I drove a '94 325ic for over 10 years and recently sold it. Now I think I am in the market for a 5 series ('04 - '07)

I used to use the Roadfly forums to get advice but the E60 forum over there is really dead, so I thought I'd ask here:

What are the top problems to look out for on these models when considering a purchase? For instance I've read there are issues with the fuel pump, battery, etc..

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, or if you know of a thread where this has been covered, please point me there...

Thanks!
Jason

 

There are no real standout, dealbreaker issues with these cars; they do require a great deal of care, either from yourself or a mechanic if you're not a wrench bender. Use quality parts, fluids and fix stuff as it breaks and you'll be happy. Parts are not cheap, and many procedures require an INPA capable computer system.

If you're not mechanically inclined, make sure to pay $100 or so to have an independent mechanic (a BMW specialist only) go through the car, top to bottom. Have them focus on transmission and coolant leaks.

If you want a I-six, focus on a 530i, as it has a great intake system that gives it 255 HP. 525 (and 528i to a lesser degree) are less powerful. If you go V8, focus on a 2006 or later- the 4.8 liter engine is far more reliable, and doesnt have the coolant pipe / valley leak issues of the 4.4 (literally a $9000 repair at the dealer, $2500 at an indy), and it feels quite a bit more powerful.

Make sure to get navigation and logic 7 stereo options- these don't change the price of used cars that much, but will drive you nuts later if you don't have them.

Good luck...

 

INPA capable computer system? INPA runs on Windows 32 bit OS. I've been seeing you post more and more. It's nice to be able to give advice but how long have you owned your E60 or driven BMW in general? Just curious.

Anyway, each year has its differences really. I have an M54 engine which IMO is the best engine ever developed by BMW. It's production ended in 2005 for the E60. Basic BMW stuff to look out for on E60 are alternator, water pump, coolant expansion tank and suspension bushings. E60 is a pickier BMW than the 3 series. I have an E46 and it's my 4th E46. I also own a Roadster and all of them have the same issues. I haven't had issues most experience and I'm at 129K miles. After taking the engine apart to upgrade my VANOS seals and change the valve cover gasket the car looks like it has about 50K miles if that. Really only problem I've had is with the DISA (electronic intake flap) and fixed that up for good, wont be happening again for sure.
As far as the N engines i can let others chime in on those engines. If you had an 3 series coupe it probably didn't rattle or squeak which is not the case for E60.
The 255 HP stated above is for the N engines only. It's not only the intake that gives it 255 HP.
HPFP is for certain cars only as well. Doesn't involve the M54
As far as logic 7, you're better off upgrading the speakers and amplifiers on your own rather than to rely on shady factory components.
The navigation unless you have an LCI is a bit dull and boring interface.
I have a 2004 and I upgraded the iDrive to a Professional Nav system and used it only a few times to be quite honest. If you do not have one that has navigation though and later decide you want it, it will not be fun sourcing parts and programming everything.
Parts are so/so depends. Some parts are dealer only and those are expensive. Others there are aftermarket that are great.
I've been thinking of letting go after all these years. I've been unsure for a while. She's just too sexy to look at. But if you're really serious I'll sell you mine! lol

 

I've been driving BMWs since 1992 when I was stationed in Germany with the Army. Spent 10 years as a UH1H and UH60A/B mechanic in Heidelberg. I've owned 8 up to now, on my second e39 and my 2nd e60, a 550i. Fixed 'em all myself. Check out my garage on the Fest...

http://garage.bimmerfest.com/user.ph...er&UrId=195445

I'm pretty new here, but have been posting on the Fest and the Forums for years...

As far as the N54 goes, the 255 horsepower comes primarily from the 2 stage varible intake system and dual VANOS, which the 525i lacks. Other than that and some programming bits, they're very similar engines.

 

All E60s have dual vanos. N54 is the twin turbo 300hp motor. N52b30 is the 255hp version. In the M54 main power difference is stroke difference between the 25 and 30. On the N52 both engines are the same displacement and difference is the induction system and the programming associated with it.

 

Correct- we're leaving out the N52B25, though, which is the 525i model. Only 215HP through the lack of the variable resonance intake system and less agressive programming.

 

I would recommend searching for an '07 car. Every BMW is a little bit more improved than the one that rolled off the assembly line before it, so the newer you buy - the better the car will be. For example, remote unlocking through BMW Assist can only be done on '07, or newer, cars. '06 cars brought along new 6 cyl engines and better electronics. And so on.

If you are looking for a six cylinder car, you should look for 530's - forget the 525. You don't want to mess with upgrading the intake on a car you just bought. These engines are very robust, but check for your usual oil leaks, knocking and all that. Now. Some N52 engines are going to have traces of oil that dripped through the gaskets in the oil heat exchanger unit - that's 20-dollar fix! Great deal, if you know what you're doing. Also, N52 tends to exhibit a slight almost-knocking sound when it's simply running low on oil - which is actually "eats" about a quart every two weeks or more (depending on a number of circumstances.)

If you're looking for a V8, you'll need to be extra careful. Read up on the N62 V8's oil dripping issues - some of them can be pretty major.

Personally, I'd recommend a manual transmission, IF you can - I love my car's manual. I've put in a new clutch and a new flywheel at about 100k miles - that's considering that I bought the car with 42k miles on it. I don't "rip" the car, but then again, I do occasionally take it out where it can really stretch out and come into its element. If you have to get the automatic, make sure you test drive the car thoroughly and verify good action from the gearbox. These are really expensive automatics!

This brings me to my next point, DRIVE the crap out of your car. Take it to some CCA events and drive at what seems like 12/10ths of your ability - you'll see that the car is able to handle much more than its bulkiness suggests at initial probing.

Oh, this reminds me, Sport Package!!! You want your BMW to have the sport package. No excuses, okay? Sport package! Without a sport pk, you might as well drive an Acura. On RWD E60's Sport Pk came with the ARS (Active Roll Stabilization). On the X-drive variants ARS was not fitted, but it still came with shadowline and better seats, so either way YOU WANT the sport pk. Enough said.

PM me if you have any specific questions - always happy to help out

 

Didn't leave out anything. I literally said the N52 engines are the same displacement with the only difference being the induction system and the programming, which is literally the same thing you repeated right after me.


To OP I agree with everyone saying go with the I6. IMO the M54 is one of the best engines if not the best one BMW has made as far as reliability goes. The N52 will make more power and the LCI cars have some things that the earlier version do not but you must weigh that against the fairly substantial difference in price.

 

sigh...the 525i E39 comes with single vanos unit. the E60 525i M54 comes with double vanos and all bmw forward from 2001 have double vanos. fyi the 525/530 and 325/330 M54 are the same exact engine besides intake manifold setup and software. Trust me I've converted a 325 over to a 330. i think you should stick around and read for a while.

OP I currently have 3 M54 engined Bimmers in my garage. I work on a lot of bimmers.. sure you lack some HP but you do not have issues like valvetronic and so forth and they're easy to work on. it's all up to you on what you want, BMW is very specific because each year things change and to find an "individual" car is very unlikely.

btw I think that the M52 2.5 is not 215 hp its like 190 hp correct me if im wrong here. the M54 2.5 i think is 190 and the 3.0 is 230 hp

 

The m54b25 and m54b30 are virtually the same but the b25 has a cast crank and is a destroked version of the b30, which has all forged internals. The difference in the M54 is much larger than simply the intake manifold. Displacement is half a liter less in the b25 and to convert the m54b25 to the b30 you'd need to swap cranks. The b30 in the M54 does have some harmonic issues that can cause the oil pump nut to back off if kept at high rpms for extended period of times causing total failure. This will impact virtually nobody who drives a 5 series but something to be aware of if you plan of doing HPDE events or staying above 6,000 rpms for extended perio of times.

With the N52b25 and b30 the engine is the same displacement and the difference is the dual stage intake and tuning. This is the engine that an intake change and software will make a b25 virtually the same as the b30. B25 makes about 215hp with the b30 making 255hp