BMW 535d vs Audi A8 4.0 tdi

[gizlaroc]

I have had the 535d sport touring and my old man had the 730d sport.

I loved the 535d was a great car in every respect once on proper tyres, and the only thing that let it down was economy, I got 26mpg from it over 25000 miles and 12 months, which is not great, the 2007 facelift I get 34 doing the same.
It is all the car you ever need, if not all the car you will ever want.

The 730d is a blinder, I absolutely adored this car, nearly as sporty feeling and a hell of a lot more comfy with a build quality on another level.
If I didn't need the estate I would have had one myself, I drove from Norwich to Glasgow for a lunch appointment and then drove home again that afternoon, and on the way back I took the last 15 miles on the back roads as they are fun. How many cars would leave you feeling like going for a blast after driving driving nearly 900 miles that day??
When you press on the car shrinks round you in a way not many can.
All in all a great car that beats the 5 series hands down.

We just sold our 2007 730d sport with 48k miles on it for £15000 to main dealer, but there are similar out there private for the same money.


Funnily enough my old man tried the big diesel A8 as he was going to get one, he had it on a 24 hour test drive and took it back after lunch the same day, he really didn't like it, said it made his S320cdi that he had before the 730d feel sporty!!
That was 2 years ago now, and he has only just replaced the 730d, he usually swaps at 2 years but he kept the 730d for 4 years, he has bought a new 5 series touring, the F11, and he is regretting the swap, wishes he still had the 7 series.

[gizlaroc]

Just realised this was bumped from 6 months ago!

[vinnie83]

radix093 said:

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?

I've only had mine for about 6 months, but done about 12k miles (it has about 88k on it now IIRC).

It's a pre LCI car (2006).

Mine has been fine so far, it recently plassed it's MOT with no issues and was serviced at a local specialist and only needed a new washer fluid sensor.

I think it may be looking at a new injector soon though. I seem to have been lucky so far, as I too was scared after reading about lots of problematic and expensive cars.

I hope I can come back to this thread in a year and say I've had no problems!

[Prince Jefri]

I did 56k miles in my 730d Sport in 3 years (late 06 Model) and it only once let me down. The Sat-Nav was replaced under warranty.

I'd take the 7-Series over both of the cars you're looking at.

[daemon]

Prince Jefri said:

I did 56k miles in my 730d Sport in 3 years (late 06 Model) and it only once let me down. The Sat-Nav was replaced under warranty.

I'd take the 7-Series over both of the cars you're looking at.

That would be your perrogative, however the 535d is a totally different beast aimed at a different market to a 730d and it would be wrong to suggest otherwise.

[gizlaroc]

daemon said:

That would be your perrogative, however the 535d is a totally different beast aimed at a different market to a 730d and it would be wrong to suggest otherwise.

It's not actually that different, it is amazing how similar they are when you consider how much bigger the 7 is.

[vinnie83]

gizlaroc said:

It's not actually that different, it is amazing how similar they are when you consider how much bigger the 7 is.

I think the only reason that the 7 is considered as an alternative to the 5 is the simular cost.

I very briefly considered the 7 but decided that I wanted something a little sportier, aggressive looking whilst having comfort aswell. This meant the 535d M-sport was perfect and the 7 wasn't in the running any longer.

I would imagine if price is the driving factor then yes they will both be considered. However if someone wants a particular type of car, the 7 is a totally different catagory!

[daemon]

gizlaroc said:

daemon said:

That would be your perrogative, however the 535d is a totally different beast aimed at a different market to a 730d and it would be wrong to suggest otherwise.

It's not actually that different, it is amazing how similar they are when you consider how much bigger the 7 is.

Try comparing even simple performance figures of a 730d v 535d - and thats before you remap the 535d.

[bennyboydurham]

I've had a 730d for three years, the longest I've ever kept a car and I've got no intention to move it on until the F01 comes into my price range. The 730d is BMW's best kept secret in my opinion; all the toys you pay through the nose for on a 3 or a 5 all in one big, solid package that initially depreciates like a piano falling out of Canary Wharf. Mine was £27k at two years old with 19k on the odometer. I couldn't even find a 330d with a similar spec for that kind of cash. When I bought it everyone thought I was nuts until they went in it and then they REALLY changed their tune!

[stemac76]

BMWs are st so I'd deffo not bother with one of those (unless you want to be bitterly disappointed and bankrupt), the Audi is better but will still bankrupt you WHEN is starts to fall to bits...

[daemon]

stemac76 said:

BMWs are st so I'd deffo not bother with one of those (unless you want to be bitterly disappointed and bankrupt), the Audi is better but will still bankrupt you WHEN is starts to fall to bits...

You pulled up a 4 year old thread just to troll with that nugget?

[HoHoHo]

daemon said:

stemac76 said:

BMWs are st so I'd deffo not bother with one of those (unless you want to be bitterly disappointed and bankrupt), the Audi is better but will still bankrupt you WHEN is starts to fall to bits...

You pulled up a 4 year old thread just to troll with that nugget?

That was me in my old car (535D)

He (steman76) is talking absolute bks, the LCi 535D M Sport is a brilliant machine and despite the fact I sold it 4 or so years ago it's the one car I still miss.

[daemon]

HoHoHo said:

daemon said:

stemac76 said:

BMWs are st so I'd deffo not bother with one of those (unless you want to be bitterly disappointed and bankrupt), the Audi is better but will still bankrupt you WHEN is starts to fall to bits...

You pulled up a 4 year old thread just to troll with that nugget?

That was me in my old car (535D)

He (steman76) is talking absolute bks, the LCi 535D M Sport is a brilliant machine and despite the fact I sold it 4 or so years ago it's the one car I still miss.

Same for me. I'd the first LCI 535d M Sport into Northern Ireland in May 2007. Fantastic car. Wholly regret not keeping it.

[ortontom]

erm 535d or audi A8 - Audi electrics are on another level and fall apart in a niggling way ie small electric stuff...they even have electric motors to adjust the seat belt height!

535d no i couldnt recommend that either.

[porschekiller]

hi everyone i have driven audi a8 4.0 tdi and driven a bmw 535d remapped and a bmw 730d i would like to say the audi was more fun to drive and had more toys it is a gentleman's car

bmw 730d was more comfortable but was slugish

bmw 535d 0-60 5.6
audi a8 4.0 tdi 0-60 6.3

i drive an audi a8 4.2 tdi remapped 0-60 4.2

the car is extremely fast and i have lost police in this car

also the car really does make an entrance because my brother had used this vehicle to go to fights which really scares the person he is going to fight because it is a mafia car and it has been seen in Transporter.

so i would say think about audi a8, mercedes s500 or if your a bmw person i would recommend a bmw 535d or an bmw m5

[hornetrider]

porschekiller said:

hi everyone i have driven audi a8 4.0 tdi and driven a bmw 535d remapped and a bmw 730d i would like to say the audi was more fun to drive and had more toys it is a gentleman's car

bmw 730d was more comfortable but was slugish

bmw 535d 0-60 5.6
audi a8 4.0 tdi 0-60 6.3

i drive an audi a8 4.2 tdi remapped 0-60 4.2

the car is extremely fast and i have lost police in this car

also the car really does make an entrance because my brother had used this vehicle to go to fights which really scares the person he is going to fight because it is a mafia car and it has been seen in Transporter.

so i would say think about audi a8, mercedes s500 or if your a bmw person i would recommend a bmw 535d or an bmw m5

Legendary post, sir

[BE57 TOY]

porschekiller said:

hi everyone i have driven audi a8 4.0 tdi and driven a bmw 535d remapped and a bmw 730d i would like to say the audi was more fun to drive and had more toys it is a gentleman's car

bmw 730d was more comfortable but was slugish

bmw 535d 0-60 5.6
audi a8 4.0 tdi 0-60 6.3

i drive an audi a8 4.2 tdi remapped 0-60 4.2

the car is extremely fast and i have lost police in this car

also the car really does make an entrance because my brother had used this vehicle to go to fights which really scares the person he is going to fight because it is a mafia car and it has been seen in Transporter.

so i would say think about audi a8, mercedes s500 or if your a bmw person i would recommend a bmw 535d or an bmw m5

Haha

[gizlaroc]

porschekiller said:

hi everyone i have driven audi a8 4.0 tdi and driven a bmw 535d remapped and a bmw 730d i would like to say the audi was more fun to drive and had more toys it is a gentleman's car

bmw 730d was more comfortable but was slugish

bmw 535d 0-60 5.6
audi a8 4.0 tdi 0-60 6.3

i drive an audi a8 4.2 tdi remapped 0-60 4.2

the car is extremely fast and i have lost police in this car

also the car really does make an entrance because my brother had used this vehicle to go to fights which really scares the person he is going to fight because it is a mafia car and it has been seen in Transporter.

so i would say think about audi a8, mercedes s500 or if your a bmw person i would recommend a bmw 535d or an bmw m5

Wow!!

I think that may well be the best post ever on Pistonheads!!

[gizlaroc]

Even better that you are giving info to someone who was looking to buy the car almost exactly 4 years ago!!

Classic.

[Lost soul]

porschekiller said:

the car is extremely fast and i have lost police in this car

also the car really does make an entrance because my brother had used this vehicle to go to fights which really scares the person he is going to fight because it is a mafia car and it has been seen in Transporter.

what a minge