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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Discussion of other cars non-Z4
sjj84
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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by sjj84 » Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:28 am

That's strange I wrote a reply to this thread a few days ago but it doesn't appear to be here. Anyway.

I've got a f11 535d. Fantastic car for family duties. When I bought mine there wasn't much difference in price between the 535d and the 530d, there were just less 535d's available.
If you're looking at the 525d, I seem to recall the earlier ones were 3l 6 cylinder then they changed them to 2l 4 cylinder.
Problems I've had with mine are air suspension compressor twice and egr valve and coolers multiple times.

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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by Pondrew » Fri Feb 12, 2021 4:15 pm

If you are looking at an estate, for whatever reason, bigger is better IMO.
The 5 series touring isn't that big inside for the class of car.
Don't discount the E class estates; they're bl00dy enormous inside. I had a 2013 E250d AMG spec estate (4 cylinder with 205hp) for three years. It wasn't exactly a racing car but for an estate it was really good and the fuel economy was excellent (got average of 40-50) and it's a 2 tonne car. Don't look at a Volvo V90, though, their sh!t. I have one (until Monday cos I can't keep it any longer it's that bad). :)
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.

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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by Daz W » Fri Feb 12, 2021 6:43 pm

sjj84 wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:28 am That's strange I wrote a reply to this thread a few days ago but it doesn't appear to be here. Anyway.

I've got a f11 535d. Fantastic car for family duties. When I bought mine there wasn't much difference in price between the 535d and the 530d, there were just less 535d's available.
If you're looking at the 525d, I seem to recall the earlier ones were 3l 6 cylinder then they changed them to 2l 4 cylinder.
Problems I've had with mine are air suspension compressor twice and egr valve and coolers multiple times.
Hasn't you EGR been rectified during the recalls, which there have been several of?
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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by Daz W » Fri Feb 12, 2021 6:44 pm

mr wilks wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 7:56 am
Daz W wrote: Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:56 pm
Go for the 530 or 535 or you will regret it almost instantly
:? explain why ?
Because the performance of the 6 cylinder is far far better. Is that good enough? (I should add I had a 530 as a company car and now have a 520, I can almost smell and taste the difference , never mind feel it. Having said that I certainly wouldn't criticise the 520. The only reason I didn't buy a 530 was because I was changing jobs and needed something quickly and I couldn't find the right 530 at that time
2004 E85 2.2i Sterling Grey (gone but not forgotten)
2007 E85 2.5si Sport - Silver Grey (gone but not forgotten)
2006 E85 3.0si Sport Auto/Paddles Ruby Black
2019 Volvo S90 R Design D4 Onyx Black

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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by Number5 » Fri Feb 12, 2021 7:30 pm

I’m on my 3rd 520d and second F11

Absolutely brilliant cars and serves as a luxury cruiser, family bus and and work horse. (I’ve had 16 Alloy wheels in it at once and all sorts of furniture too when needed to move/dump stuff etc. Also a nice contrast to driving an E85 on the weekend.

It also serves excellently as a dog wagon and we have a large dog too.

I’d have no hesitation in getting another

The 520 is economical yet fast enough to lose your license. You can cruise easily and quietly creeping towards 100mph and not really know you’re doing it. Alternatively I’ve hit 62mpg when cruising at 60mph, Swansea - Bristol
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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by mr wilks » Fri Feb 12, 2021 7:33 pm

Daz W wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 6:44 pm
mr wilks wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 7:56 am
Daz W wrote: Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:56 pm
Go for the 530 or 535 or you will regret it almost instantly
:? explain why ?
Because the performance of the 6 cylinder is far far better. Is that good enough? (I should add I had a 530 as a company car and now have a 520, I can almost smell and taste the difference , never mind feel it. Having said that I certainly wouldn't criticise the 520. The only reason I didn't buy a 530 was because I was changing jobs and needed something quickly and I couldn't find the right 530 at that time
More interested in what it is between the 4cyl & the 6pot actually that leaves you with that viewpoint :?
Probably owned 25+ Bmw 6 cyl & in terms of torque , sound or how it pulls the F11 4cyl diesel gives little indication from the drivers seat that its not a 6cyl :? perhaps the 100mph - 150mph would show more between them ?
The same cannot be said however between the 2.2 Z & its 3.0 or even better 3.0Si version , after expressing your obvious letdown in choosing the lesser model in the 5 series department you must be utterly deflated you didn't hold out a little longer for a 3.0 Z :cry:
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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by LeeZ4MR » Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:24 pm

When cruising at 70mph I don't think that there is much difference between the 2.0 and 3.0 diesels. For me though the 3.0 diesels just feel far more brawny overall/a bit more smooth/slightly less rattly. Neither sound that great though to be fair(especially from outside), I've had a E90 330d/E61 520d/F13 640d.
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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by mr wilks » Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:42 pm

LeeZ4MR wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:24 pm When cruising at 70mph I don't think that there is much difference between the 2.0 and 3.0 diesels. For me though the 3.0 diesels just feel far more brawny overall/a bit more smooth/slightly less rattly. Neither sound that great though to be fair(especially from outside), I've had a E90 330d/E61 520d/F13 640d.
Crazy thing is right now I'm running a workhorse Navara with my job , obviously diesel, sounds unreal & pulls like demented bull :evil: id had it a few weeks before I got round to looking under bonnet or even knowing the specs.
Turns out its a 4cyl 2.3 twin turbo with almost 200bhp :driving: absolutely hopeless in the bends & hapless in a car park but I bet a remapped version would rattle a ZM 0-60 :wink:
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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by LeeZ4MR » Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:49 pm

mr wilks wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:42 pm
LeeZ4MR wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:24 pm When cruising at 70mph I don't think that there is much difference between the 2.0 and 3.0 diesels. For me though the 3.0 diesels just feel far more brawny overall/a bit more smooth/slightly less rattly. Neither sound that great though to be fair(especially from outside), I've had a E90 330d/E61 520d/F13 640d.
Crazy thing is right now I'm running a workhorse Navara with my job , obviously diesel, sounds unreal & pulls like demented bull :evil: id had it a few weeks before I got round to looking under bonnet or even knowing the specs.
Turns out its a 4cyl 2.3 twin turbo with almost 200bhp :driving: absolutely hopeless in the bends & hapless in a car park but I bet a remapped version would rattle a ZM 0-60 :wink:
I do really like the idea of a nice pick up. 8)

I bet that does go well for sure. :thumbsup:
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sjj84
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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by sjj84 » Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:20 pm

Daz W wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 6:43 pm
sjj84 wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:28 am That's strange I wrote a reply to this thread a few days ago but it doesn't appear to be here. Anyway.

I've got a f11 535d. Fantastic car for family duties. When I bought mine there wasn't much difference in price between the 535d and the 530d, there were just less 535d's available.
If you're looking at the 525d, I seem to recall the earlier ones were 3l 6 cylinder then they changed them to 2l 4 cylinder.
Problems I've had with mine are air suspension compressor twice and egr valve and coolers multiple times.
Hasn't you EGR been rectified during the recalls, which there have been several of?
The recalls are for the egr cooler not the valve. It used to come as one before the recalls started. I've had a valve and cooler combined before the recalls started, two more coolers under the recall and a couple of weeks ago another valve.

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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by mr wilks » Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:22 pm

LeeZ4MR wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:49 pm
mr wilks wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:42 pm
LeeZ4MR wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:24 pm When cruising at 70mph I don't think that there is much difference between the 2.0 and 3.0 diesels. For me though the 3.0 diesels just feel far more brawny overall/a bit more smooth/slightly less rattly. Neither sound that great though to be fair(especially from outside), I've had a E90 330d/E61 520d/F13 640d.
Crazy thing is right now I'm running a workhorse Navara with my job , obviously diesel, sounds unreal & pulls like demented bull :evil: id had it a few weeks before I got round to looking under bonnet or even knowing the specs.
Turns out its a 4cyl 2.3 twin turbo with almost 200bhp :driving: absolutely hopeless in the bends & hapless in a car park but I bet a remapped version would rattle a ZM 0-60 :wink:
I do really like the idea of a nice pick up. 8)

I bet that does go well for sure. :thumbsup:
Spec is crazy on them , cameras on screen from rear & each side, heated seats , keyless go , xenons, cruise , plus all the touchscreen nav , phone & DAB etc.
Numb in most aspects & biggest negative for me is the 50mph speed limit on roads that would be 60mph in a car .
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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by nhartgolfer » Sat Feb 13, 2021 9:55 am

Once again, fantastic input, thanks so much to each of you who have contributed to this thread!
I’ll keep reading here, looking online, and will definitely let you know what I end up with!😀

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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by Daz W » Sun Feb 14, 2021 5:13 pm

mr wilks wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 7:33 pm
Daz W wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 6:44 pm
mr wilks wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 7:56 am :? explain why ?
Because the performance of the 6 cylinder is far far better. Is that good enough? (I should add I had a 530 as a company car and now have a 520, I can almost smell and taste the difference , never mind feel it. Having said that I certainly wouldn't criticise the 520. The only reason I didn't buy a 530 was because I was changing jobs and needed something quickly and I couldn't find the right 530 at that time
More interested in what it is between the 4cyl & the 6pot actually that leaves you with that viewpoint :?
Probably owned 25+ Bmw 6 cyl & in terms of torque , sound or how it pulls the F11 4cyl diesel gives little indication from the drivers seat that its not a 6cyl :? perhaps the 100mph - 150mph would show more between them ?
The same cannot be said however between the 2.2 Z & its 3.0 or even better 3.0Si version , after expressing your obvious letdown in choosing the lesser model in the 5 series department you must be utterly deflated you didn't hold out a little longer for a 3.0 Z :cry:
If you can't tell the difference in sound or feel between a 4 cylinder and a 6 cylinder on the F10/11 then I have no idea why. Stating there isn't a difference would suggest you've either had a well tuned 4 cylinder or a rough 6 cylinder, they are worlds apart. And with regard to my 2.2 Z4, I wasn't particularly looking for a 3 litre, just something to enjoy on a weekend. I get the impression you'd argue with your own reflection
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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by Number5 » Sun Feb 14, 2021 6:01 pm

When you’re preaching to others, it does seem an odd choice to insist on a 6 cylinder, big engined family bus and then go and buy yourself a small engined, low BHP sports car for the weekend !!

(520d F11 family bus and a 3.4L, 6 Cyl Zed)
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BMW 525/530 touring. Any good?!

Post by mr wilks » Mon Feb 15, 2021 6:52 pm

Daz W wrote: Sun Feb 14, 2021 5:13 pm
If you can't tell the difference in sound or feel between a 4 cylinder and a 6 cylinder on the F10/11 then I have no idea why. Stating there isn't a difference would suggest you've either had a well tuned 4 cylinder or a rough 6 cylinder, they are worlds apart.

I get the impression you'd argue with your own reflection
I have never stated there isn't any difference between a 4cyl & a 6 :? or do i pass my time arguing with my reflection :?
You stated that to not buy a 6cyl would leave the op instantly regretting the decision , i simply asked you to elaborate / explain why :? which as you haven't assume its because you can't :?
A 4 cyl F11 F10 can be a shrewd & capable buy in terms of what you get for needs / spend , a bit like choosing between Se v Si v ///M its not true to say that if you don't buy the ////M you will be disappointed .
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