5 series touring-which of these 2 engines shall I get?

[Steviesam]

Hello!

I wanted to ask those in know what you would get if you were me.
Whatever I buy, its being taken to Spain to live. Usage there will be "normal", mostly local with the odd longer drive. However, I am well used to foibles of diesels and short journey and I make sure they get a decent hot fast run regularly.
Any car will be 2011 ish with high mileage, over 100,000 miles when I purchase. I am not scared of high miles-looking at these that are available in Spain, they all have 200-300,00 kms, so 140-150,000 miles is ok with me.
Also I am now not driving like Nigel Mansell-more interested in longevity than speed.

So, 5 series F11s....2.0d or the 3.0 N53?

(I am also considering Merc e class, but thats for the Merc section)
Thanks all!

[AlexGSi2000]

For me, it would be the petrol.

Both engines have their quirks - I'm very familiar with the timing chains on the diesel, but also the likes of the DPF to worry about.
I think I would be inclined to say the petrol would be more reliable and no doubt nicer, more pleasant to drive, wont be as efficient but if your annual mileage is low you wont know any different.

[Steviesam]

Good points. I do prefer petrols, mpg not a concerns (used to have a supercharged RR) and i have anxiety about DPFs sometimes having had French diesels!
What I am not really aware of is how complex and reliable the N53 is!
Food for thought!
Cheers

[danb79]

Steviesam said:

Hello!

I wanted to ask those in know what you would get if you were me.
Whatever I buy, its being taken to Spain to live. Usage there will be "normal", mostly local with the odd longer drive. However, I am well used to foibles of diesels and short journey and I make sure they get a decent hot fast run regularly.
Any car will be 2011 ish with high mileage, over 100,000 miles when I purchase. I am not scared of high miles-looking at these that are available in Spain, they all have 200-300,00 kms, so 140-150,000 miles is ok with me.
Also I am now not driving like Nigel Mansell-more interested in longevity than speed.

So, 5 series F11s....2.0d or the 3.0 N53?

(I am also considering Merc e class, but thats for the Merc section)
Thanks all!

Have you considered the N57 30d at all; if not I would, superb engine

The N53 is good; but it has a few issues that hopefully have been taken care of by bow, namely injectors and the HPFP

What about an F11 535i with the N55; that's a superb car and a superb engine and there's a few about currently that'd be worth looking into

[Steviesam]

I will take a look at those now

[Steviesam]

5k ish. Hence looking at up to 189k miles.
Doesn’t need to be mint, as it’s mostly going to baking in the sun and getting dented by the sloppy Spanish drivers!

[danb79]

Steviesam said:

5k ish. Hence looking at up to 189k miles.
Doesn t need to be mint, as it s mostly going to baking in the sun and getting dented by the sloppy Spanish drivers!

Crikey that's a fairly low budget

Have you considered a 3 series touring instead or does it need to be a 5?

At that budget for a 5 series touring; I'd be looking at something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/167877626521

Great spec; not silly high miles, sounds and looks to have been well looked after

[Steviesam]

Ha yes it’s not much dosh. I have seen that car, hence the original question. Something like that would be fine, and I guess I would just have to deal with dpf issues if and when they arise.

[Steviesam]

For me a 3 series would be OK too, but we have 2 large German Shepherds and the 3 isnt really big enough in the boot.

[danb79]

Steviesam said:

Ha yes it s not much dosh. I have seen that car, hence the original question. Something like that would be fine, and I guess I would just have to deal with dpf issues if and when they arise.

If the cars been looked after, used well and serviced well; there's nothing to say you'll have any DPF issues

Good runs and revs keep them sweet; we've had our F31 325D 3 years in Jan and it's been absolutely faultless and regens when it should etc; more so as the wife uses it on the motorway twice a day to work & back etc

[drmotorsport]

danb79 said:

Have you considered the N57 30d at all; if not I would, superb engine

The N53 is good; but it has a few issues that hopefully have been taken care of by bow, namely injectors and the HPFP

What about an F11 535i with the N55; that's a superb car and a superb engine and there's a few about currently that'd be worth looking into

+1 on the engine. My F11 535i LCI the engine is lovely and work well with the 8speed ZF and has been bulletproof for the last 3 years. Fairly reluctant to replace it as it's just so competent. Will push into the 40's MPG if you go nuts with the boring Eco pro mode with coasting.

[Mr Tidy]

danb79 said:

Have you considered the N57 30d at all; if not I would, superb engine

The N53 is good; but it has a few issues that hopefully have been taken care of by bow, namely injectors and the HPFP

What about an F11 535i with the N55; that's a superb car and a superb engine and there's a few about currently that'd be worth looking into

I think I'd be looking for either an N57 30d or N55 535i, given the potential for cam-chain issues with the N47. And if you're buying at high miles even if an N53 had a new HPFP and Injectors it's possible they'd be coming round to needing them again!

As you don't mind some miles might an early 530i with the N52 be an option? They seem pretty bulletproof.

[Dannbodge]

I wouldn't consider the 530i/528i

Go for the 535i if you want the petrol. The N55 is great and are much more reliable, fuel use will be marginally lower than the N53.