5 series sport touring E39 - Advice please

[snarfy]

Changing circumstances (read arrival of nipper) requires another car (in addition to the Griff!). Have been eying up the 530i sport touring models but these seem to be incredibly rare.
Add to this both myself and the missus prefer manual to auto and there are even less of these. Seen a few (read very few) around for approx 12-13K for a 51 plate. Is this realistic ?

I guess another query would be, is there a vast difference in handling between the sport and the se ?

Advice and any alternative suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[bmwdrivernigel]

try the 530d tourer, just as good as the petrol version with half the costs, always go for the sport version as is much better looking and will come with a few more goodies!!!

[sparkythecat]

bmwdrivernigel said:

try the 530d tourer, just as good as the petrol version with half the costs, always go for the sport version as is much better looking and will come with a few more goodies!!!

The economics of diesel depend on your mileage. This is a reply to a fellow PHers remakably similar query I posted on another forum a couple of weeks ago. That PHer said his annual mileage was around 8k

"I bought a 51plate 530i Touring with autobox 5 months ago. I've done 6kmiles of mixed motoring and averaged 28mpg.
I test drove the petrol and diesel versions back to back and found the diesel experience too 'diesely'. The economics didn't sway me either. Admittedly the diesel should do 25 -30% more mpg, but you've to do some serious mileage before you start to claw back the £2.5 to £3k price premium of a similar diesel car.

If you're only planning 8kmiles - at 28mpg that's 285gallons at 91p/litre = £1177
- at 40mpg that's 200gallons at 94p/litre = £908

On these figures the diesel will only save you £269p.a. in fuel costs.
So it could take take you 10yrs of nasty clattering to see any gain.

Get the 530i. The 231bhp straight six is a pleasure to listen to."

If you want to know more about 5 series ownership. There are some very helpful and knowledgeable owners posting on these
forums

The majority of these motors are automatics with the 'steptronic' box. This means that you have the option of changing gear manually should you feel the need.
You'll find that you might have a play with it now and again but for town and motorway driving you can't beat the autobox.

>> Edited by sparkythecat on Monday 12th September 21:34

[Egbert Nobacon]

Also try

www.bmwland.co.uk & www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk for buying tips and info

Good luck

[Smartie]

and if my experience is anything to go by, you wont get 40mpg out of a 530d auto, ever!

Mine did 26 ish round town amd low to mid 30's on a run! M3 is nearly as good! LOL

[snarfy]

Thanks very much for your advice gents. Is the auto that good because both myself and the wife do tend to prefer the interaction you get with a manual ?
And one last question........till the next anyway....is the sport suspension that much stiffer (uncomfortable?) than the non sport version. Bear in mind we own a griffith !

[Pickled Piper]

snarfy said:

Thanks very much for your advice gents. Is the auto that good because both myself and the wife do tend to prefer the interaction you get with a manual ? And one last question........till the next anyway....is the sport suspension that much stiffer (uncomfortable?) than the non sport version. Bear in mind we own a griffith !

The autobox definitely suits the car and engine. I was a diehard manual man until I got my E39.

If you've come from a Griffith then definitely get the sports suspension. You will find the standard suspension too soft and the steering response vague (relatively speaking). The sports suspension is just that little bit firmer with minimal detriment to the ride.

pp