Hello from London! Aspiring to be a 530d owner

[rb5er]

Indeed its a much nicer place to be and to look at. But then it should be as it will cost MUCH more to run.

OP just buy one so we can start totting up the expense.

[bigdom]

rb5er said:

But then it should be as it will cost MUCH more to run.

Why?

[rb5er]

bigdom said:

rb5er said:

But then it should be as it will cost MUCH more to run.

Why?

Because parts prices are twice as expensive, labour costs are slightly more and there is more to go wrong as well as the fact that they seem to consume consumables at a quicker rate than the lighter and simpler mondeo.

[RWD cossie wil]

rb5er said:

bigdom said:

rb5er said:

But then it should be as it will cost MUCH more to run.

Why?

Because parts prices are twice as expensive, labour costs are slightly more and there is more to go wrong as well as the fact that they seem to consume consumables at a quicker rate than the lighter and simpler mondeo.

Have you ever owned a 530d? Or any BMW? The parts are very similar in price to any other car, the labour rate is the same as any other car! Why would you take it to a main dealer at the age it is? Plenty of very very good specialists around, and for general work there is no need to even use a specialist? Any idiot can do brakes, oil changes, bushes etc!

[HustleRussell]

RWD cossie wil said:

HustleRussell said:

To do 180k in 10 years reliably and cheaply?

I dunno probably a £4k diesel Mondeo, Accord, Passat etc and then another 4/5 years later. OP is going to end up racking up nearly 300,000 miles in total in the E60, with all the repairs it brings.

Of course if you do fewer miles starting off with a higher mileage car isn't such a disadvantage.

Don't you think that all of the above will require just as much maintenance as a 5 series? Speaking as the previous owner of a number of mondeos, a 5 is a MUCH better place to be for that sort of milage.....

No, I don't think a 150k Mondeo will require as much maintenance as a 300k 5-series.

[rb5er]

RWD cossie wil said:

Have you ever owned a 530d? Or any BMW? The parts are very similar in price to any other car, the labour rate is the same as any other car! Why would you take it to a main dealer at the age it is? Plenty of very very good specialists around, and for general work there is no need to even use a specialist? Any idiot can do brakes, oil changes, bushes etc!

I have not owned a 530d but yes I have owned a BMW. And yes I have known plenty of people with 530d's as they are reasonably common.

I never said anything about a main dealer so not sure what you are on about. Labour rate may be the same but they are not as quick and easy to work on.

And no the parts are not similar in price to a mondeo. Go and look at brake prices for yourself for example, tyres are usually much bigger and more expensive, wishbones much more, I have known of propshafts needing replacing on 5series's (mondeos dont have them).

Everything costs more..fact, but yes its a nicer car so probably worth it. I was just pointing out that no it wont be as cheap to run as a mondeo.

[Kateg28]

dave_s13 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

th3h1ghlander said:

Tourer is better for convenience but I think the saloon looks better.

I am the other way and I think the tourer looks better but I still like the saloon though and the tourer did come in handy for my Labrador, I miss mine for its practicality and if I had gone for the 530d instead of the 520d I think I would still have it now.

Minelooked exactly like that but had the proper engine (well, nearly).

Only reason I sold it was due to child number 3, not wide enough in the back when they are all in some kind of child seat. I'm still not sure they're great for 3 in th back even when they're older.

When the youngest progresses to a booster then I'm looking at the 7 series. That or just admit defeat and get an smax.

We went to buy an Smax, test drove it, perfectly nice car until my OH realised our budget would buy a 4 year old 5 series. So we did and love it.
We have the post LCI 530d in Black and in tourer guise and I admit the saloon does nothing for me but when our car is polished up it still looks the nuts IMHO.

However, I will agree the back is not as big as you expect for such a big car. We have two tall teenage boys who are fine in it but when we take MIL out, I am relegated to back seat and it is tight. Our other car is much bigger in the back (skoda superb estate).

We are doing around 10k miles a year in the 5 series and we are hoping to keep it until way over 150k miles (currently at 100k, bought at 50k). Absolutely love the car.

[RWD cossie wil]

Just checked on euro car parts, Mondeo & 5 series brake discs all range from around £17 each up to £70ish, depending on brand. Having run my 530d for the last four years & 100k miles, it has been bullet proof bar an alternator & consumables, can't really moan at that considering I bought the car on 141k! They absolutely destroy miles, the big thing I noticed going from a tdci Mondeo to a 5 series is the fact you arrive at your destination much fresher, the comfort & refinement levels are on a differnt planet.

Saying that, I do look after it & service it regually, an oil & filter cx is about £60 plus every year I do the other filters, pollen, air, breathers etc....

If you use your head they are no more expensive to run than any other brand of car IMHO. Now my 911 turbo in the other hand ...

[bigdom]

rb5er said:

Because parts prices are twice as expensive, labour costs are slightly more and there is more to go wrong as well as the fact that they seem to consume consumables at a quicker rate than the lighter and simpler mondeo.

The much lighter Mondeo, really?.....Parkers list the 2.0 TDCI as 1557kg vs 1590kg for a 530d.

Not sure it's a 'fact' on wear rate. Part prices are pretty similar, both Pagid for a like for like comparison, plenty of engine braking in the 530d.

530d brake Discs - £50
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/BMW_5+Series_3.0...

2.0 TDCI - £40
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Ford_Mondeo_2.0_...

BMW Lower arms - £98
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/BMW_5+Series_3.0...

Ford Lower arms - £103
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Ford_Mondeo_2.0_...

Whilst this is a good game, your arguments are flawed.

[rb5er]

Try like for like as per the OP. 2005 - 2007 cars.

BMW 530d saloon is listed as 1710kgs on parkers website which is a fair bit more than the 1560kgs of a mondeo on the same website.

I have also had a look in ECP and yes much cheaper. Looks like you are looking for the most expensive mondeo parts vs the cheapest BMW parts.

Nobidy has been talking about the latest shape mondeo from what I can tell.

Edited by rb5er on Thursday 1st October 14:22

[RWD cossie wil]

rb5er said:

Try like for like as per the OP. 2005 - 2007 cars.

BMW 530d saloon is listed as 1710kgs on parkers website which is a fair bit more than the 1560kgs of a mondeo on the same website.

I have also had a look in ECP and yes much cheaper. Looks like you are looking for the most expensive mondeo parts vs the cheapest BMW parts.

Nobidy has been talking about the latest shape mondeo from what I can tell.

Edited by rb5er on Thursday 1st October 14:22

I don't get your point? You came on here slating the OP for wanting a 530d in the first place, now you are picking an argument over fractional price differences for parts comparisions with a car that the OP does not even want to buy? Did your mum run off with a BMW owner or something?

[HustleRussell]

rb5er may have been a bit of a dick in this thread but I think he is correct in his assertion that a 5-series will cost more to run and on top of that

HustleRussell said:

I don't think a 150k Mondeo will require as much maintenance as a 300k 5-series.

I acknowledge that the OP has expressed no interest whatsoever in a Mondeo but it's a useful yardstick when value for money in midsize saloon cars is the subject.

So there are cheaper ways to do big miles over 10 years but if the OP wants an E60 then an E60 the OP should get.

[RWD cossie wil]

HustleRussell said:

rb5er may have been a bit of a dick in this thread but I think he is correct in his assertion that a 5-series will cost more to run and on top of that

HustleRussell said:

I don't think a 150k Mondeo will require as much maintenance as a 300k 5-series.

I acknowledge that the OP has expressed no interest whatsoever in a Mondeo but it's a useful yardstick when value for money in midsize saloon cars is the subject.

So there are cheaper ways to do big miles over 10 years but if the OP wants an E60 then an E60 the OP should get.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Fords & have owned plenty of them, but Mondeos suffer plenty of their own problems, dual mass flywheels are a major weak spot, as are thermostats, injectors etc.... I speak from experience here with having owned both, the running costs between the two are negligible. IMHO the BMW wears its miles better, my brothers TDCi managed to do 293,000 miles and was absolutly hanging by the end of its life, my 5 series is currently on 241,893 miles & going strong! Both are fantastic cars, but you can tell that the BMW is a class apart.

[rb5er]

RWD cossie wil said:

I don't get your point? You came on here slating the OP for wanting a 530d in the first place, now you are picking an argument over fractional price differences for parts comparisions with a car that the OP does not even want to buy? Did your mum run off with a BMW owner or something?

I never "slated" the OP for wanting a 530d. I merely stated about aspirations. Nobody aspires to that.

Its not a fractional difference over parts prices, everyone is free to compare for themselves, just remember we are talking 2005-2007 cars here. The car does weigh 150kgs more than a mondeo of the same vintage.

All I was pointing out was that a 530d WILL cost more than a 2.0tdci mondeo like for like. Not quite sure why you fanboys are getting your knickers in a twist over it. The BMW is a nicer car and you pay a premium for that. No need to try and pretend the running costs would be the same. Odd.

And your last sentence just shows the kind of juvenile mentality I am having to deal with.

[th3h1ghlander]

Again chaps, no need for a turf war, I appreciate everyone defending their positions of insight,opinion and experience...and all positions have a level of validity, so lets move on shall we?

rb5er: I will get one and will post every gory detail about spends, the initial spends are going to look interesting, and yes, it possibly will get close to bankrupting me, although I hope not. The reason? A FWD CAN saloon is not a sporty RWD mid-luxury/executive saloon, you expect there to be more in the way of part consumption when you go for a more powerful and heavier vehicle. They are also not as easy to work on, but the part cost is not greatly different from any other modern car (some are a little more pricey which I have noted).

RWD_cossie_Wil: I am an idiot, ready and waiting to screw up and learn I also have one or two fairly local specialists (advice from people who have had good experience and reasonable prices) lined up on the back-burner for what I cannot fix. You are right, whatever I buy will probably never see a main dealer ever again unless I get something with low mileage. It is great to see your experience is so positive, I hope mine will follow the same example.

HustleRussell: Point taken but I am not just looking for another cheep and cheerful motor, you don't look to BMW for that. Don't get hung up on the mileage I am or may not do as this will be variable. If after a couple of years I just can't take the maintenance cost vs miles any more I would likely consider a swap out for a Passat cc or possibly an Audi A3 if I was looking for something smaller.

Kateg28: Cheers for the insight, hope it keeps on running you to your goal

Bigdom: Thanks for the price list

[th3h1ghlander]

PS: On forum advice I purchase a K-Line Diagnostic Cable to take along with me to the car viewings so I can have a more in-depth look at the hidden details of the car:
http://www.cable-shack.co.uk/

[hman]

I'll just chip in here that my 525d e60 ran repair bills of £300 per month averaged over the 2 years I had it.

And I p/ex'd it with faults that were going to cost me £2k.

It wasnt cheap, but I liked the way it drove.

What I have found with BMW's is that they all have pretty much ALL the faults listed as common faults (yes thats obvious but you hope in vain that yours is not going to be one of those common fault cars).

Exhaust Manifold
EGR valve
Swirl Flaps
Thermostats
Leaking Auto box
Injectors
HPFP
Lower pulley
drop links
ARB bushes
Lower and upper suspension arms

All of these were toast at 125k - at 80k none of these faults were present.

[th3h1ghlander]

hman: given that experience, that is food for thought. Ouch! What I know about those:

Exhaust Manifold - Cracks, needs to be replaced with a cast one. Not cheap for the part, work can be done at home
EGR valve - People do EGR delete, valve can die
Swirl Flaps - scary if not removed, can be done at home
Thermostats - £100 each, can mostly be done at home
Leaking Auto box - That is a worrying problem....
Injectors - Wear and tear
HPFP - .... will need to look this one up
Lower pulley - .... will need to look this one up
drop links - .... will need to look this one up
ARB bushes - wear and tear... will need refresh. not sure if home or garage work
Lower and upper suspension arms - wear and tear... will need refresh. not sure if home or garage

Thanks for the breakdown...will have to get the accountant (wife) to weigh those up

[bigdom]

th3h1ghlander said:

hman: given that experience, that is food for thought. Ouch! What I know about those:

Exhaust Manifold - Cracks, needs to be replaced with a cast one. Not cheap for the part, work can be done at home
EGR valve - People do EGR delete, valve can die
Swirl Flaps - scary if not removed, can be done at home
Thermostats - £100 each, can mostly be done at home
Leaking Auto box - That is a worrying problem....
Injectors - Wear and tear
HPFP - .... will need to look this one up
Lower pulley - .... will need to look this one up
drop links - .... will need to look this one up
ARB bushes - wear and tear... will need refresh. not sure if home or garage work
Lower and upper suspension arms - wear and tear... will need refresh. not sure if home or garage

Thanks for the breakdown...will have to get the accountant (wife) to weigh those up

Auto box is covered by oil change, original sump can warp - £300 at indy.

Thermostats £100 for pair from BMW, 2 hrs to change with 8, 10 socket/spanner and 5mm allen key only (if i remember correctly)

[HustleRussell]

This is really the problem with buying in at 70-100k, you can expect quite a few bits to be approaching the end of their useful life within 50k or so. Of course once replaced there's no reason the car shouldn't go on to do the same number of miles all over again.