BMW 530D F10 or Audi A6 C6 3.0 TDI?

[HenryHippo]

I'm looking for a saloon 5 series size. I'm doing 9k miles a year (mostly urban/ short distances). I am currently running a 180 bhp derv with the EGR valve deleted and it is handling this driving profile just fine.

I want an automatic, that nods towards fuel economy and has a fair amount of poke.

I've narrowed it down to the Audi A6 C6 (post facelift) 3.0 TDI. This would be late 2008-2010 era.

At a push I could get the BMW 530D F10 (early 2010). I can't stretch to the Audi A6 C7 however. I am open to other suggestions.

Obviously I would test drive both before making a decision, but looking for input on both. Prices are based on a maximum mileage of 125k.

BMW 530D F10

245 bhp
43 MPG
0-60 6.8
Rear Wheel drive
£12k


Audi A6 C6 3.0TDI

242 bhp
40 MPG
0-60 6.8
4 Wheel Drive
£9.5k


Arguments for Audi: £2.5k cheaper to buy, 4 wheel drive better for winter on UK roads, easier to remap (good for 290 bhp I think), towards the end of its generation so hopefully more faults fixed than the BMW. Doesn't have run flats.

Arguments for BMW: £140 a year cheaper to run in terms of fuel and road tax, nicer interior, more modern features, reputation as the better drivers car. However concerned it wouldn't have the same remap potential as the Audi



Basically I'm leaning towards the Audi at the moment, whilst the BMW is going to take some persuading, either on here or from the impending test drive.





In before "why do you need a diesel?"

[ModernAndy]

ooohhhh. That's a tricky one (for me at least- no doubt the handling of a RWD will quickly tip it for lots of others on here). I'd personally go for the Audi but it is a generation behind. I don't think there's much in it in terms of technology but it is no doubt a bit more 'dated' than the F10. The later ones will no doubt have all the toys including heated seats, parking sensors and sat nav- All of which will work just as well as on the BMW. A Le Mans edition will have everything the average person will need/want. It's a very capable 4 wheel drive system and is a step above the haldex clutch types. A remapped 3.0 TDi obviously won't be supercar quick but it will no doubt make overtaking and getting up to motorway speeds a doddle.

[chasingracecars]

I have the Audi and its been a great car however add to the cost the tyres, a set of four is £600+ one puncture and you need all 4!!!

MPG is average at 35mpg.

Its quick and very quick round the corners however lacks the excitement of a rear wheel drive car. Ride is good and can be mapped unto 360Bhp, If you are after the facelift they have indicators in the mirrors and have the 60/40 split on the four wheel drive system.

[ivaylo]

chasingracecars said:

one puncture and you need all 4!!!

No, you don't.

[Trabi601]

Don't underestimate just how much better BMW's iDrive is than the system fitted to that era of A6.

Especially if the BMW has Professional Navigation, which I'd guess most 530d would have.

The ZF 8-speed auto is also light years ahead of what you'll get in the Audi.

[ModernAndy]

ivaylo said:

chasingracecars said:

one puncture and you need all 4!!!

No, you don't.

I used to work for Audi and seem to remember it only being an issue on the one axle. I could be wrong though. In any case, it's to prevent differential wind up and this could possibly be caused in some circumstances by a difference from front to rear rather than side to side.

[anonymous-user]

What an awful choice to have.

Pick something that isn't dull, boring nor predictable.

You only do 9000 per year, work out the cost of petrol Vs diesel against purchase cost and the mileage of the car you could afford to buy.

10000 at 30mpg 115ppl = £1742
10000 at 43mpg 119ppl = £1258

So appx £400 per year, your £12k budget gets you into a sub 80k, 2011 5 series (easily). That's about 30-40k less miles ...

Edited by Trexthedinosaur on Thursday 29th December 18:13

[DoubleD]

Buy the Audi if youve already decided its what you want.

[ivaylo]

ModernAndy said:

I used to work for Audi and seem to remember it only being an issue on the one axle. I could be wrong though. In any case, it's to prevent differential wind up and this could possibly be caused in some circumstances by a difference from front to rear rather than side to side.

Keeping same thread pattern and depth on one axle is strongly recommended for safety reasons during braking. Differential L/R wheel speed in nowhere near enough to wind an axle diff (open unless it has torque vectoring in the back). As for front/back the worm gears in the TorSen will not notice anything at all so the diff will remain unlocked.

It's just pub talk that you need to replace all 4 and rotate them every week/month.

It's an entirely different matter for other "diffs" like viscous coupling for eg.

[HenryHippo]

DoubleD said:

Buy the Audi if youve already decided its what you want.

I haven't decided or I wouldn't have created the thread

I need 2 pieces of information before I buy:

1) Input on here
2) A test drive of both cars (or even other cars)

[HenryHippo]

Trexthedinosaur said:

What an awful choice to have.

Pick something that isn't dull, boring nor predictable.

You only do 9000 per year, work out the cost of petrol Vs diesel against purchase cost and the mileage of the car you could afford to buy.

10000 at 30mpg 115ppl = £1742
10000 at 43mpg 119ppl = £1258

So appx £400 per year, your £12k budget gets you into a sub 80k, 2011 5 series (easily). That's about 30-40k less miles ...

Edited by Trexthedinosaur on Thursday 29th December 18:13

What's awful about these choices?

The petrol equivalents of these cars really are few and far between on Autotrader, whilst being no cheaper.

If anything a 528i or 530i is more expensive than a 530d. Most likely because it is that much rarer.

All ears for the £12k petrol 5 series with sub 80k on the clock that rivals the 530D for performance though?

[Big GT]

After having both the Audi 3.0tdi quattro is all the car needed. The BMW chassis, engine, gear box slighter better however contrary to above poster the Audi MME is was much easier to use than the crazy iDrive. Also where I lived the 4wd made all that grunt usable.
The Audi is also the looker inside and out.

Drive both go with which you prefer...

Side point - With your low mileage I would consider the petrol.

[HenryHippo]

Big GT said:

Side point - With your low mileage I would consider the petrol.

Even if petrol was more expensive to buy in the first place?

[greenarrow]

HenryHippo said:

Trexthedinosaur said:

What an awful choice to have.

Pick something that isn't dull, boring nor predictable.

You only do 9000 per year, work out the cost of petrol Vs diesel against purchase cost and the mileage of the car you could afford to buy.

10000 at 30mpg 115ppl = £1742
10000 at 43mpg 119ppl = £1258

So appx £400 per year, your £12k budget gets you into a sub 80k, 2011 5 series (easily). That's about 30-40k less miles ...

Edited by Trexthedinosaur on Thursday 29th December 18:13

What's awful about these choices?

The petrol equivalents of these cars really are few and far between on Autotrader, whilst being no cheaper.

If anything a 528i or 530i is more expensive than a 530d. Most likely because it is that much rarer.

All ears for the £12k petrol 5 series with sub 80k on the clock that rivals the 530D for performance though?

You won't find an F10 5 series for that budget, but being leftfield, you could get a nice E60 550i for £12k which would be much quicker than a 530d and sound much nicer!! It would use more fuel but no need to shell out for a new DPF which those short journeys will probably clog up.

Must admit, I don't really understand why for 9K miles a year and mostly short or urban journeys you need a diesel 5 series/A6, but I guess each to their own! Alternative to the BMW/Audi, what about a Jaguar XF 3.0? My father in law has run one for four years doing mostly short and urban trips with no problems whatsoever.

[chasingracecars]

greenarrow said:

Must admit, I don't really understand why for 9K miles a year and mostly short or urban journeys you need a diesel 5 series/A6, but I guess each to their own!

Big dog, large family, requires boot space, needs to tow a heavy trailer, There are lots of reasons!!

[Wills2]

F10 Vs. C6 isn't really a decision, F10 every time.

[Maracus]

ModernAndy said:

ivaylo said:

chasingracecars said:

one puncture and you need all 4!!!

No, you don't.

I used to work for Audi and seem to remember it only being an issue on the one axle. I could be wrong though. In any case, it's to prevent differential wind up and this could possibly be caused in some circumstances by a difference from front to rear rather than side to side.

I had a puncture in my C6 3.0 TDI when I had mine a few years ago. I managed to buy a part worn similar tread depth of the same make of tyre - OCD sorted

Ours was a pre facelift 233ps with DVD Sat Nav. We replaced it with an F31 328i Auto. The tech in the BMW is way ahead of the Audi, but I still miss the extra carrying capacity, but not the size of it when parking. Similar mpg figures, with the 328i probably slightly better by 2-3mpg.

[HenryHippo]

greenarrow said:

You won't find an F10 5 series for that budget, but being leftfield, you could get a nice E60 550i for £12k which would be much quicker than a 530d and sound much nicer!! It would use more fuel but no need to shell out for a new DPF which those short journeys will probably clog up.

Must admit, I don't really understand why for 9K miles a year and mostly short or urban journeys you need a diesel 5 series/A6, but I guess each to their own! Alternative to the BMW/Audi, what about a Jaguar XF 3.0? My father in law has run one for four years doing mostly short and urban trips with no problems whatsoever.

You can get plenty of examples of the F10 530D for £12k, and an awful lot if you push it to £14k. I would get the EGR deleted so the DPF wouldn't be a problem (just like my current car).

I will look at the E60 550i

I just love the big saloons. And like I say, there are far more diesels out there than petrol, with the petrol being both more expensive to own and to run.

Jag XF I considered but it seems to be something of a poor relation compared the German offerings. That said I might as well test drive it and see

[HenryHippo]

Wills2 said:

F10 Vs. C6 isn't really a decision, F10 every time.

Even if the C6 is ~25% cheaper?

[HenryHippo]

Maracus said:

I had a puncture in my C6 3.0 TDI when I had mine a few years ago. I managed to buy a part worn similar tread depth of the same make of tyre - OCD sorted

Ours was a pre facelift 233ps with DVD Sat Nav. We replaced it with an F31 328i Auto. The tech in the BMW is way ahead of the Audi, but I still miss the extra carrying capacity, but not the size of it when parking. Similar mpg figures, with the 328i probably slightly better by 2-3mpg.

MPG of the pre facelift is about 5 MPG less than post lift for the A6

That was why I discounted the pre facelift from my decision.

Is the parking that bad?