Is 530e a risky second hand purchase?

sorin1987 · 11-20-2023, 08:39 AM

I have been doing some research around the G31 as I need a car with more boot space. I am based in the UK and will do most of the driving (at least in the next few years due to having one toddler and one baby on the way) in London and short trips (1-2h/60-100 miles) outside London. In theory a plug in hybrid would suit me the best as I could do 90% of my journey on the battery only and I have a driveway and could charge at home.
However I have no experience and I don't know anyone who owned such a car. I am quite wary of cars having batteries and purchasing them second hand as batteries life goes down with time and eventually they will go bad. Is it a bad idea to purchase such a car that is 4-5 years old?
I am actually consider the 520 or 530i but there are a lot more 530e on the market and the LCI ones are only hybrids but maybe they are just to new to be available on the SH market yet.
What are people's opinion? Should I just stick with a petrol engine and not risk having batteries go out outside waranty? Would probably look to keep the car for at least 4 years after purchase so reliability as an older car is important for me.

Thank you!

AP · 11-20-2023, 10:17 AM

You mention boot space but I think the 530e has slightly less due to the battery compared to the pure ICE models

410 litres compared to 530.

That may well be enough but worth highlighting in case you were not aware

Other can comment on the 530e itself , I’ve not any experience with that.

sorin1987 · 11-20-2023, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AP

You mention boot space but I think the 530e has slightly less due to the battery compared to the pure ICE models

410 litres compared to 530.

That may well be enough but worth highlighting in case you were not aware

Other can comment on the 530e itself , I’ve not any experience with that.

That seems too little, I mentioned I am looking into G31, the touring version.

AP · 11-20-2023, 12:23 PM

Scrub that then .

LogicalApex · 11-20-2023, 12:53 PM

Generally speaking, the 530e is very reliable so should be a safe used buy (obviously after inspection).

But check the warranty for the battery and car to be fully aware of your options.

For US cars in CARB states the warranty is extended quite long on the 530e to 15Y/150K miles (10Y/100K miles on the battery). If the UK offers similar extensions that can nullify the worries you have.

But generally we don’t get many failures on the HV system reported on the forums.

SarahPrasad · 11-25-2023, 05:14 AM

Thanks for the info, I will keep it in my mind.

530iDriver · 11-28-2023, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

Generally speaking, the 530e is very reliable so should be a safe used buy (obviously after inspection).

But check the warranty for the battery and car to be fully aware of your options.

For US cars in CARB states the warranty is extended quite long on the 530e to 15Y/150K miles (10Y/100K miles on the battery). If the UK offers similar extensions that can nullify the worries you have.

But generally we don’t get many failures on the HV system reported on the forums.

The now discontinued X3 Hybrid has been plagued with drive train problems and a check engine light that seems to rear its head at around 25K to never go away in despite of the dealer’s service dept best efforts. I have not read or seen similar complaints from the 530e which is pretty much the same
Plug in setup as the X3 Hybrid (Discontinued after 2021MY in the US). But with that said, used cars need to be approached with caution and more so hybrids that add extra complexity. Always put the car in a lift and have a trusted independent mechanic check the car (Bow to stern) before you agree to move forward.

LogicalApex · 11-28-2023, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

The now discontinued X3 Hybrid has been plagued with drive train problems and a check engine light that seems to rear its head at around 25K to never go away in despite of the dealer’s service dept best efforts. I have not read or seen similar complaints from the 530e which is pretty much the same
Plug in setup as the X3 Hybrid (Discontinued after 2021MY in the US). But with that said, used cars need to be approached with caution and more so hybrids that add extra complexity. Always put the car in a lift and have a trusted independent mechanic check the car (Bow to stern) before you agree to move forward.

Very much agreed. Definitely do a solid inspection on any car.

So far, my 530e hasn’t had any issues and I’m at just under 50K miles. If it does develop a CEL persistence I’ll leverage the BMW warranty for it to have them resolve it (PHEVs have 15Y/150K mile coverage in CARB states).

530iDriver · 11-28-2023, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

Very much agreed. Definitely do a solid inspection on any car.

So far, my 530e hasn’t had any issues and I’m at just under 50K miles. If it does develop a CEL persistence I’ll leverage the BMW warranty for it to have them resolve it (PHEVs have 15Y/150K mile coverage in CARB states).

CARB states make the purchase of a BMW PHEV a no brainer. Unfortunately Florida is not in that company.

Numark318i · 11-29-2023, 12:04 AM

So far so good for my ‘22 530e.

I have 17k miles, no issues so far.

I’ll say this car is designed for short trips to maximize efficiency. Most of my mileage is on battery only. The car is fantastic around town with the battery. Highway cruising is also a pleasure, but long trips I am sure a smaller ICE engine would be more efficient.

I charge at work and home, commuting 25 miles a day.

One more thing to consider is the way the drive train feels when driving the car. With the electric motor built into the transmission and no torque converter it takes some getting used to. The first 5,000 miles I was not able to stop smoothly due to the way the engine/motor decouples while coming to a stop. Its difficult to explain without driving the car, so make sure to do a long test drive, trying all drive modes.

I have no regrets. The car is fantastic and meets all my needs, but it is not a typical vehicle in a lot of ways.

RobbieCornett · 12-21-2023, 01:34 AM

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

CnSky · 01-07-2024, 12:29 PM

My only major failure was the KLE charge controller blowing up and destroying my home charger also, outside of warranty 2600 euro to fix. It’s a known issue and BMW have gone through over 17 part number changes since 2017 so they know it’s a problem for n UK Ireland. I was using a zappi it was melted to pieces. Zappi engineer knew what had happened says they see it all the time in 530e that are actually charged at home. Many don’t bother ever charging them at home.

LogicalApex · 01-07-2024, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CnSky

My only major failure was the KLE charge controller blowing up and destroying my home charger also, outside of warranty 2600 euro to fix. It’s a known issue and BMW have gone through over 17 part number changes since 2017 so they know it’s a problem for n UK Ireland. I was using a zappi it was melted to pieces. Zappi engineer knew what had happened says they see it all the time in 530e that are actually charged at home. Many don’t bother ever charging them at home.

Any additional details on this?

I've charged my 530e regularly since I purchased it over 4 years ago. I haven't had any charging failures of the KLE or damage to my ChargePoint.

What is the failure and why does the wall charger melt? I'd expect it to stop providing voltage above what it is rated to supply. Even if the car had a failure and requested more than it could accommodate. Any failure due to excessive power use I would expect to occur in the car where there is a 16A limit.

The details will be helpful as if they are applicable to other owners it will definitely help us all keep an eye out.

CnSky · 01-08-2024, 02:01 PM

Hi logical.

The myennergi enginer actually brought this up. He asked after changing my unit via warranty if perhaps it was plugged into a BMW hybrid 530e or 330e when it happened. After confirming he then asked me if the KLE had blown. I was surprised he even knew what a KLE is.

He explained that they are seeing a lot of this on BMWs and it doesn’t happen on other cars. It always causes a blown charger after KLE failure. No idea how that happens from a charger/car interface point of view.

If you search online there is loads of people reporting failed KLEs and confirming that BMW have changed the part number over 17 times. I had a look online and could see 8 part number changes between 2017-2020 Aline.

Seems there is something going on with the KLE and perhaps only myennergi chargers that are running in smart mode and sending excess solar power multiple times a day to the car. Thats a lot of cycles. This is what I was doing to capture free power.

Anyway this happened to me and it was the last straw so I sold the car. Planning to get an IX next year driving a Tesla (which I hate) in the interim.

LogicalApex · 01-08-2024, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CnSky

Hi logical.

The myennergi enginer actually brought this up. He asked after changing my unit via warranty if perhaps it was plugged into a BMW hybrid 530e or 330e when it happened. After confirming he then asked me if the KLE had blown. I was surprised he even knew what a KLE is.

He explained that they are seeing a lot of this on BMWs and it doesn’t happen on other cars. It always causes a blown charger after KLE failure. No idea how that happens from a charger/car interface point of view.

If you search online there is loads of people reporting failed KLEs and confirming that BMW have changed the part number over 17 times. I had a look online and could see 8 part number changes between 2017-2020 Aline.

Seems there is something going on with the KLE and perhaps only myennergi chargers that are running in smart mode and sending excess solar power multiple times a day to the car. Thats a lot of cycles. This is what I was doing to capture free power.

Anyway this happened to me and it was the last straw so I sold the car. Planning to get an IX next year driving a Tesla (which I hate) in the interim.

Wow thanks for the heads up and sharing this with owners on the forum! Your posts are always informative.

I looked up the KLE on RealOEM and it shows 6 revisions and the latest one it lists shows as already discontinued and replaced by GetBMWParts.com (a BMW dealership parts department). You’re absolutely right they seem to be dealing with a lot of changes to this part.

https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...LTQ4NS0wMzE%3D

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CnSky · 01-08-2024, 02:21 PM

I think it’s may be way more PN changes as real OEM only goes to 2020 from what I see.

According to some guy on other forums it’s been 17 changes since the KLE was designed. No idea how he figured that out but he did drop hints that he may be a BMW tech.

Anyway I gave up on the car and moved on which is a pity as I really miss the sublime ride on the variable dampers and luxurious interior.

11-20-2023, 08:39 AM	#1
sorin1987 Private First Class 38 Rep 111 Posts Drives: BMW 520i G31 MSport Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Is 530e a risky second hand purchase? I have been doing some research around the G31 as I need a car with more boot space. I am based in the UK and will do most of the driving (at least in the next few years due to having one toddler and one baby on the way) in London and short trips (1-2h/60-100 miles) outside London. In theory a plug in hybrid would suit me the best as I could do 90% of my journey on the battery only and I have a driveway and could charge at home. However I have no experience and I don't know anyone who owned such a car. I am quite wary of cars having batteries and purchasing them second hand as batteries life goes down with time and eventually they will go bad. Is it a bad idea to purchase such a car that is 4-5 years old? I am actually consider the 520 or 530i but there are a lot more 530e on the market and the LCI ones are only hybrids but maybe they are just to new to be available on the SH market yet. What are people's opinion? Should I just stick with a petrol engine and not risk having batteries go out outside waranty? Would probably look to keep the car for at least 4 years after purchase so reliability as an older car is important for me. Thank you!
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11-20-2023, 10:17 AM	#2
AP Major General 2797 Rep 5,112 Posts Drives: G30 M550 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	You mention boot space but I think the 530e has slightly less due to the battery compared to the pure ICE models 410 litres compared to 530. That may well be enough but worth highlighting in case you were not aware Other can comment on the 530e itself , I’ve not any experience with that.
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11-20-2023, 12:23 PM	#4
AP Major General 2797 Rep 5,112 Posts Drives: G30 M550 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Scrub that then .
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11-20-2023, 12:53 PM	#5
LogicalApex Colonel 2026 Rep 2,947 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW 530xe Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Farmington, NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW 530xe [0.00]	Generally speaking, the 530e is very reliable so should be a safe used buy (obviously after inspection). But check the warranty for the battery and car to be fully aware of your options. For US cars in CARB states the warranty is extended quite long on the 530e to 15Y/150K miles (10Y/100K miles on the battery). If the UK offers similar extensions that can nullify the worries you have. But generally we don’t get many failures on the HV system reported on the forums.
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11-25-2023, 05:14 AM	#6
SarahPrasad Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: M550i Join Date: Nov 2023 Location: alaska iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info, I will keep it in my mind.
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11-29-2023, 12:04 AM	#10
Numark318i Second Lieutenant 60 Rep 223 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 328i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Cotati CA iTrader: (0)	So far so good for my ‘22 530e. I have 17k miles, no issues so far. I’ll say this car is designed for short trips to maximize efficiency. Most of my mileage is on battery only. The car is fantastic around town with the battery. Highway cruising is also a pleasure, but long trips I am sure a smaller ICE engine would be more efficient. I charge at work and home, commuting 25 miles a day. One more thing to consider is the way the drive train feels when driving the car. With the electric motor built into the transmission and no torque converter it takes some getting used to. The first 5,000 miles I was not able to stop smoothly due to the way the engine/motor decouples while coming to a stop. Its difficult to explain without driving the car, so make sure to do a long test drive, trying all drive modes. I have no regrets. The car is fantastic and meets all my needs, but it is not a typical vehicle in a lot of ways. __________________ Monaco Blue 2008 328i/Sports/6 Speed
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12-21-2023, 01:34 AM	#11
RobbieCornett Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: M550 Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.
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01-07-2024, 12:29 PM	#12
CnSky Major 330 Rep 1,028 Posts Drives: BMW 530E 2017 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland iTrader: (0)	My only major failure was the KLE charge controller blowing up and destroying my home charger also, outside of warranty 2600 euro to fix. It’s a known issue and BMW have gone through over 17 part number changes since 2017 so they know it’s a problem for n UK Ireland. I was using a zappi it was melted to pieces. Zappi engineer knew what had happened says they see it all the time in 530e that are actually charged at home. Many don’t bother ever charging them at home.
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01-08-2024, 02:01 PM	#14
CnSky Major 330 Rep 1,028 Posts Drives: BMW 530E 2017 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland iTrader: (0)	Hi logical. The myennergi enginer actually brought this up. He asked after changing my unit via warranty if perhaps it was plugged into a BMW hybrid 530e or 330e when it happened. After confirming he then asked me if the KLE had blown. I was surprised he even knew what a KLE is. He explained that they are seeing a lot of this on BMWs and it doesn’t happen on other cars. It always causes a blown charger after KLE failure. No idea how that happens from a charger/car interface point of view. If you search online there is loads of people reporting failed KLEs and confirming that BMW have changed the part number over 17 times. I had a look online and could see 8 part number changes between 2017-2020 Aline. Seems there is something going on with the KLE and perhaps only myennergi chargers that are running in smart mode and sending excess solar power multiple times a day to the car. Thats a lot of cycles. This is what I was doing to capture free power. Anyway this happened to me and it was the last straw so I sold the car. Planning to get an IX next year driving a Tesla (which I hate) in the interim.
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01-08-2024, 02:21 PM	#16
CnSky Major 330 Rep 1,028 Posts Drives: BMW 530E 2017 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland iTrader: (0)	I think it’s may be way more PN changes as real OEM only goes to 2020 from what I see. According to some guy on other forums it’s been 17 changes since the KLE was designed. No idea how he figured that out but he did drop hints that he may be a BMW tech. Anyway I gave up on the car and moved on which is a pity as I really miss the sublime ride on the variable dampers and luxurious interior.
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