535d or 545i/550I
Discussion
As well as looking at 3 series' BMWs (see my other thread on this forum) I have been looking around at the prices of E60 535ds, which have always appealed to me, especially the sport model, which I think looks the dogs danglies. Two things put me off; a) the price of even 10 year old cars with less than starship mileage and b) potential big bills on a second hand car such as swirl flap ingestion, turbo, DPF etc.... I then noticed a 545i for sale locally for about 7-8 grand and it occurred to me that this might be a suitable alternative, given my 11,000 mile a year average.....there are even a couple of 550is for sale in the 8-9 grand bracket, which is almost E39 M5 pace for the price of a 3 year old Mondeo TDCI.
Has anyone owned a 545/550 who has also driven a 535d who could comment on the relative strengths and weaknesses of each model?
Has anyone owned a 545/550 who has also driven a 535d who could comment on the relative strengths and weaknesses of each model?
philmots said:
I owned a 335d (same as lci 535d) and now have a 550i Touring..
Unless mpg's are an issue I can't think of any reason to go for the diesel.
My 335d averaged 32mpg, the 550 does about 20.. But I probably drive the 550i harder as I enjoy it A LOT more! This does go up to high 20's on motorway and DC's etc, mine stops on mainly B roads.
The V8 does have its issues, I'd say the Diesel engines more so though.
As long as you're happy with fuel costs and have an ounce of petrol in your blood you'll love the V8, it makes the car really quite special.
On the subject of "issues", is it correct that they need valve stem oil seals done at higher mileage? Saw an approx. 100,000 mile 545i for sale which had just had them done at cost, supposedly of 5K...eek!! Cant remember the last time I heard of a modern petrol engine car needing valve stems done! Last car was my wife's old 205 GTI! Unless mpg's are an issue I can't think of any reason to go for the diesel.
My 335d averaged 32mpg, the 550 does about 20.. But I probably drive the 550i harder as I enjoy it A LOT more! This does go up to high 20's on motorway and DC's etc, mine stops on mainly B roads.
The V8 does have its issues, I'd say the Diesel engines more so though.
As long as you're happy with fuel costs and have an ounce of petrol in your blood you'll love the V8, it makes the car really quite special.
scz4 said:
I've had an E61 530d and 550i.
Without a doubt get the 550i! I sold the 530d after just a few months, worst car I've owned (mostly down to the auto box). The 550i replaced it and was a fantastic family barge, on the same journeys it was only 4-5mpg worse off. No brainer really.
Very interesting! Am I right in thinking Tiff Needell owned a 550i and it was the car he was famously done for speeding in, before Mr Freeman got him off? Tiff is a fairly shrewd judge of cars, so if he likes them...Without a doubt get the 550i! I sold the 530d after just a few months, worst car I've owned (mostly down to the auto box). The 550i replaced it and was a fantastic family barge, on the same journeys it was only 4-5mpg worse off. No brainer really.
Welshbeef said:
If you do go for one 535d make sure it's the LCI vastly superior economy and performance plus the non LCI is now a pretty old car.
What prices are you seeing?
Well, I live near Bournemouth and there was a remapped LCI for sale near me recently,58 reg, went for £11,400. Cheapest LCI I have seen with less than 150K miles within 100 mile radius, £10K. There is an 05 reg near me with only 69,000 miles at a dealer, £9995. Quite a lot of cash. The 545i touring, which seems to have already sold, was up for £8K.What prices are you seeing?
There is a 550i on Autotrader on a private sale where the seller wants £7995, 06 reg car. Mileage around 110K I think.... So the 535d seems to carry a premium over the 545/550.....
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