BMW 530D advice
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm on the look out for a new car having sold the old one. I've been looking at getting back into a VW Golf GT Tdi 150 again, but now and again i find myself looking at 330d's & 530d BMW's.
I'd prefer the sport versions and for the rough 10k i could spend on a top Spec Golf, the BMW's have approx 100k mileage on them. Now i know with the right service history and being well looked after they will run and run, but my question is,
I like the look of this one, http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/87738.htm
but i'm sure i'll have to drive one closer to home first, to see what its really like and get some more info on the issues above.
I don't want to compare a BMW with the Golf because they are totally different cars, plus the fact that i've owned a Golf, i know about the running and servicing issues.
Any help/guidance would be gratefull received.
Thanks
Gaz
I'm on the look out for a new car having sold the old one. I've been looking at getting back into a VW Golf GT Tdi 150 again, but now and again i find myself looking at 330d's & 530d BMW's.
I'd prefer the sport versions and for the rough 10k i could spend on a top Spec Golf, the BMW's have approx 100k mileage on them. Now i know with the right service history and being well looked after they will run and run, but my question is,
- What are the running costs like?
- How much is the servicing?
- What sort of MPG can i expect?
- Is there anything that i should be aware of going wrong? and at what cost?
I like the look of this one, http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/87738.htm
but i'm sure i'll have to drive one closer to home first, to see what its really like and get some more info on the issues above.
I don't want to compare a BMW with the Golf because they are totally different cars, plus the fact that i've owned a Golf, i know about the running and servicing issues.
Any help/guidance would be gratefull received.
Thanks
Gaz
I have today put a deposit down on a four month old 530d Sport Touring (auto) with a dealer.
This will replace my 2002 530d Sport Touring (manual) that I ordered new and have driven for the last 121000 miles. It has been a superb car and always dealer serviced according to the service lights. Fuel consumption has never gone below 33 mpg even when all town work; on a motorway trip it can go into the high 40s depending on how you drive. Overall for the life of the car has been about 39 mpg.
Reliability has been excellent and service costs very reasonable, even using a dealer; they charge lower rates for cars four years old and more. Tyres last around 25-30,000 miles; I have had one set of front discs replaced, two sets of front pads and one set of rear pads. The turbo was replaced with the latest version at 90,000 due to a bearing failure; there was no damage to other components.
It still drives really well with no rattles and feels really tight on the suspension.
Based on my experience, I would say buy one but buy carefully. the multi owner ones where servicing has been skimped are potentially very expensive to run.
This will replace my 2002 530d Sport Touring (manual) that I ordered new and have driven for the last 121000 miles. It has been a superb car and always dealer serviced according to the service lights. Fuel consumption has never gone below 33 mpg even when all town work; on a motorway trip it can go into the high 40s depending on how you drive. Overall for the life of the car has been about 39 mpg.
Reliability has been excellent and service costs very reasonable, even using a dealer; they charge lower rates for cars four years old and more. Tyres last around 25-30,000 miles; I have had one set of front discs replaced, two sets of front pads and one set of rear pads. The turbo was replaced with the latest version at 90,000 due to a bearing failure; there was no damage to other components.
It still drives really well with no rattles and feels really tight on the suspension.
Based on my experience, I would say buy one but buy carefully. the multi owner ones where servicing has been skimped are potentially very expensive to run.
You need to drive it and see what you think, that is the only way you can tell.
I have come back from an E61 535d sport touring, and I was amazed at how different the E39's out there felt from each other, some with 50k miles felt worn, neglected and like they needed all the shocks and bushes replacing, and the 530i sport I bought of someone on here felt really tight, even with 99k miles on it. Seriously, it feels tighter than my 18 month old 535d with 43k miles on it.
So it is a case of taking them out and seeing how they feel, they should not wallow at all, they shouldn't be making any noises at all and everything suspension wise should feel very taught if they have been looked after.
Do you have to have a diesel?? There is not much in it between the i and the d economy wise, I got 34mpg coming back from London to Norfolk, and the last tank of mostly round town returned 410 miles which is excellent, I only got 25.9 mpg from the 535d over the last 20k miles, and I did that in 9 months so plently of long journeys. I only managed 31 mpg from the E46 330d and that was a lighter car. What I am saying is the 3.0i straight six is arguably one of the finest engines ever built, it is quicker than the derv, far more refined, has a lovely sound to it and is virtually bullet proof, where as the diesels with their turbos etc. can start to get pricey. The handling of the 530i vs the 530d is also so much nicer, it is far more nimble on its feet and when pressing on you can really tell the difference. Don't get me wrong I am a diesel fan, but the 530i is a better all round package imho, unless you are buying it just for motorway journeys, that is when the torque comes into play, and that is also when the economy starts to show, round town though there really isn't a lot in it.
Also You will probably pay £8k for a 2002 M-Sport 530i compared with £10-11k for the 530d, that is a lot of fuel.
Lets say the diesel does 10mpg more than the petrol, probably more likle 5-6mpg at best, but lets be conservative, that would take 4 3/4 years to recoup the extra spent on the diesel if you do 12,000 miles a year. Even doing 24k miles a year it is going to be nearly 2 1/2 years before you break even, and that is based on you only paying £2k more.
As I said, I am a diesel fan, but the 530d just doesn't make sense when you have to pay more for a car that has far more to go wrong on it, isn't that much more economical, doesn't handle as well, isn't as quick and has a 20-25% premium.
Maybe it's just me??
I have come back from an E61 535d sport touring, and I was amazed at how different the E39's out there felt from each other, some with 50k miles felt worn, neglected and like they needed all the shocks and bushes replacing, and the 530i sport I bought of someone on here felt really tight, even with 99k miles on it. Seriously, it feels tighter than my 18 month old 535d with 43k miles on it.
So it is a case of taking them out and seeing how they feel, they should not wallow at all, they shouldn't be making any noises at all and everything suspension wise should feel very taught if they have been looked after.
Do you have to have a diesel?? There is not much in it between the i and the d economy wise, I got 34mpg coming back from London to Norfolk, and the last tank of mostly round town returned 410 miles which is excellent, I only got 25.9 mpg from the 535d over the last 20k miles, and I did that in 9 months so plently of long journeys. I only managed 31 mpg from the E46 330d and that was a lighter car. What I am saying is the 3.0i straight six is arguably one of the finest engines ever built, it is quicker than the derv, far more refined, has a lovely sound to it and is virtually bullet proof, where as the diesels with their turbos etc. can start to get pricey. The handling of the 530i vs the 530d is also so much nicer, it is far more nimble on its feet and when pressing on you can really tell the difference. Don't get me wrong I am a diesel fan, but the 530i is a better all round package imho, unless you are buying it just for motorway journeys, that is when the torque comes into play, and that is also when the economy starts to show, round town though there really isn't a lot in it.
Also You will probably pay £8k for a 2002 M-Sport 530i compared with £10-11k for the 530d, that is a lot of fuel.
Lets say the diesel does 10mpg more than the petrol, probably more likle 5-6mpg at best, but lets be conservative, that would take 4 3/4 years to recoup the extra spent on the diesel if you do 12,000 miles a year. Even doing 24k miles a year it is going to be nearly 2 1/2 years before you break even, and that is based on you only paying £2k more.
As I said, I am a diesel fan, but the 530d just doesn't make sense when you have to pay more for a car that has far more to go wrong on it, isn't that much more economical, doesn't handle as well, isn't as quick and has a 20-25% premium.
Maybe it's just me??
Edited by gizlaroc on Tuesday 18th September 11:05
gizlaroc said:
You need to drive it and see what you think, that is the only way you can tell.
I have come back from an E61 535d sport touring, and I was amazed at how different the E39's out there felt from each other, some with 50k miles felt worn, neglected and like they needed all the shocks and bushes replacing, and the 530i sport I bought of someone on here felt really tight, even with 99k miles on it. Seriously, it feels tighter than my 18 month old 535d with 43k miles on it.
So it is a case of taking them out and seeing how they feel, they should not wallow at all, they shouldn't be making any noises at all and everything suspension wise should feel very taught if they have been looked after.
Do you have to have a diesel?? There is not much in it between the i and the d economy wise, I got 34mpg coming back from London to Norfolk, and the last tank of mostly round town returned 410 miles which is excellent, I only got 25.9 mpg from the 535d over the last 20k miles, and I did that in 9 months so plently of long journeys. I only managed 31 mpg from the E46 330d and that was a lighter car. What I am saying is the 3.0i straight six is arguably one of the finest engines ever built, it is quicker than the derv, far more refined, has a lovely sound to it and is virtually bullet proof, where as the diesels with their turbos etc. can start to get pricey. The handling of the 530i vs the 530d is also so much nicer, it is far more nimble on its feet and when pressing on you can really tell the difference. Don't get me wrong I am a diesel fan, but the 530i is a better all round package imho, unless you are buying it just for motorway journeys, that is when the torque comes into play, and that is also when the economy starts to show, round town though there really isn't a lot in it.
Also You will probably pay £8k for a 2002 M-Sport 530i compared with £10-11k for the 530d, that is a lot of fuel.
Lets say the diesel does 10mpg more than the petrol, probably more likle 5-6mpg at best, but lets be conservative, that would take 4 3/4 years to recoup the extra spent on the diesel if you do 12,000 miles a year. Even doing 24k miles a year it is going to be nearly 2 1/2 years before you break even, and that is based on you only paying £2k more.
As I said, I am a diesel fan, but the 530d just doesn't make sense when you have to pay more for a car that has far more to go wrong on it, isn't that much more economical, doesn't handle as well, isn't as quick and has a 20-25% premium.
Maybe it's just me??
Thanks fella! That's brilliant advice! I have come back from an E61 535d sport touring, and I was amazed at how different the E39's out there felt from each other, some with 50k miles felt worn, neglected and like they needed all the shocks and bushes replacing, and the 530i sport I bought of someone on here felt really tight, even with 99k miles on it. Seriously, it feels tighter than my 18 month old 535d with 43k miles on it.
So it is a case of taking them out and seeing how they feel, they should not wallow at all, they shouldn't be making any noises at all and everything suspension wise should feel very taught if they have been looked after.
Do you have to have a diesel?? There is not much in it between the i and the d economy wise, I got 34mpg coming back from London to Norfolk, and the last tank of mostly round town returned 410 miles which is excellent, I only got 25.9 mpg from the 535d over the last 20k miles, and I did that in 9 months so plently of long journeys. I only managed 31 mpg from the E46 330d and that was a lighter car. What I am saying is the 3.0i straight six is arguably one of the finest engines ever built, it is quicker than the derv, far more refined, has a lovely sound to it and is virtually bullet proof, where as the diesels with their turbos etc. can start to get pricey. The handling of the 530i vs the 530d is also so much nicer, it is far more nimble on its feet and when pressing on you can really tell the difference. Don't get me wrong I am a diesel fan, but the 530i is a better all round package imho, unless you are buying it just for motorway journeys, that is when the torque comes into play, and that is also when the economy starts to show, round town though there really isn't a lot in it.
Also You will probably pay £8k for a 2002 M-Sport 530i compared with £10-11k for the 530d, that is a lot of fuel.
Lets say the diesel does 10mpg more than the petrol, probably more likle 5-6mpg at best, but lets be conservative, that would take 4 3/4 years to recoup the extra spent on the diesel if you do 12,000 miles a year. Even doing 24k miles a year it is going to be nearly 2 1/2 years before you break even, and that is based on you only paying £2k more.
As I said, I am a diesel fan, but the 530d just doesn't make sense when you have to pay more for a car that has far more to go wrong on it, isn't that much more economical, doesn't handle as well, isn't as quick and has a 20-25% premium.
Maybe it's just me??
Edited by gizlaroc on Tuesday 18th September 11:05
You make a lot of very good points and tbh i'd never looked at the petrol versions like that. The possible turbo problems of the diesel has always been a concern of mine and as you rightly point out, its something i wouldn't have to worry about with the petrol.
My whole thinking has changed now. I know i need to drive some local examples to work out which is the right one for me. So now, i've basically got to decide between a 325i/330i/530i and whether i want an auto or manual. I've been advised to try the auto as its a much better unit than the manual, but despite them being easy to drive, i miss the interaction the manual gives and i can't see me enjoying an auto at all.
I've got a couple of 530i's in mind, one in particular and i'm looking at some local examples this weekend to work out which is right for me.
Thanks again for the advice guys.
Gaz
Edited by Allblackdup on Sunday 23 September 00:04
Some excellent points to ponder on this thread.
I'm looking for a new beemer as my old e34 24v M50 has cracked her head.
Went to look at a 2001 530d with 90k on but it had sold for 9k but there was a 2000 530ise with 44k on the clock for 7.5k...
or do I go the sensible route and get a 330i tourer instead.
gah...
9k budget - what to buy, petrol or diesel?
I'm looking for a new beemer as my old e34 24v M50 has cracked her head.
Went to look at a 2001 530d with 90k on but it had sold for 9k but there was a 2000 530ise with 44k on the clock for 7.5k...
or do I go the sensible route and get a 330i tourer instead.
gah...
9k budget - what to buy, petrol or diesel?
- edit* atfer a test thrash - petrol won.
Edited by RoadRailer on Tuesday 2nd October 12:01
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