BMW 535d vs Audi A8 4.0 tdi

BMW 535d vs Audi A8 4.0 tdi

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Discussion

blitzed007

Original Poster:

357 posts

193 months

Sunday 5th September 2010
quotequote all
Right guys im after some advice please

I plan to purchase one of these two diesel beasts in 6 months time and would like some input on anyone who has owned either one of these two. I toyed with the idea of a 730d but im not too sure about the looks and the reported reliability issues on various forum sites so its down to the above two.

Which out of the two is the most reliable?

Which year / years is best to be avoided?

Ventilated and massage seats is this option available on both these motors?

Is the BMW 730d really that bad reliability wise?

thanks

mdowning

218 posts

205 months

Sunday 5th September 2010
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I'm currently looking at the 730d - my research had led me to believe that the E66, '05 onwards, model was ok on reliability...

daemon

35,724 posts

196 months

Sunday 5th September 2010
quotequote all
blitzed007 said:
Right guys im after some advice please

I plan to purchase one of these two diesel beasts in 6 months time and would like some input on anyone who has owned either one of these two. I toyed with the idea of a 730d but im not too sure about the looks and the reported reliability issues on various forum sites so its down to the above two.

Which out of the two is the most reliable?

Which year / years is best to be avoided?

Ventilated and massage seats is this option available on both these motors?

Is the BMW 730d really that bad reliability wise?

thanks
Whats your budget?

blitzed007

Original Poster:

357 posts

193 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
Im looking to spend around 13-14k

paprika

5,484 posts

166 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
IF you want handling aswell as comfort then 5 series......

If you just want comfort then A8.

No joke or offense but it really is as simple as that as you are crossing categories.

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
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For 14k i think you will find a better Audi than you will a BMW.

y2blade

56,029 posts

214 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
amongst all his usual cr4p rolleyes is a write-up on the A8 4.0 tdi

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_cl...


personally I'd go for the Audi as I've never been much of a (non "M") BMW fan

daemon

35,724 posts

196 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
roofer said:
For 14k i think you will find a better Audi than you will a BMW.
Really, any evidence to back that up? Or are you just guessing?

Vee

3,094 posts

233 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
daemon said:
roofer said:
For 14k i think you will find a better Audi than you will a BMW.
Really, any evidence to back that up? Or are you just guessing?
Possibly because most want the 4.2 Audi (apparently much much better than the 4.0) so the 4.0 prices are affected.
535d on the other had remains sought after.

StuB

6,695 posts

238 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
Having driven an A8 recently (59 plate), I'd take an E60 anyday. Nothing in the way of feedback or involvement, so if swooshing along motorways is what you're after, why not look at a Pheaeton aswell?

If driving is what you're after, 535/530d or 730d! Older 3.0d (N54's, like mine) does/will have issues with swirl flaps, which isn't cheap if they fail (>£4k for a rebuild for me), but can be cheap & easy fix if they haven't failed - and solves the 'issue' AFAIK.

Wont be selling our E60 for a while to feel like I've got some value from it driving

Beardy10

23,112 posts

174 months

Tuesday 14th September 2010
quotequote all
If you're going for an E60 try and get the facelift cars as the ride is supposed to be better i.e. they changed it to accommodate the RFT's...the early cars had suspension for normal tyres and RFT's. I'd actually check the ride full stop as given you are looking at an A8 this might be an issue for you. An SE on 17's will ride a lot better than than an M Sport on 19's. Don't know about massage seats but they will be very hard to find....Comfort Seats are brilliant (they don't include the massage function) but are very good.

M-J-B

14,980 posts

249 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
My car was used in a direct comparison for Autocar earlier this year.

They are two totally different machines, but the 535D was suggested to be the better of the two.





As it happens, mine is also going on the market this week whistle

07, LCI, fully loaded........ wink

Oh, and ignore the 'comments' I made - total bks and simply made up by the journalist rolleyes

PIGINAWIG

2,339 posts

164 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
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535D - Job jobbed......

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
daemon said:
roofer said:
For 14k i think you will find a better Audi than you will a BMW.
Really, any evidence to back that up? Or are you just guessing?
At 14k a 535 will be dog eared, the 4.0 Audi has little demand, but not usually abused....a good buy.

richterswil

872 posts

190 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
roofer said:
daemon said:
roofer said:
For 14k i think you will find a better Audi than you will a BMW.
Really, any evidence to back that up? Or are you just guessing?
At 14k a 535 will be dog eared, the 4.0 Audi has little demand, but not usually abused....a good buy.
Don't agree for a second.

No idea what mine is worth (and I don't care) but it may not even be £14k. Even so it has a great specification (£52k when new) and other than some stone chips on the front and an alloy in need of refurbishment it looks and drives great.

Depends what the OP wants - for a barge to cruise motorways I doubt the Audi can be bettered but for something which ticks that box and is far more rewarding to drive the 535d would be a much better bet and with some effort I'm sure a good one could be found for £14k.

blitzed007

Original Poster:

357 posts

193 months

Thursday 16th September 2010
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Right after extensive research and opinions from above im going to opt for the Beemer, cheers guys

M-J-B

14,980 posts

249 months

Thursday 16th September 2010
quotequote all
blitzed007 said:
Right after extensive research and opinions from above im going to opt for the Beemer, cheers guys
Good choice!

Love mine, and it will be a shame to see it go.

paprika

5,484 posts

166 months

Thursday 16th September 2010
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Dont forget to buy a diagnostic kit biggrin

radix093

1 posts

156 months

Friday 11th March 2011
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Anyone have good review for the 535d!? I was all set on the 535d, saw it as the perfect car...economy, comfort, performance, etc...but I've heard from a list of owners as long as my arm that they're fantastic when they're running, but a disaster as regards reliability! I've met a lot lately going to Audi or Merc as a result? Anyone have a 535d that has done big mileage? I've an A6 and have done 160k miles and counting, and never a bother! Will I be disappointed if I go for a 535d as I've been told?

Vladimir

6,917 posts

157 months

Saturday 12th March 2011
quotequote all
As far as I know the pre 2007, lower powered ones had some issues. My inlaws one went back after 4 months. The i-drive packed in then loads of related issues occurred. They got a full refund.
Post 2007 gets proper 335d power and appears pretty reliable.