Is e60 fundamentally similar to e9x?

[Brian86]

Is the e60 fundamentally the same as an e9x mechanically and electrically?

I have an '06 e91 325xi with a manual and 350k miles. Regular user over on the e90post sister forum. I'm extremely pleased with the e91, how it drives and it's durability.

Use it to travel regionally for work and have been debating what to do. Hadn't really considered a 5 until this popped up. The extra cargo space would be handy for pelican cases.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ngId=658683924

It's been on that lot for some time. Perhaps they are ready to cut a better deal? It's ugly/not ugly in that awkward BMW way, is a fantastic color. The wheels are awful. I'd have to find two sets of OE 17"ers. It's hard to tell what else has been molested from the photos. I'd much rather have a bone-stock car.

But it's got a single stage silver top N52, probably MSV70 ecu? BMW doing the copy-pasta thing on all their cars I'd expect it's basically the same thing as my e91. (obvious unibody differences aside)

A little bizarre that the ABS is in the front right? Is that an EGR tube running over top of the engine? or just the normal wire loom?

It's almost impossible to find a wagon with a manual gearbox these days. Not really planning on buying anything until perhaps next summer, so nearly zero chance I make a move on that particular car, just kicking ideas around.

Opinions?

Thanks

[e91n52power]

Originally Posted by Brian86

Is the e60 fundamentally the same as an e9x mechanically and electrically?

I have an '06 e91 325xi with a manual and 350k miles. Regular user over on the e90post sister forum. I'm extremely pleased with the e91, how it drives and it's durability.

Use it to travel regionally for work and have been debating what to do. Hadn't really considered a 5 until this popped up. The extra cargo space would be handy for pelican cases.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ngId=658683924

It's been on that lot for some time. Perhaps they are ready to cut a better deal? It's ugly/not ugly in that awkward BMW way, is a fantastic color. The wheels are awful. I'd have to find two sets of OE 17"ers. It's hard to tell what else has been molested from the photos. I'd much rather have a bone-stock car.

But it's got a single stage silver top N52, probably MSV70 ecu? BMW doing the copy-pasta thing on all their cars I'd expect it's basically the same thing as my e91. (obvious unibody differences aside)

A little bizarre that the ABS is in the front right? Is that an EGR tube running over top of the engine? or just the normal wire loom?

It's almost impossible to find a wagon with a manual gearbox these days. Not really planning on buying anything until perhaps next summer, so nearly zero chance I make a move on that particular car, just kicking ideas around.

Opinions?

Thanks

Car is sold. Did you buy that vehicle ?

[Brian86]

Not me. Hope it went to a good home.

Might be months before another e60 MT wagon pops up for sale anywhere in the states.

[M335Xi]

Under the hood they are very much the same, except location of ABS stuff. Whats going over the engine is part of the wiring harness.

[Brian86]

I'll keep my eyes open for an e60. Perhaps even a sedan as that may have about the same equipment storage space as the e91 I'm using now. I think the odds of ever finding an n52 e60 wagon with a manual gearbox is about zero.

Keeping it in the family is very appealing. I already have the sunken learning costs to keep that era of BMW in good shape. Basically already know all the 4wd n52 quirks and all the parts that need TLC.

Ideally it would be the slowest silver top n52, 4wd and manual box are must-haves. I think that's a 525 which (unlike the 325) has a 2 stage intake manifold and ~240hp. I'd take a 2.5l single stage n52 if they existed in the states)

Otherwise as stripped down as possible. Halogen headlights as I don't want to maintain old obsolete HIDs and mechanized leveling systems. non-Idrive. 16" wheels would be a plus, but I don't think any of the 5ers have rotors smaller than 330mm which means 17" wheels.

[neilvan]

Ive got a manual E61 as well as 3x E90s(also manual, 2x 335 and 1 328).

E61 wagons only came in the 530xi (06/07) and 535xi(08-10). Manuals are about mid 300s for each version (over US and canada).

E6X chassis always had a screen+controller(nav or not) and all wagons would have had adaptive xenons(halogens are honestly trash compared). awd cars had 324mm front rotors and 320 rear as the only options). Also sadly all wagons had the panorama roof as standard in north america.

They are the same but different. Drivetrain parts are either the same or very similar; Only real difference is rear suspension design and awd cars have a different track width vs rwd.

Car is bigger and its noticable; E90 is tighter and much more exciting to drive; However the E6X is still an E chassis bmw and drives well.

[lucysparabola]

Former E60 and E90 owner.... current F10 535i owner.

the E60 525 will be horribly underpowered... I wouldn't get anything less than the 528. The N52 is an amazing motor that I still miss, and the E60 even more so. huge difference in the E90 v E60 in terms of just general refinement, but especially ergonomically. I'm a bit of a giant and my E60 fit me like a glove at just under 6'6". E90 was a little crammed, but I still put over 101k miles on it the last 4-5 years.

if I could do it all over again I would have properly maintained my E60 530i (I didn't) and I'd probably still own it today. the F10 is.... good... haha. it's no E60, but the trade off at this stage in life is OK. I love it as a cruiser. it's just that the E60 did everything you asked of it, when you asked of it.

good luck & enjoy whatever you end up finding. btw, that mileage on your E90 is mega, mega impressive! N52 is just a god-tier powertrain for high mileage & fun all in one.