New 5 series help please!

[Blu3R]

I need to replace my ageing 525d M Sport Touring (E61) in a couple of months and I'd like some help deciding which way to go...

I'll be selling this car and another so will have about £12k as a deposit. I'm looking at 520d M Sport Tourings (F11 this time) but can't decide what I should spend and how new I should go. I was originally looking around the £18k mark because I'll have my deposit plus I'll also get £500 (before tax) each month as an allowance from April.
With that in mind, would you go for a nearly new one instead (G? instead of F11) and get a lot more finance on it or stick with my idea of say a 16 plate with around 30-40k miles on it?

I will be doing about 18-20k miles a year and plan to keep it 5 or 6 years, unless you have a better idea.

Thanks in advance!

[daveco]

Ignore the 520d engine, and go for a 6 cylinder variant. Despite what others may tell you, the 4 cylinder diesel is still problematic in the f10 series of cars.


A 525/530/535d will give similar fuel economy if you are doing predominantly motorway miles.

[Pica-Pica]

..so it is not a ‘new’ 5 series then.

[ZX10R NIN]

Go for a six cylinder it's a better fit.

[A900ss]

daveco said:

Ignore the 520d engine, and go for a 6 cylinder variant. Despite what others may tell you, the 4 cylinder diesel is still problematic in the f10 series of cars.


A 525/530/535d will give similar fuel economy if you are doing predominantly motorway miles.

85k miles in my 520d F11 and zero issues.

It averaged circa 50MPG. A 530d F11 I had for a short time (about 2,000 miles) averaged circa 40MPG.

Certainly the 6 cylinder was nicer and punchier but same MPG, no.

[anonymous-user]

A900ss said:

85k miles in my 520d F11 and zero issues.

It averaged circa 50MPG. A 530d F11 I had for a short time (about 2,000 miles) averaged circa 40MPG.

Certainly the 6 cylinder was nicer and punchier but same MPG, no.

No doubt about the mpg benefit. But is the 5 series the premium car its image suggests if its powered by an engine designed to appeal to business users wanting to keep their company car tax to a minimum?

A 530d is a proper premium car and the sweeter private buy imo.

[dmsims]

Have you ruled out everything apart from a 5 series?

What are your actual requirements?

[covmutley]

As you are planning to keep it for 5-6 years I would go for the new car.

Older car is a (2010?) design, so maybe getting long on tooth soon.

A previous colleague had F 520d and now has g530d. He said it is a big step up in most ways.