BMW 535d Saloon E60
Fast, frugal and affordable, BMW’s E60 535d is also easily tuned, but steer clear of unloved examples.
Market Watch
Our expert takes a look at theused market for the E60 535d.
Words: Guy Baker
Once the fastest accelerating diesel car in the world, BMW’s E60 535d was the definitive fast diesel saloon – and now, you can buy a good example for less than five grand. With in-gear acceleration that still impresses today, it’s great value for money, and despite the car’s impressive performance, it could return as much as 40mpg on longer journeys. Better still, a simple remap will deliver massive performance, with around 350bhp and 510lb ft of torque, and both SE and Sport versions possess impressive specs.
The range-topping diesel in BMW’s fifth-generation E60 range, the 535d was manufactured between 2004 and 2010 and came with a six-speed auto transmission, iDrive as standard, a 6.5” display screen, Bluetooth, and voice control. Additional goodies included BMW Assist, automatic air conditioning, 17” alloys, metallic paint, front and rear parking sensors and six airbags, while popular options included an 8.8” screen with satellite navigation and DVD, head-up display, active cruise control, bi-xenon headlights, adaptive headlights, and even night vision.
Original 2004 M57-engined twinturbo six-cylinder models produced 272hp at 4400rpm and 413lb ft of torque from just 2000rpm, with a 6.5-second 0-62mph time and a limited 155mph top speed. The official combined economy figure was 35.3mpg however, the facelifted 2007-2010 version was even more efficient, with 41.5mpg combined economy. And it was faster, too, with 286hp and 427lb ft of torque from a mere 1750rpm, enabling it to cover the 0-62mph dash in 6.4 seconds. But it’s the 535d’s in-gear times that are most impressive – at almost all speeds, a quick dab of the throttle will launch the E60 forward with alacrity, and despite being a diesel, that M57 engine still possesses a pleasingly potent six-cylinder growl. The handling on twisty back roads is pretty sweet, too, with precise steering providing excellent feedback and a fairly plush ride – even in Sport guise.
The 2007-on facelifted cars come with relatively minor exterior styling changes as well as revised headlights, new rear lights and a new front bumper. The cabin, however, had a more substantial refresh – with new electronic features like a revised iDrive system, optional head-up display, active cruise control, active steering, adaptive headlights, night vision, lane departure warning and voice control. Production finally ended in 2010 when the F10 5 Series arrived, but it’s earlier pre-facelifted examples that offer the best value, like this metallic grey 2006 535d M Sport Saloon for sale at Continental Cars (www.ccsales.co.uk) in Reading. Advertised for £6995, it has covered a fairly typical 115k miles, and we’re assured there’s scope for a decent discount. This car’s comprehensive spec includes recently refurbished 19” spider alloys, widescreen Pro sat nav, electric memory seats, leather upholstery, bi-xenon headlights, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth and brushed aluminium trim. The car has also just been serviced with four new tyres plus some new front brake discs and pads. However, you will find quite a few cheaper examples, like this slightly newer 07-plated black metallic 535d M Sport up for £5995 at Deals4Wheels in Buckinghamshire (www.deals4wheels. co.uk). With 109k miles and a new MOT, it has similar spec including black Dakota leather, widescreen Pro sat nav,heated seats, cruise control, 19” M double-spoke Style 172M alloy wheels, a six-CD changer, extended voice control, cruise control and the Media Pack. If you’re planning on keeping your 535d for the long-term then you might be tempted to splash out on a top-end facelifted example instead, like this 2008 08-plate Le Mans blue M Sport saloon with a cream leather interior. With just 75,988 miles, it claims a full BMW dealership history and, aside from a few scrapes on the alloys, looks to be in mint condition, but you’ll pay for the privilege – it’s advertised for a lofty £11,499 at AA Autos in Slough (www. aaautosslough.co.uk). Whether it’s worth paying quite that much for an E60 535d Saloon is debatable, but you probably won’t find a much better example – or one with fewer miles on the clock. But, whatever your budget, only ever consider well-maintained examples sporting a full service history and no sign of any electrical problems. Most owners have ditched the factory runflat tyres, and potential swirl flap issues mean many have had them deleted – check whether this has been done. iDrive problems can be pricey to fix and the automatic transmission fluid should be changed every 100k miles– despite what your local BMW dealer might say. Look out for clogged DPFs, turbo oil leaks, rusty brake pipes, worn wheel bearings, worn bushes, cracked manifolds and cracked suspension springs. If you’re buying a remapped 535d, ensure that a well-respected tuner was responsible, and there should be plenty of supporting printouts, documentation and pictures.
Total BMW Retail Price Guide
POOR: £4500
GOOD: £4500 to £9500
EXCELLENT: £9500+
SPECIAL EDITIONS: None
Recent E60 535d Auction Prices*
Model Transmission Registration Year Mileage Sale Price
535d Sport Saloon Auto 2004/54 149,303 £2250
535d Sport Saloon Auto 2005/05 140,759 £3100
535d Sport Saloon Auto 2005/05 102,717 £2400
535d SE Saloon Auto 2005/05 108,930 £2525
535d Sport Saloon Auto 2007/57 202,743 £2550
535d Sport Saloon Auto 2008/58 62,077 £3950
THANKS
I’m very grateful to Grant Darling at James Paul (jamespaul.co.uk), the BMW Car Club of Great Britain (bmwcarclubgb.uk), British Car Auctions (bca.com), Silverstone Auctions (silverstoneauctions.com), bimmerforums.co.uk, and Glass’s (glassbusiness.co.uk) their help with this feature.