What should I buy...
Discussion
Hi all
I'm new to the BMW forum as I've never owned one before, but a new job that requires far more travelling has led me to the decision that a comforatable car is required. I've considered Audi's and Merc's, but I've settled on a 5 series. However, I can't decide what to get and would welcome any advice.
I've pretty much narrowed it down to 2 engines, either the 530d or the 530i (and so opinions on these or the other engines would be welcomed), and it must have a steptronic box. I'm not bothered whether I go for saloon or touring but I think I'd like the Sport spec if possible. Can anyone offer any advice on what I should buy? My budget ranges from £8k to £15, although I might go a little more for the right car.
Thanks in advance of your help.
Jim
I'm new to the BMW forum as I've never owned one before, but a new job that requires far more travelling has led me to the decision that a comforatable car is required. I've considered Audi's and Merc's, but I've settled on a 5 series. However, I can't decide what to get and would welcome any advice.
I've pretty much narrowed it down to 2 engines, either the 530d or the 530i (and so opinions on these or the other engines would be welcomed), and it must have a steptronic box. I'm not bothered whether I go for saloon or touring but I think I'd like the Sport spec if possible. Can anyone offer any advice on what I should buy? My budget ranges from £8k to £15, although I might go a little more for the right car.
Thanks in advance of your help.
Jim
No 1 said:
Hi all
I'm new to the BMW forum as I've never owned one before, but a new job that requires far more travelling has led me to the decision that a comforatable car is required. I've considered Audi's and Merc's, but I've settled on a 5 series.
Good choice, but the Merc is the most comfortable of the three.
No 1 said:
I've pretty much narrowed it down to 2 engines, either the 530d or the 530i (and so opinions on these or the other engines would be welcomed), and it must have a steptronic box.
Get the 520 - 140mph. More than fast enough for UK.
No 1 said:
I'm not bothered whether I go for saloon or touring but I think I'd like the Sport spec if possible.
Your request doesn't add up - you want comfortable, but you want the hard suspension of the sport spec.
If you don't know if you want the saloon or touring, then I think you need to have a bit more of a think about what you want.
No 1 said:
Can anyone offer any advice on what I should buy? My budget ranges from £8k to £15, although I might go a little more for the right car.
The 520 - more than fast enough, and cheap on the fuel & insurance.
Don't bother with the 540 or the M5 - more power than you ever need.
dcb
Bloody hell, rip me to pieces why don't you!!
I appreciate all your comments and perhaps I could have explained a little more. I've no doubt that the 520 is fast, however, I'm used to the performance of my Griff and although I'm not expecting earth shattering performance, I do want the car to go when I ask it to.
I see what you mean about comfort and sports spec, and so when I said comfort, perhaps I should have said luxury. I want a car that will pamper me and be comfy over a 400 mile journey, yet not have handling of an oil tanker.
Saloon/touring is just because I'm not bothered either way. I actually prefer the looks of the touring but there's less of them about, so a saloon will do fine.
Thanks for the comments on the M5 and 540. I've been trying really hard to keep away from them. I'm sure that they drink fuel but it's so hard to turn down some of the 540's that I've seen, so many toys for such low money.
I guess it comes down to whether I go for the speed and lower price (or more goodies for the same money) of the petrol, or the economy and residual value of the diesel. What kind of economy/performance can I expect from each, and which is going to lose the least value - comparatively - after 2 years and 40,000 extra miles.
Are there any risks of high mileage and what are the pitfalls of each?
Bloody hell, rip me to pieces why don't you!!
I appreciate all your comments and perhaps I could have explained a little more. I've no doubt that the 520 is fast, however, I'm used to the performance of my Griff and although I'm not expecting earth shattering performance, I do want the car to go when I ask it to.
I see what you mean about comfort and sports spec, and so when I said comfort, perhaps I should have said luxury. I want a car that will pamper me and be comfy over a 400 mile journey, yet not have handling of an oil tanker.
Saloon/touring is just because I'm not bothered either way. I actually prefer the looks of the touring but there's less of them about, so a saloon will do fine.
Thanks for the comments on the M5 and 540. I've been trying really hard to keep away from them. I'm sure that they drink fuel but it's so hard to turn down some of the 540's that I've seen, so many toys for such low money.
I guess it comes down to whether I go for the speed and lower price (or more goodies for the same money) of the petrol, or the economy and residual value of the diesel. What kind of economy/performance can I expect from each, and which is going to lose the least value - comparatively - after 2 years and 40,000 extra miles.
Are there any risks of high mileage and what are the pitfalls of each?
dcb said:
Don't bother with the 540 or the M5 - more power than you ever need.
Urr, Dont think so. Ive got a 540i sport - i love it, Fantastic for overtaking and effortless cruising, but i would still like some more power.
It returned 26mpg on the run to stoneleigh on the weekend (And that was 3up, bags of goodies, a battery and two range-rover transfer cases in the boot). However, booting it around town returns <<18mpg.
e.
I have the e39 530 with sport suspension. A great car, not as good going round corners as my old 330 but very solid on the motorways. Im very impressed by this thinking it would be a bit boring (just had a baby so had to go for 4 doors), gbut so far it has exceeded my expectations, but still could do with more power
530d every day - but get it chipped!!!!!
Just sold mine today, 2 n half years old Sport Auto, 45k miles for £19k trade, so if you have your £15k budget you'll get a good un. The sport pack isn't a tooth-cruncher, just adds a bit of firmness, but with hindsight I'd've had a manual as I prefer a bit more involvement in the driving experience and it was way too easy to confuse the autobox.
Very quick, smooth and comfortable and 32 mpg average (and believe me, I don't hang around
) and extremely competent, but, ultimately, boring.
Just sold mine today, 2 n half years old Sport Auto, 45k miles for £19k trade, so if you have your £15k budget you'll get a good un. The sport pack isn't a tooth-cruncher, just adds a bit of firmness, but with hindsight I'd've had a manual as I prefer a bit more involvement in the driving experience and it was way too easy to confuse the autobox.
Very quick, smooth and comfortable and 32 mpg average (and believe me, I don't hang around
) and extremely competent, but, ultimately, boring.Cheers for that guys. My head is telling me diesel is the way forward, but my heart is tugging me towards the petrol. What are the service interval on the diesel and how much would it cost to get one chipped- roughly? Does this invalidate the BMW warranty and is BMW service as good as every one says it is?
Thanks for your help so far though.
Thanks for your help so far though.
Depends on what level of chipping you want - up to £700 inc vat would be a good guide. BMW don't know its been done if you get the chip flashed. Some others piggyback the main ECU so you can take em off when you want to, like when it goes in for a service. YOu should really tell your insurance co tho.
Service intervals are between 13,000 & 15,000 miles at £250/£300 a time for the diseasel.
Service intervals are between 13,000 & 15,000 miles at £250/£300 a time for the diseasel.
530d more expensive to buy but good resale, excellent engine with the steptronic box, good performance, economical and easy to go fast with minium effort, great mid range you would have to be thrashing a 530i to keep up and get by. Strong resale on 530d tourings
The E39 5 series is a better car than the w201 previous E class. The E class is bigger inside (loads of rear legroom) but it's handling is not as good and it's nice but no where near as exciting to drive, duler steeing,poorer body control, turn in, etc . The auto box is smooth but doesn't have the sport function of the steptronic and it isn't as clever as the steptronic which will change down as you slow for bends etc, the merc doesn't as much and you find yourself kicking down as you come out to maintain pace.
530d if you can get one within budget
The E39 5 series is a better car than the w201 previous E class. The E class is bigger inside (loads of rear legroom) but it's handling is not as good and it's nice but no where near as exciting to drive, duler steeing,poorer body control, turn in, etc . The auto box is smooth but doesn't have the sport function of the steptronic and it isn't as clever as the steptronic which will change down as you slow for bends etc, the merc doesn't as much and you find yourself kicking down as you come out to maintain pace.
530d if you can get one within budget
No 1 said:
dcb
Bloody hell, rip me to pieces why don't you!!
Sorry. I just spent two hours on the M25 watching a full meeting of the Middle Lane Owners Club.
No 1 said:
Thanks for the comments on the M5 and 540. I've been trying really hard to keep away from them. I'm sure that they drink fuel but it's so hard to turn down some of the 540's that I've seen, so many toys for such low money.
So many higher service bills and so unwanted and unloved at resale time.
No 1 said:
I guess it comes down to whether I go for the speed and lower price (or more goodies for the same money) of the petrol, or the economy and residual value of the diesel.
It's a bit more complex than that. There are a range of petrols from 2.0 to 4.0.
No 1 said:
What kind of economy/performance can I expect from each, and which is going to lose the least value - comparatively - after 2 years and 40,000 extra miles.
Expect about 20 mpg or less from the 535, 540 and M5.
I'm getting 25 mpg out of my 530 petrol. 90 mph is 3,000 rpm, and it's not even trying at that level.
Expect a bit more out of the 530d.
No 1 said:
Are there any risks of high mileage and what are the pitfalls of each?
Not many risks.
They are designed & built to run all day every day flat out on the German autobahn and from the heights of the high Alps to the lows of a -30C Munich winter.
Any BMW used in England will think it's on it's holidays.
I can vouch for a 540i, initially I worried about costs, but in yrs I've spent about £800 on failures, and most was brakes!!!..
I get around 20mpg in town, and upto 28/30mpg on motorway, its the sort of car you can cruise at a 100 and get better mpg than a lower engine, as the 4.4 is working at it most efficient at this speed.
Its only worth getting if you like the extra power and renlentless low-end torque, otherwise you might get surprised when you keep your foot down!
530d though is the wise choice, better mpg and bags of power for size!
John
I get around 20mpg in town, and upto 28/30mpg on motorway, its the sort of car you can cruise at a 100 and get better mpg than a lower engine, as the 4.4 is working at it most efficient at this speed.
Its only worth getting if you like the extra power and renlentless low-end torque, otherwise you might get surprised when you keep your foot down!
530d though is the wise choice, better mpg and bags of power for size!
John
I have a year 2000 (w) reg 535i Sport for sale in about 1 weeks time! I have a baby on the way so i'm selling it for a TVR Chimeara lol, doing exactly opposite to normal people!!
It is completely fully loaded and I mean fully loaded, it has every option possible,
Double Glazing
Sat Nav
Television
Traffic Master
Rain Sensor wipers
The DSP Sound system
Built in BMW GSM Phone
Everything electric, seats, steering colunm etc
17" M Spoke wheels
M Steering wheel with all multi function on it including phone
Recently serviced
12 months mOT
6 MOnths Tax
Full BMWSH
87k but motorway for about 85% of this, only used for work car travelling up and down the M6/M1/M3 etc
Black- unmarked
Grey leather
Just had 2 brand new T1s Proxes on fronts last week, rear tyres still got 10k left in them
6 CD Autochanger
Serviced last dec at 83k, no expense spared on the car as my company pay for all servicing and maintenance.
I average about 24Mpg in it.
looking for around 15 and a half for it
It is completely fully loaded and I mean fully loaded, it has every option possible,
Double Glazing
Sat Nav
Television
Traffic Master
Rain Sensor wipers
The DSP Sound system
Built in BMW GSM Phone
Everything electric, seats, steering colunm etc
17" M Spoke wheels
M Steering wheel with all multi function on it including phone
Recently serviced
12 months mOT
6 MOnths Tax
Full BMWSH
87k but motorway for about 85% of this, only used for work car travelling up and down the M6/M1/M3 etc
Black- unmarked
Grey leather
Just had 2 brand new T1s Proxes on fronts last week, rear tyres still got 10k left in them
6 CD Autochanger
Serviced last dec at 83k, no expense spared on the car as my company pay for all servicing and maintenance.
I average about 24Mpg in it.
looking for around 15 and a half for it
I have a year 2000 (w) reg 535i Sport for sale in about 1 weeks time! I have a baby on the way so i'm selling it for a TVR Chimeara lol, doing exactly opposite to normal people!!
It is completely fully loaded and I mean fully loaded, it has every option possible,
Double Glazing
Sat Nav
Television
Traffic Master
Rain Sensor wipers
The DSP Sound system
Built in BMW GSM Phone
Everything electric, seats, steering colunm etc
17" M Spoke wheels
M Steering wheel with all multi function on it including phone
Recently serviced
12 months mOT
6 MOnths Tax
Full BMWSH
87k but motorway for about 85% of this, only used for work car travelling up and down the M6/M1/M3 etc
Black- unmarked
Grey leather
Just had 2 brand new T1s Proxes on fronts last week, rear tyres still got 10k left in them
6 CD Autochanger
Serviced last dec at 83k, no expense spared on the car as my company pay for all servicing and maintenance.
I average about 24Mpg in it.
looking for around 15 and a half for it
It is completely fully loaded and I mean fully loaded, it has every option possible,
Double Glazing
Sat Nav
Television
Traffic Master
Rain Sensor wipers
The DSP Sound system
Built in BMW GSM Phone
Everything electric, seats, steering colunm etc
17" M Spoke wheels
M Steering wheel with all multi function on it including phone
Recently serviced
12 months mOT
6 MOnths Tax
Full BMWSH
87k but motorway for about 85% of this, only used for work car travelling up and down the M6/M1/M3 etc
Black- unmarked
Grey leather
Just had 2 brand new T1s Proxes on fronts last week, rear tyres still got 10k left in them
6 CD Autochanger
Serviced last dec at 83k, no expense spared on the car as my company pay for all servicing and maintenance.
I average about 24Mpg in it.
looking for around 15 and a half for it
Hi No_1
I have a 1997 P plate 535i which I bought after my son was born. Previously I had a Chimaera 450 which I loved.
I really really wanted to hate the BMW, as it was the reluctant replacement for my Chim, but having driven it for 8 months I now realise it is the best all round car I have ever driven. I bought mine with 110000 on the clock and have done 10000 more myself. It still feels newer than a number of new cars I have been in.
I am about to sell mine as I have just got a rise. My first thoughts were 'get a cerbera' and that broadened to get either a cerbie, a 3200gt, an xkr, or an M3. Having driven all of the above now I realise I am stuck... None of them felt amazingly better than the car I have now, and all cost 3 times as much! So I drove an M5, and I am now decided...As far as I am concerned the only way to improve the best is to make it faster So thats what I am going to do. This time I am also going to get all of the toys as my 535 is a bit lacking on the options front.
In answer to your question though, 530d or 530i I would say go for whichever feels quicker, but then I am a speed freak. I get 19mpg from mine and I thought that was just great after the 9-11 I got from my TVR... For me speed is the important thing, so at the money you want to spend I would be driving a 540i.
Dunno if that helps, but is my tuppence worth
I have a 1997 P plate 535i which I bought after my son was born. Previously I had a Chimaera 450 which I loved.
I really really wanted to hate the BMW, as it was the reluctant replacement for my Chim, but having driven it for 8 months I now realise it is the best all round car I have ever driven. I bought mine with 110000 on the clock and have done 10000 more myself. It still feels newer than a number of new cars I have been in.
I am about to sell mine as I have just got a rise. My first thoughts were 'get a cerbera' and that broadened to get either a cerbie, a 3200gt, an xkr, or an M3. Having driven all of the above now I realise I am stuck... None of them felt amazingly better than the car I have now, and all cost 3 times as much! So I drove an M5, and I am now decided...As far as I am concerned the only way to improve the best is to make it faster
So thats what I am going to do. This time I am also going to get all of the toys as my 535 is a bit lacking on the options front. In answer to your question though, 530d or 530i I would say go for whichever feels quicker, but then I am a speed freak. I get 19mpg from mine and I thought that was just great after the 9-11 I got from my TVR... For me speed is the important thing, so at the money you want to spend I would be driving a 540i.
Dunno if that helps, but is my tuppence worth
Agreed. I couldn't get my Griffith under 15mpg is I tried. And I frequently tried very hard
As with other recomendations I would probably agree that the 530d is the sensible choice. Nuts to that though, I have a 540i (albeit only an E34) but thr engine is absolutely superb and bombproof. The E39 4.4l is supposed to be even better so its a no brainer for me
As with other recomendations I would probably agree that the 530d is the sensible choice. Nuts to that though, I have a 540i (albeit only an E34) but thr engine is absolutely superb and bombproof. The E39 4.4l is supposed to be even better so its a no brainer for me
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff