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Thread: '06 E61 530XiT. or '08 E91 328iT ?!

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    BMW 5 series!!!

    '06 E61 530XiT. or '08 E91 328iT ?!

    I am familiar with the E34, E39, and E38s, but never owned anything newer than a 2001 BMW.

    I am probably the minority that prefer RWD over AWD from fuel economy and general reliability and maintenance perspectives. But given I have always driven 5series, I wonder if the 3 will be too small and bumpy, while 06 is first year of the E61, and I think 08 is at least 2nd year. Both have about 110k miles, so neither are exactly new, but I have had good luck with E34 at 250k miles and E39 over 130k miles with relatively few issues.

    So from engine and drive train perspective, what is going to be less headache ?? I am guessing the RWD but want to get your expert advice before I bite the billet and give the newer models a try. My buddy had a 04 545i, and had a very poor experience with bunch of leaks and secondary air pump issues. Any experience share would be appreciated...
    -----------------
    '94 E34 525ia 248k mi (since 83k)
    '00 E39 M5 126k mi (since 64k)
    '91 E34 M5 119 mi (since 110k)
    '00 E39 540iTa 98 mi (since 72k)
    '01 E38 740i M-sports 101k mi (since 95k)
    '07 E60 530i 53k mi (Newly added)

    '01 E39 525iTa 92k mi (since 54k) Sold
    -----------------
    Koni Sport - E39 M5
    DVD Nav upgrade (from MKII) w/ 16x9 monitor - M5
    Bluetooth module - E39 M5 / 525ia
    CCFL Angel Eye - E39 M5
    CELIS tail lights - E39 M5
    Blinder direct wire - E39 M5
    V1 direct wire - ALL
    HID projector upgrade - 525ia / 525iTa
    Power Chip - 525ia
    Dinan/Koni suspension - E34 M5

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    '05 330 ZHP slosh box
    My dad has a 07 530xit. Just the other day he said "I'm wondering if I should just cut my losses on that thing and sell it."

    Keep in mind, we both have e46s which are generally considered one of the more reliable/cheaper bmws to own in the last 10 years. Probably along the lines of a 6 cylinder e39.

    I don't have much experience with the e90 platform, but when my dad upgraded from his 2004 325, he looked at e46 and e90s and went with e46 due to cheaper costs.

    If you're used to 5 series already then you might be willing to put up with the higher costs on it.

    His 530xit has 60,000 miles on it. It's hood struts have failed. It's radiator broke at 30k. It has an oil leak from the valve cover. There's a few other things similar in nature that have failed on it. He's not mechanically inclined but is fully willing to pay for preventive maintenance and even then this car seems to be failing in lots of little places.

    If you don't NEED AWD, I see no reason to pay the extra for it.

    Just a quick FYI on what you're getting into, water pumps on both of these cars are $430. So maintenance won't be like that e34/9 you're used to.
    Last edited by stephenkirsch; 11-21-2014 at 04:10 PM.

    2005 E46 330 ZHP Imola Red
    2004 E46 325 M56 Steel Metallic Blue - Sold

  3. #3
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    BMW 5 series!!!
    Thanks Stephen. You are telling me what most ppl are telling me. Things are not what they used to.... And if a 60k miles 07 (which is not first model year) can have these issues, something is just not right. No car should have issues at 30k or 60k beyond wear and tear items.

    The awd, I do live in snowy city about 4 months a year. I just haven't felt like I really needed awd as long as I have snow tires on my RWD. I would still want snow tires on the AWD, because I think the market is misinformed on the awd. It doesn't help you stop any faster than its RWD or fwd counter parts.

    I kinda wanted to try out the newer platform, but I am kinda worried I won't be able to drive the car to the ground the way I have been on my others, and not have to spend more money than the car it self to upkeep. Dilemas... Wonder if the E91 would be any simpler to upkeep than the E61s.

    Any thoughts on the RWD vs Xdrive? Am I really the idiot who thinks Xdrive is overrated!???
    -----------------
    '94 E34 525ia 248k mi (since 83k)
    '00 E39 M5 126k mi (since 64k)
    '91 E34 M5 119 mi (since 110k)
    '00 E39 540iTa 98 mi (since 72k)
    '01 E38 740i M-sports 101k mi (since 95k)
    '07 E60 530i 53k mi (Newly added)

    '01 E39 525iTa 92k mi (since 54k) Sold
    -----------------
    Koni Sport - E39 M5
    DVD Nav upgrade (from MKII) w/ 16x9 monitor - M5
    Bluetooth module - E39 M5 / 525ia
    CCFL Angel Eye - E39 M5
    CELIS tail lights - E39 M5
    Blinder direct wire - E39 M5
    V1 direct wire - ALL
    HID projector upgrade - 525ia / 525iTa
    Power Chip - 525ia
    Dinan/Koni suspension - E34 M5

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    RWD will also be easier and cheaper to maintian, simply - it has less moving parts, less stuff to break in the first place.

    I dont live somewhere with bad weather so I've never considered xDrive. If you need it, get it - otherwise, pass on it IMHO

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

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  5. #5
    Join Date
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    BMW 5 series!!!
    Thanks!! I just wonder why the world is shifting to AWD and maybe there is something I don't get. I've been fine with my RWD + snow tire even in terrible snow storms and taken it on snowboarding trips. With the traction control on and snow tires, you have to be stupid to spin it - in which case, I argue you can probably spin it with a awd if you are stupid.

    I wonder if AWD folks still throw on snow tires, I think I still would, but I've heard folks saying awd is that good that they dont' need snow tires...

    Just test drove an 08 328i, 110k miles, all around quite good. Don't like the wind noise from the panoramic roof, but I think that's to be expected from having driven 530xiT and 328iTs.

    Unfortunately, my PEAK code reader didn't work on the 08... so I wasn't able to tell anything else from it. It drove just fine though, and had the typical ATF leaks on the power steering. Everything else was pretty solid.

    Quote Originally Posted by BimmerBreaker View Post
    RWD will also be easier and cheaper to maintian, simply - it has less moving parts, less stuff to break in the first place.

    I dont live somewhere with bad weather so I've never considered xDrive. If you need it, get it - otherwise, pass on it IMHO
    -----------------
    '94 E34 525ia 248k mi (since 83k)
    '00 E39 M5 126k mi (since 64k)
    '91 E34 M5 119 mi (since 110k)
    '00 E39 540iTa 98 mi (since 72k)
    '01 E38 740i M-sports 101k mi (since 95k)
    '07 E60 530i 53k mi (Newly added)

    '01 E39 525iTa 92k mi (since 54k) Sold
    -----------------
    Koni Sport - E39 M5
    DVD Nav upgrade (from MKII) w/ 16x9 monitor - M5
    Bluetooth module - E39 M5 / 525ia
    CCFL Angel Eye - E39 M5
    CELIS tail lights - E39 M5
    Blinder direct wire - E39 M5
    V1 direct wire - ALL
    HID projector upgrade - 525ia / 525iTa
    Power Chip - 525ia
    Dinan/Koni suspension - E34 M5

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    I haven't noticed the "world shifting to AWD" - you are probably only noticing more AWD vehicles in your area because AWD vehicles are getting cheaper and there are more AWD vehicles available then just used Subarus now.

    You'll still need snow tires or at least all season tires on the AWD vehicle. The computer systems changed in 08 so old BMW systems wont be able to read those newer computers.

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

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  7. #7
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    BimmerBreaker,

    Thanks for confirming 08 had new SW, no wonder I couldn't read it.

    I certainly don't have data to justify, but if there was a % of cars AWD vs. 2WD, I venture to say over the last 5 years, that number has Significantly increased. I would not be surprised if that small percentage has not tripled or more. Still, it's probably still less than maybe 30~40%, but much more than merely 8 years ago.

    Besides Subaru and Audi that have AWD on almost all of their vehicles, you can see MB and BMW are going that way. Maybe it is area dependent, which make sense, because IL does snow. However, knowing some of the models are forced to Xi for the entire North America, is a bummer.

    Of course, I recognize not having owned one, I am probably missing something. But other than it "sounds" safer for the average driver that doesn't quite understand the difference, I have not been persuaded by all the marketing. I know the value of AWD, I do, if I'm driving truly off road or on snow more than 50% of the time, or if I'm rally racing. Other than that, I simply can't ignore all else being equal, the higher fuel consumption, slower acceleration (not talking about super cars, your average 230hp cars), higher maintenance cost, and more things to go wrong - hence less reliable overall. And to carry all that just to 'feel' safer, then make comments like "I have Awd, I don't need snow tires". Having driving them, they can still spin out if you are stupid (which I was in an empty snowed in parking lot). So I fully agree with your statement that AWD still needs snow shoes on.

    Have you driving other panoramic roofs in 3 or 5s? are they all exposed to the wind noise after 45mph? or just this particular two I drove?
    -----------------
    '94 E34 525ia 248k mi (since 83k)
    '00 E39 M5 126k mi (since 64k)
    '91 E34 M5 119 mi (since 110k)
    '00 E39 540iTa 98 mi (since 72k)
    '01 E38 740i M-sports 101k mi (since 95k)
    '07 E60 530i 53k mi (Newly added)

    '01 E39 525iTa 92k mi (since 54k) Sold
    -----------------
    Koni Sport - E39 M5
    DVD Nav upgrade (from MKII) w/ 16x9 monitor - M5
    Bluetooth module - E39 M5 / 525ia
    CCFL Angel Eye - E39 M5
    CELIS tail lights - E39 M5
    Blinder direct wire - E39 M5
    V1 direct wire - ALL
    HID projector upgrade - 525ia / 525iTa
    Power Chip - 525ia
    Dinan/Koni suspension - E34 M5

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    It is my opinion that if you are capable of driving a RWD safely in the snow, you probably dont need, and would be better off without, AWD. However I live in Arizona and don't regularly drive in snow, so my opinion on the matter would be the last one I would trust if I were anyone else

    I've never experienced panoramic roofs in the 3 or 5 series but on X5s with the panoramic roofs I've noticed a very slight wind noise at speed, but nothing alarming. I wouldn't think its too big of a deal to fix, probably just a matter of moisturizing some seals or maybe using one of those weathertech sunroof deflectors. Never tried to fix them myself so cant say for sure

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

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