Would you still buy a diesel BMW?
Discussion
All of this hysterical anti-diesel rhetoric in the media is surely going to dent diesel sales somewhat.
Given the most popular BMW by volume must be the 320d (perhaps not on PH, but out in the real world), what do people think will happen in the market?
Is the 320i suddenly going to become the company car of choice? The 330e hybrid is probably too niche (expensive) for mass market appeal?
What would people choose if you were buying a new "reasonably priced" BMW now?
Given the most popular BMW by volume must be the 320d (perhaps not on PH, but out in the real world), what do people think will happen in the market?
Is the 320i suddenly going to become the company car of choice? The 330e hybrid is probably too niche (expensive) for mass market appeal?
What would people choose if you were buying a new "reasonably priced" BMW now?
I suspect the people who don't really need diesel cars but bought one anyway will move to petrol, along with a few more who are worried about the way things are going, especially if they are borderline for diesels being financially beneficial.
The high mileage drivers will stick to diesel as it will take a shed load of additional tax to offset the efficiency gain. I can't see the government adding much tax to diesels; government incentivised diesels, so punitive tax would not go down well with voters.
Mike...
The high mileage drivers will stick to diesel as it will take a shed load of additional tax to offset the efficiency gain. I can't see the government adding much tax to diesels; government incentivised diesels, so punitive tax would not go down well with voters.
Mike...
What else are you supposed to buy?
It takes 6 months to avoid the 520d, you'd never buy a car if you insisted on a petrol 5 Series unless you bought new.
Not even sure what I'd buy if I was ordering new - the 530i is a 4 pot, the 540i is comically thirsty (It has a combined consumption figure almost 20mpg worse than the 530d sDrive (Partly because you are forced to buy XDrive)).
It takes 6 months to avoid the 520d, you'd never buy a car if you insisted on a petrol 5 Series unless you bought new.
Not even sure what I'd buy if I was ordering new - the 530i is a 4 pot, the 540i is comically thirsty (It has a combined consumption figure almost 20mpg worse than the 530d sDrive (Partly because you are forced to buy XDrive)).
This is the 64 million one for me,I do a shed load of miles. Now I was going to hang on to mine and refinance the balloon after 4 years lease for another 2 ,,,,,,,,,thing is P/E could be worthless so budgeting to hand it back next year and walk away after the 4 year lease is up.
Thing is the MPG on this 330d is so good ill be reluctant to see 30 odd on the OBC after being use to around 49/51mpg.
i just cant see me buying another Derv people say it wont happen these "penalties" but in many parts of London you are allready paying a premium to park...............
Thing is the MPG on this 330d is so good ill be reluctant to see 30 odd on the OBC after being use to around 49/51mpg.
i just cant see me buying another Derv people say it wont happen these "penalties" but in many parts of London you are allready paying a premium to park...............
Fox- said:
What else are you supposed to buy?
It takes 6 months to avoid the 520d, you'd never buy a car if you insisted on a petrol 5 Series unless you bought new.
Not even sure what I'd buy if I was ordering new - the 530i is a 4 pot, the 540i is comically thirsty (It has a combined consumption figure almost 20mpg worse than the 530d sDrive (Partly because you are forced to buy XDrive)).
I don't think 40mpg on the combined cycle can be judged as "comically" thirsty from a 340hp petrol engine pushing an awd drive 5 metre long car. It takes 6 months to avoid the 520d, you'd never buy a car if you insisted on a petrol 5 Series unless you bought new.
Not even sure what I'd buy if I was ordering new - the 530i is a 4 pot, the 540i is comically thirsty (It has a combined consumption figure almost 20mpg worse than the 530d sDrive (Partly because you are forced to buy XDrive)).
The govt will not harm used sales only try to encourage new car buyers using tax aa the whip
Older cars scrappage deal maybe
Or just eek up the VED
Ultra emission free zones
I guess buying a used 320i is a pretty hard thing to do so few ever made for the UK and that's replicated over the used car fleet.
I'd say the smart thing to do would be to encourage financially EVs even more
Older cars scrappage deal maybe
Or just eek up the VED
Ultra emission free zones
I guess buying a used 320i is a pretty hard thing to do so few ever made for the UK and that's replicated over the used car fleet.
I'd say the smart thing to do would be to encourage financially EVs even more
smashy said:
re MPG on that 540i wasnt the old back of a fag packet formula for your real mpg the combined minus 20% ,,,,works on my 330d
All of my main cars on my commute and brim to brim are very close to if not ahead of the official combined. However everybodies combined mpg will be totally different as use driving style weight carried mechanical aymoathy. Welshbeef said:
All of my main cars on my commute and brim to brim are very close to if not ahead of the official combined. However everybodies combined mpg will be totally different as use driving style weight carried mechanical aymoathy.
Thats good Welshbeef ,,,,,,,out of interest what do you think a 340i (not the G30) equivelant motorway stuff would give compared to my 49mpg im guessing 34?would I buy a diesel BMW? I just did. X6 40d. I bought it because it's the car I wanted and I will run it for 3-4 years, I haven't driven into London for at least the last 10 years and have never been to the currently listed cities where they are allegedly thinking of introducing the toxic charge.
IF the bottom falls out of the used car market then I will export it and sell overseas. I have family ties to Pakistan and India and there'll be a market overseas, so whilst I did hesitate for about a month on a decision, I went ahead anyway
IF the bottom falls out of the used car market then I will export it and sell overseas. I have family ties to Pakistan and India and there'll be a market overseas, so whilst I did hesitate for about a month on a decision, I went ahead anyway
smashy said:
Thats good Welshbeef ,,,,,,,out of interest what do you think a 340i (not the G30) equivelant motorway stuff would give compared to my 49mpg im guessing 34?
It's pretty easy to get the 340i to sit in the high 30's on a long motorway journey. 70mph cruise with mild gradients ends up around 40mpg, but sitting at 75/77mph doesn't have a huge impact (38/39mpg). 85/90 brings it down to more like 34/35 average.Wills2 said:
I always work on that principle, although I'd say you get closer to the official figures with a petrol than a diesel in my experience.
Ditto - i can get much closer to the combined figure with a petrol. Diesel always seems to be 20 to 25% off.But that could be (at least in part) my driving style.
alock said:
GTEYE said:
What would people choose if you were buying a new "reasonably priced" BMW now?
The entire lease & pcp industry is based on predicting residual values. While diesel monthly payments are still cheaper than petrol it would be fair to assume depreciation will be better.Whilst most buyers of new cars on PH seem to be Powerfully Built Company Directors who buy with cash, the vast bulk are sold via PCH or PCP deals, so any medium term residual value concerns arent really an issue.
Fox- said:
What else are you supposed to buy?
Not even sure what I'd buy if I was ordering new - the 530i is a 4 pot, the 540i is comically thirsty (It has a combined consumption figure almost 20mpg worse than the 530d sDrive (Partly because you are forced to buy XDrive)).
Where did you get that info from? My 540i is coming up for 2 weeks old with 800 miles. I'm getting over 35 mpg, I think BMW quote 40 mpg for the combined consumption.Not even sure what I'd buy if I was ordering new - the 530i is a 4 pot, the 540i is comically thirsty (It has a combined consumption figure almost 20mpg worse than the 530d sDrive (Partly because you are forced to buy XDrive)).
bad company said:
Where did you get that info from? My 540i is coming up for 2 weeks old with 800 miles. I'm getting over 35 mpg, I think BMW quote 40 mpg for the combined consumption.
BMW's own website had it at 36mpg combined when the figures first came out - I remember commenting at the time that it was the least efficient 6 cylinder 5 Series since the E60!However I notice it's now been updated and the combined figure of the most efficient 540i is 40.9mpg which is much better - but still 22mpg short of the most efficient 530d.
In an ideal world the 540i is clearly a superior car to the 530d and the obvious choice. Unfortunately this ideal world contains RWD 540i's and fuel that's not £1.20 a litre. I gave up after a year of searching for a 535i and I doubt finding a 540i would be any easier when the time comes either

Edited by Fox- on Thursday 6th April 18:30
i don't think the Euro 6 engines are subject to the increased charges being proposed, so doubt much will change with new car sales?
In the recent test on what Nitrogen dioxide diesel engines actually chuck out compared to manufacturer claims, BMW was one of the best performers.
I think private buyers will be put off, but company car fleets less so, though i think petrol models will start to make an appearance on the company car choice lists for those that do low mileage.
In the recent test on what Nitrogen dioxide diesel engines actually chuck out compared to manufacturer claims, BMW was one of the best performers.
I think private buyers will be put off, but company car fleets less so, though i think petrol models will start to make an appearance on the company car choice lists for those that do low mileage.
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