X5 3.0 sport or 530d sport touring??

[allblacks]

Gents, I'm looking for a reliable, comfortable workhorse for my daily commute of 85 mile round trip across A and B roads. I've whittled it down to these these 2. High miles really doesn't bother me and I've a max budget of £8k. Preferably I'd spend a grand less and get the local BMW specialist to take out the swirl flaps, any suspension issues, brakes etc to bring the car up to scratch which will cost not far off a £1000.
Any advice welcome especially if you've owned them both to compare. Also the 530 would have to be a touring to accommodate the French mastiff!

Thanks for any replies

[The Curn]

530d every day.

Better image, better handling, better fuel economy, easier to "throw" around and quicker on the A road commute.

Apart from average off road ability, which your post doesn't mention that you need, and the ability to see over cars in front of you, I don't see what benefit an X5 would offer.

I haven't had an X5, but have had 2 E61 535d's and they are lovely things...

[anonymous-user]

A 530d will also be cheaper to run and maintain, with less to go wrong and less weight to wear out suspension and brakes. I imagine tyres will be cheaper too.

Unless you buy into the "image" I see no reason to get the X5, and I think for £8k you're looking at a bit of a tired old dog in any case.

[allblacks]

To be honest the most important factor for me is comfort, I've got my bike for the fast stuff. Although I haven't test driven any of the vehicles I thought the X5 might be a nicer place to be?

[Blue Oval84]

Everything I've read suggests that the X5 Sport has a horribly firm ride.

[graham22]

What about a 330d. £8k should get you a E91 model with the next generation interior compared to the X5, not sure where the 530 sits at this price.

[anonymous-user]

allblacks said:

the most important factor for me is comfort

I'd be going for an SE spec 5 series with the smallest wheel option.

[Jellyfishfields]

allblacks said:

To be honest the most important factor for me is comfort,

In that case you don't want an early X5, a lot less comfortable than you might think, at least in sport spec.
I've never driven the other versions.

[BritishRacinGrin]

Stenn said:

allblacks said:

the most important factor for me is comfort

I'd be going for an SE spec 5 series with the smallest wheel option.

This. If you want comfort, don't get 'sport' suspension, runflat tyres and big wheels.

[Motorrad]

Stenn said:

I'd be going for an SE spec 5 series with the smallest wheel option.

Agreed the sport 535d at least is fecking awful on UK roads if comfort is your goal. Crashy ride ruined by crappy runflats and uncompliant suspension set up for smooth sweeping high speed bends of the type you don't really find in the UK. fking brilliant on empty Spanish high speed roads mind you.

[allblacks]

Motorrad said:

Agreed the sport 535d at least is fecking awful on UK roads if comfort is your goal. Crashy ride ruined by crappy runflats and uncompliant suspension set up for smooth sweeping high speed bends of the type you don't really find in the UK. fking brilliant on empty Spanish high speed roads mind you.

Unfortunately it's the sports models I'm after as they're both more aesthetically pleasing on the eye than the the SE. Ok if I rephrase which is the most comfortable of the X5 3.0d sport or 530d m sport.

[allblacks]

Or can you think of anything else that could rock my boat. Has to be diesel though and under £8k, also might enough in the boot for a mastiff