3 series or 5 series

3 series or 5 series

Author
Discussion

LambertonDrive

Original Poster:

22 posts

112 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Evening all

Looking for a family car to be used as my daily driver. Need a diesel due to work Can't decide between the following

e90 330d
e91 320d (budget doesn't stretch to a 6cyl diesel)
e60/e61 520d

Budget is £10k. Looking at m sport models due to me preferring the looks.

One stumbling block is boot space.... My heart would go for a e90 330d as it's got plenty of poke...but can I fit a pram in the boot? We got a new one member it the family due to be dropped off by the stork early feb.

Anyone got any pics of pushchairs in their 3 & 5 series boots'?

Thanks for any help in advance.


converted lurker

304 posts

125 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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5 series every time. For that budget I'd look for a 525d.

You'll get a great car.

Perhaps avoid Msport suspension and big wheels though.

converted lurker

304 posts

125 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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Look on Autrader and XS Automotive at £10k have a gorgeous 2008 touring 525d with a great spec. Such a good family car that. Looks a million dollars as well.

Silver940

3,961 posts

226 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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I bought a E91 320d M-Sport last year, been pretty happy with it. Boot isn't huge but it's plenty enough to get my road bike in with the wheels off and the seats still up. Hides away under the pull over cover too. There is more room for passengers in the back than I was expecting and lots more than my previous MK4 golf.

I went for an M-Sport for the seats and suspension, mine has the 17" wheels. There's no arguing that they do look better as well but command a fair chunk of money on top of an SE. You should be able to get them in budget depending on the age you are after. There are a few 325d Tourings about as well.

How many miles do you do? Some good deals to be had on the petrol models and they aren't that bad on fuel.

tomic

720 posts

144 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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The difference between the E9X four and six cylinder cars is not just the engine.

You get bigger brake disks as well as features such as auto drying brakes and hill start assist that aren't actually offered on the four cylinder cars.

It's worth doing your homework before you buy.

CharlesdeGaulle

26,089 posts

179 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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All sorts of folk will tell you that you don't need a massive car when you have a baby, and it may be true for some, but my goodness don't under-estimate how much easier life is with a nipper when you have space.

I found the 3 series too small for family duties, the 5 was perfect.

ETA - both were Tourers.

Edited by CharlesdeGaulle on Monday 22 December 15:26

pattyg

1,329 posts

226 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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I found the 1 series big enough with the handy hatchback. Each to their own.

Silver940

3,961 posts

226 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
tomic said:
The difference between the E9X four and six cylinder cars is not just the engine.

You get bigger brake disks as well as features such as auto drying brakes and hill start assist that aren't actually offered on the four cylinder cars.

It's worth doing your homework before you buy.
Lucky escape then.. sounds like expensive repairs when they go wrong! wink

tomic

720 posts

144 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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Silver940 said:
tomic said:
The difference between the E9X four and six cylinder cars is not just the engine.

You get bigger brake disks as well as features such as auto drying brakes and hill start assist that aren't actually offered on the four cylinder cars.

It's worth doing your homework before you buy.
Lucky escape then.. sounds like expensive repairs when they go wrong! wink
The other difference is that the six cylinder diesels are less prone to the well-publicised cam chain failure that requires a £4K repair, so no not really a lucky escape I'm afraid smile

Edited by tomic on Monday 22 December 14:27

Silver940

3,961 posts

226 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
tomic said:
The other difference is that the six cylinder diesels are less prone to the well-publicised cam chain failure that requires a £4K repair, so no not really a lucky escape I'm afraid smile

Edited by tomic on Monday 22 December 14:27
Mines an M47N2 wink Must have been one of the last.

cerb4.5lee

30,182 posts

179 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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Had both a E90 330d m sport and a E61 520d m sport, the 5 series was really nice to drive and was obviously nice and practical with it being an estate but I absolutely hated the 4 pot diesel engine and I found it under powered, noisy and unrefined and it ruined the overall package for me.

The E90 330d was a brilliant all rounder I thought and the engine was worlds apart from the 4 pot in terms of performance refinement and noise but being a saloon its not that great for tip runs and carrying stuff unless you get one with the rare option of folding rear seats.

I would have a touring again but would certainly go for the 530d as that would be a really good practical family motor with some performance thrown in too.

xxChrisxx

538 posts

120 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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LambertonDrive said:
Evening all
Anyone got any pics of pushchairs in their 3 & 5 series boots'?
E90 boot is a fairly decent volume, it's just got a letter box for an opening.
Touring all the way if you have baby stuff to carry.

Ruxpin

324 posts

244 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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E91 boot is not that big, but big enough for kiddy stuff.

Not sure about the E90 boot but interestingly the boot in the F30 I had as a loaner seemed far bigger and practical than the E91! We did a trip away in the F30 with little one, pram, high chair, travel cot etc etc and had no stuff on the backseat or need for the roof box which I had planned to take had the E91 been working....

Also had a similar experience with an audi A4. Assuming no large objects, the saloon definitely seemed to have a bigger boot than the estate when packing for trips....

Good call re looking for split folding rear seats in a saloon. Not standard (certainly in the e46 330d we had) and quite annoying when you realise the car you bought doesn't have them!

Massive difference between the 4cly and 6cyl models though. If you can afford the 6cyl go for it.

nickrex

258 posts

172 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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I can't comment on the 3 series but I recently bought a lci e61 530d. It's a cracking bit of kit and a perfect family car. Built like a bank vault, fast, reliable and reasonably economical for such a big heavy car. As mentioned, if you can't stretch to a 530d/535d have a look at the 6 cylinder 525d lci.

lewis328

496 posts

197 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
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OP I was in the exact same position you are in, I ended up with a e90 330d, it's magic, our Silver Cross pram fits in boot no problem, but if you already have a pram purchased, take the time to check it fits as previously mentioned the boot is big but does have a bit of a letter box opening. I do have the folding rear seat option, I didn't realise how rare it was. Car is very quick, and economical. Not sure how long I will be able to keep the Lemon Yellow leather clean.

LambertonDrive

Original Poster:

22 posts

112 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
I do 60 miles a day.

I couldn't get a petrol due to my job. I can move closer and further from home. If I could get decent mpg from a 6 cylinder then I'd go for that in a heartbeat.

We have a bugaboo chameleon 2. Seems like a chunky thing.

I have even contemplated the lat shape mondeo due to its size and kit offering for the same price...

Thanks for the replies.


Edited by LambertonDrive on Monday 22 December 23:50


Edited by LambertonDrive on Monday 22 December 23:54

lewis328

496 posts

197 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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I have not seen less than 30mpg since getting my one, and too be honest I probably don't do enough miles to justify a diesel. I would say 35+ ave, and when on motorway 40's all day long. It is good to me having only had big engined petrols in the past. Good luck

tomic

720 posts

144 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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LambertonDrive said:
I do 60 miles a day.

I couldn't get a petrol due to my job. I can move closer and further from home. If I could get decent mpg from a 6 cylinder then I'd go for that in a heartbeat.

We have a bugaboo chameleon 2. Seems like a chunky thing.

I have even contemplated the lat shape mondeo due to its size and kit offering for the same price...

Thanks for the replies.
We've just had a second kid - an iCandy Cherry single used to fit with loads of room into the boot of my E92, and I can just about squeeze our new Nipper 360 Double into it - There needs to be nothing else in there while you're maneuvering it in, but then there's a fair bit of room to fit other stuff in around it


Edited by tomic on Tuesday 23 December 01:20

converted lurker

304 posts

125 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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I find my f10 a squeeze but manageable and the Ford Smax is by far the best family tool.

A 3 series would be purgatory.

Remember it's not just the pram, it's the high chair, changing apparatus, travel cot, changing bag etc etc


Farmer

1,287 posts

273 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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Got an e91 325D I'm about to sell . space is ok and easy to access . performance is stonking , about 38 mpg all day long on country roads , driven with "spirit" . Six is well worth the extra if you are not doing mega miles. Mines SE on 17" wheels which grips and handles well on non run flats and never looks under-shod because of tight wheel arches .