2004 BMW 5 Series 535d Sport from UK and Ireland - Comments

Quite a debate we here between petrol power and diesel torque. We'll I've just changed my 530i e39 sport 220 ish BHP for a new 520d e60 sport 160 ish BHP. (Maybe the 535 will be mine one day), and in normal driving there is barely no difference in useable performance. with the 530i you really had to stir it to get the power (and good it was too) but from my experience save for the real performance cars like the m5 and beyond, that is the characteristic of normally aspirated petrol power whereas as someone has already commented you can have 95% of the performance for what I think is 10% of the effort not least forgetting the real fuel gains as a hard driven diesel will still return good mpg compared to the near single figure mpg of a six cylinder petrol bmw.

I note one of the comments regarding mpg in their 535d and it being particularly low. Well check through your I drive that the measurements for fuel are in UK gallons not US gallons I corrected this and my mpg went up nearly 10mpg phew he says!!

On a final note i plan to chip the car in a few thousand miles or so so i'll let you know how it compares then. I recently drove a freinds 'chipped' e46 320d and have to say the performance appeared much much better than my previous 530i again raising the debate as i know even chipped, the diesel still lags some way behind in bhp.

In fact for your average joe, 320d es saloon, its performance was just plain ridiculous and went a long way for me deciding to move down the bmw engine range.

Like most of you lot, I agree that the 535d is the greatest real world car, bar none. Unfortunately also like a lot of you I ain't getting one just yet. However, I ran a 330d for the last 5 years and absolutely adored it. That's gone back and I am considering a change to a 520d - why? cos it's a bigger 'nicer' car and all that. Whilst it isn't going to have quite as much grunt as the 330d (and boy did that have grunt), I have high hopes of the 5, as it is only some 12-15% less torque than the 330d. I am keen to hear what others think of the 520d. Mind you, anything will be better than my 2.0d 'pool' Vectra.

Hello all.

My intention is to purchase a 2001 - 2002 built, 520 diesel. Could you please help me with an idea / info of how reliable is this car? Or else how reliable is a 525 diesel about same age?

Thank you very much.

I have just ordered a 535d sport, does any one know about the "DAS" kit to chip it up in the BHP, oh, and does any one know hoe to take the limiter off? Or even speculate on what speed the car will do when delimited?

Thanks.

I think the previous comments were relating to the DMS chip which turns the 535d into a 335bhp flying machine and by all accounts would make the car capable of 170+ if de-restricted. The web forum site www.bmwland.co.uk has a lot of good information relation to tuning options.

I have a 535d sport and the power is awesome. the traction control lights flash when you make a full bore start. Take it off and if you are a novice you WILL spin it. Maybe 335bhp?? but I got rid of an m3 to get this and even though it has only 272bhp it IS a better car that does feel more powerful. I am in two minds... yes I want more power, or do I really need it?

I've had a 535d Sport for 18 months and it still astonishes me. DMS chip reprogramming was the best £900 I've ever spent - main benefit is the engine is far more responsive and so far there has been no downside, economy seems the same.

So far the only cars I have encountered on the road that is quicker in real world is a Mercedes 500 SL AMG and a Bentley.

DMS treatment also removes the limiter so far I've only taken it to 160 (in Germany of course !) and it was still pulling strongly.

Expensive at 50k, but still great value, much more comfortable than my previous 330 Coupe Sport, lots of space, looks stunning in carbon black, black exclusive leather, comfort seats and black maple wood trimn are also gorgeous, much better than the standard horrible aluminium trim. Harmon Kardon Logic 7 sound is awsome linked to ipod, adaptive lights are superb, sat nav OK (would be perfect if full postcode could be entered) the only option I regret is the tv which is crap. All in all a truly stunning car which actually costs me the same as my previous 330 per month, because of much better fuel economy. If I won the lottrey I would not replace it, because I think it is the best all round 'real world' car on sale today.

Does anyone know how to obtain the postcode on the latest sat-nav on an E60 535d m sport, July 2006.

The hand book says select city/town to enter the postcode, but all that is available is city. This is the professional system.

Postal codes cannot be entered as BMW have recognised that there is a problem with the software on the DVD, release 02 2006. I am told that there will be a updated DVD produced that will be given to affected owners on request.

I have just taken delivery of my 535d sport, 2004/54, and I am very impressed so far!

I would be interested if anyone had any more information about the postcode entering on the professional satnav system.

Also, how easy/difficult is it to have the "only when stationary" restriction removed from the TV? Not for my benefit you understand, as I am far too busy enjoying the driving experience, but my wife is a soap addict (I know, I know!!) and would like to be able to watch TV on the move. Any comments gratefully received. Thanks.

BMW perform the 0-62 test at half-payload, so the statement regarding the 535d having a sub 6 second 0-62 time is perfectly believable and remember, that's before you take to have it remapped! :o) Nice car btw, wish I could afford one!

God I love this car.

M6 toll road... come out of the toll both and then let your right foot hit the floor. Look back in your mirror and the endless lines of vectras and mondeos trying to keep up... almost becoming dots in your rear view mirror. Damn that's fun1!

I purchased my 535D at Christmas as a little present for me, what can I say "WOW", when I get in the it feels great, as good as the first time. My friend has just purchased one and had it chipped by Super-Chips, a lot less than the DMS upgrade. God it scares me to death, the only way to describe the power in these cars is relentless.

I haven't had the courage to chip mine yet, but I'm seriously thinking about it.

As for the software BMW have just released a new version, My car is a very late 54 plate. BMW just upgraded it to the latest software to resolve a few issues I had, it is now the same setup as if you bought the car new today. They have moved a few things around, but it is good. It also sorts the Postcode out.

The software also upgrades the gearing as it to is controlled by the software, much smoother under normal drive conditions, also seems more responsive when pushing hard. CAUTION thoe, if you have had the car chipped, you will have to have it remapped. DMS and Super-Chip do do this for free so long as you have the original details, they will even come to your house.

Another thing the software fixes is the little yellow/orange front side lights, my friends car had the problem where they didn't come on. He has had his software updated and now that's sorted to.

Final thought, can anyone think what they would buy when they think of changing this fantastic piece of kit!!!

Just what I thought, you can't!!!

Hi, I recently bought an '05 535D M Sport - what a car; it really is awesome. Does having it "chipped" invalidate the warranty in any way?

BTY, I'm only getting 16 MPG in town, so I'm taking it back to the dealer to check it out.

The BMD method remap is totally unseen by the BMW dealers, so if you don't tell them they cannot find out. Some of the ODB remap method can be found by BMW, and if they want to be fussy they can get your void warranty.

I have remapped cars for BMW dealers in the past they. only BMW head office can void a warranty, but the smaller main dealer will want money to carry out repair work if the car goes wrong, so they don't tell the head office who cover the warrantys.

Nick@bigbhp.co.uk.