420d, 520d or 330d?

[Douglas Arfempty]

Decisions, decisions.

29 years old, just coming out of a company car scheme (Vauxhall Astra/Insignia), 15-20k miles per year.

Looking at either a personal loan or PCP for a £20k purchase, and have narrowed(!) it down to either a 420d, 520d or, more recently, a 330d, all in M-Sport spec, automatic, and all available within budget with around 10-20k on the clock, which is key as I'll be keeping the car for 5 years ish, so circa 100k added.

Each car is pretty similar inside, and I'm more of a pipe and slippers kind of bloke than a Club 18-30's lad, probably due to my job.

Love the looks of the 4 series, love the barge factor of the 5 series, and love the prospects of the x30d engine! (Not test driven either yet as I fear the x30d may make my mind up for me!) Budget will not stretch to a 430d or 530d.

Which one would YOU go for, and WHY?

[Mike335i]

I would go 330d as the 6 pot engine is a significant step up from the 4 pot, although I would be looking at petrol manual options.

5 series would be a step up in quality in terms of ride and quality, but I think the engine still trumps it.

Not sure about the 4 series, have you looked at a 430d? Just a less practical 3 series Inn my view I'm afraid. But my opinion is different to most it seems, I went out my way to find a saloon over a coupe, a manual over an auto and a petrol over a diesel.

[EV11NED]

I'd go for the 330d. My mate has had one for the last 3 years as a company car in M Sport spec. It's an awesome car, genuinely quick and handles very well. I've driven it a few times, both around town and on longer journeys and loved it. If it was my money, that's what I'd be buying. 5 series is too big, and I struggle with the looks of the 4 series coupe. That said, I generally prefer smaller cars and the 3 is as big as I'd want to go. And there is a world of difference between the 4 pot and 6 pot diesel engine!

[Trabi601]

Mike335i said:

I would go 330d as the 6 pot engine is a significant step up from the 4 pot, although I would be looking at petrol manual options.

5 series would be a step up in quality in terms of ride and quality, but I think the engine still trumps it.

Not sure about the 4 series, have you looked at a 430d? Just a less practical 3 series Inn my view I'm afraid. But my opinion is different to most it seems, I went out my way to find a saloon over a coupe, a manual over an auto and a petrol over a diesel.

If you have a 4 Gran Coupe, it's a more practical 3-series!

[335d]

It's a straight choice between the 520d and the 330d. The 420d is a pretty car, but outclassed by the other 2 in refinement and/or pace terms. I moved from an F10 520d to an F30 335d and you can't fail to notice the step down in materials. However the F30 with a 3 litre engine is just so much better to drive.

If how it drives matters at all to you then it has to be the 330d. If you want a quiet box to cruise up and down the motorway, then the 520d was designed to do just that, but it is very dull. Having only had 6 or 8 cylinder BMWs before the 520d, I realised that I had gone too cheap soon after buying it. I did add a BMW power kit, but the gulf between 4 and 6 cylinders is vast.

Buy a 330d unless you are 29 going on 80!

[cerb4.5lee]

420d for its looks, 520d for its interior and 330d for its performance, overall I'd go 330d for the engine.

I've had both a 330d/520d(older versions) and liked both for different reasons, but I wasn't a fan of the engine in the 520d and I think the 330d is a great all rounder.

[Douglas Arfempty]

335d said:

Buy a 330d unless you are 29 going on 80!

I'm 29 going on 50, so that probably puts me in the 330d bracket, no?

Seriously, whilst out with 2 of my 40+ year old colleagues, my own mother commented that we all looked the same age! And they don't look like they're in their late 20's!

[p1stonhead]

330d touring if you can get it.

[Smuler]

I would go 330d, the best looking and the fastest.

Against the 5 is I found it very big and the 4 disappointing looks for a coupe so not worth the drop in power.

330d has to be auto, there is no manual version

[335d]

Douglas Arfempty said:

I'm 29 going on 50, so that probably puts me in the 330d bracket, no?

It does. When your toenails turn yellow and you have more hair growing out of your ears than your head, you're ready for a 520d

[Big GT]

OP - Are you claiming you Business miles back? If so you will get around 2p per mile extra with the larger 3ltr which adds up!

Anyway 330d - That engine and gearbox will make you smile genuine supercar in gear shove. I had the 430d and for me that engine glossed over the modern BMW problems, road noise, vague steering, Idrive, stupid drive modes etc. The 2ltr will not do this.

[Douglas Arfempty]

Big GT said:

OP - Are you claiming you Business miles back? If so you will get around 2p per mile extra with the larger 3ltr which adds up!

Anyway 330d - That engine and gearbox will make you smile genuine supercar in gear shove. I had the 430d and for me that engine glossed over the modern BMW problems, road noise, vague steering, Idrive, stupid drive modes etc. The 2ltr will not do this.

Car will be run privately, so 45p per mile regardless. Obviously this means the x20d will make me more money than the x30d...but I am prepared to compromise!

[Pioneer]

1,2,3 and 4 are all very similar in build quality. If performance isn't an issue a 5 is a big step up. Otherwise the 330d. Had a few of each (minus 2 series) and 5 would be my choice. For the majority of Mon-Fri driving, the better build, comfort and extra toys on a 5 outweigh the fun factor from a 6 cyl that can only be enjoyed occasionally. Helps if you have a weekend toy, gives you something to look forward to

[Trabi601]

Pioneer said:

1,2,3 and 4 are all very similar in build quality. If performance isn't an issue a 5 is big step up. Otherwise the 330d. Had a few of each (minus 2 series) and 5 would be my choice. For the majority of Mon-Fri driving, the better build, comfort and extra toys on a 5 outweigh the fun factor from a 6 cyl that can only be enjoyed occasionally. Helps if you have a weekend toy, gives you something to look forward to

I'd tend to agree with this. A nicely specced 5 is all the car you'd ever need, even as a 520d.

I'd avoid MSport, though, as I think the Luxury spec. has a bit more gravitas on the road - they're also generally better equipped and more comfortable. (Many MSports have the Plus pack as it added Harman/Kardon and Pro. Navigation - but it also added 19" wheels and horrible ride quality).

[cerb4.5lee]

Trabi601 said:

Pioneer said:

1,2,3 and 4 are all very similar in build quality. If performance isn't an issue a 5 is big step up. Otherwise the 330d. Had a few of each (minus 2 series) and 5 would be my choice. For the majority of Mon-Fri driving, the better build, comfort and extra toys on a 5 outweigh the fun factor from a 6 cyl that can only be enjoyed occasionally. Helps if you have a weekend toy, gives you something to look forward to

I'd tend to agree with this. A nicely specced 5 is all the car you'd ever need, even as a 520d.

I agree in some ways but for me the 5 series is a premium car, but the engine in a 520d isn't in anyway premium and you can get the same engine in a 1 series.

So for me the 5 series deserves a better feeling engine than a noisy 4 pot.

[Trabi601]

cerb4.5lee said:

I agree in some ways but for me the 5 series is a premium car, but the engine in a 520d isn't in anyway premium and you can get the same engine in a 1 series.

So for me the 5 series deserves a better feeling engine than a noisy 4 pot.

You really don't notice it in a 5, though. You do in a 1, 2, 3 or 4 as they're very obviously based on a cheaper platform.

[cerb4.5lee]

Trabi601 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I agree in some ways but for me the 5 series is a premium car, but the engine in a 520d isn't in anyway premium and you can get the same engine in a 1 series.

So for me the 5 series deserves a better feeling engine than a noisy 4 pot.

You really don't notice it in a 5, though. You do in a 1, 2, 3 or 4 as they're very obviously based on a cheaper platform.

I noticed it in my 520d though, and in fairness I notice some diesel harshness in my 640d as well, so even the so called better built models struggle for me.

Maybe I'm just a little too critical though.

[Trabi601]

cerb4.5lee said:

I noticed it in my 520d though, and in fairness I notice some diesel harshness in my 640d as well, so even the so called better built models struggle for me.

Maybe I'm just a little too critical though.

Yours was an E61, looking at your profile - they're a very different beast to the F10/F11.

The E60/E61 always felt cheap and closer to a 3 than a 7 - the F10/11 is the other way around.

[cerb4.5lee]

Trabi601 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I noticed it in my 520d though, and in fairness I notice some diesel harshness in my 640d as well, so even the so called better built models struggle for me.

Maybe I'm just a little too critical though.

Yours was an E61, looking at your profile - they're a very different beast to the F10/F11.

The E60/E61 always felt cheap and closer to a 3 than a 7 - the F10/11 is the other way around.

Granted but I have a F13 640d and I notice harshness from its 3 litre diesel engine, so I wouldn't think the 20d 4 pot would hold up too well either to be fair.

Luckily though BMW don't make the 6 series with the 4 pot diesel thankfully.

[335d]

Pioneer said:

For the majority of Mon-Fri driving, the better build, comfort and extra toys on a 5 outweigh the fun factor from a 6 cyl that can only be enjoyed occasionally.

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.