It’s been too long and about to come back. I’m looking at these cars and not sure which is better in the long run. Planning on keeping it for a while. Please let me know your thoughts.

2008 535xi Wagon with 97,000 miles no Nav but has the essentials or
2009 550i Sedan with 99,000 miles, Ad for 550i states DCT and is fully loaded.

thanks in advance.

 

Both have their foibles. The 535 has the N54 with all its attendant woes, the 550 has the N62 with all its own attendant woes. Both have the ZF 6AT which is fairly bulletproof by most accounts.

N54: electric water pump, wastegate rattle, belt eater, charge pipe popper, carbon buildup/walnut blaster

N62: valve stem seals, timing chain guides, coolant transfer pipe/valley pan leaks

I'd pick the 550 were it my choice and if I didn't have wood for the wagon. You say the 535 has 'the essentials', but what? I have HUD on mine and wouldn't trade that for gold. The 550 - does it have HUD/NAV/Active Suspension/Active Steering/Active Cruise?

AWD is nice, but I think I could get by with RWD and good winter tires if I had to.

 

I am partial to the N62 equiped choice - less complicated than the turbo engine and as far as I am concerned, has less problems than the turbo. I have not run into any of the mentioned problems associated with the N62 - i.e. neither stem seals, timing chain guides nor coolant transfer pipe leaks. The normal oil leaks and wear items to replace - coolant pump, alternator etc., yes, but those exist on the turbo engine also. Mine is a 2005 and has 360 000 kms.

 

thanks for the great info fellas. I guess each has its own quirks. Never had a turbo engine before, always a v8. I’m a wagon guy too and currently have an MB E class wagon but the e61 doesn’t have Nav, hud, and the rest of the bells and whistle. Only has heated steering wheel and just kinda basic.

550 on the other hand is fully loaded, hud, Nav, sport button, etc.

I guess which ever one I decide on doing a preventative maintenance is probably key.

With the mileage on both, both cats still have a lot of
life left right???

 

Don't remember the changeover year between CCC navigation and CIC, possibly 2010, in which case CCC fitted to car. The DVD, CCC went out of BMW support during 2015 and most current nav disc is a 2014 update released in 2015 for CCC Professional. In which case your better off using a smart phone for reliable navigation.

 

The N62 valve stem seal problem for my 550i was fixed using high mileage Mobil 1 oil. And I believe the coolant transfer pipe problem was mainly on the 545i (for the most part). I've had quite a few oil seal gaskets to replace, but afterwards this V8 is reliable. So, to answer the OP in regards to which is better in the long run, I'd vote for the 550i (V8 won't need a new or rebuilt turbo(s) like the 535i after so many miles either).

CIC was introduced on the E60 in the final 2010 model year.

 

I enjoy my 2009 535 E61. I've done major jobs (voluntarily) to not have to touch it for a long time, including index 12 injectors, replaced turbo wastegates, motor mounts, oil pan gasket, etc. I also enjoy doing this work myself. It didn't need any of this (well, I did get underboost errors at 2400 rpm before fixing the turbo rattle). I personally like BMW's because I enjoy the smoothness of inline 6 motors and never have any desire to own a V8.