The 530d, pretty good?
Discussion
UUhhm maybe.
It felt like it had loads of torque and power but the auto box was slow to decide what it needed to do.
When it did sort itself out it did have a lot of power and I could spin the wheels by kicking down even when I had reached 30-40mph and on a dry road (yesterday).
Is there a sport mode on the box on all 530d's?
It felt like it had loads of torque and power but the auto box was slow to decide what it needed to do.
When it did sort itself out it did have a lot of power and I could spin the wheels by kicking down even when I had reached 30-40mph and on a dry road (yesterday).
Is there a sport mode on the box on all 530d's?
There is definately a method for driving the bigger diesels quickly. As mentioned, might seem slow of the blocks, but once they get going they are pretty quick. Not sure if its the later model with the 190BHP engine, so it might be the 178BHP. Not that this is slow....
Once you get into the groove with it, it should feel pretty quick and certainly able to keep up with most things on the road. Be warned though, its a 1.7 tonne car! It aint light and compared to a 140BHP hatch, its going to seem a touch slow.
Once you get into the groove with it, it should feel pretty quick and certainly able to keep up with most things on the road. Be warned though, its a 1.7 tonne car! It aint light and compared to a 140BHP hatch, its going to seem a touch slow.
All auto 530d's had a sport mode but the steptronic (optional) had a manual tiptronic-type overide option. To be honest the standard box is good, but as someone who has a steptronic I doubt I would be happy with less.
And yes, with more power they are real fliers..... see some of the BMW forums for more information.... real Q-cars.
And yes, with more power they are real fliers..... see some of the BMW forums for more information.... real Q-cars.
off_again said:
All auto 530d's had a sport mode but the steptronic (optional) had a manual tiptronic-type overide option. To be honest the standard box is good, but as someone who has a steptronic I doubt I would be happy with less.
And yes, with more power they are real fliers..... see some of the BMW forums for more information.... real Q-cars.
And yes, with more power they are real fliers..... see some of the BMW forums for more information.... real Q-cars.
I'm not too up on these gearboxes.
This one had an autobox and a flick to the left with the selector gave a manual up and down the box selection with a single touch forward or back on the lever. It had 5 speeds on the manual setting. I guess that's just standard auto?
There may have been something on the column as well but I need to look at the car for longer, I just had a quick drive last night because they were closing in about 40 mins. They were very good and just handed me the keys and said take as long as I like. I like that kind of garage, no pressure.
Kentish said:
[quote=off_again]This one had an autobox and a flick to the left with the selector gave a manual up and down the box selection with a single touch forward or back on the lever. It had 5 speeds on the manual setting. I guess that's just standard auto?
Ah, no 'tuther way around. The steptronic has standard auto on the right. Push it left and it goes into sport. When in sport push up or pull down and you change the gears manually. The standard auto has the standard 1-4, D, R and P settings but an option for Winter and sports modes which change the shift pattern.
Steptronic:
www.bmw-syndikat.de/bmwsyndikatfotos/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2864&Topic_Title=Mein+neuer+530i+mit+M-Paket+!&Forum_Title=BMW+E39
Scroll down to the interior pictures - you can clearly see the steptronic from there....
Hope this helps...
Kentish said:
apache said:
ask dcb, he believes it to be overpowered for Britians roads
I wonder if his is manual and whether he has his chipped?
I've got an auto 530 SE petrol, the original poster asked about diesel.
I can't help him there.
Just to clarify, I think the 232 BHP in my car is *way* enough
for UK use. BTW, Parkers price guide back me up, claiming that
the six cylinder E39s are about as far as you need to go.
I wouldn't chip a car on principle. If the original manufacturer
think it's not suitable for the car, then I'd bow to their
opinion of their cars.
If I only ever drove in the UK, I'd probably have a 525 or
a maybe a 520. No use for the extra power, lots of use for the lower
insurance costs and better MPG.
Luckily, I drive on the Continent, and the power
is useful. Over 150 mph three times last week ;->
dcb said:
If I only ever drove in the UK, I'd probably have a 525 or
a maybe a 520. No use for the extra power, lots of use for the lower
insurance costs and better MPG.
a maybe a 520. No use for the extra power, lots of use for the lower
insurance costs and better MPG.
Really? I'm not so sure there is any real point in a 520 or a 525 over a 530i.
The quoted fuel economy is only perhaps 1-2mpg better than the 530 and even at 22 I find the insurance difference between them negligable.
Why settle for anything less?
TWFox said:
dcb said:
If I only ever drove in the UK, I'd probably have a 525 or
a maybe a 520. No use for the extra power, lots of use for the lower
insurance costs and better MPG.
a maybe a 520. No use for the extra power, lots of use for the lower
insurance costs and better MPG.
Really? I'm not so sure there is any real point in a 520 or a 525 over a 530i.
The quoted fuel economy is only perhaps 1-2mpg better than the 530 and even at 22 I find the insurance difference between them negligable.
Why settle for anything less?
520 is significantly cheaper to service and finding a manual 530 is hard - in fact, it's so hard, I bought a 528 instead.
TWFox's name breaks quote tags!
Edited by CommanderJameson on Wednesday 26th July 07:39
off_again said:
Kentish said:
[quote=off_again]This one had an autobox and a flick to the left with the selector gave a manual up and down the box selection with a single touch forward or back on the lever. It had 5 speeds on the manual setting. I guess that's just standard auto?
Ah, no 'tuther way around. The steptronic has standard auto on the right. Push it left and it goes into sport. When in sport push up or pull down and you change the gears manually. The standard auto has the standard 1-4, D, R and P settings but an option for Winter and sports modes which change the shift pattern.
Steptronic:
www.bmw-syndikat.de/bmwsyndikatfotos/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2864&Topic_Title=Mein+neuer+530i+mit+M-Paket+!&Forum_Title=BMW+E39
Scroll down to the interior pictures - you can clearly see the steptronic from there....
Hope this helps...
Yes indeed it does help, thank you!
TW said:
The quoted fuel economy is only perhaps 1-2mpg better than the 530
and even at 22 I find the insurance difference between them
negligable.
Why settle for anything less?
Interesting.
I checked the numbers and the 520 is two insurance groups
lower than the 530 and 1.7 mpg better.
The difference is narrower than I thought.
dcb said:
Just to clarify, I think the 232 BHP in my car is *way* enough
for UK use. BTW, Parkers price guide back me up, claiming that
the six cylinder E39s are about as far as you need to go.
for UK use. BTW, Parkers price guide back me up, claiming that
the six cylinder E39s are about as far as you need to go.
Give me a break, this pistonheads not pensioners weekly. IF you just drive up and down the motorway ALL DAY, then you are unlikely to use the extra power however. I want more power in my 540..
rassi said:
Injectors are also quite prone to failure, as are turbos (especially the original 184 bhp model, the facelift 193 bhp one apparently better).
Uhhm, I wonder?
It didn't have that kick and torque that you get with a turbo diesel.
I'm thinking it's a lot of money for an older car with a possible problem.
I've got a 184BHP 2000 model, its no rocketship, dont let anyone say otherwise. It'll barely outdrag an audi a4tdi. It does meet the performance figures quoted and does about 38mpg if you're gentle but I get 36 normally.
I'm not sure about the turbo failure issue. Of course the older 184 cars will be more prone to failures - they're older!! According to www.realoem.org the turbo is the same part right up to 2003 so I doubt there are any significant differences leading to premature failures. Just dont give it welly until its warm and dont key off immediately after caning. I'd also be tempted to do a quick oil change half way between services to keep it all clean.
I do believe in injector issues, mine has a tiny tremmor in the idle which only appears as it nearly fully warm. Somethings sticking somewhere. I find a dose of Redex gets rid of it for a couple of months. I blame low sulphur supermarket fuel. The BP/Shell/etc stuff has an better additive pack which lubricates the fuel system in the abscence of the sulphur.
I do love it overall though. I'll get another sometime.
My local MOT garage claim the new E60 cars are sh1te. The parts quality has gone down the pan. Stick with E39!!
I'm not sure about the turbo failure issue. Of course the older 184 cars will be more prone to failures - they're older!! According to www.realoem.org the turbo is the same part right up to 2003 so I doubt there are any significant differences leading to premature failures. Just dont give it welly until its warm and dont key off immediately after caning. I'd also be tempted to do a quick oil change half way between services to keep it all clean.
I do believe in injector issues, mine has a tiny tremmor in the idle which only appears as it nearly fully warm. Somethings sticking somewhere. I find a dose of Redex gets rid of it for a couple of months. I blame low sulphur supermarket fuel. The BP/Shell/etc stuff has an better additive pack which lubricates the fuel system in the abscence of the sulphur.
I do love it overall though. I'll get another sometime.
My local MOT garage claim the new E60 cars are sh1te. The parts quality has gone down the pan. Stick with E39!!
dcb said:
Just to clarify, I think the 232 BHP in my car is *way* enough
for UK use.
for UK use.
You are kidding aren't you?
Mines got about 265BHP and I *NEED* more.... its just not enough and I need more.
In fact I feel the need for at least 300BHP so its an Alpina B10 V8S or M5 all the way for me
I will admit that the 6 cylinder is a lighter engine than the V8's and hence the performance difference is only slight (though the V8's with the steptronic do make an excellent combination with torque and smooth changes). But, it is a 1.7 tonne car and as a result the power to weight ratio is actually quite low.
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