Introduction and noob question
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Members
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: California, USA
Hello e60.net! I'm a new member here and this is my first post.
I am a longtime BMW fan in California currently having an E53 and E90. I am a moderator and original members of the biggest and best BMW SAV (X5, X3, X6, and future vehicles) website on the Internet. (Shameless plug!) Obviously I am a BMW nut like the rest of you but I am really not very knowledgeable about the E61 line. I had never really thought I would ever want a touring/wagon but have always sort of admired them from afar. So now the reality is that my wife and I are looking for a new car for her and she really likes the E61 platform. I don't disagree and think that the E61 is the best of the Euro touring/wagons.
We are looking at 2006 530xiT models almost exclusively due to our budget constraints. Ordering a new 535iT would be wonderful but unrealistic. I am quite familiar with how BMW packages options but I have found some differences with the E61 and I am figuring that out. On to my question:
When in the MY 2006 production cycle did BMW switch over from the older style metal key to the newer electronic key and start/stop button? I have seen examples of both in 2006 530xiTs for sale on autotrader.com and prefer the newer version as it offers the possibility of Comfort Access, a feature I have on my E90 and rather like.
Thank you for responses and for providing a great source of information.
I am a longtime BMW fan in California currently having an E53 and E90. I am a moderator and original members of the biggest and best BMW SAV (X5, X3, X6, and future vehicles) website on the Internet. (Shameless plug!) Obviously I am a BMW nut like the rest of you but I am really not very knowledgeable about the E61 line. I had never really thought I would ever want a touring/wagon but have always sort of admired them from afar. So now the reality is that my wife and I are looking for a new car for her and she really likes the E61 platform. I don't disagree and think that the E61 is the best of the Euro touring/wagons.
We are looking at 2006 530xiT models almost exclusively due to our budget constraints. Ordering a new 535iT would be wonderful but unrealistic. I am quite familiar with how BMW packages options but I have found some differences with the E61 and I am figuring that out. On to my question:
When in the MY 2006 production cycle did BMW switch over from the older style metal key to the newer electronic key and start/stop button? I have seen examples of both in 2006 530xiTs for sale on autotrader.com and prefer the newer version as it offers the possibility of Comfort Access, a feature I have on my E90 and rather like.
Thank you for responses and for providing a great source of information.
Contributors
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,398
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From: Turku, Finland
My Ride: 2005 BMW 530d M-Sport TouringExterior: Titansilber Metallic, M5 mirrors, ACS rear roof spoiler, BMW Carbon Fiber rear diffuser, Adaptive Xenon headlights, AngeliBright v.3 Angel Eyes, F1 Autohaus Euphoria 6000K LED license plate lightsInterior: Black
PNG! Long time no see!!Welcome to the forums!
I am ready for Freaky Friday!
Contributors
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,186
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From: UK
My Ride: Jan 2006 E63 650i Sport
.
Options:
Sport version (includes: sport-seats, sport-suspension, M-Sport steering wheel, Anthracite headliner, Shaddow Line), Saphire Black, Black Dakota Leather, Anthracite Maple Wood trim, Steptronic Auto, Xenons, NAV-Professional with Voice Control, TV, CD-Changer, Bluetooth, Logic7, Head-up Display, Comfort Access, Seat Heating front, Auto Dimming & Folding Mirrors, Extended Auto Air Conditioning, PDC.
.
Mods:
Spacers 5mm front & 15mm rear
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Wheels:
20" Alpina Softline (Classic) with Dunlop Sport Maxx non-RFT (255/35/20 & 285/30/20)
Welcome on board and enjoy another great BMW forum 
With regards to your question, I believe it will be somewhere around Sept. 2005 when they changed. My current June 2005 530d has the metal key to start the engine and the 218ps engine, where as around the Sept. 2005 time frame they introduced the 231ps engine and start/stop button on the 530d.
So its cars produced from around September 2005 onwards that should have the start/stop button, along with a slightly different iDrive knob. I'm not sure what other unhancements they did under the hood with the 530i.
With regards to your question, I believe it will be somewhere around Sept. 2005 when they changed. My current June 2005 530d has the metal key to start the engine and the 218ps engine, where as around the Sept. 2005 time frame they introduced the 231ps engine and start/stop button on the 530d.
So its cars produced from around September 2005 onwards that should have the start/stop button, along with a slightly different iDrive knob. I'm not sure what other unhancements they did under the hood with the 530i.
Members
Joined: Apr 2009
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Hello guys,
I'm also new here and sorry for getting into your conversation, but I think that the engine of 530i was a bit powered from 170kw to 190kw in mid of September 2005. xBMWx is absolutely correct with the start/stop button and iDrive know. I drive 525d touring and was thinking of 530i (190kw) before.
Jiri
I'm also new here and sorry for getting into your conversation, but I think that the engine of 530i was a bit powered from 170kw to 190kw in mid of September 2005. xBMWx is absolutely correct with the start/stop button and iDrive know. I drive 525d touring and was thinking of 530i (190kw) before.
Jiri
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From: Milky Way, Earth, N. America, CA, San Jose, 95136, Latitude N 37� 16.837, Longitude W 121� 50.461
My Ride: 2004 530i | Sapphire Black | Sport | Premium | NAV | Logic 7 | DPE R07 Variant S Gloss Black with Polished Lip 20x8.5 front 20x10 rear | Falken FK452 tires 245/30/20 front 275/30/20 rear | H&R Coilovers | Smoked Tail Lights | M5 trunk spoiler | AC Schnitzer style roof spoiler | HID 8000K headlights & foglights | 35% tint all around | Sprint Booster | Speed Innovation ECU tuning | M5 trunk finisher | M-Tech body kit | Remus Quad Exhaust | AC Schnitzer style pedals | Euro Stickers | RPi Ram Air Induction | Smoked LED Side Lenses | AC Schnitzer style e-brake handle | AC Schnitzer style shifter | AC Schnitzer style iDrive knob | AC Schnitzer style carbon fiber diffuser | carbon fiber hood/trunk/steering emblems | carbon fiber grilles | carbon fiber door pillars | MTEC v2 Angel Eyes | Hamann style carbon fiber splitter
welcome.. enjoy your stay...
Thread Starter
Members
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: California, USA
Originally Posted by Patrick E61' post='854925' date='Apr 22 2009, 01:54 AM
PNG! Long time no see!!Welcome to the forums!
I am ready for Freaky Friday!
Thank you, and everyone else, for the welcome!I'm not sure E60.net can handle Freaky Friday.
I had to retire FF anyway. I know it's missed but it had a good run.Your E61 is beautiful. I have been admiring it while lurking here the past few weeks. The only issue about modding the one we get is that we only get the xi version and the offsets make it difficult, but of course everyone knows that. It's news to me. I hope to have something in the next few weeks or at least by the end of May. The E61s are tough to find in the US.
Contributors
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 0
From: Turku, Finland
My Ride: 2005 BMW 530d M-Sport TouringExterior: Titansilber Metallic, M5 mirrors, ACS rear roof spoiler, BMW Carbon Fiber rear diffuser, Adaptive Xenon headlights, AngeliBright v.3 Angel Eyes, F1 Autohaus Euphoria 6000K LED license plate lightsInterior: Black
Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata' post='855209' date='Apr 22 2009, 07:27 PM
Hi Patrick! I never know who I'm going to run into on BMW forums. Thank you, and everyone else, for the welcome!
I'm not sure E60.net can handle Freaky Friday. I had to retire FF anyway. I know it's missed but it had a good run.
Your E61 is beautiful. I have been admiring it while lurking here the past few weeks. The only issue about modding the one we get is that we only get the xi version and the offsets make it difficult, but of course everyone knows that. It's news to me. I hope to have something in the next few weeks or at least by the end of May. The E61s are tough to find in the US.
Thank you, and everyone else, for the welcome!I'm not sure E60.net can handle Freaky Friday.
I had to retire FF anyway. I know it's missed but it had a good run.Your E61 is beautiful. I have been admiring it while lurking here the past few weeks. The only issue about modding the one we get is that we only get the xi version and the offsets make it difficult, but of course everyone knows that. It's news to me. I hope to have something in the next few weeks or at least by the end of May. The E61s are tough to find in the US.
I was pleasantly surprised to see your thread this morning, and happy at the same time that you are considering an E61. Thanks for your compliments about my E61! My wife drives it more than I do, and undoubtedly you will find the right Touring for yours. Excellent choice, and enjoy the search. I mean that.
It is true that the wheel and tire selection is severely limited for the xi model, but member C's Bimmer is an excellent source of information about this.
As far as other mods go... It is a slippery slope!
If you find a 530xi to your liking, do hang around here. This is an amazing resource for the E60/61.
WRT FF, no BMW board can handle that these days.
That said, I really enjoyed it in the past!
