miles) or for the lolz of the smoke (my carina, DGT's pug etc).

Idbatterim

If you're worried about car tax, go for the 520d. If you care more about performance, mpg, and are not concerned about car tax, go for the 530d. The happy medium of the 525d is "neither fish nor flesh".

I totally disagree with that, now I drive an E46 2.5 petrol, but I find it by far the best all rounder, 6 cylinder, not lacking in power and just about stomochable motor tax. The 2L petrol engine is crap, why bother with 2.2L 163bhp when you can have extra 20 bhp for E100. I am not sure if your comment is aimed at the diesels or not. But with the petrols, the 2.5L is the clear winner all round IMO...

fmcg_scribe

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

They are the majority of people who like to drive though.
Manual > Auto for "spirited" or track driving. Auto is for wafting along.

No, and they should never make a manual 7'er because that's not what that car is for. It's a luxobarge, wafting along and letting the car (or chauffeur :P) do the work!

AFAIK The E38 7 series was the last 7 series to offer a manual transmission but I believe that very few were made. I'm not sure sure that I've ever seen a manual 7 series for sale.

fmcg_scribe

Idbatterim wrote: »

I totally disagree with that, now I drive an E46 2.5 petrol, but I find it by far the best all rounder, 6 cylinder, not lacking in power and just about stomochable motor tax. The 2L petrol engine is crap, why bother with 2.2L 163bhp when you can have extra 20 bhp for E100. I am not sure if your comment is aimed at the diesels or not. But with the petrols, the 2.5L is the clear winner all round IMO...

Yes, my comment was aimed at diesels.

Many years ago I owned an E46 323i (5 speed manual) for three years. It was a good car and in some ways the best I've ever owned. Agree that 6 cylinder petrol BMWs are great, especially in 3 series form. If you've owned a 6 cyl petrol 3 series, it would hard to move down to a 4 cyl petrol 3 series.