3 series or 5 series
Discussion
Evening all
Looking for a family car to be used as my daily driver. Need a diesel due to work Can't decide between the following
e90 330d
e91 320d (budget doesn't stretch to a 6cyl diesel)
e60/e61 520d
Budget is £10k. Looking at m sport models due to me preferring the looks.
One stumbling block is boot space.... My heart would go for a e90 330d as it's got plenty of poke...but can I fit a pram in the boot? We got a new one member it the family due to be dropped off by the stork early feb.
Anyone got any pics of pushchairs in their 3 & 5 series boots'?
Thanks for any help in advance.
Looking for a family car to be used as my daily driver. Need a diesel due to work Can't decide between the following
e90 330d
e91 320d (budget doesn't stretch to a 6cyl diesel)
e60/e61 520d
Budget is £10k. Looking at m sport models due to me preferring the looks.
One stumbling block is boot space.... My heart would go for a e90 330d as it's got plenty of poke...but can I fit a pram in the boot? We got a new one member it the family due to be dropped off by the stork early feb.
Anyone got any pics of pushchairs in their 3 & 5 series boots'?
Thanks for any help in advance.
I bought a E91 320d M-Sport last year, been pretty happy with it. Boot isn't huge but it's plenty enough to get my road bike in with the wheels off and the seats still up. Hides away under the pull over cover too. There is more room for passengers in the back than I was expecting and lots more than my previous MK4 golf.
I went for an M-Sport for the seats and suspension, mine has the 17" wheels. There's no arguing that they do look better as well but command a fair chunk of money on top of an SE. You should be able to get them in budget depending on the age you are after. There are a few 325d Tourings about as well.
How many miles do you do? Some good deals to be had on the petrol models and they aren't that bad on fuel.
I went for an M-Sport for the seats and suspension, mine has the 17" wheels. There's no arguing that they do look better as well but command a fair chunk of money on top of an SE. You should be able to get them in budget depending on the age you are after. There are a few 325d Tourings about as well.
How many miles do you do? Some good deals to be had on the petrol models and they aren't that bad on fuel.
All sorts of folk will tell you that you don't need a massive car when you have a baby, and it may be true for some, but my goodness don't under-estimate how much easier life is with a nipper when you have space.
I found the 3 series too small for family duties, the 5 was perfect.
ETA - both were Tourers.
I found the 3 series too small for family duties, the 5 was perfect.
ETA - both were Tourers.
Edited by CharlesdeGaulle on Monday 22 December 15:26
tomic said:
The difference between the E9X four and six cylinder cars is not just the engine.
You get bigger brake disks as well as features such as auto drying brakes and hill start assist that aren't actually offered on the four cylinder cars.
It's worth doing your homework before you buy.
Lucky escape then.. sounds like expensive repairs when they go wrong! You get bigger brake disks as well as features such as auto drying brakes and hill start assist that aren't actually offered on the four cylinder cars.
It's worth doing your homework before you buy.
Silver940 said:
tomic said:
The difference between the E9X four and six cylinder cars is not just the engine.
You get bigger brake disks as well as features such as auto drying brakes and hill start assist that aren't actually offered on the four cylinder cars.
It's worth doing your homework before you buy.
Lucky escape then.. sounds like expensive repairs when they go wrong! You get bigger brake disks as well as features such as auto drying brakes and hill start assist that aren't actually offered on the four cylinder cars.
It's worth doing your homework before you buy.
Edited by tomic on Monday 22 December 14:27
Had both a E90 330d m sport and a E61 520d m sport, the 5 series was really nice to drive and was obviously nice and practical with it being an estate but I absolutely hated the 4 pot diesel engine and I found it under powered, noisy and unrefined and it ruined the overall package for me.
The E90 330d was a brilliant all rounder I thought and the engine was worlds apart from the 4 pot in terms of performance refinement and noise but being a saloon its not that great for tip runs and carrying stuff unless you get one with the rare option of folding rear seats.
I would have a touring again but would certainly go for the 530d as that would be a really good practical family motor with some performance thrown in too.
The E90 330d was a brilliant all rounder I thought and the engine was worlds apart from the 4 pot in terms of performance refinement and noise but being a saloon its not that great for tip runs and carrying stuff unless you get one with the rare option of folding rear seats.
I would have a touring again but would certainly go for the 530d as that would be a really good practical family motor with some performance thrown in too.
E91 boot is not that big, but big enough for kiddy stuff.
Not sure about the E90 boot but interestingly the boot in the F30 I had as a loaner seemed far bigger and practical than the E91! We did a trip away in the F30 with little one, pram, high chair, travel cot etc etc and had no stuff on the backseat or need for the roof box which I had planned to take had the E91 been working....
Also had a similar experience with an audi A4. Assuming no large objects, the saloon definitely seemed to have a bigger boot than the estate when packing for trips....
Good call re looking for split folding rear seats in a saloon. Not standard (certainly in the e46 330d we had) and quite annoying when you realise the car you bought doesn't have them!
Massive difference between the 4cly and 6cyl models though. If you can afford the 6cyl go for it.
Not sure about the E90 boot but interestingly the boot in the F30 I had as a loaner seemed far bigger and practical than the E91! We did a trip away in the F30 with little one, pram, high chair, travel cot etc etc and had no stuff on the backseat or need for the roof box which I had planned to take had the E91 been working....
Also had a similar experience with an audi A4. Assuming no large objects, the saloon definitely seemed to have a bigger boot than the estate when packing for trips....
Good call re looking for split folding rear seats in a saloon. Not standard (certainly in the e46 330d we had) and quite annoying when you realise the car you bought doesn't have them!
Massive difference between the 4cly and 6cyl models though. If you can afford the 6cyl go for it.
I can't comment on the 3 series but I recently bought a lci e61 530d. It's a cracking bit of kit and a perfect family car. Built like a bank vault, fast, reliable and reasonably economical for such a big heavy car. As mentioned, if you can't stretch to a 530d/535d have a look at the 6 cylinder 525d lci.
OP I was in the exact same position you are in, I ended up with a e90 330d, it's magic, our Silver Cross pram fits in boot no problem, but if you already have a pram purchased, take the time to check it fits as previously mentioned the boot is big but does have a bit of a letter box opening. I do have the folding rear seat option, I didn't realise how rare it was. Car is very quick, and economical. Not sure how long I will be able to keep the Lemon Yellow leather clean.
I do 60 miles a day.
I couldn't get a petrol due to my job. I can move closer and further from home. If I could get decent mpg from a 6 cylinder then I'd go for that in a heartbeat.
We have a bugaboo chameleon 2. Seems like a chunky thing.
I have even contemplated the lat shape mondeo due to its size and kit offering for the same price...
Thanks for the replies.
I couldn't get a petrol due to my job. I can move closer and further from home. If I could get decent mpg from a 6 cylinder then I'd go for that in a heartbeat.
We have a bugaboo chameleon 2. Seems like a chunky thing.
I have even contemplated the lat shape mondeo due to its size and kit offering for the same price...
Thanks for the replies.
Edited by LambertonDrive on Monday 22 December 23:50
Edited by LambertonDrive on Monday 22 December 23:54
LambertonDrive said:
I do 60 miles a day.
I couldn't get a petrol due to my job. I can move closer and further from home. If I could get decent mpg from a 6 cylinder then I'd go for that in a heartbeat.
We have a bugaboo chameleon 2. Seems like a chunky thing.
I have even contemplated the lat shape mondeo due to its size and kit offering for the same price...
Thanks for the replies.
We've just had a second kid - an iCandy Cherry single used to fit with loads of room into the boot of my E92, and I can just about squeeze our new Nipper 360 Double into it - There needs to be nothing else in there while you're maneuvering it in, but then there's a fair bit of room to fit other stuff in around itI couldn't get a petrol due to my job. I can move closer and further from home. If I could get decent mpg from a 6 cylinder then I'd go for that in a heartbeat.
We have a bugaboo chameleon 2. Seems like a chunky thing.
I have even contemplated the lat shape mondeo due to its size and kit offering for the same price...
Thanks for the replies.
Edited by tomic on Tuesday 23 December 01:20
Got an e91 325D I'm about to sell . space is ok and easy to access . performance is stonking , about 38 mpg all day long on country roads , driven with "spirit" . Six is well worth the extra if you are not doing mega miles. Mines SE on 17" wheels which grips and handles well on non run flats and never looks under-shod because of tight wheel arches .
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