520D to a 116i...opinions..
520D to a 116i...opinions..
Author
Discussion

aj520d

Original Poster:

67 posts

170 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Hi, just want some other opinions.

My dad has a 2007 520D (with the older engine) and last year it pretty much blew up on him and needed a new engine (was a AUC) and the engine/turbo was replaced. Hes only doing short miles so the fuel is really adding up for him, last I calculated he was getting 22mpg... and it doesnt drive fast either.

He's trading it in for a 2009 116i (2.0) and I'm wondering, will he see any improvement on MPG? he only does short miles to work and back and the shops etc. I said he should get the 118D but it costs more.

thanks

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

285 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
If he's only doing very low mileage, why are fuel costs such an issue? It's pointless having a diesel car for nipping to the shops occasionally.

Your father was wise to stick to a petrol engine in his new car, modern diesels don't like short journeys where they never warm up properly (though it's not great for petrol engines either).

HustleRussell

26,551 posts

190 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Mr2Mike said:
If he's only doing very low mileage, why are fuel costs such an issue? It's pointless having a diesel car for nipping to the shops occasionally.
This. Also, 22mpg from a 520D? there is something wrong with the car or your dad's driving!

ETA: for very short journeys, a small petrol engine is often more economical. Diesels are actually pretty inefficient until they warm up, and they take a while to warm up because the blocks are thicker than on a petrol.

aj520d

Original Poster:

67 posts

170 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
yeah i'm sure his 520d is not right. They basically took it apart and put it back together, he doesnt trust the car anymore.

Disco You

3,749 posts

210 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
aj520d said:
. I said he should get the 118D but it costs more.

thanks
Why? He does so few miles that a diesel is a silly idea... As illustrated by his current car!

aj520d

Original Poster:

67 posts

170 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
his primary reason for change is MPG. he put 10ltrs in and managed 50miles in his 520D.

i'm actually trying to convince him to get a focus 1.6tdi or something. or maybe a new 1.0ecoboost

Grenoble

59,612 posts

185 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
How many miles a year does he do, in what mix of driving?

aj520d

Original Poster:

67 posts

170 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
I'd say about 8k max. Mostly 3-5 miles town driving with the occasional motorway use.

Grenoble

59,612 posts

185 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Go for petrol. Modern diesels are getting very complex...

Loplop

2,012 posts

215 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
aj520d said:
his primary reason for change is MPG. he put 10ltrs in and managed 50miles in his 520D.

i'm actually trying to convince him to get a focus 1.6tdi or something. or maybe a new 1.0ecoboost
Pretty sure my Dad see's way more MPG than that out of his E39 528i Touring...

Infact yeah, it does 25 on the motorway while towing a car with a pretty sizeable trailer.

Benbay001

5,893 posts

187 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
aj520d said:
I'd say about 8k max. Mostly 3-5 miles town driving with the occasional motorway use.
8k?!? and he needs the best fuel consumption he can get? If he is that poor maybe he should run a shed.

anonymous-user

84 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Benbay001 said:
8k?!? and he needs the best fuel consumption he can get? If he is that poor maybe he should run a shed.
A little harsh, but it's a fair point, at only 8k miles a year the fuel cost differences between a petrol and a diesel are pretty low unless you're comparing a 20mpg petrol with a 60mpg diesel.

aj520d

Original Poster:

67 posts

170 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Its not just a case of the MPG i guess, he doesn't trust the 5 series after what happened to it. Just looking for some advice if changing to a 116i would be beneficial in anyway or if he should look at other cars.

Frik

13,683 posts

273 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
He needs a petrol, preferably with a small engine, not a diesel.

SSBB

698 posts

186 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
I used to get 8-12mpg on a winter's morning in bad traffic with my 3.0 diesel (admittedly an automatic Jag). Diesel's aren't great when cold.

scenario8

7,957 posts

209 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Depreciation costs are going to dwarf any potential savings from using less fuel for those short journeys. It is unlikely any new diesel would warm up sufficiently to achieve any decent mpg. Maybe he'd hit an instantaneous 40mpg by the end of a 3 - 5 mile journey in traffic from cold. Sure, on those rare motorway runs he might hit 60mpg but on balance, over a 20odd mpg car he's not going to see dramatic differences to his day to day finances.

He will notice a twenty something thousand pound hole in his current account, however, but a shiney new BMW on his drive might cheer hime up, I suppose.

CraigyMc

18,369 posts

266 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Frik said:
He needs a petrol, preferably with a small engine, not a diesel.
Quite.

If he's mostly doing short journeys and is mostly driving in town even a prius* would be better.
*I threw up a little in my own mouth there. Sorry, people.

C

Krikkit

27,938 posts

211 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Depreciation costs apart, I'd echo what these guys are saying. Taking a diesel for a regular 3-5 mile journey is asking for trouble (DPF will suffer at very least), a small-engined petrol is the solution if you must buy new.

aj520d

Original Poster:

67 posts

170 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
scenario8 said:
Depreciation costs are going to dwarf any potential savings from using less fuel for those short journeys. It is unlikely any new diesel would warm up sufficiently to achieve any decent mpg. Maybe he'd hit an instantaneous 40mpg by the end of a 3 - 5 mile journey in traffic from cold. Sure, on those rare motorway runs he might hit 60mpg but on balance, over a 20odd mpg car he's not going to see dramatic differences to his day to day finances.

He will notice a twenty something thousand pound hole in his current account, however, but a shiney new BMW on his drive might cheer hime up, I suppose.
when did i saw he was getting a new car? the 116i 09 plate with 25k on the clock is £10.5k....

scenario8

7,957 posts

209 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Beg your pardon - busy tired eyes. No excuses, however.