Newbie looking for Advice on e60 530d touring.

Hi, please forgive my ignorance, I’m completely new BMW (used to land rovers, so looking for refinement ) looking to buy a 530d touring. Got about 4K to spend and I’ve been given advice regarding post 07/08 have the better auto box, and pre 07 changed the engine and don’t have timing chain issues.
In a nutshell what would you guys recommend pre or post 07. And what’s difference does he M sport model have over a standard model. It’ll just literally a run about car and I’m not looking to get it mapped etc

Many thanks

 

Welcome

A large first post in the sense that’s there’s multiple questions in a single paragraph
07 was the change over Life cycle Impulse (PreLCI & lci), the change was a facelifting the model, bumper update, lamp and tail lamp refresh and a tweak to the gearbox most notable by the gear-lever

M sport offered
M sport lowered & stiffened suspension (different Anti roll bars, struts & springs)
M sport body kit (bumpers & Skirts)
M sport wheel choice
M sport sports seats
M sport steering wheel (thicker)
M Sport black Roof lining
M sport sill plates

Ultimately, the Se models offers a more compliant ride, whilst the M sport offers stiffer (sporty harshness), very much an individual choice, however most agree the M sport has the visual advantage

Engine choice is shared between models

The M sport is NOT, a M powered car, clever marketing to boost sales and furnish owners with a sporty look with main stream chassis technology and Engines

The 03-07 models have the M57 engine, whilst not trouble free, have a universal problem list
Swirl flaps, should be removed from Inlet manifold, to stop the engine digesting the.
Thermostats, well known problem x3 thermostats, Main Engine & EGR will need changed, Autobox thermostat seldom needs replacement, a combination of these “if” defective will cause cool running and detriment to the exhaust Dpf
DPF’s are known to foul and cause limp mode, removal is not an option now
Engine Vacuum pipes are run across the cyclinder head under engine cover, these are known to become brittle and require changing
Glow plugs, common defect and often the plugs and controller require replacement
Rear Air bags, due to age, these become perished and required replacement
Tail gate wiring becomes brittle and known to crack - causing lighting issue
Wheel cracking, predominately due to old tech RFTs, newer tyres have softer sidewalks which help, many changed the RFTs to normal tyres, though there was still issues with the bigger sizes


The list above sounds daunting, though possibly not exhaustive, however, that’s sought with many years of ownership, the E60/61 is an all round excellent choice, a very comfortable and spacious offering that cruises long distance very well, polished and clean I think they hold their age very well against modern offerings
Personally one of my favourite models...

 

+ 1 on what Sean said lol.
I have the M57 now done 170k and still sweet but i do more oil/filter changes than the recommended.

 

Hi thanks for detailed reply, Much appreciated.
Ok so the m57 is the engine I need then. Yeah I think a standard model will do me don’t need bucket seats
Does the 08 onwards still have the M57 engine?
Many thanks

 

Hi,

The M57 engine continues post '07 and to the end of E60 production - definately go for the LCI version interior is much nicer and auto box much better..

Thanks

The_Master