I'll probably have to trade in my "BMW 5 series fan" badge, but I actually like the E60 styling very much. It has aged particularly well and the dimensions are on point too. The M5 with the V10 was peak German madness.
The E60 is a wonderful car. I had a 2010 530i, which was my first BMW, and loved everything about it. The power was sufficient, fuel economy was good (even here in Tokyo's stop-and-go traffic), handling and braking were precise. It was wonderful in the countryside and on the mountain roads, visibility was great, and the active steering (something I was at first skeptical about) was a revelation for parking and slow speed maneuverability. After many years of driving, without a single mechanical issue, I traded it in. The headliner was starting to come unglued, the CCC navigation became increasingly obsolete, and having a kid and getting a dog, I needed something a little larger. I ended up getting a new 750i, which satisfied all of the issues. But as it turns out, someone at the club bought my old 530i, and I see it in the parking lot almost every day when I go to play squash. As much as I love my 7 series, I find I miss my old 530i
I recently bought a 2008 525D, and I like it. I have never owned a luxury car before and was wondering if is normal to hear a little wind noise front front windscreen travelling at 60-70MPH. Its quite faint / just curious though if you shouldn't hear anything with these luxury vehicles
This was arguably the most criticised era of design for BMW, a lot of people hated it. It's strange how time makes us grow fond of certain things. Probably more to do with nostalgia rather than actual beauty 🤷🏾
@@paulie-Gualtieri. yes this is the problem. They’re some very tired examples ‘broken’ uneconomical to fix out there. The nice ones are nice. I’m a trader of 15 years the model as a whole is interesting although the car isn’t for me. I’d have my similar used money in something slightly different.
I've got an E60 520d with 195k, never changed the oil in the auto box and it still goes OK. Spent some money getting swirl flaps blanked, suspension parts, glow plugs etc on 142k but had it done in Eastern Europe for 3 figures. Not sure how much longer it will last but its been 14 years and love it
Think these have aged well. Wasn't a fan when they came out but the looks have really grown on me. Definitely doesn't look 18 years old either, to think it's as old now as the e28 was when this came out seems crazy to me
I also drive an E60, it's a 530xi from 06. They're great cars to drive in my opinion, you get loads of comfort but also the typical sportiness of a BMW. One thing I would look out for when buying one are the comfort seats. They're amazing with their full electronic adjustability.
Good review, had a 53 plate 530d myself about 5 years ago, reliable old bus. The only thing I had to replace on it was the egr cooler which is a common issue & if your handy with a spanner its not a hard job. One of the best things about them re: aging is the fact that front end is mostly aluminium so not crusty front wings, I mean I don't think I've ever seen a rusty E60.
Cataracts, Jimmy Saville, stabbed rat...anorak...brilliant! I had a 535d m touring and it was an absolute beast! Awesome car. And the articulation of the windscreen wiper (which they didn’t reverse for RHD cars, instead over engineered a solution).... oh dear - I’ve really got an anorak problem...
I've got an '06 plate 530d with 249,000 miles on the clock, that has effectively sat on the drive since April 2020. It had all the wrong fluids in it when I bought it at 106,000, so I got that sorted out within the first 2 months. The pollen filter had never been changed from new! Watch for front suspension issues on anything above 150,000. My near side front snapped a spring and the off side spring simply disintegrated and collapsed in separate incidents at low speed, but both at around the 200,000 mile mark. It still drives sweet and smooth with plenty of get up and go, when called for. For replacement parts, seek out the OEM supplier. They are straight off the same production line, but without the BMW stamp, and will cost half as much as trade through a dealer. Good and honest review of a great car. Thank you.
We’ve had our ‘09 525d E60 since 5k km and its just ticked over to 160k. It has never had its engine light on and the only time it has been more than a day or two at the shop was when it had a full respray due to a massive hailstorm. Great fun to drive, awesome on fuel (nearly 1000 miles of range) and I’ve loved the look of it since the day we brought it home.
One of my bosses in South Africa had one of these for a while, it really surprised him once when he took it from Johannesburg to Cape Town (869 miles) on just over one tank of fuel...great highway cruiser!
Great video. I am a proud owner of an E60 525 M Sport petrol (2009) with 85,000 miles. I've had it for 3 years, not a single problem in that time. It is an absolute joy to drive. The only gripe I have is when the outside temperature is cold and the engine isn't fully warmed up, the condensation out of the exhaust can be quite visible, but I believe this is a common issue with BMW's, and nothing for me to be concerned with.
This is one of the first 'luxury/nice cars' I got to sit in, we were on a busy street, cars horning, bus was right next to us and had blocked the road, honestly chaos, But I sat in the passenger seat, shut the door and wow 😮, I'm not even joking when I say it was like pin drop silence. One thing I also noticed was the automatic shifts so smooth, and for being and M-sport model it was extremely comfortable over speed bump.
I had a 2003 530d SE 10 years ago. Lovely car, ultra comfortable - as in 7 hours driving to the lake district and no pain or numbness afterwards - and a TV in the dash (before they went digital). Sold when things started to go wrong as BMWs are expensive as they get older.
I absolutely loved the E60 I think it’s great, looks absolutely stunning to this day still, love the m sport spec and the chocolate engine M5!! Unreliable and expensive to fix but when these cars are 100% straight they’re mint
My old boss had one of these when they were new. I'm not a BMW fan and the styling was a bit ungainly, but I was deeply impressed with it as a passenger - quiet, smooth and comfortable, plus fast without being uncomfortable. The straight 6 diesel made a great noise too! That car was sold on to a friend and went on faultlessly to around 150k before he sold it on.
I've owned a 530d M Sport from new (2006) and the bodywork and mechanics are as new. Rock solid German build quality and incredible paintwork that doesn't deteriorate. It has done 80,000 miles and has been over-serviced, I've always taken the OEM route and no expense spared. Often thought about changing it for a new car, but to be honest, whilst it stays so nice to drive, I don't want to change it. I had swirl flap blanking plates fitted by PMW in Chelmsford, had to replace both M Tech front springs at 70,000 miles due to constant pot hole abuse. I had the brake discs and pads changed in 2016, PMW couldn't believe they were the original brakes (at 55,000 miles.) I have never replaced any bulbs, all still going after 15 years. Run flat tyres have been bad, any damage from pot holes and it's a £200 Goodyear Eagle replacement. I also think the car looks great, still stands out well. If you can find a good one, I totally recommend them.
This is one of those cars that can last forever and had the quality of ride that is second to none.... the newer cars with the run flat tyres are not so forgiving in harsher roads
@@sadiqyl you drive to a remote car park and meet other like minded people or even other couples.. Social distancing is not an option. Sometimes you have to flash your lights to let your friends know you have turned up. Sometimes people make new friends just by flashing their lights. It's a very well known British past time. Most cities have a car park where like minded friends meet. The police often don't turn up as it is often older people hanging around and they are not causing too much trouble other than flashing.
Had a 535d M Sport Touring (LCI) for years and it's one of the best cars I've had, extremely powerful, good on fuel and fits a family of 5 with a dog. Got an X5 m50d as a replacement for the 7 seat option and it's an insane bit of kit. Loved every BMW I've owned, about 30 of them!
This is the best toy I’ve owned…i have the 56 plate 525d m sport, which I’ve owned for 4 years now and still counting. Got it with 90 000 miles from the dealership and it now has 150 000 miles and still drives like the first time i got it, if not better. The only toy that’ll replace this would be an e70 xdrive
Absolutely love the E60 5 series. Especially in black it looks timeless and mafia boss spec like. To be fair; every 5 series is the ultimate car in and beyond its class
One of a few cars where I remember where I was the first time I saw one. I was absolutely in love with the E60 as a kid. That, and the 7 series of the same era. More old beamers please Matt 😁
i got the lci 2007 520d, and it has all lci bits exept for the gear lever, it is like yours, and my car has gone 190 000 miles now, and still works like a charm. Best car i have owned.
I loved these when they first launched. Some of them had a round light in the rear light cluster and from behind I always thought they looked like an angry pokemon. Great talking point for my five year old son!
I have a 530i petrol M-Sport LCI (in Australia) - the exterior changes may have been subtle, but it's surprising how much better they look than pre LCI. Main interior changes were to the dash layout, controls and doors including (for you Matt) relocation of the power windows to a flat position. Best thing though was the increase in power of the 3 litre engine - up to 272hp. Mated to the electronic auto it's a brilliant performer and sounds great - and sadly the last of the naturally aspirated in-line sixes BMW were so well known for.
Good, honest and on point review as always Matt... Having owned a couple of E39 some years ago (when they were nearly new) I have to say when this "Bangle Design " 5 series came out I liked it from the start and didn't feel alienated at all. Sure, the E39 interior quality felt superior and due to its smaller dimensions the E39 felt quite nimble, even with the smaller 6 cylinder petrol engine but very sporty & checkable with the bigger 6 pots (Petrol & Diesel) and the V8s especially the mighty E39 M5. Suffice to say I'm on my third E60 /E61 having owned a 2004 530d SE E60 Manual , a 2005 545i M Sport E60 AUTO and currently I'm rocking about in a 2007 525d SE E61 AUTO with a few M Sport options. FYI ... the Facelift LCI E60/E61s came in 2007 (nor 2008) and the 6 cylinder engine was a 3 litre in both the 525d & the 530d flavours with different state of tune. Your E60 looks like a very early pre DPF 530d (the twin turn down exhaust pipes give it away) and it rides on the 18" M-Sport alloy wheels. Ditching the "Run On Flat" tyres improves the ride quality no end, hence why BMW themselves didn't stick these on the E60/E61 M5.
Another great video, I've owned a 2006 m.sport 525i since 2007 best car I've ever owned better than my e39 528 and that was good, never no mechanical or electrical problems either
My 53reg 520i, which I bought new 18 years ago, is still going strong. Great car. In all those years I never found the climate control, so thanks for telling me about that.
Thank you for reminding me how good the E60 are. I was thinking of chopping my old 525i in for something newer, but instead I think she deserves a makeover
Have been driving 3 series of various eras for years but just recently picked up a well maintained E60. It's also an SE with the soft suspension and armchair seats but as a soon to be 40 year old.....its just nice.😁
Was busy studying for an exam and got a notification of this video, had to take a break to watch it of course! Wasn't expecting it to be loaded up so quickly! Couple of comments on improvements they made in the F10: A) The hot to cold setting was improved in the F10 with a turn dial next to the centre vents at the front B) they reintroduced the centre dash being angled towards the driver (albeit very slightly that it is not immediately noticeable) PS @ 8:06 - looks like you had some fans watching you filming
I bought an E60 new in 2009, and still have it today. It's a 520d, which is very reliable although it's true that the 6 cilinders 530 would have been my preference (but the difference in price when I bought it new was too high for me, over 10k Euros more). In my 2009 model the electric windows buttons are in a different position than the one in this video, and also the screen is the bigger and better version (not that ugly like the one here). Everything works fine, 191.000 km till now and still plenty to go! Just replaced the battery after almost 12 years with the original one. :)
I'd love you to do a video of your top 5 worst cars to buy second hand. Are there any cars out there that you just wouldn't touch with a barge pole? Either because they're money pits or because they don't sell? Love your videos and your story. It shows what hard work and graft can get you 👍
Hi Matt, Your detective skills are legendary! I drive a 2007 C220D which I have owned for 6 years. Radio is set to Radio 2 or Smooth and yes I do have a spreadsheet tracking its costs (Av 33 MPG round town,46 MPG on motorway, 0.32 pence per mile is costs with all servicing and maintenance parts inc batteries for the remotes.) However, I am not yet ready for the cushion in the back.
Thanks for reviewing this vehicle. I never understood the hate this vehicle received or the flack that Bangle got for its design. I can understand a bit of the criticism for the 7, especially the one from the early 2000s with its HIDEOUS front lights (I really don't know what Bangle was smoking there). The face lift version corrected that somewhat. This 5 series is the best looking one ever in my opinion, and I consider it a Bangle masterpiece. Thanks for. The valuable insight into the power trains as well. 👊😎
Having owned one of these for just over 2 years now I can say the engine is damn near indestructible. Mine had a questionable history so unfortunately 2 months into ownership the turbo let go, but Having sorted that and now changing fluid and filters every year I've had no mechanical issues. Watch out for the front springs around winter to spring time as the temperature change can cause them to snap and it's about a 4 hour job to change the pair. Agreed the se styling is a bit weak so I'm in the slow process of changing to all the m sport parts, bumpers, steering wheel, trim, suspension etc.. and it makes it a much nicer car to look at and drive. High up on the list of immediate work is remove those swirl flaps, they will fail eventually and make sure the gearbox has been serviced with genuine parts. Your engine light will most likely be emissions (egr clogged) or injector issue (the ecu can up the fuel of the others to counter act this so the car still feels normal) INPA and ISTA will be your best friends with this car (bmw software) as these hold all features to check and test the whole car. But enough of that, you'll enjoy it as a daily and it doesn't take much work to get that engine embarrassing supercars of it's time 👍
Some 10 years ago I was loving the looks of the M pack exterior but absolutely hated the interior. Once the F10 came out, it was an absolute game changer.. Still, the e60 M exterior pack, looks good enough, at least for us, car enthusiasts. Cheers Matt
Problem with the E60 is that you do not see them around anymore. I know folk that owned them, but they have long upgraded to later 3 Series. Used to be hated, but grew on most haters with time.
I have a 2009 550i M-Sport and it's a beautiful car -- but after about 90k miles the typical maintenence on it becomes extremely unforgiving. Just changing the valve cover gaskets takes a competent mechanic two full days and will cost you over 2k at the dealership. So unless you are either loaded rich or loaded drunk, i'd say be prepared to fix it yourself or keep looking!
I had an e60 530d n it was the most reliable bmw I’ve owned, literally had it for 2years n done nothing to it apart from service it! I had been mapped n mpg was really good!
Regarding your comment about the colour of the display (5:27). It's actually to indicate to the user, which section of the Main Menu they are in. There are 5 colours (areas) in the main menu... Red (climate) , Blue (communication) , Green (navigation) , Brown (entertainment) and White (system info). The settings in those areas are bases on those colours. How intuitive this is for the end-user, is debatable. 🤔 Excellent review by the way. I own a E60 545i. I absolutely love the car.
I had a 2006 black 520d SE manual , my first 5 series , great introduction car to the 5 series. Looked stunning in black, very ahead of its time and never had any issues with. Bought a 520d F10 and G30 since.
The F10 is still the natural progression from an E39....but I've kept my Oxford green E39 M Sport anyway. The E39 is more special but great review...huge mileage!!
Just sold my 2005 e60 Msport with 144k miles and it still drove and looked like a new car,it never gave me any trouble for over 8 years.I bought a 2013 F10 Msport from my brother who owned it since new and has 44K miles. I can definitely say the E60 was a better car to drive,yes the F10 is far better equipt and way more advanced but I don't know the e60 just felt a lot more sporty Might be because the e60 was petrol and the F10 is diesel but it just felt overall a much nicer car to drive
I have the 530d 2008. Done about 120000 km. Its a damn good n fun car. Given the new & ridiculous anti diesel regulations in india this cars days on the road are numbered. But i intend keeping it. Had so much fun n pleasure driving it.😊
The BMW 5 series looks like it's in remarkable condition for an older car, it seems that a lot of BMW's share the engine warning light appearing in the instrument binnacle, maybe it's an extra feature that you have to pay for to add colour to your screen? I've heard that BMW love to charge extra for things that in a lot of other cars come as standard lol, hopefully, it's just a faulty sensor or something simple like that, like buying any car, if you just do your homework, find out everything about the car before you buy it, such as watch videos like yours that list the good points and bad points of a vehicle, then you shouldn't really have any surprises if something goes wrong and if the driver's seat isn't meant to be as flat as a pancake, then that could be another clue to the previous owner, maybe they were heavy set etc, you can tell I've never owned a BMW, can't you, maybe one day, I've had the same car for 15 years and I'm a firm believer in, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Notifications in the middle of an episode of " Call the midwife " are Not welcome "{ Unless it's one of your reviews Matt } Terrific as always...Just while I'm thinking on...Sorry I never watched or commented on your Skoda review.... My uncle used to pick me up in his 1984 Rapid...I used to duck down so none of my friends could see me in it, and the stigma has never left me 😂🤣😂
Had 3 E60's in total. I recommend the 3 liter straight six petrol. BMW did recall these cars due to electric fault with some battery cable, so they should be fixed but 2 of the cars I had suffered from long-term electric issues. They can mess up with the engine, especially with the sensors which cause timing chain issues. Otherwise, these are lovely cars if well maintained and are quite reliable in comparison to competitors. If you go before 2006/07 you can grab one with a naturally aspirated engine which make a nice noise.
Great video as usual. The switch pack for window controls were moved into the door panel armrest on the LCI, other changes included rear light cluster changed to LED, sharp edges were removed from switches, one touch pre-programmed functions were added to the climate control unit, new centre console design with storage drawer and horizontal switch layout, leather centre console, favourite keys. With the LCI you could also spec the Sports Automatic Transmission (joystick gear lever and flappy paddles on steering wheel), this gives you much more responsive gear changes (source: BMW 5 Series Product overview Dealer Launch Briefing January 2007) I like the LCI N53 3.0 Petrol engine (272bhp), these can have issues with the fuel injectors, high pressure fuel pump, and low and high pressure fuel sensors - well worth having a BMW warranty as these can cost £££££££ to sort out. Apart from that the engine is very strong and you just need to keep up with the regular maintenance (worth considering changing the electric water pump and thermostat before you hit 100k as well).
I went for a 530d E60 after my Jag XFS engine span its main bearings and I refused to throw big money at a car again for a while. Mine is only the SE but it was in such immaculate condition with it also being the LCI update and with all the history I could ever want that I saw it as relatively low risk. My main criteria was a big engine, comfortable drive and roomy. We do have a 20 plate 330e in the household and for me personally it's too small for a family car. On the whole these are good cars, I would say there's more than a few things to look out for on them - with their little warning triangle being a little over sensitive and the running inside joke being that it's always letting you know of a fault even if there isn't really anything to worry about. The SE is a little sloppy and soft on occasion but that can be easily remedied with M-Sport springs - or even better a 50mm lowering spring which really does improve it. While the M-Sport clearly looks much nicer, the LCI I have in Sapphire Black doesn't look as awkward as the pre-LCI model in my opinion. Again this is easily improved though, the chrome around the windows can be wrapped and the silver lower grille bar too at the same time which blends it all back into the shape of the car. The main change though is just removing the chrome kidney grilles for either the single or twin bar newer style in black which transforms the front end. I also fitted animated Audi style indicators in black that blend into the car neatly too. I found just a few light mods takes what can look a little old-manish into a much more modern and subtle look. One thing that I used to baulk at was the Bangle Butt boot, until buying mine I thought the car looked horrendous but it's grown into it's butt over the years. As you said, space wise it's pretty generous and comfortable inside and even though mine is getting on for 13 years old still doesn't feel it's age. I typically get 47mpg on a decent run, late 30's to early 40's if I am doing some Sheffield to Buxton runs or backroad blasting and mid 20's around town - but the caveat is I don't tend to drive anywhere in D and almost always opt for DS on the auto shifter, except motorways. All in all though, it really is a great car to throw around, despite it's size and weight. Plus you get to absolutely destroy miles in it without feeling fatigued.
I have a 2010 535i x drive M sport stick shift - 135k miles now, I just never traded it in as I bought other newer cars. Still makes me smile. Paint's not great but it lives outside and doesn't get washed much. Mechanically perfect; I do not skimp maintenance. Far as I know everything (everything) works. I take it out enough to keep exercised and just now came off about a month of using it as the daily, well - just because. And I swear the L7 sound in this puts my newer 5 series to shame (though planning on upgrading to a Bowers Wilkins soon, and that does best it). Mine is a late model with refined iDrive (and dash/door cards) and I much prefer it over touch screens, which I hate. Sometimes I wish I'd waited for the V8, but having had two of those since, this gets much better mileage... and feels 'lighter' on its feet. Unless or until someone offers me 10k, (yeah right) I'm keeping it. What other 15 year old car gives you this much for so little?
Anyone else like the centre console styling on older cars like this one compared to the new bottled on iPad/huge tablet in the middle of the screen style?
Yeah people love the iPad screens in new cars but I really struggle to see why. Much prefer the older, more flushed, style to the bolted on/tacked on iPad screens.
I had the E34 the E39 which I still have after 16 years and can't let it go. But I had to skip the E60 it just lacked the soul of a beamer for me in fact all the bm's during that period were bland with the exception of the M's. The F10 started to grab my attention back to the 5 series and then I finally went for the G30 which is a beautiful car. But when push comes to shove my heart lies with my old E39 a proper drivers car.
I'm on my second E60 😅 I can't seem to move away from them. First one was a 525d on stage 3, now I've got the 35d with twin hybrid turbos, still plenty of work to do on it tho and still better looking than the newer models 😉.
I had a 535d and loved it. Was a lovely car to drive. Very quick. Loved the idrive system too. Very simple especially by today’s standards. My idrive was better being LCI version. Mine was slightly different inside.
Same here, you also had LED tail lights too. The doorcards are different on the LCI. Window switches are in a different place. CCC iDrive is a doddle to use. The climate temperature in the iDrive catches every new owner out 😂 also the thermostats were made of chocolate and often failed, never letting the engine warm up. Activate the hidden menu for coolant temperature and see what if gets up to after 10 minutes on the motorway. You can't test it properly at idle without air passing the radiator.
I'll probably have to trade in my "BMW 5 series fan" badge, but I actually like the E60 styling very much. It has aged particularly well and the dimensions are on point too. The M5 with the V10 was peak German madness.
Those years were peak bmw, we had a v8 m3, a v10 m5, and the 1m
The E60 is a wonderful car. I had a 2010 530i, which was my first BMW, and loved everything about it. The power was sufficient, fuel economy was good (even here in Tokyo's stop-and-go traffic), handling and braking were precise. It was wonderful in the countryside and on the mountain roads, visibility was great, and the active steering (something I was at first skeptical about) was a revelation for parking and slow speed maneuverability. After many years of driving, without a single mechanical issue, I traded it in. The headliner was starting to come unglued, the CCC navigation became increasingly obsolete, and having a kid and getting a dog, I needed something a little larger. I ended up getting a new 750i, which satisfied all of the issues. But as it turns out, someone at the club bought my old 530i, and I see it in the parking lot almost every day when I go to play squash. As much as I love my 7 series, I find I miss my old 530i
I recently bought a 2008 525D, and I like it. I have never owned a luxury car before and was wondering if is normal to hear a little wind noise front front windscreen travelling at 60-70MPH. Its quite faint / just curious though if you shouldn't hear anything with these luxury vehicles
@@MrConMachave you replaced the window seals? They tend to crack and go bad
"The engine management light stays on to show it still works", you are so funny😀😁😂
Loved that comment 😂
I think the styling of this era 5 SERISE is one of the best, has much more of a muscular stance, even on base models
Agreed, loved them when they were new, and still do. There's not many designs that manage that.
This was arguably the most criticised era of design for BMW, a lot of people hated it. It's strange how time makes us grow fond of certain things. Probably more to do with nostalgia rather than actual beauty 🤷🏾
Bangle was absolutely ahead of his time, these cars were trendsetters and especially now, look absolutely beautiful
My aunt had one with the M package back then. (2008-2009)Man was I in love with it‼️ It was the car that made me a car person
This 5-series is one of the cars thats design looks great and fresh over 15 years later. Future classic.
No, Bangle too daring, cannot make a classic, well, maybe
E39 the best
I had one total bag of shìt
@@paulie-Gualtieri. yes this is the problem. They’re some very tired examples ‘broken’ uneconomical to fix out there. The nice ones are nice. I’m a trader of 15 years the model as a whole is interesting although the car isn’t for me. I’d have my similar used money in something slightly different.
@Anna Omg ... thats it 😨
I've got an E60 520d with 195k, never changed the oil in the auto box and it still goes OK. Spent some money getting swirl flaps blanked, suspension parts, glow plugs etc on 142k but had it done in Eastern Europe for 3 figures. Not sure how much longer it will last but its been 14 years and love it
Nice idea going east or south.
does the 525D have swirl flaps
@@MrConMacwhat year do you have as pre lci I’m pretty sure do have them but lci 525ds don’t have them.
Think these have aged well. Wasn't a fan when they came out but the looks have really grown on me. Definitely doesn't look 18 years old either, to think it's as old now as the e28 was when this came out seems crazy to me
"to think it's as old now as the e28 was when this came out seems crazy to me"
You just blew my mind.
The designer at BMW during this period had a dog and a stick.
@@OaksCU1this is quite true
I also drive an E60, it's a 530xi from 06. They're great cars to drive in my opinion, you get loads of comfort but also the typical sportiness of a BMW. One thing I would look out for when buying one are the comfort seats. They're amazing with their full electronic adjustability.
Good review, had a 53 plate 530d myself about 5 years ago, reliable old bus. The only thing I had to replace on it was the egr cooler which is a common issue & if your handy with a spanner its not a hard job. One of the best things about them re: aging is the fact that front end is mostly aluminium so not crusty front wings, I mean I don't think I've ever seen a rusty E60.
Alloy structure front,the rest fully galvanised steel.BMW were way ahead of Mercedes then
“The base of the seat is as flat as a pancake”.....now you know why the cushion was in the car....Det Inspector.
Cataracts, Jimmy Saville, stabbed rat...anorak...brilliant! I had a 535d m touring and it was an absolute beast! Awesome car. And the articulation of the windscreen wiper (which they didn’t reverse for RHD cars, instead over engineered a solution).... oh dear - I’ve really got an anorak problem...
One of my most favourite looking sedans of all time. Way ahead of its time.
Especially if you consider it's now 20 years since it was released, and still looks good design wise. It is ageing very well.
I remember seeing this as a kid and thinking it was the pinnacle of motoring, now I can grab one for 2k
I've got an '06 plate 530d with 249,000 miles on the clock, that has effectively sat on the drive since April 2020. It had all the wrong fluids in it when I bought it at 106,000, so I got that sorted out within the first 2 months. The pollen filter had never been changed from new! Watch for front suspension issues on anything above 150,000. My near side front snapped a spring and the off side spring simply disintegrated and collapsed in separate incidents at low speed, but both at around the 200,000 mile mark. It still drives sweet and smooth with plenty of get up and go, when called for. For replacement parts, seek out the OEM supplier. They are straight off the same production line, but without the BMW stamp, and will cost half as much as trade through a dealer. Good and honest review of a great car. Thank you.
That's good to know. I own a 2004 545i with 107,000 miles. Only owned it for the last 3000 miles, but it drives like a dream.
We’ve had our ‘09 525d E60 since 5k km and its just ticked over to 160k. It has never had its engine light on and the only time it has been more than a day or two at the shop was when it had a full respray due to a massive hailstorm.
Great fun to drive, awesome on fuel (nearly 1000 miles of range) and I’ve loved the look of it since the day we brought it home.
One of my bosses in South Africa had one of these for a while, it really surprised him once when he took it from Johannesburg to Cape Town (869 miles) on just over one tank of fuel...great highway cruiser!
Great video. I am a proud owner of an E60 525 M Sport petrol (2009) with 85,000 miles. I've had it for 3 years, not a single problem in that time. It is an absolute joy to drive. The only gripe I have is when the outside temperature is cold and the engine isn't fully warmed up, the condensation out of the exhaust can be quite visible, but I believe this is a common issue with BMW's, and nothing for me to be concerned with.
Just purchased this car a month ago. 2007 lci model in black. Always loved this car as a young lad and I got my dream to own one later in life
This is one of the first 'luxury/nice cars' I got to sit in, we were on a busy street, cars horning, bus was right next to us and had blocked the road, honestly chaos,
But I sat in the passenger seat, shut the door and wow 😮, I'm not even joking when I say it was like pin drop silence.
One thing I also noticed was the automatic shifts so smooth, and for being and M-sport model it was extremely comfortable over speed bump.
I had a 2003 530d SE 10 years ago. Lovely car, ultra comfortable - as in 7 hours driving to the lake district and no pain or numbness afterwards - and a TV in the dash (before they went digital). Sold when things started to go wrong as BMWs are expensive as they get older.
Identifying the previous owner like Inspector Gadget :) Great video again!
Thanks! 👍
I absolutely loved the E60 I think it’s great, looks absolutely stunning to this day still, love the m sport spec and the chocolate engine M5!! Unreliable and expensive to fix but when these cars are 100% straight they’re mint
My old boss had one of these when they were new. I'm not a BMW fan and the styling was a bit ungainly, but I was deeply impressed with it as a passenger - quiet, smooth and comfortable, plus fast without being uncomfortable. The straight 6 diesel made a great noise too! That car was sold on to a friend and went on faultlessly to around 150k before he sold it on.
I've owned a 530d M Sport from new (2006) and the bodywork and mechanics are as new. Rock solid German build quality and incredible paintwork that doesn't deteriorate. It has done 80,000 miles and has been over-serviced, I've always taken the OEM route and no expense spared. Often thought about changing it for a new car, but to be honest, whilst it stays so nice to drive, I don't want to change it. I had swirl flap blanking plates fitted by PMW in Chelmsford, had to replace both M Tech front springs at 70,000 miles due to constant pot hole abuse. I had the brake discs and pads changed in 2016, PMW couldn't believe they were the original brakes (at 55,000 miles.) I have never replaced any bulbs, all still going after 15 years. Run flat tyres have been bad, any damage from pot holes and it's a £200 Goodyear Eagle replacement. I also think the car looks great, still stands out well. If you can find a good one, I totally recommend them.
This is one of those cars that can last forever and had the quality of ride that is second to none.... the newer cars with the run flat tyres are not so forgiving in harsher roads
Cushion in the back could mean last owner was a dogger. Might want to wash your hands after touching it 😂
Hahaha
What does that mean please? I’m not British.
@@sadiqyl you drive to a remote car park and meet other like minded people or even other couples.. Social distancing is not an option.
Sometimes you have to flash your lights to let your friends know you have turned up.
Sometimes people make new friends just by flashing their lights.
It's a very well known British past time. Most cities have a car park where like minded friends meet.
The police often don't turn up as it is often older people hanging around and they are not causing too much trouble other than flashing.
🤣😂🤣😂
@@devonmantimtim8263 I couldn’t have put it more eloquently, thank you 😂
Had a 535d M Sport Touring (LCI) for years and it's one of the best cars I've had, extremely powerful, good on fuel and fits a family of 5 with a dog. Got an X5 m50d as a replacement for the 7 seat option and it's an insane bit of kit. Loved every BMW I've owned, about 30 of them!
This is the best toy I’ve owned…i have the 56 plate 525d m sport, which I’ve owned for 4 years now and still counting. Got it with 90 000 miles from the dealership and it now has 150 000 miles and still drives like the first time i got it, if not better. The only toy that’ll replace this would be an e70 xdrive
Only you could stop me from working, great vid as always
Thanks 👍... now get back to work
Absolutely love the E60 5 series. Especially in black it looks timeless and mafia boss spec like. To be fair; every 5 series is the ultimate car in and beyond its class
One of a few cars where I remember where I was the first time I saw one. I was absolutely in love with the E60 as a kid. That, and the 7 series of the same era. More old beamers please Matt 😁
I've got a 7 series coming soon
Plus 1 on the old beemers. Might be too old but would love to see an e36 review
i got the lci 2007 520d, and it has all lci bits exept for the gear lever, it is like yours, and my car has gone 190 000 miles now, and still works like a charm. Best car i have owned.
I loved these when they first launched. Some of them had a round light in the rear light cluster and from behind I always thought they looked like an angry pokemon. Great talking point for my five year old son!
You're referring to the E60 LCI.
I had a 523i M Sport saloon in Titanium Silver/black leather. Loved it. The car had no problem at all during my ownership.
I’m looking at one. How was the power?
@@simondebrun 170hp
These have aged extremely well compared to the w211's and a6 c6. The facelift cars look very sharp with the new lights. Love it.
Had a 2006 530d M package....upgraded from a 1999 e46 318. Was like going from a pedal bike to a Honda Goldwing!! Just a mind blowing car!!!
Wow, 184k miles...I would have never guessed it. This shows you that every car can be reliable if you maintain it properly.
I have a 530i petrol M-Sport LCI (in Australia) - the exterior changes may have been subtle, but it's surprising how much better they look than pre LCI. Main interior changes were to the dash layout, controls and doors including (for you Matt) relocation of the power windows to a flat position. Best thing though was the increase in power of the 3 litre engine - up to 272hp. Mated to the electronic auto it's a brilliant performer and sounds great - and sadly the last of the naturally aspirated in-line sixes BMW were so well known for.
I think you’ve got the best model really. That’s what I’d go for
Good, honest and on point review as always Matt... Having owned a couple of E39 some years ago (when they were nearly new) I have to say when this "Bangle Design " 5 series came out I liked it from the start and didn't feel alienated at all. Sure, the E39 interior quality felt superior and due to its smaller dimensions the E39 felt quite nimble, even with the smaller 6 cylinder petrol engine but very sporty & checkable with the bigger 6 pots (Petrol & Diesel) and the V8s especially the mighty E39 M5.
Suffice to say I'm on my third E60 /E61 having owned a 2004 530d SE E60 Manual , a 2005 545i M Sport E60 AUTO and currently I'm rocking about in a 2007 525d SE E61 AUTO with a few M Sport options. FYI ... the Facelift LCI E60/E61s came in 2007 (nor 2008) and the 6 cylinder engine was a 3 litre in both the 525d & the 530d flavours with different state of tune. Your E60 looks like a very early pre DPF 530d (the twin turn down exhaust pipes give it away) and it rides on the 18" M-Sport alloy wheels. Ditching the "Run On Flat" tyres improves the ride quality no end, hence why BMW themselves didn't stick these on the E60/E61 M5.
Another great video, I've owned a 2006 m.sport 525i since 2007 best car I've ever owned better than my e39 528 and that was good, never no mechanical or electrical problems either
My 53reg 520i, which I bought new 18 years ago, is still going strong. Great car. In all those years I never found the climate control, so thanks for telling me about that.
U didn't read the owner manual at all?
The mile muncher 530d is a great car .Great review again love the chanel
Thanks 👍
Thank you for reminding me how good the E60 are. I was thinking of chopping my old 525i in for something newer, but instead I think she deserves a makeover
Have been driving 3 series of various eras for years but just recently picked up a well maintained E60. It's also an SE with the soft suspension and armchair seats but as a soon to be 40 year old.....its just nice.😁
Engine light stays on 😂😂 we have all been there !!
Wonderful car, built like a tank. Great video Matt thanks for the upload as always.
Was busy studying for an exam and got a notification of this video, had to take a break to watch it of course! Wasn't expecting it to be loaded up so quickly!
Couple of comments on improvements they made in the F10: A) The hot to cold setting was improved in the F10 with a turn dial next to the centre vents at the front B) they reintroduced the centre dash being angled towards the driver (albeit very slightly that it is not immediately noticeable)
PS @ 8:06 - looks like you had some fans watching you filming
My favourite 5 series design. Had a Bangle 630i and loved it.
A great used buy given your advice and I agree that they have aged well.
Love that "unity FM" I'm from Birmingham so I get it and in trade. Got a high mileage 535d sport daily and they are great for the age
Haha sussing out previous owners from the radio presets , brothers got a 08 plate they are really smooth quick and comfortable 👍🏻
Very nice
My e60 was preset to a regional radio 🤣 the engine is dying so there's that
I bought an E60 new in 2009, and still have it today. It's a 520d, which is very reliable although it's true that the 6 cilinders 530 would have been my preference (but the difference in price when I bought it new was too high for me, over 10k Euros more). In my 2009 model the electric windows buttons are in a different position than the one in this video, and also the screen is the bigger and better version (not that ugly like the one here). Everything works fine, 191.000 km till now and still plenty to go! Just replaced the battery after almost 12 years with the original one. :)
That’s good going. Well done
I thought these were hideous when it was launched but by the end of its I wanted one. Certainly a car the grew into its looks.
Me and the missus have just broken up after 3 years so your video is right on time to cheer me up :-) Cheers
Glad it helped
Time to get yourself self a Beemer🚗.
Freedom!!!
Very nice car. I wouldn't worry about the engine light - in a BMW it's there to confirm the presence of an engine.
I'd love you to do a video of your top 5 worst cars to buy second hand. Are there any cars out there that you just wouldn't touch with a barge pole? Either because they're money pits or because they don't sell? Love your videos and your story. It shows what hard work and graft can get you 👍
That’s a good idea. Thanks for watching
Hi Matt, Your detective skills are legendary! I drive a 2007 C220D which I have owned for 6 years. Radio is set to Radio 2 or Smooth and yes I do have a spreadsheet tracking its costs (Av 33 MPG round town,46 MPG on motorway, 0.32 pence per mile is costs with all servicing and maintenance parts inc batteries for the remotes.) However, I am not yet ready for the cushion in the back.
Just get the M57, old version of 3.0d. Avoid N57 and 4 banger N47. M57 comes both with cast iron and aluminum cylinder block
Thanks for reviewing this vehicle. I never understood the hate this vehicle received or the flack that Bangle got for its design. I can understand a bit of the criticism for the 7, especially the one from the early 2000s with its HIDEOUS front lights (I really don't know what Bangle was smoking there). The face lift version corrected that somewhat. This 5 series is the best looking one ever in my opinion, and I consider it a Bangle masterpiece. Thanks for. The valuable insight into the power trains as well. 👊😎
Still running a manual 525d m sport pre lci, runs like a dream and under 50k on the clock.
If we're really going to get our geek on, the rear lights were changed to LED (partial) at the LCI point.
This is high peak after all and not low brow channel so it should be geeked out, especially with LED tail lights.
The taillights on the LCI are a thing of beauty. When I think of good looking backsides on a car, that's what I think of!
Having owned one of these for just over 2 years now I can say the engine is damn near indestructible.
Mine had a questionable history so unfortunately 2 months into ownership the turbo let go, but Having sorted that and now changing fluid and filters every year I've had no mechanical issues.
Watch out for the front springs around winter to spring time as the temperature change can cause them to snap and it's about a 4 hour job to change the pair.
Agreed the se styling is a bit weak so I'm in the slow process of changing to all the m sport parts, bumpers, steering wheel, trim, suspension etc.. and it makes it a much nicer car to look at and drive.
High up on the list of immediate work is remove those swirl flaps, they will fail eventually and make sure the gearbox has been serviced with genuine parts.
Your engine light will most likely be emissions (egr clogged) or injector issue (the ecu can up the fuel of the others to counter act this so the car still feels normal)
INPA and ISTA will be your best friends with this car (bmw software) as these hold all features to check and test the whole car.
But enough of that, you'll enjoy it as a daily and it doesn't take much work to get that engine embarrassing supercars of it's time 👍
My daily driver '04 with the m54 engine . Loving it .
Yup, front springs snapped.
Some 10 years ago I was loving the looks of the M pack exterior but absolutely hated the interior. Once the F10 came out, it was an absolute game changer.. Still, the e60 M exterior pack, looks good enough, at least for us, car enthusiasts. Cheers Matt
Love this channel and the fact that he reviews a lot of cars that are accessible to most people!!
Great watch as always Matt.
Bangle's design was ahead of its time in many ways but actually looks decent now, after all these years.
Cheers.
Chris
Totally agree
The last owner must have memory problems, as they forgot to take out the dash-cam.
Also cushion and engine light
Problem with the E60 is that you do not see them around anymore. I know folk that owned them, but they have long upgraded to later 3 Series. Used to be hated, but grew on most haters with time.
I have a 2009 550i M-Sport and it's a beautiful car -- but after about 90k miles the typical maintenence on it becomes extremely unforgiving. Just changing the valve cover gaskets takes a competent mechanic two full days and will cost you over 2k at the dealership. So unless you are either loaded rich or loaded drunk, i'd say be prepared to fix it yourself or keep looking!
I had an e60 530d n it was the most reliable bmw I’ve owned, literally had it for 2years n done nothing to it apart from service it! I had been mapped n mpg was really good!
This Modell Never Gets Old . And with an good Engine it Makes all Time fun
Regarding your comment about the colour of the display (5:27). It's actually to indicate to the user, which section of the Main Menu they are in. There are 5 colours (areas) in the main menu... Red (climate) , Blue (communication) , Green (navigation) , Brown (entertainment) and White (system info). The settings in those areas are bases on those colours. How intuitive this is for the end-user, is debatable. 🤔
Excellent review by the way. I own a E60 545i. I absolutely love the car.
Great spot on the radio preset ;-) Great video and presentation as usual.
A 'careful, cautious, considerate' BMW driver ??!! That's a rare breed :)
I had a 2006 black 520d SE manual , my first 5 series , great introduction car to the 5 series. Looked stunning in black, very ahead of its time and never had any issues with. Bought a 520d F10 and G30 since.
Been waiting for an E60 review!
Hope you enjoyed it!
@@HighPeakAutos as an E60 owner I must say I did. I've got a 2006 525D with 60k on the clock
BMW straight six probably the most finely mechanically balanced engines built. Especially if it had a cast iron block.
The F10 is still the natural progression from an E39....but I've kept my Oxford green E39 M Sport anyway. The E39 is more special but great review...huge mileage!!
Not ashamed to admit it but the E60 is my favourite 5-series styling, ever!
Just sold my 2005 e60 Msport with 144k miles and it still drove and looked like a new car,it never gave me any trouble for over 8 years.I bought a 2013 F10 Msport from my brother who owned it since new and has 44K miles.
I can definitely say the E60 was a better car to drive,yes the F10 is far better equipt and way more advanced but I don't know the e60 just felt a lot more sporty
Might be because the e60 was petrol and the F10 is diesel but it just felt overall a much nicer car to drive
Unless you want to do lots of miles, the 530i is the better bet, you get one of the last great BMW N/A straight 6's.
I have the 530d 2008. Done about 120000 km. Its a damn good n fun car. Given the new & ridiculous anti diesel regulations in india this cars days on the road are numbered. But i intend keeping it. Had so much fun n pleasure driving it.😊
The BMW 5 series looks like it's in remarkable condition for an older car, it seems that a lot of BMW's share the engine warning light appearing in the instrument binnacle, maybe it's an extra feature that you have to pay for to add colour to your screen? I've heard that BMW love to charge extra for things that in a lot of other cars come as standard lol, hopefully, it's just a faulty sensor or something simple like that, like buying any car, if you just do your homework, find out everything about the car before you buy it, such as watch videos like yours that list the good points and bad points of a vehicle, then you shouldn't really have any surprises if something goes wrong and if the driver's seat isn't meant to be as flat as a pancake, then that could be another clue to the previous owner, maybe they were heavy set etc, you can tell I've never owned a BMW, can't you, maybe one day, I've had the same car for 15 years and I'm a firm believer in, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Always a fan of this shape.
Notifications in the middle of an episode of " Call the midwife " are Not welcome "{ Unless it's one of your reviews Matt } Terrific as always...Just while I'm thinking on...Sorry I never watched or commented on your Skoda review.... My uncle used to pick me up in his 1984 Rapid...I used to duck down so none of my friends could see me in it, and the stigma has never left me 😂🤣😂
Hahaha I understand. Thanks for watching
Had 3 E60's in total. I recommend the 3 liter straight six petrol. BMW did recall these cars due to electric fault with some battery cable, so they should be fixed but 2 of the cars I had suffered from long-term electric issues. They can mess up with the engine, especially with the sensors which cause timing chain issues. Otherwise, these are lovely cars if well maintained and are quite reliable in comparison to competitors. If you go before 2006/07 you can grab one with a naturally aspirated engine which make a nice noise.
Great video as usual.
The switch pack for window controls were moved into the door panel armrest on the LCI, other changes included rear light cluster changed to LED, sharp edges were removed from switches, one touch pre-programmed functions were added to the climate control unit, new centre console design with storage drawer and horizontal switch layout, leather centre console, favourite keys. With the LCI you could also spec the Sports Automatic Transmission (joystick gear lever and flappy paddles on steering wheel), this gives you much more responsive gear changes (source: BMW 5 Series Product overview Dealer Launch Briefing January 2007)
I like the LCI N53 3.0 Petrol engine (272bhp), these can have issues with the fuel injectors, high pressure fuel pump, and low and high pressure fuel sensors - well worth having a BMW warranty as these can cost £££££££ to sort out. Apart from that the engine is very strong and you just need to keep up with the regular maintenance (worth considering changing the electric water pump and thermostat before you hit 100k as well).
I went for a 530d E60 after my Jag XFS engine span its main bearings and I refused to throw big money at a car again for a while. Mine is only the SE but it was in such immaculate condition with it also being the LCI update and with all the history I could ever want that I saw it as relatively low risk. My main criteria was a big engine, comfortable drive and roomy. We do have a 20 plate 330e in the household and for me personally it's too small for a family car.
On the whole these are good cars, I would say there's more than a few things to look out for on them - with their little warning triangle being a little over sensitive and the running inside joke being that it's always letting you know of a fault even if there isn't really anything to worry about. The SE is a little sloppy and soft on occasion but that can be easily remedied with M-Sport springs - or even better a 50mm lowering spring which really does improve it.
While the M-Sport clearly looks much nicer, the LCI I have in Sapphire Black doesn't look as awkward as the pre-LCI model in my opinion. Again this is easily improved though, the chrome around the windows can be wrapped and the silver lower grille bar too at the same time which blends it all back into the shape of the car. The main change though is just removing the chrome kidney grilles for either the single or twin bar newer style in black which transforms the front end. I also fitted animated Audi style indicators in black that blend into the car neatly too. I found just a few light mods takes what can look a little old-manish into a much more modern and subtle look. One thing that I used to baulk at was the Bangle Butt boot, until buying mine I thought the car looked horrendous but it's grown into it's butt over the years.
As you said, space wise it's pretty generous and comfortable inside and even though mine is getting on for 13 years old still doesn't feel it's age. I typically get 47mpg on a decent run, late 30's to early 40's if I am doing some Sheffield to Buxton runs or backroad blasting and mid 20's around town - but the caveat is I don't tend to drive anywhere in D and almost always opt for DS on the auto shifter, except motorways.
All in all though, it really is a great car to throw around, despite it's size and weight. Plus you get to absolutely destroy miles in it without feeling fatigued.
I had an e90 330d. Never went wrong. Absolutely solid and sold it on 230k !
I have a 2010 535i x drive M sport stick shift - 135k miles now, I just never traded it in as I bought other newer cars. Still makes me smile. Paint's not great but it lives outside and doesn't get washed much. Mechanically perfect; I do not skimp maintenance. Far as I know everything (everything) works. I take it out enough to keep exercised and just now came off about a month of using it as the daily, well - just because. And I swear the L7 sound in this puts my newer 5 series to shame (though planning on upgrading to a Bowers Wilkins soon, and that does best it). Mine is a late model with refined iDrive (and dash/door cards) and I much prefer it over touch screens, which I hate. Sometimes I wish I'd waited for the V8, but having had two of those since, this gets much better mileage... and feels 'lighter' on its feet. Unless or until someone offers me 10k, (yeah right) I'm keeping it. What other 15 year old car gives you this much for so little?
Anyone else like the centre console styling on older cars like this one compared to the new bottled on iPad/huge tablet in the middle of the screen style?
Yeah people love the iPad screens in new cars but I really struggle to see why. Much prefer the older, more flushed, style to the bolted on/tacked on iPad screens.
I had the E34 the E39 which I still have after 16 years and can't let it go. But I had to skip the E60 it just lacked the soul of a beamer for me in fact all the bm's during that period were bland with the exception of the M's. The F10 started to grab my attention back to the 5 series and then I finally went for the G30 which is a beautiful car. But when push comes to shove my heart lies with my old E39 a proper drivers car.
Great looking car, even by today’s standards. Love your comedic references Mat, just wish you could do more videos 😀
I'm on my second E60 😅 I can't seem to move away from them. First one was a 525d on stage 3, now I've got the 35d with twin hybrid turbos, still plenty of work to do on it tho and still better looking than the newer models 😉.
I had a 535d and loved it. Was a lovely car to drive. Very quick. Loved the idrive system too. Very simple especially by today’s standards. My idrive was better being LCI version. Mine was slightly different inside.
Same here, you also had LED tail lights too. The doorcards are different on the LCI. Window switches are in a different place. CCC iDrive is a doddle to use. The climate temperature in the iDrive catches every new owner out 😂 also the thermostats were made of chocolate and often failed, never letting the engine warm up. Activate the hidden menu for coolant temperature and see what if gets up to after 10 minutes on the motorway. You can't test it properly at idle without air passing the radiator.
Both the E39 and the E60 could have run an extra two years each and they still would be competitive with any other car in their classes.
Thank you Matt! Like the 'grin' with raised eyebrows on these. Fun to have another 'Executive Express' video!
This is no doubt the best generation of the 5 Series
E39 was the best
Laughs in E34
@@claudiurusu4432 220k miles on my 92 E34iT. Like to see that with any E60.
It's certainly a contender for best driving... but it's ugly as shit, let's be honest.
In summary then: no.
@@tcaudiobooks737 looks are subjective, and I quite frankly like the looks of E60. It can't beat the E39, but looks good nonetheless.
The BMW six cylinder engines are their forte. Probably the best six cylinder engines produced by any car maker. Good review. 👍👍