525imsport

Dear Fellow Forummers,

I currently drive an 2004 E60 525i M Sports. Purchased in Malaysia as a demonstrator unit from Japan with 7K on the odometer. This vehicle is using the M54B25 engine which pumps out 192bhp. Later along the line, came the NB52B25 which outputs 218bhp with Valvetronic. As this is my first BMW, I was wondering is there a very huge significance in terms of acceleration and top end speed between these two engines?

The car is Carbon Black with the Full M-Sports Package along with the 18" Double Spoke 135M wheels with Runflats. Does anyone here have a solution on how to clean the thin crevices between the bigger spokes? I'm having difficulties in cleaning the brake dust accumulated there. I've tried using a toothbrush but it won't fit. I'm having a tough time cleaning these wheels but they do look good. Has anyone has any tips on how to give these wheels a good cleaning? Besides that, I've noticed that these dark colours are quite hard to maintain, sad to say my car got scratched on one of the doors and hood when parked in a multi storey carpark. What is it with people scratching other peoples cars and stealing the model designation emblems.

There's this new facelift model which you guys have in the UK and the US, which is known as the LCI. What does LCI stand for?

Thanks.

xBMWx

First off, welcome on board
You should be able to find almost every info you need for your E60 - use the search function and the various sub-forums to help you get the info your are after.

Let me have a crack at some of those questions of yours-

Cleaning the M135s:
I purchased a special wheel cleaning brush from a car-parts store. It works well and gets to all the right places to scrub the worst of it - the rest gets blasted away with a power-cleaner However, now that I use these as my winter wheels and it would drive me mad keeping them looking mint, I now simply use a good pre-cleaning spray and then blast them with the high-pressure power-cleaners you get at petrol stations.

Engine changes:
I do not know the specifics of the changes, but as with every change it will bring with it improvements in efficiency, refinement and performance. There have been posts about this particular engine in the past, so have a go with the Search function if you do not get replys here.

LCI:
This stands for "LifeCycle Impulse", which is BMW terminology for a mid-life facelift. Outside not much has changed, but there are a whole host of refinements under the skin and to the interior... well maybe not that drivers door handle, but the rest is great


Enjoy the forums and post up some pics & details of your ride...

525imsport

Hey,

Thanks for the tips on cleaning the wheels. Will try them out. Here's some pictures on my 525i Carbon Black M Sport as requested. Still looks standard.. Have also attached another picture which I did in Photoshop which my ride might look like in future with the Hamann M Sports Lip and Side Skirts

Enjoy

ipp

Classy!

Ricracing

Hello 525imsport and welcome to the forum.

Since you got yourself already some answers I take up from there.

The LCI 525i has now a 3.0 litre N53B25 engine with 218 hp@6100 rpm and 270 Nm@2400 rpm.

The torguecurb is much nicer compared the the M54 and even the N52 engine (both 2.5 litre),
but the largest changes are that gas consumption has gone radically down as the CO2 outlets.

New fuel direct injection system is the reason.

ipp

A question for you... Howcome it's possible that you have a 2004 M-Sport? The M-Sport wasn't introduced until mid 2005.

Ricracing

He would not be the first E60 owner who has baught BMW OEM aftermarket parts...

ipp

And repainted it Carbon Black...

525imsport

Thanks for the replies. It helped me to understand the powerhouse better. Sorry for all the questions as my car did not come with any manuals upon purchase. One thing I noticed about my radiator fan. It seems to be playing up. For the first start of the day, the fan does not rotate at all. After travelling for some periods and restarting it, it comes on but gives out variable noises. it starts being silent then whirrs/hums to a higher noise then slows down a little before the noise gets louder and then disappears in the end. Is this normal or something wrong with the fan?

525imsport

Mine's a RHD UK Specification vehicle. the vehicle was manufactured end of 2004. I've made enquiries with BMW UK as BMW Malaysia cannot trace my vehicle records in their system. BMW UK have confirmed that this vehicle of mine came with Sports Package. It aso came with the Aluminium Cube interior trim. Below are the information of the vehicle from BMW UK from its initial order. It was used in Japan for some time before being imported to Malaysia where I bought it and currently using it.

Description: 525I E60 LIM AUT RL M54 EUR
Production Date: 15.12.2004
Paint: 416 M - Carbon Black
Upholstery: GAAT - Flashlight Cloth/Nappa Leather


Options

02NP M L/Alloy Wheels 135 8Jx18" (Run-flats)
0205 Automatic Gearbox
0217 Active Steering
0261 Rear Side Airbags
0337 Sport Model
0339 De-chroming
0354 Grad Tint Windscreen
0403 Electric Glass Sunroof
0423 Floor Mats
0428 First Aid Kit & Triangle
0430 Auto-Dim Int + Ext Mirror
0431 Auto-Dim Interior Mirror
0435 Birch Wood Trim
0441 Smoker Package
0459 Elec Fr Seats + Driver Memory
0465 Through Load System
0481 Sports Seats
05AB Deletion of Brake Force Display
0522 Xenon Headlamps
0534 Automatic Air Conditioning
0540 MF-Steer Wheel + Cruise
0548 Speedometer w/ KMH read
0601 TV and Text Function
0609 Navigation System with TV
0646 Car phone preparation Japan
0676 HiFi Speaker System
0694 CD Preparation
0704 M-Sports Suspension
0710 M Steering Wheel
0715 M-Aerodynamic Bodystyling I
0754 M Rear Spoiler
0775 Anthracite Headlining
0807 Japan version
0818 Battery Switch
0823 Hot Climate Countries Version
0845 Acoustic seatbelt warning
0852 Language version Japanese

Standard Options
0442 Cup holder
0785 White Indicator Lenses

The only thing that puzzles me is the interior trim. From the initial order, Birch trim was specified but the vehicle had already came with the Alu Cube Pure trim when I went for test drive in it before purchasing it.