530d or 530i??

[Earthboundmisfit]

Afternoon chaps,

I am having a dilema that i am hoping those with experience of both cars can help. Before i start i will say that i have used the search facility and have read a lot of useful info however my question has slightly a different slant on it.

I am trying to decide between an e39 530i or 530d. Having had a 530i touring auto and loving it(until the autobox died and i had no reverse for 4 month) I am now looking to replace my Citroen C5 (please dont judge, free from my father) with another 530. I have a 20mile commute to work (40 mile round trip) 5 days a week and maybe do 50-60 miles over a weekend.

My weekday commute consists of a 2ish mile B-road drive before i hit the A19 (dual 70 limit) which is usually fairly free moving (60-70 mph) for the rest of trip. I have read that until an diesel engine is warm its not much more efficient than a petrol (how true this is i have no idea).

Ideally i would prefer an manual to gain a few extra mpg but i could live with a auto in the diesel but think the auto in a petrol would be a step too far with regards to economy. Economy is not the b and end all of my decision as if it was i would stick with the C5 (free motoring really apart from fuel @40-45mpg).

My main question is, for this sort of mileage (maybe around 15k a year) am i being blinded by MPG and not looking at the whole picture. I guess servicing costs are similar?

Anyway, any advice, stories, experience you guy have will be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

Misfit

[Mustard]

I do a similar mileage a year to you (but my commute is mostly motorway) run a 525i auto and average bag on 30mg, I went petrol due to reduced bork factor, cheaper purchase price (at least a grand) and much greater choice of cars on the used market.

[sparkythecat]

How often do you change your car?

If you change your car every 18months to 2 years get a diesel. For no other reason than they are generally easier to sell.

If you a are buying a keeper and are not worried about resale, then the answer may be different

[Fox-]

The 530i has less bork potential (No high pressure injectors, no turbocharger, no swirl flaps (assuming you want an auto) etc etc. The only 530i specific failure you'll avoid on a diesel is the chocolate cooling system. It's also quicker, sounds better and is cheaper to buy meaning you get a newer car for your money. E39's cost money to keep going so its not as if buying either is some sort of cheap economical purchase. So do it properly and buy the petrol.

I've covered many thousands of miles in both - dont get me wrong I liked the 530d - but with the cars the age they are now it's just too much hassle and the 530i is the better drive anyway. FWIW I experienced an economy difference between the two of about 7mpg in any given situation.

[Earthboundmisfit]

Thanks for the replies guys. Its certainly given me more to think about. Will crack on with the search.

Thanks again.

[sparkythecat]

There's an E39 buying guide over on the 5 series forum.

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/18128-e39-buying-gui...

plus loads more help and info fixing problems.

[eastsider]

What is your budget? Guess £4-6k ish as you are looking for an E39 - I'd go for the petrol. Cheaper at the pump, economy not much worse (should about even out with different pump cost), more fun to drive, and less expensive (and relatively old) diesel tech to go wrong. A turbo replacement on the 530d must be the best part of a grand.

[Earthboundmisfit]

Thanks again for further input. Yeah, its looking like an E39 petrol maybe the best choice. However, i think i would prefer the manual box over the auto for no other reason that my previous 530Auto box gave up at 130k.

Hopefully i can find a decent one within budget as my wife is complaining about the M Coupe sat in garage and only used once every 2 weeks when i'm driving her round in a clapped out citroen with her and the baba. I can see her point and but i am resisting to the last!!

[to3m]

Hmm. You can pretty much guarantee that the total cost over time on fuel would be greater if you drive a petrol car, because the petrol engine will use more litres to drive the same distance. Diesel certainly is more expensive than petrol, but it would have to be a lot more expensive before the fuel costs would start to even out.

You can probably find a better justification for buying a petrol car than, "because I will spend less on fuel".