Into the shadows, yearning for a 2007 BMW 535D LCI. Absorbing any and all guidance as a complete beginner when it comes to bimmers!

[markjay]

Regarding my desires, interests, and preferences in vehicles, I must admit that my past is a little of a mystery. Things changed, I was no longer involved, prices plummeted, I became quite broke, Elon went crazy, and I learned to prefer estates, but I almost bought an electric vehicle as a BIK business car.

Then I became enamoured with the Octavia VRS 2020+. Beautiful vehicle, but the price tag was too high, and I kept wanting more power. It was difficult for me to let go of the desire for a Skoda dad vehicle after having an incredible experience driving a fully equipped 4WD Superb in the Arctic Circle two years ago.


If I had infinite funds, I would still choose a C8 RS6 before any other car, sorry, but I've never been a big fan of BMW and have always considered myself more of an Audi man.

The 320D–335D 3 Series Estates, meanwhile, had a certain allure for me. I don't know what it was, but the n57's engine problems, especially the spinning bearings, really freaked me out. To the point that I've turned a blind eye. According to what I've read, the m57 is a tank—very sturdy and resilient. That, I suppose, is what drew me to the 535Ds. They look like a great value, and they're strong and versatile enough to handle most situations. Similar to a maris piper. Make full use of it!

In my previous position, I was typically putting 100-600 miles on the m4 or m5 every week, so I'm no stranger to highway driving. Currently, my weekly output is usually closer to 100. In the next few months, I intend to increase my weekly mileage to between 250 and 350 miles.

This is when things become tough. I'd want to stay within my budget, so I won't spend a fortune. If it's not crazy for a 530-535D M57, I'd like to pay somewhere around $10,000. "If you can find one that looks good, at least has a fsh and is around 100,000 miles, you should be doing good," my brain assures me, and I'm starting to believe it. However, my knowledge of BMW engines is limited. I'd prefer to have it running and not sitting in a garage full of expensive BMW components, even though I've changed the belt and done some other light maintenance on a 1.6TDCI. Apparently they have a problem with the turbo, glow plugs need to be changed, and the rear air suspension compressor can be a bit of a joke.

I've seen a couple on the market, but I have no idea what to look for beyond the essentials, like a timing chain that has been done, oil, gearbox oil and any necessary repairs. Inspect the tires for smoke during cold starts, uneven wear, brand, and tread depth. Will rusting occur on these? What I mean is, would you recommend these guys for £100 to cure your back pain or other structural issues? If I were thinking about it, would it be a good idea to have a BMW expert have a look at the car? Although I'm originally from Bristol, I've seen a couple for sale throughout the nation, including one in the Bournemouth/Southampton area (Sea = rust) and another close to Oxford. Could you suggest some guys from those locations to have a look? I aim to get as much knowledge as possible since I enjoy delving into things.

Oh my, that's just a bunch of irrelevant details. Apologies if I lost you at RS6, but I appreciate you taking the time to read this.

[MDMH757]

Coming up on two hundred thousand miles, my 2002 E53 X5 powered by an M57 engine is still going strong.
If you're looking for evidence of excessive oil and filter changes, a full BMW service is probably not the way to go.
Just to entice fleet purchasers with the promise of reduced service costs over time, BMW claims 20,000 miles or two years, which is bad for the engine.

[markjay]

I've read a number of articles on it. According to BMW, changing the oil every 20,000 miles is preferable than not changing it at all. So I tell myself. It would be replaced without delay in my opinion. And I highly recommend sticking to a 6-8k interval. It's frustrating that they couldn't find another approach to convince fleet purchasers 😞

[stevenkeyte]

This automobile is at least 19 years old, so naturally, it will have its fair share of problems. The most important thing is to consider the previous owners and how well they took care of the vehicle. unless they managed it with very few resources. These two things are common in older vehicles.On the one hand, you may be quite conscientious and on the other hand completely careless. Look for gearbox service, differential service, etc. Those are the things I look for. On the flip side, if a coil spring cracked, did they change one or two, or all four? And so on.

[markjay]

I tested the head gasket and it looks to be fine, however the piston rings appear to be a little loose since the engine is producing a little blue smoke. Other than the neutral to first synchro failing, so I can only get into first if I downshift, everything appears relatively okay, however the corrosion on the back sills is a bit of a worry. I am not going to change as it is very difficult to get a replacement GB.

Overall, it seems like the two I'm observing have been well-kept. They are both spotless vehicles. Both of them have also undergone procedures. Some suggest 60–80,000, while BMW says never since it's "sealed for life." Someone changed the oil and filter in the gearbox of that one.


You make a good point there as well. If it's symmetrical, I always say replace both of them. That one apparently had its back suspension (on both sides) changed, so I'll have to give it a further inspection.

The fear of receiving a dud is probably all it is. Looking at the MOT report for one of them, I believe I saw that it had a single bulb failure. Like the n57, do the m57 chains rattle and exhibit slack when cold started? Regardless, I suppose it's worth checking, because I believe they've both had chains done as well.

Beyond the usual things you'd look at in a regular automobile, is there anything else I should inspect carefully?

[MDMH757]

With my autos, I stick to the 6-or 12-month warranty.
Despite only having 890 miles between their mot, one of them still managed to get an oil change, haha.
It is currently sitting on the shelf and will do less business this year until I do something about it.