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Thread: E61 advice. 535 vs 530

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    palm beach florida
    Posts
    42
    My Cars
    lexus ls400

    E61 advice. 535 vs 530

    Hey guys I'm looking to pick up a e61 this week. I just had a baby earlier this month and also have a toddler. I'm looking for a daily wagon to haul the kidlets around and also be able to toss the dog in the back or my golf clubs.

    I need to know which is more reliable. I had a CPO 335i back in 2009 so well aware of te N54 engine and capabilities. What I'm looking for is more solid reliability right now and not mod potential. Both cars I'm looking at have 105k miles on them. The 530 is an 07 and the 535 is a 08. Which one of these should I go for?

    Lastly anyone one that has a touring and kids, how much room do the rear seats have with car seats. My wife's 2013 Kia sportage is awful for space. I can't drive the car with the rear facing seat installed behind the driver seat as there is no room.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Cumming
    Posts
    29
    My Cars
    Subaru Outback H-6
    I went for the 530 in hopes that it would be more reliable but I have no real data to prove that one is more reliable than another. That being said, if I were to be tempted to go turbo, I'd look at a newer 09 or 10 535 so that you avoid many of the issues that plagued the 08s. I got lucky and found a 07 530 with a mere 29Kmi on it....I hope to keep it forever so I have already done a lot of preventative fluid maintenance. Not sure if this helps but good luck in your search! Finding the right wagon with all the right options is a bitch!

    -r

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    25,402
    My Cars
    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    Probably the 530 is more reliable because it is simpler. We have an 08 535xit because we wanted more power. It has been reasonably reliable. The electric hatch struts and hydraulic motor were the biggest job, but done under extended warranty.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Boston, MA
    Posts
    77
    My Cars
    '85 M635; '08 535XiT
    Bumping this thread.

    These days a 100k mile E61 is about all you can find. Post your thoughts about owning these guys higher-mileage please!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    ................'85 M635...............'08 535XiT (6-spd!)..................

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Madison, WI
    Posts
    105
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 525i Touring
    Get an X5 instead, preferable an E70. Plenty more to choose from and definitely more roomy.

    This comes from someone who daily drives an e60, before that I was rocking a manual e39 wagon for a while and have also owned an X5 for while too. Fitting a third child seat was impossible in my E39 wagon and she had to go!
    Bimmer addict since 2016

    Current:
    2001 BMW 525iT

    Past:
    2003 BMW 325xi Auto (sold)
    2003 BMW 325i Auto (sold)
    2001 BMW X5 3.0i Auto (sold)
    2001 BMW 325i 5 spd (totaled)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    25,402
    My Cars
    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    We had an 08 E70 4.8i Sport and liked it, but I not sure how the V8s hold up long term.

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