Diesel Low Mileage Use

Discussion in '5 Series' started by Gary Steele, Feb 27, 2021.

  1. 535i MSport
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    535i MSport WARLORD

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    My wife had a 2010 F91 330d for around 7 years and only covered around 2,000 miles a year.

    It had a couple of issues due to the short journeys that were dealt with under the extended warranty. One was an EGR replacement and the other was a walnut blast as well as a couple of forced regens. The issues manifested themselves as a loss of power, which was a bit disconcerting.

    I was told by my dealer to take it on a half hour run more often and that for the short journeys she used it for, a petrol would have been more suited.

    One thing I was worried about was the fact that I don’t think the warranty would have covered a new DPF.

    My advise would be to go petrol unless you will be doing a longer journey at least weekly.


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  2. The_Master
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    The_Master

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    My E60 has been doing low mileages 5-8k per year for the last 7 years, commute it 7.5 miles each way on rural roads, no issues whatsoever with the DPF now at 140k

    You could look for a petrol however you'll hunting a long time as of the 2000 or so 5 series on Autotrader aged between 2010 and 2016 only 57 are petrol's meaning a very small pool to choose from, some of them are duffers too (520i)
     
  3. mach one
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    mach one WARLORD

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    when the F10/F11s were released we were right in the middle of the diesel is best and lowish road tax and very good MPG meant that diesels were easily outselling petrol cars here in the uk it would be interesting to see how many petrol and how many diesels were sold in the 5 series range in 2010 and on

    if you can get a good F11 in petrol then as you are aware that would be your best option but if you do have to go for a diesel you could also make that work with a few long blasts every now and then to blow out the cobwebs

    the earlier BMW DPFs from 2004 on would have hated short runs but by 2010 they had got them a bit better sorted and they did seem to cause less issues but still need a good run every now and then
     
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  4. TrillyUK
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    TrillyUK

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    Had almost identical question but already had a F31 320d Touring xDrive. Swapped it for a 550i E61 to avoid DPF issues, and have a bit of fun driving to the shops I digress.
    Took the 550i to my friendly BMW Indy tech who commented on a couple of diesels He has had in for DPF work.
    For regen what he said was interesting and that is not to blast it but 50-60mph , low revs let’s the system sort it out. Older minis on the other hand thrash them to regen. As have other BMW diesels in the family that’s what we will be doing.
     
  5. The_Master
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    The_Master

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    I have done mostly very short journeys in my 520d, I must admit I rarely sit in a queue, most of my driving is 30-60mph on B and unclassified roads, I make sure I rev the car when I get the chance....no issues up to now...

    I was told the opposite by a tech i.e. make sure you rev the car - he said a lot of DPF problems he'd seen were when people sat in queues on their commute and never revved the car....

    There's probably no right or wrong.....just luck?
     
  6. markyboyt
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    markyboyt WARLORD

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    He’s right. This is when BMWs, especially older models, actually carry out a regen when it determines it needs one. Just steady throttle cruising it will then regen, if monitored on diagnosis you then see the exhaust temps rise right up to in the region of 600 degrees while it regens. Too much change in throttle will halt it though. This was my issue and what caused the frequent regens because my journey wasn’t a cruise so it would stop and start. On newer ones I think it’s a bit happier doing it in other situations.
     
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  7. 535i MSport
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    535i MSport WARLORD

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    E61 550i, wow that’s something of a unicorn.

    It’s a shame that the choice of large petrol engined estates is now quite limited.


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  8. The_Master
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    The_Master

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    There are 2 F10 petrol estates (both 523i SE's) under 100k and £11k for sale on autotrader
     
  9. Peter
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    Peter WARLORD

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    The problem I found when I had the diesel 330d, regens' came at the most inconvenient times.

    When my typical journey 'legs' were about 12 miles, I'd be close to my destination, or nearly home, when the regen started. I'd overrun and give it a few more miles, if It was convenient, or I had the time to spare. Plus, once I got to around 50k miles active regenerations were getting quite frequent, could be around every 300 miles. And that was running premium fuel or adding Millers, to help combustion and soot levels.

    Even on longer trips there was no guarantee the car would regen along the way. I recall one trip of over 100 miles, we were within a mile of our hotel when an active regeneration started. Had to abort it. Yes, it picked up the regeneration the next morning once up to heat, but shows how easy to get caught out, when you think a decent run wouldn't have any passive regeneration issues. The DPF would still require an active regeneration.:(

    Made my decision to get a petrol much easier to make.

    BTW, I've never seen another F11 535i in the metal, since getting mine in 2012.

    Peter
     
  10. mach one
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    mach one WARLORD

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    l have run two BMW diesels now and l can honestly say that l never ever noticed either of them doing a regen people say that you can tell when the regen is taking place but l never noticed it happening

    the 520D was a 2009 car and they were known to have DPF issues but as l only keep the car until it had done fifty four thousand miles and the 530D went at forty five thousand miles both were moved on long before the DPF should have been causing an issue
     
  11. Peter
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    Peter WARLORD

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    Active regenerations were vey noticeable in my 2006 330d.
    Engine sound, an odd beat note, and not so smooth. Gearbox behaviour changed, held the lower gears longer. MPG would change on the old swingometer. If running the hidden menu, the confirmation, ECT would increase into the high 90's, as a regeneration took place.

    Peter
     
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  12. Abh29
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    Abh29

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    My son has an Isuzu DMax that indicates when Regen is occuring,otherwise I would not notice it.
     
  13. symonh2000
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    symonh2000

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    I do 13 miles each way to work plus numerous shorter trips and never had any issues with my N57 330d or my previous 120d.

    You can always take the car on a longer run every other weekend just to blow the cobwebs out if needed.

    Petrol 5 series are pretty rare and don't suit the car as well, so if I get one it is also likely to be diesel.

    Modern diesels tend to have close coupled DPF's which are far less troublesome than the earlier cars with DPF halfway down the exhaust.
     
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  14. The_Master
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    The_Master

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    I too will buy a diesel again, we have a 2.0d X3 used for short runs and that's been fine too...as you say Petrol's are rare and it's hard enough to find a decent 520d M Sport touring let alone a Petrol version...
     
  15. Singvogel
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    Singvogel Staff Member Moderator WARLORD Site Supporter

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    I will too - with the largest 6 cylinder engine possible - in a rear wheel drive saloon.

    More than likely another 3 series.

    The only question is when.

    It has to be before the current one reaches 100K miles or 10 years old - whichever comes first - it's five and a half years old now with 60K on the clock.

    I also have to bear in mind the decision of the UK government to prohibit sales of new petrol and diesel-engined cars from 2030.

    I would also consider buying a LHD diesel in Germany before they too prohibit them in 2035,

    Those prohibition dates may change of course.
     
  16. Highsided
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    Highsided

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    Fully agree. Owners who relate DPF woes are often found to be relating to old designs. As others have already commented, regeneration of modern diesels goes by unnoticed - I've never noticed any change in behaviour from my 330d N57 setup that could be attributed to DPF regeneration.

    The discussion reminds me of the threads arguing the pros and cons of run flat tyres - "they're awful, hard, noisy, et cetera et cetera", only to reveal their experience was with run flats from twenty years past.
     
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  17. Peter
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    Peter WARLORD

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    Not hearing too many issues with SCR systems, but there are some horror stories.

    Peter
     
  18. Mieke
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    Mieke WARLORD Site Supporter

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    I've never ever noticed when my F30 330d is carrying out a regen, other than increased fuel consumption shown on the trip computer.
    I don't believe the later models have the same DPF issues of the older models. Even if on moderate trips, if the regen isn't complete it will continue the cycle next time the car is driven. Lockdown apart, I would normally be doing journeys of 20+ miles with maybe a couple of 80 mile long motorway journeys per month. that should be enough to keep the DPF clear.
     
  19. Johnny Grabble
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    Johnny Grabble

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    Until Covid I was a 20k+ miles a year driver in my 5-er, my 4th one. The first, a 2007 E60 530d, the regens were very obvious, noisy, rougher sounding, as they were in the second, a 2012 F10 520d ED. The next one was a 2015 F10 535d, never heard or felt a thing on the move. Very occasionally at the end of a 70-odd mile commute, I'd park up and notice that a regen was in progress but I'd switch off anyway. Currently the 2018 G30 530d it behaves just as the 535d did, even though my annual mileage is now much lower (but still mainly long-ish trips of an hour or more).
     
  20. TrillyUK
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    TrillyUK

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    In my F32 D 4 series doing pre Covid about 15k a year mostly commuting to west London to work. Quite a bit of motorway and 50mph zones would say once a month the regen kicks in. The exhaust becomes noticeably bassy even at low speeds. Tends to be at lower revs below 2k rpm it’s noticeable.

    As not doing the mileage now and have the “petrol” car for short journeys make sure the F32 only goes out on longer journeys where I know it will get up to temperature for a bit.
     

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