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Thread: 530i or 525it?

  1. #1
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    530i or 525it?

    Hi all,

    I've been having the E39 itch recently. I missed a golden opportunity to buy a black/black, one owner 03 530i with the sport package earlier this week... It really pissed me off, but I found two other cars I'm probably going to take a look at.

    The first is an 02 530i sport, very similar to the car I had a couple years ago, but with slightly higher mileage (around 120k). I am familiar enough with the 3.0 liter straight-6, so I think I know what to expect from it.

    The wagon, however, is a 525it and it has quite high miles (155k). 4 owners but overall looks to be in good shape. Is there any specific issue to look for in the wagon? And is the 2.5 liter pretty much just a smaller bored and stroked M54B30? Looking at the horsepower and torque figures, 40 less HP and torque seems like quite a lot to me. Does it feel really under-powered? Especially in wagon form?

    So yes, what do you guys recommend? Or should I just wait until I can find a nice, clean 540? Haha.

    This car is supposed to be my DD, btw. Don't like using my E55 everyday with such abysmal gas mileage.
    My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7l...rJvxZHr_00nuhA

    Current cars: 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300E, 1991 BMW 320i M-Tech II, 1991 Mitsubish Galant AMG Type II, 1992 Nissan Figaro, 1993 Toyota Chaser Tourer V

  2. #2
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    Background, we've had a 528i sedan, a 528it touring and a 525it touring. IMO the 525it feels underpowered. Not so much in town or romping on it flat out, but more on the freeway. Getting on. Speeding up to change lanes it doesn't need to go down one gear, it needs to downshift 2 gears to get anything done. Passing on a 2 lane highway actually isn't bad at all. Pedal to the floor, it goes down 3 gears and off you go. But get in the mountains and you start wondering what BMW was thinking of putting a 2.5 engine in a 3800 pound car. The 00 528it was getting old with 250K on it and being my wife's car I wanted something a little lower mileage so I bought the 525it with only 82K on it. I wish I hadn't, I should have just dumped a few thou into the 00 and kept it. Oh well. MPG is up 1 or 2, but it's not worth it.
    98 328is
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    80 528i
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    and decades of owning and driving BMWs

  3. #3
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    1995 525i/5
    My 540it doesn't feel all that fast either, and that's with a 300hp V8. Must be the fact that it has to lug around 4000 pounds everywhere.
    1995 525i 5-speed - Thread

  4. #4
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    2001 525it
    I have the 525it, it's kind of slow, but drives nice on the freeway I jave the low suspension option sits a bit lower. Just needs more power

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by jclausen View Post
    I have the 525it, it's kind of slow, but drives nice on the freeway I jave the low suspension option sits a bit lower. Just needs more power
    Yeah, this one also has the sport suspension. Honestly, the only reason I'm even considering this car is because of how well equipped it is (makes me wonder why the original owner didn't just opt in for a bigger displacement engine in place of some options):
    Vehicle options

    S202ASteptronic
    S210ADynamic stability control
    S220ASelf-levelling suspension
    S227ASport suspension+lowered+ride-height
    S248ASteering wheel heater
    S249AMultifunction f steering wheel
    S257ADeactivation, side airbag rear
    S261ASide airbags for rear passengers
    S291ABMW LA wheel, cross spoke, 2-section
    S302AAlarm system
    S354AGreen windscreen, green shade band
    S386ARoof railing
    S403AGlass roof, electrical
    S417ARoller sun vizor, rear door
    S441ASmoker package
    S473AArmrest front
    S494ASeat heating driver/passenger
    S500AHeadlight wipe/wash/Intensive cleaning
    S508APark Distance Control (PDC)
    S520AFog lights
    S522AXenon Light
    S555AOn-board computer V with remote control
    S602AOn-board monitor with TV
    S609ANavigation system Professional
    S640APreparation f tel.installation universal
    S645ABMW US Radio
    S677AHiFi System Professional DSP
    S694AProvisions for BMW 6 CD changer
    S773AFine wood trim
    S785AWhite direction indicator lights
    S818ABattery master switch
    S845AAcoustic belt warning
    S850ADummy-SALAPA
    S853ALanguage version English
    S876ARadio frequency 315 MHz
    S925ADummy-SALAPA
    S992AControl of number-plate attachment
    My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7l...rJvxZHr_00nuhA

    Current cars: 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300E, 1991 BMW 320i M-Tech II, 1991 Mitsubish Galant AMG Type II, 1992 Nissan Figaro, 1993 Toyota Chaser Tourer V

  6. #6
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    That is unusually well-equipped for a 525it... that's the premium and sport packages along with several other options like PDC and nav. I assume the original buyer wanted to save on gas and/or didn't care about performance, hence the smaller engine. It also doesn't help that BMW basically only had a 525it or a 540it. So if you didn't want a gas-guzzling V8 you had to choose the least powerful engine in the whole lineup.

    The good thing is that an M54B30 is more or less a plug and play swap into a 525it.
    1995 525i 5-speed - Thread

  7. #7
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    I did the M54b30 swap in my 525it and did a 6-speed swap to it as well and it is perfect for a daily. I don't ever feel like it's lacking power, where it definitely did with the M54b25. I had the M54b30 in my 530i before I converted it to a M5, so I was very familiar with the engine and it's still chugging along perfectly with about 220k miles on it. Still idles like it's not even running and has more than adequate torque. I can't believe BMW didn't send the 530it to the US as it is the perfect combination if you don't want the V8.

    Danny, I'm not sure why you find your 540it to be slow as I've driven my friend's and it felt more than adequate, having an auto that is.

    -Paul
    2003 "M5" - Full M5 conversion, AMG C63S 6 piston front calipers, Porsche Panamera 4 piston rear calipers, GC Coilovers,
    Eibach ARBs, UUC Evo3/DSSR, Borla Exhaust w/Muffler Delete, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto, Bi-Xenons, e38 Style 37 M-Pars, e60 Hubs 530i 6-speed swap build thread
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  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by blackknight530i View Post
    Danny, I'm not sure why you find your 540it to be slow as I've driven my friend's and it felt more than adequate, having an auto that is.
    It's not super slow per se, but mine feels a little bit lacking off the line. It really picks up after 3k RPM, which makes me think the Vanos units are worn out— the guides were done a while back by the previous owner but the Vanos units are original with 201,000 miles on them. Plus the automatic seems a bit slow to respond, despite having done several fluid changes. My 2000 540i/6 feels like a rocket ship in comparison.

    I figure once it's manual-swapped and I get the engine fully sorted it'll be a lot quicker.
    1995 525i 5-speed - Thread

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by E34 5er View Post
    Yeah, this one also has the sport suspension. Honestly, the only reason I'm even considering this car is because of how well equipped it is (makes me wonder why the original owner didn't just opt in for a bigger displacement engine in place of some options):
    Vehicle options

    ...
    That is well optioned, reminds me of the 00 touring we had but it didn't have Nav or the extra airbags. The sunshades are unusual and I really liked the PDC on it. I took the sunshades with me when I got the 02 touring but the PDC had to stay. Still considering a retrofit or aftermarket retro I liked it so much.
    98 328is
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    80 528i
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    and decades of owning and driving BMWs

  10. #10
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    are slow
    Get the one that can fit the most amount of (unconscious....not dead) people in the back, but also has a V8.
    Last edited by XAlt; 01-18-2018 at 08:37 PM.

  11. #11
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    E39 hamster/ruberbandPWR
    I would get the 530i with a manual transmission.

    Looking for an E39 belly pan , passenger front inner fender liner …

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by wagons ho View Post
    Hey soon to be E39 5er, what color and how much?
    Looked on LA Craigslist and only 2 out there right now.
    So how much more for a V8? Or better question, how much more would you be willing to spend for a V8?
    So I'm actually going to see both cars tomorrow, was too busy today. Both the 530i sedan and the 525it are silver with black interiors. Both are asking $4k. The only 540it in my area is asking $6k, and I really don't like the color combo or the options... It also is not in the best of areas, so I'm going to pass on it. I honestly don't know how much those go for, as I've hardly seen any for sale. But I'm guessing they'll be worth at least a couple grand more.

    Also, I feel like by getting a 540 I defeat the purpose of using this as a DD. For example, my current daily is an E55 AMG. I drove 42 miles today, and got 21 MPG (highway and canyon driving) by hardly pressing the brakes in my commute. I'd like to get something with just a little better MPG.

    I like the ideas of turning it into a 530it. Seems like exactly what I'm looking for. Have no clue why BMW never sold that package in the U.S? Perfect middle ground from me. Don't know when I'd have time for such a project though.
    My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7l...rJvxZHr_00nuhA

    Current cars: 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300E, 1991 BMW 320i M-Tech II, 1991 Mitsubish Galant AMG Type II, 1992 Nissan Figaro, 1993 Toyota Chaser Tourer V

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by E34 5er View Post
    So I'm actually going to see both cars tomorrow, was too busy today. Both the 530i sedan and the 525it are silver with black interiors. Both are asking $4k. The only 540it in my area is asking $6k, and I really don't like the color combo or the options... It also is not in the best of areas, so I'm going to pass on it. I honestly don't know how much those go for, as I've hardly seen any for sale. But I'm guessing they'll be worth at least a couple grand more.

    Also, I feel like by getting a 540 I defeat the purpose of using this as a DD. For example, my current daily is an E55 AMG. I drove 42 miles today, and got 21 MPG (highway and canyon driving) by hardly pressing the brakes in my commute. I'd like to get something with just a little better MPG.

    I like the ideas of turning it into a 530it. Seems like exactly what I'm looking for. Have no clue why BMW never sold that package in the U.S? Perfect middle ground from me. Don't know when I'd have time for such a project though.
    If you've got the tools and lift access or just know your way around an engine hoist, you can knock it out in a day or two. It's really easy since both are M54s and they are nearly identical externally.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

    -Paul
    2003 "M5" - Full M5 conversion, AMG C63S 6 piston front calipers, Porsche Panamera 4 piston rear calipers, GC Coilovers,
    Eibach ARBs, UUC Evo3/DSSR, Borla Exhaust w/Muffler Delete, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto, Bi-Xenons, e38 Style 37 M-Pars, e60 Hubs 530i 6-speed swap build thread
    2005 Range Rover 4.6is (M62TU Powered) - 4.6is Engine Swap from X5, BMW NBT with Carplay/Android Auto
    2006 Porsche Cayman S - Soul Performance Competition Headers and Exhaust, H&R Coilovers, 718 Boxster Spyder wheels, Rennline 35mm rear spacers

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by wagons ho View Post
    My 525it is silver/black sport like all the others, seemingly. And those prices are optimistic asks.
    Gas mileage might disappoint if you are expecting mid 20's.
    Eh, as long as I can get around 22 MPG combined that would be cool... My current DD gets usually 18-20 highway and around 11-13 city. And that's with me always making sure the tire pressure is properly inflated, all fluids at correct levels, etc. My 530i averaged around 21 MPG total with my combined driving. That was pretty solid. Fuel economy is not the only thing with a new DD, but it is one factor.
    My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7l...rJvxZHr_00nuhA

    Current cars: 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300E, 1991 BMW 320i M-Tech II, 1991 Mitsubish Galant AMG Type II, 1992 Nissan Figaro, 1993 Toyota Chaser Tourer V

  15. #15
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    Whichever one has the manual transmission. I've had three 530is now, two auto, one manual. Manual is way, way better.
    Nate J.

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  16. #16
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    I drove an '03 525iT for a decade - from 20k miles on the clock to over 200k. It can feel underpowered, but there are some things you can do to help. First, learn to love the Sport mode on the transmission (in drive, pull the lever towards the left, as if you were going to use the steptronic feature. Leave it there and it still shifts automatically, but downshifts faster and holds lower gears longer). Gets the trans out of grandma mode and responds the way it should have to start with. Second, replace the Touring-spec air filter element that has a layer of gauze over the filter with the filter element for an E46 M3. The "correct" air filter just strangles the engine. Last, as part of your new-to-you tuneup (which should involve a cooling system overhaul, a Stewart racing water pump, 02 sensors, valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket, spark plugs, a CCV valve and associated pipes), replace the seals in the Vanos unit. Or swap in a Dr. Vanos built unit.

    On your test drive, listen and feel closely as you go over some rough pavement - if the back seems to be unsettled or is crashing over bumps, the rear subframe mounts need to be replaced. Not a horrible job but you do need the correct tool.
    1989 750iL schwarz/schwarz
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  17. #17
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    I did the M54B30 swap to my 525iT and it was well worth it. The M54B25 motor is just to low powered for the wagon. Like blacknight said it's not a hard swap to do.

    Chisum

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by biasvoltage View Post
    ...replace the seals in the Vanos unit. Or swap in a Dr. Vanos built unit.
    Knowing what the 2.8 felt like when it needed the Vanos rebuild I can't imagine what the 2.5 must feel like if it's in need. I did the 525 preemptively knowing what the 2.8 turned into.
    98 328is
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