BMW G30 530e or 520i? Or Volvo S90 T4?

[TheAngryDog]

I think I have narrowed down to 3 cars that I want to replace my CLS with when it sells. I really like the G30 5 series, but most seem to be the plug in hybrid version that are in my price range. I don't want a diesel as I don't think I do the mileage that warrants one. I am averaging around 760 miles per month at the moment, most of that is local / work commute (32 miles a day, usually twice a month).I don't know if I do too many miles to have a plug in hybrid. I also don't know what the battery will be like after some 9 years of being on the road.This is why i am also looking at the 520i and the S90 T4. Both 4 cylinder turbo petrols. Does anyone have any experience of any of these cars that they can share with me please? Anything to be careful of etc. Thanks.

[TheAngryDog]

Anyone?

[Matt_T]

Are you looking at saloons or wagons?

If you are only doing 760 miles a month then fuel costs will be sensible - you could just get a V6 / I6 or V8 and enjoy the power!

I'd also suggest looking at a Lexus ES

[TheAngryDog]

Matt_T said:

Are you looking at saloons or wagons?

If you are only doing 760 miles a month then fuel costs will be sensible - you could just get a V6 / I6 or V8 and enjoy the power!

I'd also suggest looking at a Lexus ES

I'm looking at saloons, but would have a wagon as well.

The problem with a V6/8 or I6 is cost to entry. I want DAB+ and LED headlights. These are my non negotiables.

The ES is out of budget but also has a CVT box, and the thought of having a CVT gearbox makes me feel sick lol.

[Willber]

Ive been looking at V90 T4's and 520 or 530i's recently. I cant find much that goes wrong on either. The Volvo appeals as they're good value and with a Polestar map I think feels a good option. Ideally I'd like a T5 but there's not as many. The 520i can be mapped to 530i power easily from what I can see. I think you're after MPG though so this may not be relevant.

The Volvo's seem to be specced well. The Momentum Plus has all the kit I'd need. I'd go for an SE in the BMW but hardly any about.

I assume theres not many S90's around really? The aisin 8sp box appears much better than the old ones as can be serviced. Similar to zf 8sp.

[occasionalranter]

520i would be fine for you I think. The particular strengths of the g30 are the quality of the cabin and the refinement. You get those whatever the engine. Ride on passive msport suspension will be fine on smaller wheels, can ditch the runflats obviously if you want to improve it a little further. Great cars for wafting.

[ZX10R NIN]

TheAngryDog said:

I think I have narrowed down to 3 cars that I want to replace my CLS with when it sells.

I really like the G30 5 series, but most seem to be the plug in hybrid version that are in my price range. I don't want a diesel as I don't think I do the mileage that warrants one. I am averaging around 760 miles per month at the moment, most of that is local / work commute (32 miles a day, usually twice a month).

I don't know if I do too many miles to have a plug in hybrid. I also don't know what the battery will be like after some 9 years of being on the road.

This is why i am also looking at the 520i and the S90 T4. Both 4 cylinder turbo petrols.

Does anyone have any experience of any of these cars that they can share with me please? Anything to be careful of etc.

Thanks.

Also lookout for the S60 as they seem to be a good buy & a little overlooked on the used market at the moment:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607224...

Another car that gets forgotten about is the Arteon:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606103...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605052...

[ZX10R NIN]

Leftfield

G80:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605052...

Or you'll an (when they come up for sale) for between 9-15k:

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwiWz...

[MattsCar]

Anyone have any experience with the S/V90.

Looked like a perfect car for me not so long back, but was slightly put off by Honest John/ Whatcar type reviews that made out that they were plagued with annoying electrical faults?

"Its reliability is very poor, though" say Whatcar in the subtitle of their review.

[dunc69]

As others have said, 5 series is a quality product with a great interior.

But, the 2L petrol unit, whether alone or with hybrid power available, is fine at lower revs but feels very strained indeed at higher revs. It also doesn’t make a very nice noise at all.

[TheAngryDog]

I don't need it to make a great noise etc, it's just a means of getting from a to b comfortably.

[macron]

How much are you spending?

Comfortable A-B and not bothered about a saloon, S class. Or if not strictly a sallon, CL/ S coupe. If you're bored of Merc, Jag XJ, plenty of petrol available. Or XF-S. Or even XE-S. A million taxi drivers can't go wrong with a Lexus ES, I wouldn't rule out the CVT. Seats and dash are boring though.

The Volvo is very staid inside, the computer is slow as fk, AC in the screen irritating. The old man wood can be nice with the full leather in cream, but you'll be hard pushed to find one with the silly (3k I think it was?) stereo upgrade to a 19 speaker B&W job. They are slow, the petrols are thirsty and undersirable but dealers try to keep prices high because they're rare, the arse has dated really badly. The T8 recharge claims 350+ bhp, no idea if it goes like the 4.8/60 it says, but I imagine it sts itself at a corner, and again you've got battery age to think about.

[TheAngryDog]

Id like to keep it under £12k. Id like it to have some resale value in about 12 months.

Battery age is a concern around the 530e.

[macron]

Oh right, so if a G30 thats povvo spec and/ or strong mile money.

Older car, but there are a few petrol 6 gran coupes on AT within range, that's a nice place to be.

Big balls and petrol Ghibli.

It's arse end of Giulia money too, not the 280bhp one, and interior is .... Better looking that lived, but it is an Alfa, and you'd look back at it much more often than a 5 series of any variety.

[ZX10R NIN]

TheAngryDog said:

I don't need it to make a great noise etc, it's just a means of getting from a to b comfortably.

If that's the case the 2.0T XF is all of those things plus reliable & robust it also rides better than both the 5/S90:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607294...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607144...

[TheAngryDog]

ZX10R NIN said:

If that's the case the 2.0T XF is all of those things plus reliable & robust it also rides better than both the 5/S90:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607294...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607144...

I do like the look of those - Not sure what resale value would look like in 6 to 9 months when I'd want to move it on though...

[ZX10R NIN]

TheAngryDog said:

ZX10R NIN said:

If that's the case the 2.0T XF is all of those things plus reliable & robust it also rides better than both the 5/S90:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607294...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607144...

I do like the look of those - Not sure what resale value would look like in 6 to 9 months when I'd want to move it on though...

They're depreciation has steadied since Jaguar stopped production, I wouldn't expect them to drop much at all with a max of another 8k on the clock.


Versus a 5 series that'll be nigh on 100k:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606273...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Wednesday 12th August 21:18

[Venisonpie]

ZX10R NIN said:

If that's the case the 2.0T XF is all of those things plus reliable & robust it also rides better than both the 5/S90:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607294...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607144...

What's the story on the engine, are they a risk like the 2 litre diesel?

[ZX10R NIN]

Venisonpie said:

What's the story on the engine, are they a risk like the 2 litre diesel?

No they're as reliable as the OP's other 2.0T options.

[Venisonpie]

ZX10R NIN said:

Venisonpie said:

What's the story on the engine, are they a risk like the 2 litre diesel?

No they're as reliable as the OP's other 2.0T options.

Handy.