E60/E61 2007-2010 · 2007–2010

BMW 525i 218 ch · N53B30UL (2007–2010)

Engine N53B30UL, 2996 cc, 160 kW (218 PS) and 270 Nm. Bodies: E60 saloon and E61 Touring estate. Gearbox: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive.

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Identify the car and prepare its maintenance

Technical specifications

Fuel
Petrol
Power
218 PS / 160 kW
Displacement
2 996 cm³
Torque
270 Nm
Engine code
N53B30UL
Period covered
2007–2010
Documented market
Europe

Transmission

  • Manual · 6 speeds
  • Automatic · 6 speeds

Figures apply to the cited configuration and market; equipment and transmissions may vary by production date.

Specification source : [1] BMW AG — TIS (archive) [2] BMW AG — TIS (archive) [3] Wikipedia [4] ADAC [5] BMW Group

Identification and specifics

Engine N53B30UL, 2996 cc, 160 kW (218 PS) and 270 Nm. Bodies: E60 saloon and E61 Touring estate. Gearbox: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive.

Source : [4] [3]

Engine oil for this variant

Oil rules (approvals, viscosity, quantity) sit on the linked engine page.

Source : [1]

Maintenance and CBS deadlines

The car computes service deadlines through CBS, visible in the instrument cluster. Vehicle check (fixed) and oil service (condition-based) are not the same event. Between two oil services: brake fluid every 24 months.

Source : [5] [2]

Documented recalls

Recalls: cross-check the ADAC Autokatalog entry and have the BMW VIN database queried for this period.

Source : [4]

Preparing the service

Bring the VIN, the production month, the engine code N53B30UL and the 160 kW (218 PS) rating. Have the work recorded in the CBS history and collect the key last used, which carries the maintenance data.

Source : [5] [4]

BMW N53 petrol engine (3.0 l direct-injection six)

This applies to every car fitted with the N53 engine.

What the N53 is

A naturally aspirated 2,996 cc inline six-cylinder petrol engine with second-generation direct injection (High Precision Injection: piezo injectors at up to 200 bar next to the spark plug) able to run in stratified lean mode, and a composite magnesium-aluminium crankcase. BMW’s workshop documentation pairs it with the 325i and 330i of the E90/E91/E92 3 Series; in the 2008 European range BMW quotes 160 kW (325i) and 200 kW (330i).

Source : [6] [7]

Engine oil

Oil change quantity: 6.5 l for the 2008 E90 325i and 330i according to BMW’s data sheet. Longlife-04 is approved for petrol engines only in the EU, Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein; elsewhere, use the approval BMW specifies for the country.

Source : [6] [1]

Oil service interval (CBS)

The oil service is calculated by CBS. From September 2008, BMW encodes a 30,000 km starting value for several petrol engines, including the ECE (European) N53, instead of 25,000 km for some previously. It is a starting value that CBS adjusts to use, not a guaranteed interval, and countries with a shortened provision do not get it.

Source : [2]

Maintenance and records

Engine oil

CBS · 24 months

24 months

Variable deadline computed by CBS from use; change oil within 24 months of the previous one at the latest. See the variant page for the matching quantity and oil approval.

Source [5]

Brake fluid

24 months

24 months

Change every two years; reset only the matching CBS service after the work.

Source [5]

Vehicle check

50,000 km / 48 months

50 000 km

48 months

Separate from the oil service; whichever limit is reached first, distance or time.

Source [5]

Questions about this version (5)

Which engine is in this N53B30UL variant?

Engine N53B30UL, 2996 cc, 160 kW (218 PS) and 270 Nm. Bodies: E60 saloon and E61 Touring estate. Gearbox: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive.

Source : [4] [3]

What oil and how much for this N53B30UL?

Oil rules (approvals, viscosity, quantity) sit on the linked engine page.

Source : [1]

What else does the BMW booklet schedule beyond the oil service?

The car computes service deadlines through CBS, visible in the instrument cluster. Vehicle check (fixed) and oil service (condition-based) are not the same event. Between two oil services: brake fluid every 24 months.

Source : [5] [2]

Which recalls should I check on this N53B30UL?

Recalls: cross-check the ADAC Autokatalog entry and have the BMW VIN database queried for this period.

Source : [4]

How do I tell this variant apart from the rest of the range?

Bring the VIN, the production month, the engine code N53B30UL and the 160 kW (218 PS) rating. Have the work recorded in the CBS history and collect the key last used, which carries the maintenance data.

Source : [5] [4]

Documentary sources

  1. [1] BMW TIS — BMW Quality Longlife-04

    BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · SI 11 03 04 (156) · revision 09/2005 · Accessed 08/10/2026

  2. [2] BMW TIS — Harmonisation of oil change intervals

    BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · ECE · SI 00 13 07 (391) · 10/2007 · launch 09/2008 · Accessed 08/10/2026

  3. [3] BMW 5 Series (E60) — Wikipedia

    Wikipedia · EN · Worldwide · Variant tables (pre-facelift and facelift saloon/Touring); M5 total production figures · Accessed 08/10/2026

  4. [4] ADAC Autokatalog — BMW 5er E60/E61 Facelift (2007–2010)

    ADAC · DE · Germany · LCI listing: 304 Treffer; power by trim for saloon and Touring (10/07–01/10 etc.) · Accessed 08/10/2026

  5. [5] BMW Group PressClub — The all-new BMW 5 Series (E60), 2003

    BMW Group · EN · Europe · Launch material for E60 saloon with 520i/525i/530i/545i petrol and 525d/530d diesel; CBS introduction · Accessed 08/10/2026

  6. [6] BMW — The new BMW 3 Series, July 2008

    BMW AG · EN · Europe · BMW AG European press kit; pp. 53–72: Saloon and Touring; oil change quantities · Accessed 08/10/2026

  7. [7] BMW TIS — E90/E91 model and engine index

    BMW AG (TIS, archive) · EN · Europe · 3 Series E90 and E91: N46, N52, N53, N54, M47T2, M57T2 and N47 · Accessed 08/10/2026

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