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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series (F10) Forums Regional Forums UK 520d BMW powerkit. Is it worth having?
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      12-21-2013, 09:37 AM   #1
andrew520d
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520d BMW powerkit. Is it worth having?

I recently returned to f11 520d after a year in a F31 330d.
Only thing I miss is the effortless performance and was thinking about the BMW powerkit to make the 520d a little nippier.
Do any forum members have this and if so is it worth it?
My internet research hasn't shown any definitive answers to this so would apprciate any feedback.
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      12-21-2013, 09:45 AM   #2
davewf
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I looked at doing this but my insurance company refused to cover the car with the powerkit fitted. Mad as it seems I am insured with BMW insurance who are Allianz, the fact they took this stance made be back off because I reckoned it would effect the cars residual value.
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      12-21-2013, 11:22 AM   #3
andrew520d
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That insurance situation seems crazy as the power increase is only 20 bhp I think.
Re. residuals, I can't see it having a negative effect but also don't think it will enhance the cars value either.
My dealer has offered it to me at cost price as I had some concerns coming from the more powerful car.some reports have said it makes the car a good deal swifter when revs over 2k.
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      12-22-2013, 06:02 AM   #4
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Thought about a 'Tuning Box' ?

My neighbour has one fitted to his 320d - 'kick in the back' acceleration !

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ight=DTUK+maps
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      12-23-2013, 04:09 PM   #5
andrew520d
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would not want to invalidate my warranty with a tuning box.
I have also heard that they can damage engine if not fitted correctly.
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      12-24-2013, 01:36 AM   #6
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Yeah, Murphy would probably triumph ....... altho my neighbour has had it fitted for 18 months, and its easy to remove (it simply daisy-chains into the loom to take the sensor signals to the 'box' and back).

Pity one cant pay for an upgrade to the 325d/525d ECU maps - altho I guess there are also hardware differences in the models ....
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      12-24-2013, 06:11 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrew520d View Post
I recently returned to f11 520d after a year in a F31 330d.
Only thing I miss is the effortless performance and was thinking about the BMW powerkit to make the 520d a little nippier.
Do any forum members have this and if so is it worth it?
My internet research hasn't shown any definitive answers to this so would apprciate any feedback.
Here is a link that may have some useful info....
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      12-26-2013, 01:50 AM   #8
kave
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I have one year in mine now with performance kit.
It wont make it a 530d for sure, but it use lower rpm. I rarely go over 1500rpm now.
Me and a friend with a vanilla 520d compared them and it is a noticable difference in acceleration. I recommend it.
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      12-26-2013, 04:15 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kave View Post
I have one year in mine now with performance kit.
It wont make it a 530d for sure, but it use lower rpm. I rarely go over 1500rpm now.
Me and a friend with a vanilla 520d compared them and it is a noticable difference in acceleration. I recommend it.
I might get this in the future.
BTW, do you drive with a heavy foot, 7,5 L/100km is a lot more than my 6 L/100km.
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      12-26-2013, 03:19 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrew520d View Post
I recently returned to f11 520d after a year in a F31 330d.
.
Why only a year in the 330d?
I was toying with going the other way
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      12-26-2013, 03:44 PM   #11
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I had a year and a half in a e91 335d and it was just too small, otherwise I'd still be in it.
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530d M-Sport Touring.

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      12-27-2013, 06:15 AM   #12
andrew520d
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I drove a 520d for almost 3 years before I got the 330d and I had become used to the quality,comfort and refinement.
I mistakenly thought the 3 series would give me the same in a slightly shrunken package but with more excitement when required.
In reality I found while I loved the power and refined engine, it had too much wind and road noise, rattled and was too obviously built to a lower price point. The plastics and interior quality were too a much lower standard, and the audio is woeful.
I knew this when I test drove but felt the driving experience would more than compensate. in the end it didn't.
95% of the time when you want to get somewhere safely and in comfort the 5 is in another league but the other 5% when you want to have a blast and a "spirited drive", the 3 is undoubtedly greater fun.
Size wise the 3 interior is not too bad if you don't carry passangers too often.
For me the 5 is better but I could see why some would choose the 3.
Ideally I would have got a 530d to replace the 330d but they are not to be found easily in the republic of Ireland and are a disaster residually if bought new, just like my 330 was.
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      01-01-2014, 12:38 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by remmib View Post
I might get this in the future.
BTW, do you drive with a heavy foot, 7,5 L/100km is a lot more than my 6 L/100km.
Yes, I blend 70km runs at 140-150kmh with short runs at 7km city driving.
High speed saves time
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      01-01-2014, 03:29 AM   #14
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I quizzed my local dealer about this for my 520d M Sport Auto and they said it would cost approx £1000. I'm thinking about having it fitted to mine - I take delivery on the 1st March (LCI F10). That extra power in the low revs is handy for overtaking.
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      01-07-2014, 12:05 PM   #15
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Now the dealer is telling me that the kit will not fit an LCI Auto.
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      01-13-2014, 04:31 AM   #16
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Strange they made som things worse on the LCI.
No Sports Automatic on 520D, and now no Performance kit.
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      01-15-2014, 12:11 PM   #17
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Andrew520d, very interested to hear what you got for your 330d...after seven 5 series from e39 up to two f10s I bought a 330d new last July for exactly the same reasons you listed...and I would go back to a f10 now for the same reasons as you..also in ROI so gives me the bad news....
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      01-15-2014, 05:20 PM   #18
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Hi MMY,
If you do decide to get out of your 330d after only getting it in July you will be hit hard I'm afraid.
My car was around 60k in January 2013 and I traded it back in to the same dealer in November with 15000 miles against a 6 month old F11 520d m sport. It is hard to know exactly what they gave me for it as you never know what the true figure against a used car is but when they quoted me for a Jan 2014 car they were allowing me 43k.
I had tried to sell it through a dealer I know who tried to sell it in the trade. Most dealers wouldn't touch it but the best offer was 35k from one bmw dealer.Taking the piss comes to mind.
In fairness Morrisons BMW were decent enough and offered the same more or less against a new car as my local dealer but said that if I kept the car another year they wouldn't offer me much less than this year as the first year is the worst depreciation wise.
The problem is the fact that the 330d is really a car that only a small few appreciate. Most Irish people are quite happy with base spec 316 as its a BMW and doesn't look much different from a 330 to the majority.
I spotted the car I bought while I was in booking a service and warranty work re brake squeal and rattles that the car still had from new.I needed new tyres too.When I drove the 5 series it was so quiet and refined etc I was sold again and did a deal.
Financially you will be much better off to hold another year or two.
My car is for sale in Conlans BMW for 52.5k which I suppose shows the mark up they put on them.
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      01-16-2014, 03:34 AM   #19
MMY
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Thanks Andrew; mine is a saloon at ~58k new, I guessed without checking that I might get 45k on a trade-in but also figured - as you confirmed - that it would be better to hold out until next year when the depreciation curve has tapered off. The mark-up at Conlons is truly amazing - but it also highlights what somebody going in with cash can haggle for...I have found Conlons aggressive on price although never bought from them; couldn't even get Morrison to quote for a 330d against the 2012 F10 520d I sold in July!!! At least I have mine D-regged deliberately so I have the Dublin market as an option when I trade.
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      01-16-2014, 01:40 PM   #20
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Do you think you will hold on to it while longer?
Sales of new BMW's are way up on last year so I imagine dealers would not be chasing a deal with you at the moment.
Where did you buy your car? Maybe they would give you more than I was getting if you are a serial buyer.
Would be interested in what makes you keen to get out of it so soon like me.
I think for me the superior performance of the 330 just wasn't enough to outweigh the cheaper interior,, bad wind noise and what to me was a very poor audio sound
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      01-16-2014, 02:55 PM   #21
MMY
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Andregw520, think we're straying off topic...apart from the reasons cited earlier, the 3 series is a bit trickier to get a set of golf clubs and trolley in!!! Could manage a trolley and two bags in the f10 but if bring somebody with me in the f30 generally put their stuff on the back seat! I'll be getting serviced in a couple of months and will softly put it on the market...if a dealer can match somebody who actually wants a 330 then that would maximise my deal; I'm guessing that now they would low ball a trade in with the argument that it would sit on the lot for a while. In fairness my dealer did say that it would depreciate more than a 520d ...but they lose 10k the minute you drive them away! Did half ask dealer to get me a Uk 530d instead of a new 330d but either they weren't interested or they said it didn't make sense. Incidentally, in 2013 only 2% of F30s sold in the uk in 2013 were 330's apparently (335d only released late last year so even rarer). Might even be able export it!!
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