Swirl flaps still in 2008/2009 cars was around 2009 they stopped using them. 2004 the changed the diameter on the 6 cylinder to make them a bit larger and stronger (but still failures).

Yes they were modified so not really an issue. Not as if 100% go or anything daft like that.

Im on 95k on a 2007 m47 320d and i have no inclination to remove them. Once removed i think you can lose mpg

Yes they were modified so not really an issue. Not as if 100% go or anything daft like that.

Im on 95k on a 2007 m47 320d and i have no inclination to remove them. Once removed i think you can lose mpg

 

I had the modified ones in my 530d and removed them. no mpg drop. In theory a little less low down power, never seen anyone say they can tell the difference though. Not all fail of course, but an alarming number do and as time goes on that continues to grow. For the sake of £20 and a couple of hours work on the drive, it was peace of mind worth it for me. Good opportunity to clean inlet manifold out too! Failures seem to be common 80K miles+ they are a moving part and will not last forever. Should one go, I wouldn't have fancied replacing the engine because of it  

If i lose any low down power i'll have to get out and push it!

If i lose any low down power i'll have to get out and push it!

Thats the 3litre I am talking about, but people don't report being able to tell a difference. I loved the DPF on the 530d, just 8 bolts to drop if off bottom of car and you could power wash it out and fire it back on once dry LOL. I never needed to, but I was ready for that day if it arose!

 

I was looking at a 535d the other day ironically, but I am just not there with the auto only still :( 

Once you go auto you dont go back!

The auto in the 3litre 6 cylinders is awesome!

Wish i had a 335d

Once you go auto you dont go back!

The auto in the 3cylinders is awesome!

Wish i had a 335d

Had an auto before in a 6 cylinder (V6) 

BMW v6 ?

BMW v6 ?

300ZX but in the 3litre diesel BMW's it depends which box you get, as to how 'nice' it is. The earlier E60 ones were a big pile of utter crap! 

Once you go auto you dont go back!

Meh. Not strictly true.

Once you go auto you dont go back!

The auto in the 3litre 6 cylinders is awesome!

Wish i had a 335d

same :(

300ZX but in the 3litre diesel BMW's it depends which box you get, as to how 'nice' it is. The earlier E60 ones were a big pile of utter crap!

300zx is hardly an example of a modern anything let alone gearbox

There is a local one for sale. 535D with a fair few extra's, cheeky map and makes 383bhp 572lb.ft...

 

As a daily that is mighty tempting. Auto doesn't phase me. If I want to feel all "manly" I will use

 

 

or

 

 

or

 

 

:P

 

 

A nice lazy boat as a daily suits me

R35 and Bugatti Veyron are both autos , thought the autos are only suited for one-legged old ladies attitude had died a long time ago

About 20 years ago I had a lovely 320i, and it was easily the smoothest thing I've ever driven. I would LOVE a 530d or 535d. The things that put me off:

 

:rubbish in the snow

:replacement tyre costs cos them wheels is mahoosive.

:no rear legroom compared to the Superb

:The thought of returning 30mpg on diesel makes me feel faint! The Superb isn't the most economical thing but it manages 47 comfortably.

:Older BMWs can be serviced quite reasonably these days but I still remember how much my 320 cost!!

 

If money wasn't an object I'd have a 530d for summer cruising/playing and keep the Superb for daily use.

Auto boxes are fine if serviced properly, i.e. regular oil changes. In reality this rarely happens so the chance of failure and huge repair costs at 100k plus mileages always put me off autos. Okay if you never keep your cars to a high mileage though.

why rubbish in the snow?

why rubbish in the snow?

RWD, although a colleague with winter tyres on his says it makes a huge difference.

RWD = rubbish in the snow , FWD = rubbish , except in the snow

About 20 years ago I had a lovely 320i, and it was easily the smoothest thing I've ever driven. I would LOVE a 530d or 535d. The things that put me off:

 

:rubbish in the snow

:replacement tyre costs cos them wheels is mahoosive.

:no rear legroom compared to the Superb

:The thought of returning 30mpg on diesel makes me feel faint! The Superb isn't the most economical thing but it manages 47 comfortably.

:Older BMWs can be serviced quite reasonably these days but I still remember how much my 320 cost!!

 

If money wasn't an object I'd have a 530d for summer cruising/playing and keep the Superb for daily use.

 

Ref MPG. This is how my 530d behaved if driven with MPG in mind. 

 

After 89.9 miles from a cold engine start, A roads, B roads and about 25 miles of motorway:

 

Then after messing about in Belfast in traffic, stopped about 5 miles back down the motorway and it had dropped to:

 

 

I had serviced the car, changed the EGR cooler thermostat and the main thermostat with BMW parts (autos have another thermostat that fails too) and removed swirl flaps. She was pretty frugal if she wanted to be, normal driving without any consideration for MPG and lots of short cold engine runs in particular, returned normally 39-44MPG for me. Computer worked out to be accurate to within 0.1/0.2MPG per tank (and I check every tank every time in all my cars as a habit). When I got her she wasn't making temperature and I got 43mpg, but that was the hardest I have ever tried in my life to get good MPG! No temp gauge on dash makes that a particularly deceptive thing that most wouldn't realise on them, but you can use the diagnostic menu system to bring this up above the odo.

 

After replacements in. MPG figure after 6.8 miles having just changed all of the above and after bringing it up to temp on the drive and bleeding the coolant (took forever, guts of 2 hours) so had a knock on effect on mpg (but still not bad)

 

All in all I still regret selling it, I got a bit more than I paid and it cost me and I had seen and bought my low mileage Mk1 Octy within hours of it being advertised at the other side of the country

 

 

 

Replacement tyres I know all about, having changed all 4 then days later had a double N/S blow out on a raised manhole on a newly resurfaced road...... 245/40/18's not the end of the world having been not long after selling the Mk2 FL vRS tbh. Car had 235's on it when I got it and I ditched them as I don't like any stretch, even that small amount. To be perfectly honest, it surprised me how much more of a car in build quality, feel, performance, comfort and handling it was over my Octy vRS which I bought brand new and had remapped within 6 weeks of collecting it. 

That's a nice looking car. Definitely my favourite of the 5 various Series shapes.

 

I looked at these when searching for the Vectra.  As daft as it sounds the 530d was on my list, along with the Audi S6 and the Mitsubishi Galant VR4 and other more sensible options.  I whittled it down to the Vectra and the 530d estate but in the end went for the Vauxhall.  I'm not a badge snob so looked at the cars for what they were rather then what they say to other people but just couldn't bring myself to go for the diesel in the end.  There are a few BMWs round here being used by the local police.  I know a couple of the drivers and they rate them quite highly as a place to spend the day and as a pursuit car, although they still look back on the Volvo T5 with misty eyes.

 

If my annual mileage increased then I may have to go for a diesel but as I'm doing less than 8500 miles per year there's no real need.  Having said that, I saw one of the police unmarked 530ds set off with its lights on the other day and by gum, it was quick!

You're right Andrew. Low mileage and diesel these days is bad news with DPFs. It's no longer just a question of recouping the higher fuel costs.

Completely useless in the snow

I couldnt move mine off the drive with around 2" of snow, if you dont have winter tyres forget about moving a bmw even a mm

I just take the works van

I took mine out for a spin in the snow (Nokian winter tyres). I only got 'stuck' once after stopping, intentionally, on a hump back bridge to see if I could pull away. I could, but not enough to crest it. Rolling back down and carrying speed speed got me over no problems. 

 

I was also pulling away faster from lights than FWD cars, but of course, there's no way to tell if that's grip, driver skill, or just their choice of speed.

 

I'd assume having an auto would make it worse though.

I took mine out for a spin in the snow (Nokian winter tyres). I only got 'stuck' once after stopping, intentionally, on a hump back bridge to see if I could pull away. I could, but not enough to crest it. Rolling back down and carrying speed speed got me over no problems.

I was also pulling away faster from lights than FWD cars, but of course, there's no way to tell if that's grip, driver skill, or just their choice of speed.

I'd assume having an auto would make it worse though.

so not useless in the snow then? thought as much

Same as anything - not if you're prepared it'll be rubbish. Try a FWD car with semi slicks on snow and it'll no doubt be rubbish too.

 

It's nearly 50/50 weight distribution, so it shouldn't be too bad anyway - I guess it's just most FWD cars aren't as well balanced, so have more weight up front for traction?