E61 525d vs 530d
03-21-2009, 10:55 AM
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Hello,
I am looking to buy my first BMW and have decided to go for either an E61 525d or 530d with the M-sport packet.
I am aware of the the obvious difference between the 177 vs 218 bhp (alt 197 vs 231 if I can afford the facelift model)
But is the extra money worth it? If everything else is the same when it comes to extras (leather, navi, panorama +++)
I have read that you can do a remap of the 525 so that it actually is quicker than the 530, is this the after facelift model when both are the 3.0l, or can you get the same result with the 2.5l in the "old" 525??
I am looking to buy my first BMW and have decided to go for either an E61 525d or 530d with the M-sport packet.
I am aware of the the obvious difference between the 177 vs 218 bhp (alt 197 vs 231 if I can afford the facelift model)
But is the extra money worth it? If everything else is the same when it comes to extras (leather, navi, panorama +++)
I have read that you can do a remap of the 525 so that it actually is quicker than the 530, is this the after facelift model when both are the 3.0l, or can you get the same result with the 2.5l in the "old" 525??
03-22-2009, 03:48 AM
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First off, welcome on board and enjoy the forums 
The extra 100NM of torque in the 530d is VERY noticable. I just went from the 197PS/400NM LCI 525d to my current 218PS/500NM pre-LCI 530d and you can already really notice the difference between those two. As for price, I did not see much of a difference between the 525d and 530d, i.e. you were not getting much more options / lower KMs etc. if you made the engine sacrifice and went for the 525d. The tax, insurance and general running costs in Germany (where I lived when I bought the car) was almost the same for both cars, so why bother go for the 525d... that was the conclusion I reached!
The extra 100NM of torque in the 530d is VERY noticable. I just went from the 197PS/400NM LCI 525d to my current 218PS/500NM pre-LCI 530d and you can already really notice the difference between those two. As for price, I did not see much of a difference between the 525d and 530d, i.e. you were not getting much more options / lower KMs etc. if you made the engine sacrifice and went for the 525d. The tax, insurance and general running costs in Germany (where I lived when I bought the car) was almost the same for both cars, so why bother go for the 525d... that was the conclusion I reached!
03-22-2009, 09:20 AM
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My Ride: E61 530D 2008/231BHP M-Sport package
Originally Posted by martimyr' post='823059' date='Mar 21 2009, 02:55 PM
Hello,
I am looking to buy my first BMW and have decided to go for either an E61 525d or 530d with the M-sport packet.
I am aware of the the obvious difference between the 177 vs 218 bhp (alt 197 vs 231 if I can afford the facelift model)
But is the extra money worth it? If everything else is the same when it comes to extras (leather, navi, panorama +++)
I have read that you can do a remap of the 525 so that it actually is quicker than the 530, is this the after facelift model when both are the 3.0l, or can you get the same result with the 2.5l in the "old" 525??
I am looking to buy my first BMW and have decided to go for either an E61 525d or 530d with the M-sport packet.
I am aware of the the obvious difference between the 177 vs 218 bhp (alt 197 vs 231 if I can afford the facelift model)
But is the extra money worth it? If everything else is the same when it comes to extras (leather, navi, panorama +++)
I have read that you can do a remap of the 525 so that it actually is quicker than the 530, is this the after facelift model when both are the 3.0l, or can you get the same result with the 2.5l in the "old" 525??
03-22-2009, 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by xBMWx' post='823613' date='Mar 22 2009, 12:48 PM
First off, welcome on board and enjoy the forums
The extra 100NM of torque in the 530d is VERY noticable. I just went from the 197PS/400NM LCI 525d to my current 218PS/500NM pre-LCI 530d and you can already really notice the difference between those two. As for price, I did not see much of a difference between the 525d and 530d, i.e. you were not getting much more options / lower KMs etc. if you made the engine sacrifice and went for the 525d. The tax, insurance and general running costs in Germany (where I lived when I bought the car) was almost the same for both cars, so why bother go for the 525d... that was the conclusion I reached!
The extra 100NM of torque in the 530d is VERY noticable. I just went from the 197PS/400NM LCI 525d to my current 218PS/500NM pre-LCI 530d and you can already really notice the difference between those two. As for price, I did not see much of a difference between the 525d and 530d, i.e. you were not getting much more options / lower KMs etc. if you made the engine sacrifice and went for the 525d. The tax, insurance and general running costs in Germany (where I lived when I bought the car) was almost the same for both cars, so why bother go for the 525d... that was the conclusion I reached!
I guess that I have to look in Germany for a suitable car as there aren't that many to pick from here in Norway when it comes to the 525/530, it is more of the 520s because of the Norwegian taxes on cars...but I want a "real" engine with the 6 cylinders.
03-22-2009, 12:12 PM
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My Ride: E61 sold nice E91 335i Sport Touring now
I was originally looking for a 530d sport touring but noticed the 525d (2.5l) were considerably cheaper. I got a very good deal on the 525d that I bought and it has a very good spec and with some tweaks I've got it performing very well. I keep meaning to get it rolling roaded but it's now massively faster than the stock model which was a bit leathargic to be honest.
I also wanted a manual and they are harder to come by. I know Auto's are more sought after which suited me fine as it meant I got a better deal on mine.
I'm getting a consistent 42mpg from it with mixed driving and have seen high 40's too. managed 50mpg on my last long distance trip and thats true MPG and not OBC readings which I've tweaked and is now only very slightly pessamistic.
The run flats are very harsh and I find the steering is too light but all round they are very good cars.
I also wanted a manual and they are harder to come by. I know Auto's are more sought after which suited me fine as it meant I got a better deal on mine.
I'm getting a consistent 42mpg from it with mixed driving and have seen high 40's too. managed 50mpg on my last long distance trip and thats true MPG and not OBC readings which I've tweaked and is now only very slightly pessamistic.
The run flats are very harsh and I find the steering is too light but all round they are very good cars.
03-22-2009, 12:18 PM
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My Ride: E61 sold nice E91 335i Sport Touring now
Originally Posted by martimyr' post='823059' date='Mar 21 2009, 06:55 PM
I have read that you can do a remap of the 525 so that it actually is quicker than the 530, is this the after facelift model when both are the 3.0l, or can you get the same result with the 2.5l in the "old" 525??
03-22-2009, 11:48 PM
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My Ride: E61 530D 2008/231BHP M-Sport package
Originally Posted by chesney72' post='823929' date='Mar 22 2009, 03:18 PM
A decent honest remap on a 2.5d will get you about 220-225bhp but there is more to be had if you want to push it a bit more.
Same situation with gasoline ones - 525 & 530 are same - 2996cc. So, to my opinion, it will be definitely cheaper to upgrade 525 to 530 level, if you need. Isn't it?
03-23-2009, 03:37 AM
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My Ride: 07 E61 530d M-Sport.
Originally Posted by 7Green' post='824343' date='Mar 23 2009, 07:48 AM
if you'll check datasheet of current XXX models, you may see, that engine of 525D has absolutely same capacity, as 530 & 535D - 2993cc. Same situation with gasoline ones - 525 & 530 are same - 2996cc. So, to my opinion, it will be definitely cheaper to upgrade 525 to 530 level, if you need. Isn't it?
Same situation with gasoline ones - 525 & 530 are same - 2996cc. So, to my opinion, it will be definitely cheaper to upgrade 525 to 530 level, if you need. Isn't it?The newer 525ds are the same capacity but the older ones are not. Theres no point in keep comparing a remaped 525d to the 530d as that can be remapped as well. The engines are the same capacity but arent the same, the 530d has various upgrades including bigger valves in the head and a gearbox thats able to take more torque than the 525d one(there is a post about the differences in the E60 section somewhere).
The thing that it came down to for me when buying was that generally 530ds were better specced than the 525ds, nearly all 530ds had the visability package where almost non of the 525ds did. The running cost are the same as all the service items are identicle so there really was no reason to pick a lower powered 525d over the 530d unless the initial costs were considerably less.
03-23-2009, 07:39 AM
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My Ride: BMW 525d SE
Originally Posted by Dandle' post='824381' date='Mar 23 2009, 11:37 AM
The newer 525ds are the same capacity but the older ones are not. Theres no point in keep comparing a remaped 525d to the 530d as that can be remapped as well. The engines are the same capacity but arent the same, the 530d has various upgrades including bigger valves in the head and a gearbox thats able to take more torque than the 525d one(there is a post about the differences in the E60 section somewhere).
The thing that it came down to for me when buying was that generally 530ds were better specced than the 525ds, nearly all 530ds had the visability package where almost non of the 525ds did. The running cost are the same as all the service items are identicle so there really was no reason to pick a lower powered 525d over the 530d unless the initial costs were considerably less.
The thing that it came down to for me when buying was that generally 530ds were better specced than the 525ds, nearly all 530ds had the visability package where almost non of the 525ds did. The running cost are the same as all the service items are identicle so there really was no reason to pick a lower powered 525d over the 530d unless the initial costs were considerably less.
My 525d is 2497 cc as listed under http://www.parkers.co.uk
Generally you will pay more for a 530d as they are more sought after.
Checksum
03-23-2009, 07:45 AM
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My Ride: BMW M5 E60 2006
I have an 525d 06 2497cc with stage II remap (225hp 500nm)
on of my coustumer have a 530d 218hp so we have droven the cars together and mine is faster. sorry for the bad english
on of my coustumer have a 530d 218hp so we have droven the cars together and mine is faster. sorry for the bad english