Moonraker

Dear all,

Just registered - my first post! I will be buying a 525i soon. I learnt that in 07, the output increased from 192bhp to 218bhp. Of course, I want to buy the newer car, with the higher output! But how can I see, at a glance, upon visiting the private seller or the 2nd hand dealer, which car it is? I read somewhere that the kidney grille is 'flush with the bumper' or that the indicator lenses were 'clear' (for the newer model). I do not seem to notice any difference in some pictures. Any other clues? And, more officially, is there a real proof, such as a VIN no.? Any e-mail contact at BMW that I can ask?

Thanks!

MIINT

I think these are the LCI Cars.. different rear light cluster amongst other things. Its the first thing I look for!

LJTX545I

The 6 cylinder engines are noticeably different, changed from M30 to N52 (black cover to silver cover)

pjinca

Um, can't you tell from the car you're going to look at?
2005 525i
Base Number of Cylinders: 6 Base Engine Size: 2.5 liters
Base Engine Type: Inline 6 Horsepower: 184 hp
Max Horsepower: 6000 rpm Torque: 175 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 3500 rpm Drive Type: RWD

2006 525i
Base Number of Cylinders: 6 Base Engine Size: 3 liters
Base Engine Type: Inline 6 Horsepower: 215 hp
Max Horsepower: 6250 rpm Torque: 185 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 2750 rpm Drive Type: RWD

Not that hard, the model year tells everything.

adriana

If you're looking for one with automatic transmission, you should look for one that has the joystick-style steptronic transmission. The "Park" is actually a button on top of the gear lever. The headlights are different too. The taillights are different too. Easiest to spot? The front bumper. The LCI cars has this silver/light gray trim at the bottom of the front bumper, next to the fog lights.

pjinca

If he's looking for a 525 then an LCI car is out of the question, LCI cars (2008+) only come in 528i version. There is no way to tell from the lights which 525 you're looking at - they are ALL pre-LCI and therefore identical outwardly

Moonraker

Thanks guys. Your replies helped and I also found something else on the web.
In fact, my request may have sounded easy/stupid ... on paper, since the change seems to have happened in 06 (maybe in the US?). In car magazines, for Europe I read that 2007 and later models are the facelifted ones. Also I am in Kuwait and it looks like the 08 models in Kuwait are the newer cars!!! So you see...
Anyway, the best way to spot it, I believe, is that the facelifted models do NOT have 3 gaps in the front bumber but a single wide one with a strip in the middle!
Thanks also for this: I thought the facelifted cars still had a 2.5 litre (but made more efficient) engine - but you tell me that it changed to 3.0 litre. Cool!
Sorry for this last one: what is 'LCI'?

poot1873

Not in the UK, there is no 528i in the UK. See my sig.

chriscafe

easy way to tell is to look at the engine block itself. it will have the engine type on a sticker on the front of the engine. It should read N52 as per the other post above. I think the cover colour will also give it away.

huhjared

The quick way to notice the difference is by looking at the engine bay.

Black = M54

Silver = N52