my2007

Hi! just wanted to know if the US model comes with the n52 or the newer direct injection n53 engine? Strange that BMW offers the n53 engine is most of Europe and for other markets the upgraded n52. Thanks.

E60BEEMER

so theres a 528i now, that means that there will be a 523i most probably too???

my2007

Hi! think for the US market the specs are a little different. From what I can see, their 528i is actually a detuned 530i which is previous years was badged as the 530i. Not sure as to why these changes all the time. The 523i in Europe and asia pacific area is actually a detuned 525i. Was just curious to know if the US 2008 LCI 528i model comes with direct injection (n53 engine).

E60BEEMER

oh i see, so the engine bore always remains the same, just detuning.

so now there is

520i
523i
525i
528i
530i
535i
540i - discontinued world wide
545i - Replaced with the 550i
550i

Just before replying i took a look at Wikipedia, and guess what: these are these engines in petrol that are available in the E60 world wide.
So many variants

Thanks for the quick info and reply, hope this helps.

there are only 4 diesils though, 520d,525d,530d,535d.

my2007

Yes, you have got the entire range there, only 4 diesel variants. For the petrol variants, there is no 520i, now replaced by the 523i as the entry level model. Think the 528i for now is only a US model (maybe Canada as well). Seems that the 535i (3.0 l inline six bi-turbo) is only available in the US for the moment. There is no 545i, as you mentioned is replaced by the 550i but the 540i is still available.

E60BEEMER

serious, as its now not available over here, theres word in the dealers that the 535i is going to come over here,
But the biggest truth is that, the petrol engines here in the UK are quite rear, most E60, E61s are diesil, and i think most other UK members must agree.

All E60 owners have diesils. FUEL IS EXTORTION HERE, Damn Gov taxes.

Anyway like you said, is the 520i not available at all now?world wide, or just US? WAS A 520i ever available in the US?
Just thought that would have been just too small for the US Market?

my2007

Yes, think it will be only a matter of time before they introduce the 535i in other markets. This engine is already in the 335i (in various models) in most markets worldwide. Yes, I heard that the petrol prices in the UK are very very high and it will make most sense to go with the diesel (is diesel cheaper than petrol?) as you get more mileage out of diesel as well. Yes, the 520i was never available in the US, I think their entry level models before the LCI was either the 2.5l or 3.0l model but am not sure of the badging. The badging used by German automakers these days are rather confusing and they change them all the time, for eg., the MB 240 used to be a 2.4l, then it became a 2.6l and now they call it the E230 but with a 2.5l engine - real difficult to keep up! Cheers!

Russ1974

What does "detuning" consist of? It seems odd that BMW develop an engine and then detune it and sell it cheaper. Very odd! What I'm asking is - can it be easily "re tuned" ro get it back up to the performance of (or even better than) the standard tuned model from which it was created?

To make a car, then make it intentionally "worse" and slower, and sell it for a lower price, is beyond me!

E60BEEMER

yes is the answer, you can tune the engine back, but its a expensive change ower all, as when doing this you will have to buy aftermarket parts etc (loss of warranty)
i know this as i had a E36 in the past with my friends, we had a 323i and changed the manifold and induction together with ecu remap, and it was producing more bhp then the standard 325i, this was done like around 1998/99 time, so almost 10 years ago, almost.

But the answer is it can be done, but would anyone want to go through the untold amount of grief we had in doing this.
Best to buy the performance engine in the first place.

So which E60 Do you have?

E60BEEMER,

Dragonii

Fiscal reasons could have something to do with it. Car taxes, in some European countries, are based on the power and cubic size of the engine. What we're seeing happening in Europe, is that more and more countries are adopting the CO2 criteria as the taxing element of a car instead of the type of engine it carries.