Highlights

Only One registered keeper from new
Desirable facelift model with 286bhp M57 twin turbo engine
Fastidiously maintained by mechanical engineer keeper
Serviced every 10,000 miles instead of factory 20,000 interval
Very well kept car in factory standard condition
Extensive options including Head-up Display and Logic 7 Professional HiFi
Always garaged and waxoyled annually underneath
Sold with a fresh MOT

The Appeal

Our very own Chris Harris described the E60 535D as the ultimate cross-country express, heading a long list of reviewers who have lauded the intrinsic qualities of BMW’s 260bhp twin turbo mile muncher. Quick, comfortable and with 42mpg economy, this is the kind of emerging modern classic that appeals to head and heart.

If that’s put you in the mood for one, then here is quite possibly the best available. It’s certainly been maintained quite unlike any other we’ve seen recently. It is a factory-standard facelift 2007 M Sport, which means it has the higher-output 286bhp version of the twin-turbo 3L engine. It is a low-mileage car with a single keeper from new. He is a mechanical engineer and, by his own admission, fastidious about maintenance. He has always looked after the car himself, servicing it every 10,000 miles rather than the factory-mandated 20,000 miles and amassing highly detailed records of all work, including fuel usage.

Finished in Space Grey metallic over Cream Beige Dakota leather with matching cream seatbelts and carpets, the car presents well for its age. The vendor notes minor wear items including small stone chips, slight colour loss on the driver's seat bolster piping, and some paint deterioration around the boot lid number plate area. A detailed handover is offered to the new owner to explain the service history and demonstrate the car's features.

The car was last serviced in June 2026 and currently carries an advisory-free MOT to November 2026. This indicates the seller’s approach: he will put a fresh MOT on the car before sale.

The vendor says:

“With total service history from new, one owner and a great specification, this is a highly capable, well-engineered and top quality saloon. It was the first diesel to be tested and praised by Jeremy Clarkson at 'Top Gear'. It has a discreet appearance, allied to a turn of pace, power and fuel economy to rival much more obvious machinery – all at a very tempting guide price.

“It deserves a good long-term home with a knowledgeable enthusiast. I will provide a very detailed handover to explain the service history and demonstrate the features of the car.”

Key Information

Mileage: 82,460 miles (supported by extensive service records and fuel log)
Country of registration: United Kingdom
MOT status: valid until November 2026; car will be supplied with a fresh MOT
Technical specs: 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel (M57), 286 BHP, 580 Nm, 6-speed sports automatic with steering wheel paddles
Paperwork: 21-page maintenance log, fuel economy spreadsheet, lever arch file of invoices, photographic records, handbook in factory wallet, all MOT certificates, Sat Nav DVD

Service history summary (work undertaken by seller):

06/26 - 82,000 miles
04/23 - 78,000 miles
10/19 - 73,000 miles
04/17 - 67,000 miles
03/15 - 57,000 miles
03/13 - 50,000 miles
06/11 - 40,000 miles
02/10 - 30,000 miles
01/09 - 20,000 miles
04/08 - 10,000 miles

The vendor says:

“This car has been over-serviced and fastidiously maintained since new (including during the factory 3-year warranty period) by the owner, who is a time-served and skilled mechanical engineer, now retired. The owner has kept exceptionally detailed and extensive service records.

“Engine oil and filter changes were due by BMW specification at every 20k miles, but renewed more frequently (see above) with invoices for filters and fully synthetic oil. The exposed underside areas, fittings, brake pipes, bolts, brackets, linkages, gaiter clamps, etc, are all waxoyled every year just prior to the MOT. All main dealer parts invoices, other parts receipts and associated bumf are in a lever arch box file, which is full.

“There is a very detailed 21-page Word document, with records of all the service and maintenance work done, including minor work such as checking the tyre pressures. There is an Excel spreadsheet recording every drop of fuel ever used, the date, mileage, cost per litre, total cost and the MPG. There is a thick A4 ring binder with printed photos and lots of workshop manual details copied directly from the Main Dealer's TIS database.

“The owner has created his own step-by-step worksheets for some maintenance tasks, including photos. There are lots of photos of the service work being done. All this data will be explained and then given to the new owner.”

The Detail

Oil and filter changed more frequently than factory recommendations as above
Recently serviced at 82,000 miles in June 2026
Underside waxoyled annually including brake pipes, bolts, brackets and linkages
New Varta L1 battery (110AH, 920CCA) fitted in 2023 with warranty until June 2028
Four almost-new Pirelli P Zero tyres fitted
M192 double-spoke 19" wheels professionally refurbished and reported never to have been kerbed
All factory recalls completed at main dealer
Vendor states the brake discs and pads are original and have never been renewed
We are told that the car uses no oil or coolant between services
Vendor advises that there are no rattles, clunks or unusual noises
Cream Beige Dakota leather interior in very good condition as shown in photos
Slight colour loss on driver's seat bolster edge piping over approximately 3–4 inches
Driver's side carpet mat has a worn area in the pile under the heel
Features factory options including:
- Head-up Display
- Logic 7 Professional HiFi with six-disc changer
- Wide-screen Sat Nav with Voice Control
- DAB radio
- Three-stage heated front seats
Silver grey metallic paintwork in very good condition for a car of this age
4–5 small stone chips on the bonnet and two stone chips on the OSF wing
Some paint deterioration around the boot lid number plate light area
Gap in plastic trim on the driver's side door mirror exposing the LED puddle light
Supplied with two key fobs, extra plastic door key, dummy key fob and locking wheel nut adaptor
Space saver spare wheel, jack, toolkit and first aid kit all present and reportedly unused
Full tank of diesel included

The vendor says:

“The car has the renowned M57 3.0 litre twin-turbo 286 BHP diesel engine with 580 Nm torque, which is more torque than the contemporary V10 M5 (520 Nm). It has the 6-speed sports auto gearbox with steering wheel paddles and the joystick-style upgraded gear shifter. It has all the LCi upgrades.

“The exterior is finished in A52 Space Grey metallic; all factory original, with no respray or repair work. The optional M192 double-spoke 19" wheels have never been kerbed, but have been professionally refurbished, as the original lacquer had failed.

“The interior is in LGCE Cream Beige Dakota Leather, with matching cream seatbelts, black headlining and cream carpets, all in excellent original condition.

“In addition to the already very generous factory specification, the optional extras include auto-dimming interior and heated exterior mirrors with electric fold and puddle lights (430), extended interior light package (563), lumbar support in front seats (488), dark poplar high gloss wood trim (438), 3 stage heated front seats (494), DAB radio (654), Logic 7 Professional HiFi with multi-stack 6 CD player (677), Media package with Voice Control and the wide screen professional Sat Nav (Z5L) and the lovely Head-up Display (610). Optional rechargeable torch in glovebox.

“Supplied with two original key fobs, extra plastic door key and dummy key fob (all as per factory supplied when new) and the locking wheel nut adaptor.

“The car is in exceptional, undamaged, entirely unmodified from factory specification and in very original condition. Some 'Running Reports' are published in the BMW Car Club GB magazine. The car has always been driven with mechanical sympathy, drives perfectly and has never been misused, driven off-road or on flooded roads. The car has never been used by a smoker, carried children, dirty materials or pets/animals.

“The brake discs and pads are all original and have never been renewed. The engine has always been idled before shut-off to cool the turbos. No short journeys - the engine has always gone through its warm-up cycle. All MOT Certificates retained to date; expires in November 2026. Car will come with a fresh MOT. Engine emissions are perfect - see MOT results and bore of exhaust tailpipes, which are spotless.

“Main Dealer visits to complete factory recalls for the electric cable in the boot floor (twice), a security upgrade to the OBD 2 port, and a tail-light wiring mod. New larger Varta L1 battery (110AH and 920CCA) fitted in 2023, with 5-year warranty remaining until June 2028. The space saver spare wheel and jack have never once been removed from the boot floor. Toolkit and first aid kit in the boot lid have never been used. Tyres x4 are almost new Pirelli P Zeros.

“There are no rattles, clunks or nasty noises when driving, accelerating, braking or cornering - it drives and handles like new. The engine uses no oil or coolant between services. The engine is turbine smooth and the gearbox always shifts smoothly and seamlessly. The car has always been garaged and never left out in the hot sun or rain. Original handbook in original factory padded wallet, with all breakdown/service booklets and the salesperson's business card. Original back-up DVD in original box for Sat Nav. Full tank of diesel.”

Wear and tear items notified by seller:

The vendor says:

“There are circa 4-5 small (2mm x 4mm) stone chips on the bonnet (see photos) and 2 stone chips (5-6mm diameter) on the OSF wing (see photos). There is a gap in the plastic trim, exposing the LED puddle light on the driver's-side door mirror black high-gloss trim frame (see photos). The driver's seat bolster edge piping has lost some of its beige colour for about 3-4" (see photos). The driver's side carpet mat has a thin/matted area in the pile under the driver's right-foot heel area (see photos). The paint around the recessed underside lip next to the number plate lights on the boot lid is poor in some small areas (see photos).”

BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.

✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.

✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.

✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection

or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it's worth checking beforehand. It is the bidders responsibility to confirm import eligibility prior to purchase.

✓ Unless stated otherwise, you must assume that any cherished, personalised, or heritage vehicle registration is not included in the sale of a vehicle.