E60 520D buying advice

Duke O Smiley

I'm looking at potentially changing to a 520d in the next while. Budget will be about €5500, so 08 or at a push 09. Cheap tax would be nice, and leather and parking sensors ideal, not too fussy on spec otherwise. Most seem to be auto, again not really fussed on that; manual or auto would do.
I know of the whole 520d timing chain blunder but don't know much of anything about it specifically. Is a 08 520d safe or will it ruin me? What else should I be looking for in one of these?

Thanks

Four Phucs Ache

I think N47 issue is 07 to 09 but I've seen 2011 effected.

Friend had a 07 for 3 years and had nothing wrong n47 wise.He did have a faulty oil level sensor which turned on limp mode.

IIRC the chain is at the back of the engine under the bulkhead so it can be time consuming labour wise.

Apparently more frequent oil and filter changes can help avoid the n47 issue but as a 2nd 3rd or 4th owner you can only hope its been looked after.

Other than the chain issue it has the same regular issues as egr, turbo , dpf etc so no different to any other modern diesel.

Lovely to drive with the auto.Decent enough power with 177 I think and holds the road well from my experience.

From reading here I would say you know more about cars than I and you have a good nose for a good one so you'll be grand.

bazz26

Lots of these cars out there for sale but there are alot tired old dogs and money pits for sale too. The 177bhp 2.0 litre engine from September 2007 onwards would be the N47 engine with the timing chain issues. You could be lucky and find a late registered 163bhp 520d in early 2008 with the older M47 engine. If you do go with one with the N47 engine then make sure it has had the timing chain replaced recently enough and look for proof of it in receipts as BMW were replacing them free of charge in the last few years. Auto is a more relaxing drive imo and no flywheel to worry about unlike with the manual.

Try and get one of the Business Editions as they came with leather, bluetooth and sat nav.

Duke O Smiley

Thanks gents.

I've gotten away with both a BLB and a BRE 2.0 TDI in the last 15 months with no catastrophic failure from either despite what internet consensus says about these engines and oil pumps etc. I'm not so keen to take the same risk here given the bigger outlay. I've looked at a good number of cars online and unsurprisingly very few are advertising any kind of service history.

I'll just keep an eye on the usual sites and hope something suitable comes up!

Leonard Hofstadter

Why not get a 525d or a 530d? You've got six cylinders, so a nicer noise and superior refinement (not to mention more power), and absolutely nothing to worry about timing chain wise even if you choose a model with the N57 engine? They're very reasonable on motor tax for the performance on offer - but then again, if you're worried about car tax, you really shouldn't be buying a BMW - that is the least of your worries. They are going to be a lot dearer to run than a non premium German car - especially a car that has not been looked after, that will be a money pit.

Heres Johnny

Would you consider a 6 cylinder petrol? I was looking for 520d sport last year but the petrol models generally had lower mileage and better specs. When I drove petrol and diesel back to back it was clear to me I preferred the petrol by a distance. Plus much cheaper which negates the tax and fuel costs somewhat. And no timing chain issue.
Hard to find in a post 08 though but they are out there. By out there I mean UK!

keano25

For what it's worth I bought a 520d 2008 back in 09. Serviced regularly by myself, never did the timing chain on it.

Brother has it now with almost 200,000 miles on the clock still being serviced regularly and chain still hasn't been done and its still pulling like a train so get one with a good service history from someone you trust and you should be ok.. That's my experience anyway.

bazz26

The majority of 2008 525d/530d the OP will get on his budget will be high mileage examples. Anything decent with cheap tax will cost more to buy.

millington

If the chains not done, get it done. Not that expensive any more.

Otherwise they're pretty good. Don't touch one with warning lights on & watch out for oil leaks on the left hand side which is usually the oil filter housing gasket.

If it's an SE model you're going for, you should get an auto sub 6k if you look around.

Duke O Smiley

Thanks again lads. For what its worth I'm not worried about tax, just looking to go up in years and cheap tax will be a nice bonus. There are no 525/30d models on donedeal in budget.

MarkN

millington wrote: »

If the chains not done, get it done. Not that expensive any more.

Otherwise they're pretty good. Don't touch one with warning lights on & watch out for oil leaks on the left hand side which is usually the oil filter housing gasket.

If it's an SE model you're going for, you should get an auto sub 6k if you look around.

You’re still talking about €1,800 minimum though unless you can do it yourself. Full price in a BMW dealer is approx €5,000.

ELM327

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

Thanks again lads. For what its worth I'm not worried about tax, just looking to go up in years and cheap tax will be a nice bonus. There are no 525/30d models on donedeal in budget.

<07 535d?
Different animal even to an e60 530d let alone a 520/5.

millington

MarkN wrote: »

You’re still talking about €1,800 minimum though unless you can do it yourself. Full price in a BMW dealer is approx €5,000.

I get them done for €900 with a genuine kit by an independent specialist.