Stick with the 520D Touring or trade for a Discovery 4?

[JonLeech]

Hi,

After some opinions from people who've done a similar swap...

I've got a 2011 BMW 520D SE touring...
Luggage is usually my wife, a 2 year old and an almost 1 year old..

No plans to tow, but will likely be carrying bikes, tents etc in the near future.
Would be useful to have 7 seats sometimes...
Don't do many miles, 8k a year tops...

I don't have a lot to play with, maybe 5k on top of the BMW, so looking at Discovery 4's in the 14-15k range...

There are a few around that fit the bill, generally the earlier ones. Lots have high mileage or the lower trim levels (leather required for children cleanup protection!)...

I'm worried a bit about buying an older / higher mileage Discovery and associated running / servicing costs...

Has anyone else made the switch? Is it more practical in real terms, did you wish you'd kept the estate?

Maybe if I'd bought a 535D M-Sport Touring (or the rare 550i) I wouldn't be asking the question 🤔...

Thanks!!

[Trabi601]

Doesn't the BMW have a more practical boot?

[JonLeech]

I'm pretty certain it will have when the Disco is set up for 7 seats, but in 5 seat mode I imagine the Discovery will take bikes fully assembled etc...

Plus for the BMW, Can fit a roof box on the BMW without a stepladder...

[JonLeech]

BMW is 570 or 1700 litres
Discovery 4 is 280, 1124 or 1950 litres depending on seat config...

So in a 5 seat config, the Discovery has twice the boot space....

[kurt535]

BMW vs a Discovery?

Both expensive cars to fix but the Beemer will be in the garage far less than a Land Rover.

[Hainey]

kurt535 said:

BMW vs a Discovery?

Both expensive cars to fix but the Beemer will be in the garage far less than a Land Rover.

Do you do lottery results as well?

[Big GT]

We have a Disco 4, 62 Reg 113K miles GS Spec with cloth seats (with 2 kids!!)
Base spec has 7 seats, 3.0tdi, air suspension, DAB and blue tooth. Less to go wrong the better with land rovers !!

Its excellent and I would stick my neck online to says its the best land rover if not one of the best cars for the real world. Looks are great especially when compared to the Disco 5.
The engine and gearbox are super smooth and the ride is fantastic. It is a car that can do everything and has an image no other 4x4 can match.
We purchased in 2.5 years ago with 101K miles with one previous owner - the AA. So it had spent all its life with a warm engine, cruising on the m/way and well maintained.

No issues apart from a recall in the 2.5 years.

I'm actually considering going the other to a 520d / 530d way as we don't tow anymore.

The downsides are that the running costs will probably be near double the 520d. However it's much more car.

[JonLeech]

Thanks BigGT... food for thought...

[Croutons]

JonLeech said:

BMW is 570 or 1700 litres
Discovery 4 is 280, 1124 or 1950 litres depending on seat config...

So in a 5 seat config, the Discovery has twice the boot space....

Yes it does, but mainly UPWARDS. And you don't stack bikes on top of each other.

[JonLeech]

True, but in the BMW I know I'd need to take off a wheel to fit bikes in... wondering whether the Disco is big enough to just roll the bikes in standing up?