420d, 520d or 330d?
Discussion
335d said:
I don't agree with this at all - the 6 cylinder unit improves the car immensely in my experience. The 20d is a perfectly adequate lump for getting from A to B, and fine for a motorway slog, but it really isn't enjoyable, particularly in a barge like the F10.
I usually miss some aspects of cars when I buy a new one, particularly after a few years of use, but the F10 520d is effectively white goods, like a washing machine - perfectly capable but also utterly forgettable. The 30d lump is just so much smoother and faster. I won't make the mistake of a 20d again.
I guess the OP should also consider the fact that the F10 will date more quickly now that it's the old model. I do like the look of the G30 - I may well get a 535d / 540d at some point.
Of course the 6 cly improves the car but where do you stop. Why not just get a M3 or anything in-between. Hence why I said for Mon-Fri driving, the 520d is perfect. How much fun can be had in rush hour. I had a G30 540i xdrive on order and dropped it for a 2 year old 520d simply because it will a dd. I'm fortunate to have a weekend toy that has 10 cyl though. This 2015 2ltr 5 certainly feels more refined than our 2016 2ltr 3 series I usually miss some aspects of cars when I buy a new one, particularly after a few years of use, but the F10 520d is effectively white goods, like a washing machine - perfectly capable but also utterly forgettable. The 30d lump is just so much smoother and faster. I won't make the mistake of a 20d again.
I guess the OP should also consider the fact that the F10 will date more quickly now that it's the old model. I do like the look of the G30 - I may well get a 535d / 540d at some point.
Edited by Pioneer on Monday 20th February 08:31
Pioneer said:
Of course the 6 cly improves the car but where do you stop. Why not just get a M3 or anything in-between. Hence why I said for Mon-Fri driving, the 520d is perfect. How much fun can be had in rush hour.
If you read the original post, or even just the title, it was a straight choice between 3 cars, so the reason for stopping at the 330d is that I felt it was the best of the three of them.Given that the OP is asking the question on Pistonheads, I am assuming that driving means more than just getting from A to B. There really is only one choice from those three for someone that derives any pleasure from driving.
335d said:
If you read the original post, or even just the title, it was a straight choice between 3 cars, so the reason for stopping at the 330d is that I felt it was the best of the three of them.
Given that the OP is asking the question on Pistonheads, I am assuming that driving means more than just getting from A to B. There really is only one choice from those three for someone that derives any pleasure from driving.
"I'm more of a pipe and slippers kind of bloke than a Club 18-30's lad" Given that the OP is asking the question on Pistonheads, I am assuming that driving means more than just getting from A to B. There really is only one choice from those three for someone that derives any pleasure from driving.
520d all day long
Pioneer said:
335d said:
If you read the original post, or even just the title, it was a straight choice between 3 cars, so the reason for stopping at the 330d is that I felt it was the best of the three of them.
Given that the OP is asking the question on Pistonheads, I am assuming that driving means more than just getting from A to B. There really is only one choice from those three for someone that derives any pleasure from driving.
"I'm more of a pipe and slippers kind of bloke than a Club 18-30's lad" Given that the OP is asking the question on Pistonheads, I am assuming that driving means more than just getting from A to B. There really is only one choice from those three for someone that derives any pleasure from driving.
520d all day long
Shame the OP can't stretch to a 530d, which would be the best all round choice.
OP, my money would be on a 5 irrelevant of engine. Car feels in a different league to the 3's. Sounds like performance is not that much of an issue for you. 520 has more than enough power to enjoy on UK roads if you want to keep your license. The times I have fun driving hard legally on public roads is not in this country and is certainly not in a standard 3 or 5 series BM!
Pioneer said:
OP, my money would be on a 5 irrelevant of engine. Car feels in a different league to the 3's. Sounds like performance is not that much of an issue for you. 520 has more than enough power to enjoy on UK roads if you want to keep your license. The times I have fun driving hard legally on public roads is not in this country and is certainly not in a standard 3 or 5 series BM!
As much as I dislike the 20d engine I do agree that you don't really need anything faster on UK roads, plus you get the added bonus of decent mpg. My old fashioned view that a nice car should have a nice engine is very outdated in all fairness.
I've even been recently considering a 420d myself!
I really like the 5 series, but after running a 6 series for a couple of years now their size/weight can get a little frustrating at times.
cerb4.5lee said:
Pioneer said:
OP, my money would be on a 5 irrelevant of engine. Car feels in a different league to the 3's. Sounds like performance is not that much of an issue for you. 520 has more than enough power to enjoy on UK roads if you want to keep your license. The times I have fun driving hard legally on public roads is not in this country and is certainly not in a standard 3 or 5 series BM!
As much as I dislike the 20d engine I do agree that you don't really need anything faster on UK roads, plus you get the added bonus of decent mpg. My old fashioned view that a nice car should have a nice engine is very outdated in all fairness.
I've even been recently considering a 420d myself!
I really like the 5 series, but after running a 6 series for a couple of years now their size/weight can get a little frustrating at times.
p1stonhead said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Pioneer said:
OP, my money would be on a 5 irrelevant of engine. Car feels in a different league to the 3's. Sounds like performance is not that much of an issue for you. 520 has more than enough power to enjoy on UK roads if you want to keep your license. The times I have fun driving hard legally on public roads is not in this country and is certainly not in a standard 3 or 5 series BM!
As much as I dislike the 20d engine I do agree that you don't really need anything faster on UK roads, plus you get the added bonus of decent mpg. My old fashioned view that a nice car should have a nice engine is very outdated in all fairness.
I've even been recently considering a 420d myself!
I really like the 5 series, but after running a 6 series for a couple of years now their size/weight can get a little frustrating at times.
Trabi601 said:
Only if you compare like with like - a 520d is more refined than a 330d. But a 530d would be better than both.
Really appreciate all of the responses, and the debate has been enjoyable to read. Lots of different opinions!This post kind of sums up the reason for the question really. Obviously a 330d is better than a 320d, but is the 520d 'better' than the 330d. Better in what terms is the next question, and for me it is about refinement. Not many of those 20k miles will be enjoyable to cover, as they'll be for work purposes.
If only I could stretch to a 530d, there would be no need for the question, but it's a tall order I think. Maybe I could wait a few months until the new 5 is plentiful, and see if that drives the price of the F10 530d down towards the man-math side of doable!
Trabi601 said:
Only if you compare like with like - a 520d is more refined than a 330d. But a 530d would be better than both.
+1 Loads of pre-owned 520d's to choose from though. To get into a similar mileage/age 530d/535d is quite a jump money wise, about another £4-5k. I was actually going to go whole hog and just get a 2014/15 M5 Comp Pack a few week ago circa £40k but decided against it after test driving a couple. Decided a 520 is all I really need plus half the price. Our 3 series feels like a completely different car inside build wise to the 5. Drove a 740d yesterday at Stratstones which is on another level again.
Douglas Arfempty said:
Trabi601 said:
Only if you compare like with like - a 520d is more refined than a 330d. But a 530d would be better than both.
Really appreciate all of the responses, and the debate has been enjoyable to read. Lots of different opinions!This post kind of sums up the reason for the question really. Obviously a 330d is better than a 320d, but is the 520d 'better' than the 330d. Better in what terms is the next question, and for me it is about refinement. Not many of those 20k miles will be enjoyable to cover, as they'll be for work purposes.
Douglas Arfempty said:
Obviously a 330d is better than a 320d, but is the 520d 'better' than the 330d. Better in what terms is the next question, and for me it is about refinement. Not many of those 20k miles will be enjoyable to cover, as they'll be for work purposes.
It's quite a tough choice and although I had the older models(E61 520d/E90 330d) I really liked both but in different ways. The 330d was used for over a year as a 160 miles a day motorway car and it did a cracking job, but the 520d is also a very good motorway car too.
I preferred the extra space and feel inside of the 520d although I wasn't that keen on its slightly(to me) noisy and unrefined engine.
Yet I loved the punch of the 330d a lot and they both delivered the same 43 mpg, I did expect better mpg for the 520d but believe the newer model is much better.
I think you will like either to be fair.
I currently have an F10 535d, as daily driver, swapping from an F10 520d. While the extra shove of the 35d is nice, 99% of the time, there really isn't much difference between the 2 cars. The refined nature of the 5 series means the engine noise is muted anyway, so most of the time, I would be just as happy in the 520d.
The point I am making is that the 5 series is a great car as a 520d, even compered to the higher level models. So, if the additional quality of the 5 series, over the 3 series is important to you, I wouldn't feel short changed by choosing the smaller of the engine options in your list.
The point I am making is that the 5 series is a great car as a 520d, even compered to the higher level models. So, if the additional quality of the 5 series, over the 3 series is important to you, I wouldn't feel short changed by choosing the smaller of the engine options in your list.
Edited by andyeds1234 on Monday 20th February 14:34
Ahbefive said:
30d in any form is better than any 2.0d. Petrol preferable over either.
Disagree.I went from 330d to 520d and much prefer the 5 series.
The 2.0d seems much more refined in the 5 series than in the lesser 1/2/3/4 ranges, probably down to better sound proofing.
530d would be the trump card, but given the straight choice between 330d and a 520d then I'm far happier with the 5 series.
Just goes to show how subjective all this is! I did the opposite to the previous poster. I had eight years in E60 and F10 520d Msports and whilst I really did like both and especially my F10, it was just too big and barge-like. Last time out I went for an F30 330D Msport and I much prefer it to the F10. Yes the 5 is a bit plusher but the 3 handles better, is actually more economical and then there's is the HUGE difference in performance/driving experience.
I can't ever imagine going back to a 5 again - even a 530D is just too big.
I can't ever imagine going back to a 5 again - even a 530D is just too big.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff