Willem

Hi Elias Thanks for that tip. Never thought about checking marketplace for a car. It is within my price bracket (before negotiations) It has an M-sport outfit and an X drive, all positive. Not my favorite color (grey! from where I stand that brings down the price seriously) and it is a non LCI, I guess because it's from 2013. Does that actually make a difference with this engine? Seems a car I might need to have a look at Thanks again.

Thanks for the suggestions. The 530 D or 330d/335D Tourings (on the budget I have in mind) are not so easy to find. I can find two 335D's (see below) and only 530 D's (autotrader) from around 2017 which cost around 35000. One 335 on trade me 200000 km from 2011 (to old for my liking, to many km's, no LCI and the way I see it a bit overpriced) https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/335d/listing/4906769675 And a 2016 X Drive Msport , for 27.490 a bit over the budget I was planning to spend. https://autotrader.co.nz/used-cars-for-sale/bmw/335d/921763 What is wise? Wait a bit longer to see if a few do come along, or should I risk ordering one with one of those companies that import them (any experiences?)

Hi Sammo Thanks for the very nice pictures. I love the camping one and the old & new style one too How tall are you (do I fit in the 320, 189 cm tall?) and apart from this steering trouble, how do you find the power of your car. The weight power ratio (I'm an original motorcycle driver, where it is less than 1 kg for 1 HP, that is fast acceleration). The W/P ratio for your car is 8kg/HP. With my present car (530i) it is 6.4 kg/HP And I'm wondering with the 328i (there it is around 5.8) do you know how did they got another 74 HP out of the same engine volume and is that engine or it's accessories vulnerable to break down easily. Cheers Willem

Hi Bimmers I've been driving a E61 530i from 2005 for the last 6 years imported from Japan. Had 50.000 on the clock and now has 100.000 and it has been great. This calm quiet engine, and the power when you give it a little push, I just love it. Exploring the North & South island, surfing, camping, and what a wonderful ride, I live in Auckland. "Freude am Fahren" says a sticker on the boot. Difficult to translate, drives like a dream might come close. But I do not have a garage and the car is showing it. Rubbers getting dried out by the sun, also the rest of the rubbers on the car are getting old/ brittle, needing replacement, is going to be expensive in time and money. So I'm looking at buying another Touring, a Touring because I always take my car out camping (typical what you'd do with a BMW, I've hit the ground a few times here and there with my M sport spoilers, so why not do it again And if I do not camp I go surfing with it. And then the boot is perfect for the gear and a short board , or the roof for a long board. May be a E31? as it will be a few kg less compared to a F11 (1500-1800kg). I think it might be more fun to drive (if I'd fit well enough in a E31, I'm 189 tall). The E31 has only 100 liter less boot space than the F11. I think I can manage that. Now I had a look at Trade me and there is lots of relatively affordable E31's from around 2013 - 2019. Also a few F11 5 series, but all with a 2 liter engine and only 204 BHP, is that going to be fun???? I'd think of spending somewhere between 10 - 20 K Now I need your advise. What do you guys think is a good engine in a E31, reliable and with enough power to move around enjoying the acceleration out of a curve (I know, the E61 is lead heavy, and now I'm buying a touring again, however the power to weight ratio for the E31 will be better than the F11 because of the lower weight) Most common, 4 cylinder, 184 HP (320i) turbo & inter-cooler Also available 328i (245 BHP) and there are a few 335i's with 305 BHP. (do mechanics hate those because the whole engine bay is too full to work on it?). (I could not find a 5 series Touring with a big engine.) With low mileages. (it is really environmentally sound, an EV is causing more pollution due to the battery environment impact than a petrol car up to 100.000 km) At what mileage do these engines become maintenance intensive, is it the turbo's /inter-coolers that go first? Well thank you for sharing your advice, I'm looking forward to hear what you'd like to say . P.S. I might have a pre-purchase check done in a BMW garage before making a definitive choice, It might be worth the money, The mechanics know what to look for , and I can take an motorcycle apart, but do not know the nooks and crannies of a F31. If something is showing up, it can be repaired, but it will impact what I'll pay.

Hi Qube Thanks for the suggestion. Before I bought the Touring I looked into the X5. I drove a few and enjoyed them nevertheless decided against an SUV because: (totally subjective and disputable: ) 1 They do have a smaller luggage space. 2 They do not drive as well fast through curves due to their higher center of gravity (especially important to former motorcyclists who think that is really cool) 3 They use more petrol to move the same amount of people. (10-15 % more) An clear advantage is that they offer more passive safety because they are as high as lots of the popular trucks (Highluxes , Rangers etc) on NZ roads, who are a safety hazard to other road users because of their height. And if you need to change the baby, their floors are a much better working height than from a station wagon, easy on your back)

I like it how my "simple" Question has evolved into a general discussion about the "real" value of (Japanese) import cars compared with NZ "new" cars. You can almost draw a checklist from it : How to prevent buying an import Japanese Dud. Or more optimistic: How to make a success of buying a Japanese import. I'm still looking, have not found a good car to buy yet. Since I started 14 days ago, the quantity of cars on my reference list has only shrunk. On Trade Me there were 17 BMW's that were specified as 5 series F11 Touring, there is only 10 left. Possibly the worst of those 17. Never a good sign if a car is not sold for longer periods. Especially not when the price is not obviously too high for what is offered on paper (compared to when you've had a look (and a sniff ) at the real thing. May be when a new "boat " comes in there will be a few more on offer. If I'm correct people in New Zealand often buy a "new" car for the summer to take on a Holiday, traders most likely would anticipate that.

Thanks balance-rider. Agreeing entirely with your point of the N52 being a bit under powered for the size and weight of the car. I did not have too high expectations of driving a car after a life on two wheels in terms of a back road blasting. But practicalities, a daughter and camping gear and the fact that NZ roads are not the safest, drivers are over a very wide spectrum from excellent to extremely undisciplined. The roadt-oll (death/km) in Nz is as high as the worst country in Europe (Italy) So I am on 4 wheels for the time being. And the the BMW 530i was much more fun than expected. I might need to compromise if I cannot find a suitable N55 and take your advice that the E350 is not a bad car either. Cheers Willem

Hi Gorgasm Thanks for wikipedia tip, super simple and I could not figure it out The the engine model discussion: I looked at and at Last but not least I found an article to compare them: https://bimmerly.com/n52-vs-n20/ Overall video's and article both they conclude the N52 is pretty reliable, smooth and silent engine, a typical BMW one. Off course this is a subjective thing to a certain extend. What are your concerns? The advertised one 2010 523i has 201 HP, according to Wikipedia (523i for Asia only 2009 & 2010). Seems an option if I cannot find a 535i with an N55 and relative low mileage. Kind regards Willem

Hi Gorgasm Thanks for your support on sitting on the fence till the right car shows up. And in the mean time another question: Do you know the engine type in this* 2490 cc 532i 2010? https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/523i/listing/4295684372?bof=4fcCcAxl I cannot find it. I hope to find a website that does help with identifying the engine in different type beamers. Is it an N52 or N53? Eagle does not recommend the N53 based on complicated high pressure injection and injectors that are prone to fail if I quote him correctly. Does that hold true also for the N52 (if that is the engine that is in the advertised car ? Thanks again for your help Willem

Balance rider you suggest an E -class? Thanks for your suggestion.Well we do have to have an open mind don't we? I read an assessment of drivers of different brands (done in Europe). Mercedes drivers were identified as people with a lot of money but not a lot of brains/education, who buy Mercedes to show off mainly. Wearing Rolex watches, in my opinion also hideous. Dressed to impress. BMW was as a group of speed freaks who pay a lot of taxes through having the highest rate of speeding tickets. (and other traffic offenses such as driving through red lights and not keeping enough distance from cars in front of them. And with a higher risk to crash too. Well I have to confess: I've paid a lot of what I call "recreation tax". Driving too fast on great roads especially through great curves. And I do not like showing off a car for wanting to impress as having a lot of money at all. I like d my bumper sticker "BMW freude am fahren" (Joy of driving) But never say never, Mercedes has employed a few good designers the last decade and some of their cars are very good looking. How are their engines? I honestly do not know. Do you have positive experiences driving them. Like the sharpness of a 535i hanging in a curve on the gas? Then I might have to reconsider. Kind regards Willem

Thanks GorGasm I'd seen these cars on Trade me. Really helpful you added the engine type and power. It drives me nuts I do not seem to be able to find a website where I can reliably find out which cars have which engines. (I used to look at a German website, I speak German, however I have lost that web address and cannot find it back) If you have a suggestion, please let me know. The 328 & 335 I have not considered , as I'm tall. 190 cm, and they do not "fit me" that well. I sit often with my head against the roof. Then I really take my family camping with my Touring and need the extra space the 5 series offers:) The 523, yes possibly somewhat under powered. Leaving the 535i M Sport in Canterbury. Compared with the green 535i in Auckland that seems a good candidate to me at first sight. It has a lot of KM left to drive before the ancillaries will drive up costs. It is on the South island though, some logistics to be solved. Here in Auckland I do know where to turn to do a PPI. And it is black, I am a bit reluctant to buy a black one as Auckland is such a sunny and warm place in the summer. It will be hot when parked , my wife is from Sweden, she hates a hot car to get into. If it would have been white or silver (not black) I might have already been persuaded to go and have a look. Thanks again for your suggestions, May be I have to sit and wait a bit longer until a car appears that fits my objectives better, or until practicalities convince me to compromise on power/color/model. We are in the last stages of internal combustion engines. While good alternatives are not clearly defined yet. I am hoping hydrogen engines will develop into a real alternative. My next BMW might be my last internal combustion engine car. Kind regards Willem

Thanks If I'll buy it leaving the summer BBQ with donuts it will be ;)

I own a E61 Touring from 2005 and think of exchanging it for a newer model . I'm looking at an F11 form 2010 a 528i which has standard wheels. My E61 has M sport wheels, which I like a lot better (and it has good tyres, that 2010 one might have old dangerously hardened tyres) see picture. Could anyone help me out, does that fit? Thanks!! Willem https://carfromjapan.com/cheap-used-bmw-5-series-touring-2010-for-sale-63ce45ac8408573acbe527b7

Thanks Eagle (I did not notice any problems with the gear box) Maintenance I don't mind spending money on it if it is essential. Driving a BMW bought for a good prize saves money for maintenance. I do not like to drive in an unreliable car, takes away al lot of the fun for me. (I've taken that with me from motorbikes, you cannot afford poor maintenance , your life depends on it.)

This could possibly also be an option: https://carfromjapan.com/cheap-used-bmw-5-series-touring-2010-for-sale-63ce45ac8408573acbe527b7 65000 km 2010 I'm not sure about engine specifications 3000 cc 6 in line (great) but if turbo or injection or both 230-254 HP? It looks like a fair deal, quite a few km left to drive until the ancillaries are predicted going to break down. Obviously risk is I cannot see/test drive the car up front.

Thanks all of you balancerider, Eagle & Freaknout for your comments. Helping me to get some understanding of what I'm asking, what is relevant to the 2012 535i engine/car. Implementing Eagle's advice: I read the beginners guide to buying an N54 on Reddit from WhatsgoodjeffG. I concluded: the car I tested, 2012 535i with 130K is going to need some ancillaries work soon. The turbo's will go around 125-175 k at a cost of 3-8 k $ depending on who does it and on the price of a replacement set. I mentioned already that the tyres look more like slicks than anything that I'd drive on NZ roads during global warming pouring down. As far as the present owner knows the gearbox has not had an oil change around 80 k, if true not good. Long story short, this sounds like a good time for the owner to sell it and a bad time for someone to buy it unless at a price that that maintenance can easily be done sooner rather than later. (what do you guys think is 14500 reasonable? Or hard to say as we still have a lack of info on maintenance history & present state of ancillaries such as injectors, high pressure fuel pump, water pump, oil filter house leaks, turbo seals.etc.) That might be showing up with a PPI. I'm not sure whether this car has a N54 (Eagle) or N55 (balance-rider) engine. After reading the comments and Whatsgoodjeff I'm in doubt now if it is worth following up further. I do like the 535i engine, it is so calm and quiet and has such readily power if you want. There do not seem to be a lot of them around anymore. I had a look at BeForward.jp. There you can order a car unseen from Japan. more than 3500 BMW's, only one 535i, a sedan, not what i'm looking for now. Lots of 523i Tourings (2014-2018) , most of them 2000cc (do they deliver 242 HP?) black and white ones mostly, many M-sports. All double turbo's, but with around 50-100 k, not as close to refurbishment of the ancillaries as the 535i. Roughly for the same price. But not a 535i. (although that one is green, frogs are green, not beamers I used to think . Love to hear what you've got to say to increase my ambiguity

I introduce myself as a new member as I have not been visiting the forum since 2018 when I bought this car. Now I do as I need some help selecting another one. This is my E61, a 530i. 6 cylinder in line engine delivering 272 HP. It is not an M-sport but the previous owner (Japanese) pimped it as if it is. M sport steering wheel, M sport front-spoiler, wheels, etc. it was the fastest one I could find at the time that I test drove a few around Auckland. In 2018 as I needed a car to get my newborn daughter out of hospital to take her camping on the Great Barrier Island, which we did and was a great experience, she loved it It had driven only 55000 km then, now 95000. It was imported from Japan. I am a motorcyclist, never had been driving cars. Always drove fast bikes. Thought a Beamer might be the solution to my prejudice that cars are slow and boring. And a lot of things that Motorcycles are not (space consuming, always standing in traffic jams, cannot bend and tilt into curves, feel like dancing Nevertheless I was mighty proud with this Touring. I have always has a soft spot for BMW, and this one had a small sticker on it "BMW Freude am Fahren" And I thought that this apparently somewhat controversial design was stunning. Well it has been a mixed experience, though the outcome is that I fell in love with it. The practicality to take your family everywhere in a cool looking cool feeling vehicle that accelerated and drove like a dream. The negatives were about things I learned along the way, that all the sensors and computer steered electronics can be disturbing your peace of mind. In particular a problem that lit up the screen : "Engine fault reduced power" 3 new butterfly valves and a lot of diagnostics and money went into it, and it still is not solved. Every now and then the same notification still lights up. However now it does not disturb me anymore, the car drives fine. Now I am looking for a replacement. This one is 18 years old now and I feel that it might get a bit more unreliable and that the investments to save it would not be economical. (lots of new rubber and other stuff that you might expect with a car that is stored outside in NZ's car unfriendly climate deteriorating and sooner or later needs replacement). Would you guys want to help me to choose? My criteria: 1) I think of buying another Touring But I'm open to any sensible suggestion. This one I bought at your recommendation, while I thought I wanted to get myself an X5. I think it is practical, we still camp and it is spacious. And it is a great surfboard carrier too. And it drives so well, which you Beamer-lovers do know, that binds us together. A pleasure whenever you get of the boring highway. And on the highway she is relaxed and comfortable as well. 2) The power of the engine is a joy, I would not mind finding another similar powered one, although I do not know how a 2 or 2.5 litre turbo engine is to drive. On Trade-me I cannot find another 530i. There are 523i's, 528i's and every now and then a 535i and the times they have changed, there is no longer a direct connection between the volume of the engine cylinders and the type number. So I do not seem to be able to figure out what engine delivers what power and torque. On the specification sites I can find the 523i is not specified for the 2000 or 2490 cc engines with which they come. Apparently there are also 523i's with a 6 in line 3 liter engine, but I have not seen any advertised. Could any of you refer me to a website where these specifications are to be found? 3) And then: what is wise, which type/engine configuration is kind of reliable. I did all the maintenance on my motorcycles myself. But motorcycles do not have km's of sensor wires laying around somewhere. So I think I'll ask some help to service this one, and that should not be too crazy expensive preferably. I would like one that does not flicker up with electronic problems that always seem to be there and cannot always be solved. You-tube has told me the F11 / F10 is more reliable than the previous generation, from April 2012 (before that problems with the distribution chain they say). I had all the regular E61 stuff, changed waterpump, dynamo, starter engine, and a few batteries. And am constantly aware that the sunroof drainage needs to be checked as to not flood the boot. Is that a realistic otion? 4) Value for money: My budget is anything between 10.000 and 25.000 (and more if it is really worth it, however I do like value for money and within those limits there seems to be enough choice. I think it is top that they come from Japan with very few KM on the clock. However I do not know whether the 535i (2013) which is on trade-me with 130.000km is any more likely to get trouble of wear and tear than a similar age car with 70.000 km. 5 ) I think the M sport's look really cool. But the regular versions do not look bad either in my eyes. Thanks for your help Willem