Buying an E60 5-series diesel in 2024

French Toast

I’ve always had a soft spot for the styling of the E60 5-series. I’m considering buying a 520/525/530d as a daily driver, most probably an M-Sport.

Currently landing on 2007-2009 models, most of which have 100-200k miles.

Should something along the lines above still be reasonably reliable in 2024? Assuming low owners, service history etc. Or would I be buying a money pit?

Any input appreciated.

McGrath5

There’s nothing romantic about owning a German saloon of that vintage, a friend of mine has an early F10 and it’s constantly in with the mechanic for something. I’d avoid.

Gussie Scrotch

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122316980#Comment_122316980

Not sure I agree.

The engineering is superb and the 5 series are a great drivers car.

I have had 520 diesels for over 20 years, four bought new ( company cars) and the last bought second hand.

On each of the first four, I put over 100,000 miles and had no trouble at all…..nothing other that a bulb or two.

On the last, the one I have now, I did have EGR valve trouble but as it was subject to recall for that known issue, BMW fixed it at no cost to me.

However, the vintage described bu the OP did not, I think, have the exhaust recycling system ( I believe it was a later modification - designed to reduce emissions)

I would make the observation that spare parts are expensive, but I have found them to be very comfortable, fuel efficient and very responsive where steering and suspension are concerned.

Padre_Pio

What did I change on my 525i...

In 3 years, springs, shocks, water pump, thermostat, all the water pipes, door seal, corroded battery, timing chain and more. Probably spent 4k in parts alone in those 3 years.

Had constant problems with water either leaking in or out where it shouldn't. Tyre pressure sensors kept flagging low tyres.

It was due a load of maintenance, leaky head gasket was top of the list.

Sat in the car one morning and the spring broke and popped the tyre.

Beautiful car, but I'm never buying another BMW.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122317027#Comment_122317027

We’re not talking about brand new cars here. The BMW in question is 17 years old. Just because you clocked up 100k miles in brand new BMW’s does not mean this 17 year old car is going to be in any way comparable or reliable

galvo_clare

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058357715/buying-an-e60-5-series-diesel-in-2024

I get the love. I used to change cars every 2.5 years or so but my usage pattern changed so I've found myself still with my 2008 520d which I bought new, registered on the first day of the new CO2 tax.

I chopped in my previous 520d a few months earlier before it dropped in value.

I do about 10,000km in it every year as I have other cars to drive. Reliability is generally excellent, apart from the notorious timing chain. I'm now on 170k and my third chain.

First one was done entirely by BMW and the second, I had to make a €500ish contribution.

At this stage, an indy can do the job for under €1,000 so it's not much worse than a timing belt.

Other issues - I broke both front and rear springs on different occasions so all four have been replaced. I wasn't driving it enough and the disc corroded so I had to replace those earlier than usual. The dampers are still original and perfect, in fact it's still driving as new. At the last NCT that was exactly the tester's comment.

Yes, you'll have issues with an older car. At the moment it's having a new power steering pump fitted but I've found it to be very reliable and I'm convinced a lot of my issues were caused by it not being driven regularly.

I'd concentrate on trying to find a good 530d and push the boat out. As a bonus it doesn't suffer from the timing chain issue and running costs won't be too bad.

I've found parts prices to be reasonable although I often go with good OEM parts rather than genuine BMW. They've even stopped supplying the steering pump so I have no option there anyway.

Go for it.

ongarite

Had an E60 525 for a few years. Not a great car & the specification was very poor on Irish cars.

Loads with cloth seats or shiny poor quality leather seats. Manual dial climate control & ugly steering wheel & interior in the pre-LCI versions.

99% of diesel M-Sport versions available now will be thrashed, modded & poorly maintained

McGrath5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122317027#Comment_122317027

You must be a fan, good for you.
The OP is looking at a potentially 17 year old car, unless the previous owners were OCD about maintenance and pro active repairs they will be in a for a world of hurt.
Also forgot the older BMWs have an unsavory following.

Ferris

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122317047#Comment_122317047

I had a broken spring pop a tyre too on my e91.

BMWs put me off cars, I cycle to work now.

rabbitinlights

I would go 6 cylinder and have about €4-5k a year put aside for maintenance with a competent Indy. You’ll need to start preventative maintenance to keep it working reliably.

I’m speaking from experience with 400k+ miles running 5 series since E39s to a G31 today.

goochy

If not doing much mileage . Might find a petrol with lower miles and less to go wrong

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122318455#Comment_122318455

lol 😁

galvo_clare

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122318455#Comment_122318455

Do remember back in the day a guy I knew swapped from an early 530d to a 530i. He reckoned there wasn't much between them on fuel economy. Didn't believe him then. Don't believe him now.

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122319677#Comment_122319677

I've had both, 530i was e60 and 530d was F10. There's not that much between them when I was doing my 8km work commute. There was a difference on the open road though

Overall for me, the 530i was giving average 25 mpg and the 530d about 32 for my driving patterns. The only other diesel I ever owned in my life was an Audi A6 2 litre TDI that gave about 40mpg overall, the 520d would be more or less the same

All cars above were automatic and m sport/s line

Torque in 530d was very nice indeed.

I wouldn't be going back to anything of that era though, e60/F10 are probably going to be very expensive to maintain now and very outdated, I just can't see them feeling premium these days.

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122317104#Comment_122317104

So a new N47 engine timing chain roughly every 55'000 klms? And they can be done now for €1'000? Big changes indeed!! But even still, strange that BMW have had that problem with the N47 for so long, seeing that it seems the cause was faulty guides and tensioners? I've held off getting a BMW 520 series for that very reason. But maybe now its time to have a rethink..

bazz26

Most of these are tired and wrecked at this stage. They were in the price range of scrotes who drove the shite out of them, spent nothing on maintaining and changed ownership regularly to avoid paying motor tax. You have less chance of that with one of the petrol models but they are rare on these shores and a mint one commands a premium. As for reliability, any BMW of that vintage is going to be risky when it comes to reliability. Old BMWs can be a money pit, even cared for ones.

galvo_clare

first chain went at 80k and second went at around 160 so that’s the ballpark I’ve found. Car is properly serviced and not ragged but they’re still making those chains out of chocolate.

bigroad

Im thinking about an E60 for a while myself.

The only way I can see it working ,is to buy an E 60 with the engine gone and replace it with the older 2.0 d engine.

galvo_clare

That would work out more expensive than just buying a 530d and have a better car.

homingbird

I drive a e90 2.0 diesel n47n engine still on same timing change after 14 years & 150km easy enough to maintain with the help of youtube & you have someplace safe to do it as i do all my own.

Stallingrad

Forget the E60, try and find a cared for E39 and you will have a much nicer car, particularly the interior,

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122322142#Comment_122322142

Do you mean the original factory fitted engine, and same original chain?

macrubicon

I have 265k on my 09 LCI 520d.

What have I done to it outside of servicing and tyres.

3 Turbo's (rebuilt ones are just as good) I seem to do one every 80k or so, 2 timing chains (1st one was on BMW, 2nd on me). I'm budgeting a timing chain every 100k or so - at this point my next one won't be OEM to see how that works.

Water Pump was starting to go so that got done with a service and an alternator - oh and a wiper motor and guide - that was fun when it decided to go… Surprisingly no suspension work yet.

Now - the major major- I have had both the Mechatronic unit and the torque converter refurbished. Mechatronic a good few years ago and the torque converter in the last 2-3 years.

Has it been worth it - probably… I did look to change when the torque converter needed doing but the cost of repairs was far lower than the replacement car inflation costs. Was a few bob but buys me a few more years driving.

If you have wide tyres at the rear - watch the wear on the inside. Seems to be a E60 "thing" where they wear the inside edge even when perfectly balanced and aligned. One to watch when the outside and middle seems fine and that's all you can really see unless you get right under or stretch in for a feel for the tell tale groove.

Finding a clean one that's not been ragged from here to there will be your problem but they are out there.

homingbird

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122325073#Comment_122325073

YES sorry for late reply egr valve & turbo are the only things that needed doing on it along with full suspension overhaul which i did myself. Granted if you live in a flat in town you have no where to work on your car.

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122336674#Comment_122336674

Yes, one of the few that performed as it was designed to….you don't hear of too many BMW's with the N47 engine not giving timing chain trouble. Turbo and EGR valve are not too difficult, I think? Have they developed a way of checking the chain tension by now? Or is it still confined to the listen for the rattle at startup? I do most of my own servicing, on any cars that I've had, and space-wise, I don't have any problems as I have a shed which is very comfortable for one car.

homingbird

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122337035#Comment_122337035

Yes i am the same doing my own work I cleaned the dpf out recently made a good difference on performance & economy worth doing after any length of time.

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122344583#Comment_122344583

Anything that blocks the exhaust, or for that matter the air intake will affect performance and economy. When you say you cleaned out the DPF, do you mean that you programmed the engine to do it, or you removed it and cleaned it chemically in a bath? In previous car I had, a 2014 Mercedes E class 220, it was possible to programme the engine to clean it, if it needed it. But MBs are pretty good with the DPFs. When DPFs were first introduced, they really hit the headlines with their problems. But recently in newer models, not so much.

homingbird

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122344763#Comment_122344763

I took it off & got it done it wasnt showing problems but just did it anyway .

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122345819#Comment_122345819

Yes, good idea, as I've never had a BMW (why I'm on this thread) I don't know much about how the DPF's worked in them, plus it was the N47 timing chains that grabbed all the attention. And how to monitor the condition of them is what I'm interested in. In the mercs they can access the chain and measure the wear and tear, and even fit a new chain without taking out the engine. But I dont thing thats possible in the BMW's.

homingbird

Also anyone with a bmw or any other make of car that doesn't show water temperature I ordered one of these for mine. Look a easy fit

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EugIs3h