bmw 530d

[ncmorgan]

what size van do you pull with this monster of a car

been looking to replace my car for the 530d,and was wondering what you thought of your own

 

[cooky1]

I have a E39 530D Tourer and I tow a 1500kg Bailey Indiana with no problems. The van works out as 84.5% of the kerb weight - so ideal. I spent 2 weeks in France this year with 5 adults in the car and the van loaded to the max. It towed beautifully but did spend a fair amount of time in 4th gear (it's an auto).

I have just returned today rom a weekend away with my wife and our dog, so the van and car were quite light and the car towed in 5th at 60mph with no problems.

HTH.

Graeme.

 

[ncmorgan]

thats good to know it makes a good towcar,thanks for that

 

[madeleine]

We pulled a Hymer Nove fixed bed like a dream with this car

 

[alan_5039782]

Hi I tow with 530se tourer 1999 model,manual..sterling saphire 1535,dogs etc,no problems,,,agree re comments tows best over 2000 revs in 4 th gear...no hesitation i reccomending

 

[Willy_5041515]

I have a 530d (2001 E39) auto and I consider it the best car I have ever towed with. Loads of torque, 40+ mpg solo and 22 - 24 mpg towing. It will tow all day at 7o mph on the French autoroutes (legal!). I tow a Swift Challenger 540 with 1500 kg MTPLM.

 

[cooky1]

Willy, I have the 2000 E39 530d Tourer, which has 183bhp - I think yours has 194. I tow a 1500kg van and this year in France it would not stay in 5th gear (it's an auto) for any length of time. Loads of power, and it would do any of the legal speeds in France but not in 5th. This meant it only got about 18mpg. I did have 5 adults in the car and thevan was fully loaded.

I went away this weekend with only the 2 of us and our dog and a porch awning and the car towed beatifully at around 60mph in 5th. I think the bit extra bhp you have must make the diference.

I enquired about getting my car chipped to give it 225bhp - but my insurance company would no longer insure a modified car. I have not enquired any where else though.

Graeme.

 

[Willy_5041515]

Hi Graeme. Yes mine is 193 bhp. I think you did well to get 18 mpg with 5 adults and a fully laden caravan! My figures are for two only, fairly lightly loaded with no awning and I do drive gently. I did have a problem with a lack of power this year, which turned out to be a faulty mass air flow meter (which tells the engine management computer how much diesel to squirt in). However, this was a dramatic lack of power and I don't think your car has a problem, although it (and the turbo) is quite a common problem with this model. I usually select sports mode when towing as this holds in 4th gear (5th is not selected) and also increases the revs before the gears change. I change back to drive mode on autoroutes and often use manual selection on hilly routes. I do this out of respect for the car, recognising that it was not really built for towing.