[Matt2408]

So I'm new to the forum but am looking to get a 535 and wanted to ask a couple things before I buy one and miss something. I've been looking for about 2 weeks and it's either they don't have a lot of options or the maintenance records are unknown. Just recently the family car was changed to a f15 X5 but haven't yet learned what to exactly check for.

About half of what I find don't have the drive select switch (Sport, Comfort, Eco Pro) do these just affect throttle response/aggressiveness and shift points? or does it do more in terms of steering/suspension?

For other options/features, by the gear shift some only have the hill descent button but some have a "P" and cone, in the x5 this just activates the 360 degree when parking, is it the same here? Under the driver side vent by the door some have the row of buttons for HUD, lane assist etc, but some still say they have head up display even without this. What else can look for when checking pics to know what options it has?

My budget is about 12-13k if its a private seller but I don't mind 110-120k miles if maintenance was always good but would like it to be well optioned. I'm in the Philadelphia area but don't mind driving 2-3h if worth it.

[ezaircon4jc]

The easiest thing to do is use a VIN decoder and find out what options the car actually has. There are a ton of ads that say fully loaded, yet are far from it. Be aware that the F10's only have 3G connectivity, so any mention of ConnectedDrive or traffic information is useless as 3G was decommissioned last year.

https://www.mdecoder.com/

[Matt2408]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

The easiest thing to do is use a VIN decoder and find out what options the car actually has. There are a ton of ads that say fully loaded, yet are far from it. Be aware that the F10's only have 3G connectivity, so any mention of ConnectedDrive or traffic information is useless as 3G was decommissioned last year.

https://www.mdecoder.com/

Yeah I’ve been looking and asking for vin of ones that stand out. Not easy to find them for some reason. What would you say in your opinion are options I should look for. I know I’d want cold weather for the heated wheel and driver’s assistance for the rear camera. What else? M sport is even more rare to find in my area and budget. How important useful is the drive select? Is it worth having that as a must have?

[tevad]

Mine is a 2014 (LCI) and I bought it with 119k back in 2021. It's not an M Sport, but does have the Sport-Comfort-Eco Pro switch. It definitely makes a difference. I typically drive in Comfort just shuffling the kids around, but when I'm up in the mountains Sport mode with Manual shift is a blast. It has the Premium Package which has the HUD, which I highly recommend you seek out. I miss it instantly whenever I get in the wife's 4Runner. Comfort Access is also pretty nice to have, since you can wave your foot to open the trunk, etc.

These 535s with the N55 are reliable and run strong well into higher mileage. As you've mentioned in your search, finding service/maintenance records is key. Mine was meticulously maintained and it was all highway miles. I'm now at 152k miles and have no leaks, no major issues. I did have to get the washer fluid pump replaced and that was a little pricy just due to the labor because of where it's situated. Other than a thrust arm replacement, it's required no major repairs.

[Matt2408]

Originally Posted by tevad

Mine is a 2014 (LCI) and I bought it with 119k back in 2021. It's not an M Sport, but does have the Sport-Comfort-Eco Pro switch. It definitely makes a difference. I typically drive in Comfort just shuffling the kids around, but when I'm up in the mountains Sport mode with Manual shift is a blast. It has the Premium Package which has the HUD, which I highly recommend you seek out. I miss it instantly whenever I get in the wife's 4Runner. Comfort Access is also pretty nice to have, since you can wave your foot to open the trunk, etc.

These 535s with the N55 are reliable and run strong well into higher mileage. As you've mentioned in your search, finding service/maintenance records is key. Mine was meticulously maintained and it was all highway miles. I'm now at 152k miles and have no leaks, no major issues. I did have to get the washer fluid pump replaced and that was a little pricy just due to the labor because of where it's situated. Other than a thrust arm replacement, it's required no major repairs.

Yeah finding one with all that and within price/mileage seems impossible. Best I have right now is 2012 with 110k miles. Maintenance pretty good. They said carfax from 2022 shows pretty regular oil changes. It has the drive mode select and comfort access but no head up display. I think having the drive mode selector is more important for it to have because it actually changes how you drive. Gotta keep waiting and looking I guess.

[Trian]

Of all the possible options, HUD is the most must-have for me now.

If no service records, you should have an Indie give it a look before buying. Most 528/535's from those years also need oil gaskets changed, so unless you can DIY, it can add up fast.

[ezaircon4jc]

My must haves are HUD, M-Sport, Comfort (multi-contour) seats and front camera (I'm tired of hitting parking stops).

I would stay away from 2011's as they are the 1st year of the F10. We had a 2012 535i that treated us well. We traded it in for a 2019 540i with a ton of goodies I didn't think I'd use. The one I rarely use is lane-keeping assist and I have yet to use the self parking feature.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

My must haves are HUD, M-Sport, Comfort (multi-contour) seats and front camera (I'm tired of hitting parking stops).

I would stay away from 2011's as they are the 1st year of the F10. We had a 2012 535i that treated us well. We traded it in for a 2019 540i with a ton of goodies I didn't think I'd use. The one I rarely use is lane-keeping assist and I have yet to use the self parking feature.

Can confirm, our 2011 has been a lemon. Great comfortable sports sedan other than needing to replace everything on it! ;-)

How do you like the driving dynamics between the 535i and the 540i? Love how our F11 drives, but when we upgrade I don't know if we should stay with a newer 535i, or stretch to get into a G30. Tech is meaningless to us, so not a draw.

[M_Bimmer]

My 2014 LCI 535i M-Sport, with only 48,000 miles, has been absolutely solid since I bought it brand new. I have yet to replace anything on it mechanically (excluding maintenance items).

Replaced the battery and tires...but it still has the original brakes (3000miles left on them (?)).

Due for new spark plugs @ 50K miles, and its has had its oil changes yearly (regardless of miles), and its brake fluid flushed every two years.

The cheapest BMW I've ever owned.....

Now for the MODs (yes, both pics below are of the same car - mine):
1. Rear heated seats
2. Rear window sun shade (electrical)
3. Rear door card sun shades (mechanical)
4. 4-zone climate control
5. B&O radio (up from HK)
6. Heated + ///M5 steering wheel
7. Full merino leather door cards
8. Full merino leather dashboard
9. High Beam Assist
10. Full ///M5 front and rear seats, and center console in Silverstone Merino Leather
a. Added front seat massage
b. Added front seat cooling
c. Kept intact front seat heating
11. Individual wood trim

...and was going to add Driver's Assistance Plus, but decided to stop.

Will be installing Koni Specials in the next month....

So if you can find a good mechanical example of an F10, you can add a lot of the features at your leisure, and this forum would be a great source of help.

[StradaRedlands]

We're toying with the idea of moving up to the big engine, but turbos have always scared me off. Am I being overly paranoid? Is the need to walnut blast the N55 engine that big of a deal to have done? Is it supposed be done around 100k miles as regular maintenance, or just as necessary? And is waste-gate rattle an issue? I hear a lot of 335i people complaining about that. And then I guess eventually the turbos themselves need to be replaced. But maybe not as often in a more maturely driven 535i? Uncharted territory here...