cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Getting very tempted with one of these for my daily hack, I had an older 530D a few years back (2002 model) and loved it.

Anyone got any experience with the 2007 ish year model?

Anything to look out for?

I've admitted to myself I'm getting a bit older now so it will need to be automatic.

I quite like the look of this


http://www.holmwoodmotors.co.uk/used.../aetv71604383/

dpb

It's got rubber bands for tyres

BlkKnight

Similar issues to your old 530d

Turbo circa 80k

Remove swirl flaps

Bushes circa 80k

DPF

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

My neighbour has had his for 5 years now and loves it. No problems to report in 50k.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Well I bought one today, well the 525 (3.0) M Sport, picking it up tomorrow.

Apparently simple map gives 265BHP.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Was going to say, go for the 7speed auto box 2008/09 plates. Too late now lol

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Bit out of budget really mate, its only really for my daily commute/hack.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

It would of been better for daily hack, better mpg and more power with same engine as they revised a few bits on them.
I was going to get the 3.0 petrol version but ended up with the other cousin **** car

Graz

Are you counting reverse in that? It's a 6 speed, I know as I own one

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Must avoid looking a remap options.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Yeah sorry thinking of my 7 speed stronic, can't keep up with all the changes. Aren't the new ones 8 speed now?

Very good results on a stage 1.

hodgy0_2

what always amazes me about beemers is that they make big cars drive small

my brother in law has a 3.0d Touring and absolutely loves it

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

They are not that quick once mapped, I have a 2009 plate 530d and I don't think its very fast, its quicker than most cars but it won't impress you with speed

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

I'm thinking after a years ownership of my 2007 330D, I may get the DPF cut out, EGR blanked and a cheeky remap

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Do not cut out the Dpf, it will in future fail MOT when they finally get round to putting it dotheir the check list (like cats on disels).

By all means if causes repeated issues (most engine fault codes or thermostat problems will cause it to clog) cut it open on the unseen side, gut the internals and weld it all back up.

Older version E60 has the dpf under middle of the car so a doddle to remove, swap or clean (yes you can wash out a blocked DPF ) later variants have the DPF as part of the cat behind the turbo and is a ballache to get at - so you Don't want to remove that only to find a few years later Mr MOT man wants you to refit it.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

I reset the MPG trip meter (after giving it death last night. ) My commute to work, which is about 40 miles today returned 52 MPG. This was mostly motorway but into London for the last part.

Very pleased with that.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

I emailed a local inde specialists about this and they cut it open, empty it and re-weld it up as current MOT is just inspection? And funnily enough they do onsite MOT too Scouring the Bimmer forums, lots have had it done rather that a big bill for replacement/parts. Only downside being it WILL smoke afterwards so need to be careful planting your foot.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

It can be mapped to not smoke. Tweaks (Tim) on here is your man for a smokeless map at a good price.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I've done some emissions test on a few de-DPF'd cars and its blatently obvious the DPF isn't there anymore (or has holes melted in it ).

On a MOT smoke tester a DPF equipped car will "fast pass" on the first rev. As current particulate levels are the same as for non-DPF equipped cars so they fly through (the particulate limit levels maybe reduced in the future). Whereas a car without a DPF will need at least a few max-rpm revs, sometimes more (especially if there is a fault that makes it smoke too much...which probably what killed the DPF in the first place).


EGR: get rid. If there is one thing that causes diesels to be so unreliable and meet a preature death, its this.

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

Do you think it can start being a fail issue with a gutted DPF as I was thinking of getting mine gutted as I only do about 2k miles a year in mine so I want to get rid of a problem before it starts.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Not yet; and not anytime soon as VOSA work at a snail's pace. So as long as the engine is healthy. Currently the stricter smoke limit applies to post 2008 cars (euro V)...but even cars without a DPF breeze through it. That's currently 1.5m-1 (3.0 for older diesels).

Don't quote me on this, but I think there is a minimum accuracy that some of the older MOT equipment is capable of measuring down to; Early ones used bulbs, later ones are lasers and LEDs so there could be some equipment obsolescence involved here if they were made even stricter. There was a big fuss caused when they updated the regs for post 2008 cars, as MOT test stations had to pay to have the software updates, and of course the equipment manufacturers had to write the software update for all of their equipment (to give a scale of time span, some of these older PC based testers run win95 !! ); So nothing happens quickly in respect to changes to the actual emissions tests due to the software/equipment needing to be updated.

Although with 2k mile a year it may need an Italian tune up immediately beforehand - especially if the EGR is still kept operational.

Not done it myself, but I reckon a good metal fabricator could cut open a DPF, remove the monolith undamaged and weld the can up in a fashion that it could be re-cut open and monolith reinserted if the need was required.