Why shouldn't I buy an F10 535d?

[abarber]

Honest John has Real MPG submissions at 34.4 mpg for the F10 535d.

I've not checked fuelly.

[Wills2]

REALIST123 said:

Fox- said:

drmark said:

Problem is if you push on. In my experience the big diesels rarely drop below 36/37 mpg. While petrols are worryingly easy to get into the twenties (at least the 335i I drove was).

I've just filled the tank on my 530d. Calculated average over this tank was 25.1mpg.

Where does this myth that these cars rarely drop below 36/37mpg come from? Unless you do predominantly long journeys then they OFTEN dip below 36/37mpg.

If you are into the twenties on a 335i you'll be mid 30's best on a 35d. In my experience you can count on about 8mpg, perhaps 10 if you are very lucky, more than the petrol version.

But you say on your profile that you're averaging 36mpg?

To be honest, unless you were driving in a city all the time, if you only averaged 25.1 you've a problem with your car IMO.

I have an F10 530D. Typically it averages mid 40s with mixed use. Just used on short (<10 mile) runs up and down it still averages over 40 though that is very rarely in town/city, just shorter runs. I don't think i could get it do do only 25 over a tankful.

Over the last few days we've been from Norfolk to Lancashire, over to York and back home today via Leicester. Averaged 36mpg - in the wife's 350SLK! I'd have been very disappointed to have used the 530 and only achieved that sort of mileage.

I could average 25mpg in my old f31 335d xdrive it all depends on how you drive them, my average was 39mpg for the 16k I did but that was 85% motorway but still over 20% less than the combined claim.

I generally work on the rule that most cars will average 20-25% less than the official combined cycle (well in my hands anyway)

[smashy]

Same old story re Derv I reckon ,if you dont do long journeys including a lot of motorway get a Petrol ,I mean I once went round the N circular london for 20 miles in heavy but not totally jammed traffic in my 120d ED and setting the OBC at the beginning it showed 21mpg.....yet on a w london to gloucester trip driving like a stole it one night I could not get it under 40 mpg and I was shifting.Incidentally long journeys in my F30 30d in Eco Mode for the boring bits blows away my old 57 plate 120d mpg wise,probably by 6 mpg

[Wills2]

Yep they need long runs on the motorway to make sense.

[drmark]

Fox- said:

That's exactly where I was driving.

I was talking average. I live in the sticks so no city driving.

Edited by drmark on Thursday 11th June 09:36

[Bincenzo]

Wills2 said:

Yep they need long runs on the motorway to make sense.

Ideal for me then, motorway all the way as a rule, but I'm still not impressed with the real world figures of 30+mpg. I was hoping for someting beginning with a 4.

[anonymous-user]

Fox- said:

REALIST123 said:

But you say on your profile that you're averaging 36mpg?

Yes, infact my longtime average is currently 34.7. But in order to average that it's clearly the case that it often goes below that (and sometimes above, my record is 48mpg).

REALIST123 said:

To be honest, unless you were driving in a city all the time, if you only averaged 25.1 you've a problem with your car IMO.

That's exactly where I was driving.

Fair enough.

To be honest, I don't think I'll have another diesel after this. My usage and the improvements made to petrol engines make them more attractive.

My problem will be that I don't need or really want a 535/40i but I do like 6 cylinders. I was underwhelmed by the 528i, much preferred the 530D.

[converted lurker]

Engine temperature seems to make a massive difference to high performance diesels. I do a seven mile school run. When the engine is stone cold I regularly see 31mpg first thing in the morning. Last week I got to the school and realised I had forgotten something so had to immediately do the exact same journey again. On the second run with the engine now wanted up I got 39mpg. This is on country B roads and there was no difference in traffic levels or average speed. Just temperature.

My 535d is in the workshop today because the front wheel bearing has worked loose. The original one was whining badly and I had it replaced eight weeks ago. Now the replacement unit has an inch of play in it ! I also suffered a broken read coile spring a couple of months ago. The car also has a different ride height from near side to offside of about an inch. I think this must be caused by the active roll system although the garage deny its throwing up any error codes. I have full dynamic drive.

Sigh.

[smashy]

Bincenzo said:

Ideal for me then, motorway all the way as a rule, but I'm still not impressed with the real world figures of 30+mpg. I was hoping for someting beginning with a 4.

Bincenzo I have no idea about 535ds but (maybe look at the 530d?)
but I can tell you about my F30 330d ,I just went down to Worthing and back to west london so ,its M4 M25 ,M23 A27 and back ...traffic moving ok i did around 65 /70mph going down coming back i hit the outside lane and ended with a 3 mile crawl into london on the M4...reset the OBC at the beginning and at the end showed 52.4mpg.For the power I am genuinly amazed how good the MPG is on this car....once went round the M25 and A12 to basildon and ended up with 61mpg ( I will put in eco mode when the traffic is moving but only moving at 65/70 mph )Must have been the right temp outside and sleight downhill gradient

Edited by smashy on Thursday 11th June 12:26

[Wills2]

Bincenzo said:

Wills2 said:

Yep they need long runs on the motorway to make sense.

Ideal for me then, motorway all the way as a rule, but I'm still not impressed with the real world figures of 30+mpg. I was hoping for someting beginning with a 4.

A car that weighs 1810kg with 313hp will drink fuel, if you're just going for economy get a new 520d it's a lovely car and will cruise all day on the motorway and give you 50+ mpg.

[hornetrider]

Just had a look on Broadspeed at these out of idle curiosity and they are knocking 535ds out at 12k off list, pretty significant saving. Although looking at the options list you'd probably need to spec it by about 10 grand if it was a keeper. Still, it certainly mitigates depreciation given the stiff 2nd hand values.

[kurt535]

I own a 2009 E61 535D:

Suffolk to Northampton is @ 150 miles of B roads and the god awful A14 and I return 40.5mpg
Town and B roads returns 35.4 mpg
Being silly returns <31mpg..allegedly.

i would expect new f10/11 to improve on the above figs. Have to admit tho, i tend to control the car more on the cruise control rather than my lead left foot on the basis the computer in the engine has more O levels than I ever got.....

[Ken Figenus]

Bincenzo said:

Certainly thought about it - although I have been looking at the 330d Touring. £30k gets me a virtually brand new one, but pathologically, I simply refuse to buy a new car!!

£30k is a lot of money for a relatively old car, (the 535d) but I sense it's a reasonable investment. More importantly, it's a place I'd look forward to being in rather than dreading, as I do my current DD.

Question, road noise with Pano roof, a factor or not? I quite like the light, but don't fancy increased noise. Also, is some method of listening to iPhone music available (Bluetooth or aux cable) on all models? Ta, Bins.

Ha! Flash-forward... Quel co-incidence OP You should have waited a bit more mate - getting my second one this week and nipping in just before the new model comes out with 18k off list. I too once had a pathological fear of buying a new car but this was cheaper than ones with 15k on Hows the Jaaaaaaaaaag going

[Andehh]

Just on this topic, can't stress enough when buying a BMW AUC, get the second year warranty. It costs them peanuts (£300 IIRC) but make a huge difference as it has pretty thorough coverage - far more then the after market BMW/third party ones offer!