2009 525i touring - what to look for?
Discussion
I’m going to see a 2009 525i m-sport touring at the weekend.
Just over 100k miles, good MOT history, decent service history.
Is there anything particular to look out for on these?
It’s an automatic if that makes a difference in things to look for?
Are there any items people know of which start to fail at this age and need consideration?
Can anyone who knows their stuff tell me what engine it has?
Just over 100k miles, good MOT history, decent service history.
Is there anything particular to look out for on these?
It’s an automatic if that makes a difference in things to look for?
Are there any items people know of which start to fail at this age and need consideration?
Can anyone who knows their stuff tell me what engine it has?
Jugosaurus said:
I’m going to see a 2009 525i m-sport touring at the weekend.
Just over 100k miles, good MOT history, decent service history.
Is there anything particular to look out for on these?
It’s an automatic if that makes a difference in things to look for?
Are there any items people know of which start to fail at this age and need consideration?
Can anyone who knows their stuff tell me what engine it has?
https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-specs/BMW/48844/BMW-E61-5-Series-Touring-525i.htmlJust over 100k miles, good MOT history, decent service history.
Is there anything particular to look out for on these?
It’s an automatic if that makes a difference in things to look for?
Are there any items people know of which start to fail at this age and need consideration?
Can anyone who knows their stuff tell me what engine it has?
As for what to look out for; I'm not savvy on these engines, but know oil leaks, injector issues etc all crop up
As for the E61; electricals are the main issues, can have niggles. Check the tailgate wiring too for splits / damage etc
Jugosaurus said:
I’m going to see a 2009 525i m-sport touring at the weekend.
Just over 100k miles, good MOT history, decent service history.
Is there anything particular to look out for on these?
It’s an automatic if that makes a difference in things to look for?
Are there any items people know of which start to fail at this age and need consideration?
Can anyone who knows their stuff tell me what engine it has?
Probably the 215 bhp version of the 3.0 litre N53, if 2009.Just over 100k miles, good MOT history, decent service history.
Is there anything particular to look out for on these?
It’s an automatic if that makes a difference in things to look for?
Are there any items people know of which start to fail at this age and need consideration?
Can anyone who knows their stuff tell me what engine it has?
What to look for? - I'd suggest another car. This engine is a bit of a gamble at the best of times, as fuel injector problems are very common and they're expensive to put right. It's not unusual to have to replace all six injectors, and if the engine has been running for a while with faulty injectors then the emissions components can need replacing too - the costs can mount up.
Even if it's cheap, you might still want to avoid right now, as supply chain problems mean the relevant injectors are currently unavailable. Buying them second hand seems to be rather risky.
On the other hand, if it's ridiculously cheap, and you don't mind a possible project, then... maybe? I've got a 330i with this engine, and while I'll probably have to get rid of it in the next year (as it needs at least one new injector), I have enjoyed driving it a lot. The fuel economy is pretty good (when it's running right), the engine is quite light, and while it can be a bit unrefined when idling, I've always liked the fact it's exactly no worse at 7,000 rpm.
Looks for leaks from the rocker cover, oil filter housing and cooler gaskets. The sump is prone to leaking too but hard to see.
Injectors fail on both the N53 and N54 and are currently hard to get hold of and expensive so look for proof of them being changed.
HPFP fail, so look for history of that being changed and the NOX sensor on this engine is a pain.
The N53/4 have lots of horror stories on forums but there are lots of cars out there that eek to run fine. Very few join a forum to say how great their car is!
Injectors fail on both the N53 and N54 and are currently hard to get hold of and expensive so look for proof of them being changed.
HPFP fail, so look for history of that being changed and the NOX sensor on this engine is a pain.
The N53/4 have lots of horror stories on forums but there are lots of cars out there that eek to run fine. Very few join a forum to say how great their car is!
Thank you for the info you have shared.
I’ve done some digging into the injector issues and supply chain woes and based on a chat with the seller who did mention a slightly lumpy idle from cold which clears once driving I’m going to walk away. The seller mentioned it was down to it being sat and would expect to clear.
Sounds like it could be a whole lot of trouble and expense.
I was thinking big petrol over diesel due to reduced expensive bork factor, but perhaps not in the case of this engine!
Really glad I asked and appreciate the insight.
I’ve done some digging into the injector issues and supply chain woes and based on a chat with the seller who did mention a slightly lumpy idle from cold which clears once driving I’m going to walk away. The seller mentioned it was down to it being sat and would expect to clear.
Sounds like it could be a whole lot of trouble and expense.
I was thinking big petrol over diesel due to reduced expensive bork factor, but perhaps not in the case of this engine!
Really glad I asked and appreciate the insight.
Jugosaurus said:
Thank you for the info you have shared.
I’ve done some digging into the injector issues and supply chain woes and based on a chat with the seller who did mention a slightly lumpy idle from cold which clears once driving I’m going to walk away. The seller mentioned it was down to it being sat and would expect to clear.
Sounds like it could be a whole lot of trouble and expense.
I was thinking big petrol over diesel due to reduced expensive bork factor, but perhaps not in the case of this engine!
Really glad I asked and appreciate the insight.
Yeah; keep looking as you saidI’ve done some digging into the injector issues and supply chain woes and based on a chat with the seller who did mention a slightly lumpy idle from cold which clears once driving I’m going to walk away. The seller mentioned it was down to it being sat and would expect to clear.
Sounds like it could be a whole lot of trouble and expense.
I was thinking big petrol over diesel due to reduced expensive bork factor, but perhaps not in the case of this engine!
Really glad I asked and appreciate the insight.
This is about one of the few times that I'd recommend the 530D if you can; suits the car better and it's a great engine. Looked after, it'll run very well
They're OK but I wouldn't touch an N53. The 525d and 530d are fine and 525d's of this age are a detuned 3.0 anyway.
Common problems: Rear air suspension, normally knackered air springs, sometimes the pump, none of it expensive to fix. If you can, arrive early before the vendor has a chance to start it up and allow the pump to inflate tired air springs.
Tailgate wiring is a problem, and this is £££££. Make sure everything works!
Swirl flaps aren't the issue they used to be but you can replace them with blanks. Exhaust manifolds are steel on these, can crack and are replaced by an iron one. Turbos are quite good, EGR and coolant thermostats will be knackered if original but are cheap enough to replace. Both of these can cause the DPF to not regenerate as can a failed glow plug relay. Crank pulleys can delaminate. The six speed auto is okay. Electrical gremlins are few IF it has the correct battery in good health but tyre pressure warnings are a PITA.
The load area with the rear seats up is surprisingly small. When I had one, I was annoyed to find that my E36 Touring load liner wouldn't fit!
They're not a bad car but suffer from being an old BMW unless it has been maintained with no expense spared - for a cheapish workhorse, a Volvo V70 2.4D is a far better idea.
Common problems: Rear air suspension, normally knackered air springs, sometimes the pump, none of it expensive to fix. If you can, arrive early before the vendor has a chance to start it up and allow the pump to inflate tired air springs.
Tailgate wiring is a problem, and this is £££££. Make sure everything works!
Swirl flaps aren't the issue they used to be but you can replace them with blanks. Exhaust manifolds are steel on these, can crack and are replaced by an iron one. Turbos are quite good, EGR and coolant thermostats will be knackered if original but are cheap enough to replace. Both of these can cause the DPF to not regenerate as can a failed glow plug relay. Crank pulleys can delaminate. The six speed auto is okay. Electrical gremlins are few IF it has the correct battery in good health but tyre pressure warnings are a PITA.
The load area with the rear seats up is surprisingly small. When I had one, I was annoyed to find that my E36 Touring load liner wouldn't fit!
They're not a bad car but suffer from being an old BMW unless it has been maintained with no expense spared - for a cheapish workhorse, a Volvo V70 2.4D is a far better idea.
I have a 2007 LCI E61 525i. It's now on 192k miles and to be honest hasn't been too troubling for the 50k miles I've run it but... my father owned it before me and seemed to have endless electrical issues and ended up getting a new engine installed at just over 100k, I can't actually recall why. At 140k, the gearbox needed a rebuild which was when I took the car. Now I think we have at least one injector on the way out. During warmer weather in the summer, it would frequently start on less than all cylinders which could be cured by switching off and restarting. It's actually been completely fine for the last couple of months which is good because any new injectors you can lay your hands on cost a fortune! I dread the thought of replacing the lot.
Other issues I've seen, starter motor needed replacing. Chain tensioner is a good idea and a piece of cake. Coils can go but easy to replace. We had the tailgate wiring issue though it's not too difficult a fix if you're a little DIY inclined. Like many BMW's they seem prone to disc judders with various possible causes. I understand the idrive can be troubling though our's has been fine.
So, they're definitely not a Toyota Corolla but I do like our's. We've had it three years which is longer than I typically keep a family car. Truth be told it's quite tricky to find a replacement estate car that offers a significant upgrade without spending an awful lot more money. It's a very comfortable car. Our's has the comfort seats which are just incredible and worth keeping an eye out for. Loads of space and running costs are generally okay. They also seem to be pretty resilient against rust which is very welcome after years of E39's. One thing i would mention about the 525i specifically is that it can feel quite sluggish IMO. They're quite a heavy car and the 525i version of the N53 really seems to lack low down go so acceleration can feel a little sedate at times. It might be worth seeking out a 530i if they're similar costs. It won't cost any more to run.
Other issues I've seen, starter motor needed replacing. Chain tensioner is a good idea and a piece of cake. Coils can go but easy to replace. We had the tailgate wiring issue though it's not too difficult a fix if you're a little DIY inclined. Like many BMW's they seem prone to disc judders with various possible causes. I understand the idrive can be troubling though our's has been fine.
So, they're definitely not a Toyota Corolla but I do like our's. We've had it three years which is longer than I typically keep a family car. Truth be told it's quite tricky to find a replacement estate car that offers a significant upgrade without spending an awful lot more money. It's a very comfortable car. Our's has the comfort seats which are just incredible and worth keeping an eye out for. Loads of space and running costs are generally okay. They also seem to be pretty resilient against rust which is very welcome after years of E39's. One thing i would mention about the 525i specifically is that it can feel quite sluggish IMO. They're quite a heavy car and the 525i version of the N53 really seems to lack low down go so acceleration can feel a little sedate at times. It might be worth seeking out a 530i if they're similar costs. It won't cost any more to run.
Thanks for the further comments.
I have actually just put a deposit on a 2010 Audi A6 avant Le Mans. It’s the 170bhp tdi and should pick it up in the next week or so.
The supply chain issues around the injectors was the real concern as well as the cost. From what I’ve read it’s not when but if it happens!
I have actually just put a deposit on a 2010 Audi A6 avant Le Mans. It’s the 170bhp tdi and should pick it up in the next week or so.
The supply chain issues around the injectors was the real concern as well as the cost. From what I’ve read it’s not when but if it happens!
Jugosaurus said:
Thanks for the further comments.
I have actually just put a deposit on a 2010 Audi A6 avant Le Mans. It’s the 170bhp tdi and should pick it up in the next week or so.
The supply chain issues around the injectors was the real concern as well as the cost. From what I’ve read it’s not when but if it happens!
Not sure you've actually bought something more reliable there! I recall the 170bhp lump had some issues vs the 140bhp version.I have actually just put a deposit on a 2010 Audi A6 avant Le Mans. It’s the 170bhp tdi and should pick it up in the next week or so.
The supply chain issues around the injectors was the real concern as well as the cost. From what I’ve read it’s not when but if it happens!
I would have suggested an E60 with the N52 engine, not as economical, but still a very simple and reliable engine.
From what I’d read the issues were mainly on the earlier engines but could be wrong.
I’ve had 2 2.0 tdi VAG cars which have been without fault and at least there are plenty of spares if/when they are needed.
I’m not naive enough to think that a 12 year old car will be without faults and some of them may be expensive to put right, but that said it’ll still be cheaper than a lease which I’m currently escaping!
I’ve had 2 2.0 tdi VAG cars which have been without fault and at least there are plenty of spares if/when they are needed.
I’m not naive enough to think that a 12 year old car will be without faults and some of them may be expensive to put right, but that said it’ll still be cheaper than a lease which I’m currently escaping!
Auslander said:
Not sure you've actually bought something more reliable there! I recall the 170bhp lump had some issues vs the 140bhp version.
I would have suggested an E60 with the N52 engine, not as economical, but still a very simple and reliable engine.
But that's 15+ years old and with its own problems. Any German car this age is a potential money pit. I had a 530d E60 and that would be my choice now.I would have suggested an E60 with the N52 engine, not as economical, but still a very simple and reliable engine.
An A6 Avant is alright although I'm wary of the autos. But.............
I don’t get the view that the N52 is a solid motor. I had a 530i Touring pre-LCI and the N52 was not great. Oil leaks, bad starter, constant vanos issues leading to cam work needed, water pump etc etc. The n/a petrols don’t suit the character of the car in practice in my view - diesel a better option.
Jugosaurus said:
The supply chain issues around the injectors was the real concern as well as the cost. From what I’ve read it’s not when but if it happens!
It's not if, but when!Index 11 injectors currently available from ml performance at £316, delivery in 2 days foc. This cures the lumpy cold start (which obviously was injectors in my view)
But new injectors doesn't necessarily give the good economy (stratified burn) as other issues can stop the car doing it.
I feel the 525i n53 is too low powered to justify the fuel, tax and insurance premium. A 530i would be better, but they're rarer, and not straight forward to remap (unlike the N52 x25i to x30i conversation, according to the internet at least)
I know you've already gone for the A6, but if anyone else picks this up, I'd be aware of spec too, as the basic cars are quite basic. The SE suspension is quite a good ride though.
Finish is good- very little rust or squeaks, paint is thick, but gaskets are poor along with other bits like heater control valves, switches, boot struts all suffering.
Ian
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