530D Sport vs Audi A6. Advice?

[davy9449]

I know there have been a few posts on here reliability of 530D cars, but just wondered if anybody has owned botth cars that could compare?
(A6 2.5TDi or 1.9 just depends on the spec at the time really)

I am currently considering both obviously but got my eye on a '02 530D with 100K on it. It has full history (all stamped by BMW barring the last one done by ex BMW technician with a stamp apparently) although without receipts and is now due a service however.
I need to call back to find out which one. Was a company car but now has a brand new one and wants it shifting. It 'sounds' a good car.

I know the BM will be more expensive to run but for the extras and driving experience will it be worth it? Also what would you consider it might be worth?

Thanks, any feedback appreciated.

Dave

[jamoor]

I have't owned but I have driven an A6 1.9tdi and you would be stupid to go anywhere near the A6 over the E39
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_p7D4rMRPo0

[abarber]

The PD130 Audi will be *much* better on fuel and still cruise well.

Surely that's the main point of having a diesel.

[jamoor]

abarber said:

The PD130 Audi will be *much* better on fuel and still cruise well.

Surely that's the main point of having a diesel.

It will also be 4 cylinder and therefore rattly.
It also will not be able to pull the skin off a rice pudding.

130bhp engine in a car this size is a joke.

[Fox-]

There is no contest between the E39 and any of its rivals. It was so far ahead everyone else just gave up.

[Vee]

On the Allroad, compare prices of the 2.5 v 1.9 TDis.
I think I'm right in saying the 2.5 is pretty much unwated due to being powerful enough to warrant the extra consumption. The 1.9 is ver reliable.

I'd still take an E39 530d ahead of it though.

[davy9449]

Just watched the vid on You tube, and I guess it told me what I already know. I guess what I want to know is - opting for the 530D won't bankrupt me on repairs and servicing etc. I know pretty much what I'll get from the Audi, I already have an A4 I use for work and it is great overall even though its only a 1.8 (lpg), but our Focus is too small to go anywhere for more than a day, hence need a bigger car.
May as well opt for an estate. It's a tourer the one I'm considering.

I also realise that driving it round town every day might not be best for the BM so that way it will get 'rationed'... If I can resist it for long enough!

Edited by davy9449 on Saturday 30th August 21:18

[jamoor]

davy9449 said:

Just watched the vid on You tube, and I guess it told me what I already know. I guess what I want to know id opting for the 530D, won't bankrupt me so to speak. I know pretty much what I'll get from the Audi, I already have an A4 I use for work and it is great overall even though its only a 1.8 (lpg), but our Focus is too small to go anywhere for more than a day, hence need a bigger car.
May as well opt for an estate. It's a tourer the one I'm considering.

I also realise that driving it round town every day might not be best for the BM so that way it will get 'rationed'... If I can resist it for long enough!

Bad points on the 530d are

Swirl flaps
Injectors (£1200 for all six)
Turbo (£900)
Autobox if applicable (1.5-2k)
Cooling system

They are potential wallet cripplers.

[davy9449]

jamoor said:

davy9449 said:

Just watched the vid on You tube, and I guess it told me what I already know. I guess what I want to know id opting for the 530D, won't bankrupt me so to speak. I know pretty much what I'll get from the Audi, I already have an A4 I use for work and it is great overall even though its only a 1.8 (lpg), but our Focus is too small to go anywhere for more than a day, hence need a bigger car.
May as well opt for an estate. It's a tourer the one I'm considering.

I also realise that driving it round town every day might not be best for the BM so that way it will get 'rationed'... If I can resist it for long enough!

Bad points on the 530d are

Swirl flaps
Injectors (£1200 for all six)
Turbo (£900)
Autobox if applicable (1.5-2k)
Cooling system

They are potential wallet cripplers.

Hmm. Turbo has been done at 73K apparently though. How likely is the auto box to go? I'll have a browse on the BMW forums too and get some more gen on there.

My mates got one - got 117K on it not had any trouble like that though. I guess you pays your money you takes your chance! Going to have a go of his tomorrow to see what it's like. I've driven an A6 2.5TDi V6. Was OK. Did what it says on the tin I guess!

[jamoor]

davy9449 said:

jamoor said:

davy9449 said:

Just watched the vid on You tube, and I guess it told me what I already know. I guess what I want to know id opting for the 530D, won't bankrupt me so to speak. I know pretty much what I'll get from the Audi, I already have an A4 I use for work and it is great overall even though its only a 1.8 (lpg), but our Focus is too small to go anywhere for more than a day, hence need a bigger car.
May as well opt for an estate. It's a tourer the one I'm considering.

I also realise that driving it round town every day might not be best for the BM so that way it will get 'rationed'... If I can resist it for long enough!

Bad points on the 530d are

Swirl flaps
Injectors (£1200 for all six)
Turbo (£900)
Autobox if applicable (1.5-2k)
Cooling system

They are potential wallet cripplers.

Hmm. Turbo has been done at 73K apparently though. How likely is the auto box to go? I'll have a browse on the BMW forums too and get some more gen on there.

My mates got one - got 117K on it not had any trouble like that though. I guess you pays your money you takes your chance! Going to have a go of his tomorrow to see what it's like. I've driven an A6 2.5TDi V6. Was OK. Did what it says on the tin I guess!

Its not hugely likely, just one of those keep it in mind things.
The petrols are more reliable, but then again have some problems too.

[davy9449]

I can see this coming down to its price!!

Cheers for the info.

[Fox-]

davy9449 said:

I've driven an A6 2.5TDi V6. Was OK. Did what it says on the tin I guess!

Why settle for ok when you can have excellent?

[jamoor]

Fox- said:

davy9449 said:

I've driven an A6 2.5TDi V6. Was OK. Did what it says on the tin I guess!

Why settle for ok when you can have excellent?

Money.

[gizlaroc]

I bought a 2004 1.9tdi sport A6 avant to try and be sensible a year or two back, I couldn't get the thing over 34mpg and round town it was sub 30. It is too heavy for that engine. I got it remapped and it upped the mpg to around 38 on a run, but was worse round town.

Don't buy a 1.9tdi for economy, not in the A6 anyway.


I also had 2.5tdi multitronic A4 avant and that returned 33mpg, would creep up to 40 on a run but after a couple of days of normal driving it would be back at 33.

[davy9449]

Good Point! For the amount of miles I plan to do I am thinking it is better to get something with some ooomph rather than pure economy! ANd you might be thinking why not opt for the petrol version - well I'm too tight for that! lol.
If I don't get this one for whatever reason I think I will still pursue a 530D, unless I heas a load of horror stories in the meantime but don't think that will happen.
Going to view it today so just hope it's as honst as he's been on the phone!

[jamoor]

davy9449 said:

Good Point! For the amount of miles I plan to do I am thinking it is better to get something with some ooomph rather than pure economy! ANd you might be thinking why not opt for the petrol version - well I'm too tight for that! lol.
If I don't get this one for whatever reason I think I will still pursue a 530D, unless I heas a load of horror stories in the meantime but don't think that will happen.
Going to view it today so just hope it's as honst as he's been on the phone!

You won't actually save any money doing for the D once you have paid repair bills.

[Emeye]

IIRC going for the manual version greatly improves the 530d economy and the manuals don't have swirl flaps. (but check for definite first) - What about a 525d - don't think they have the flaps on either manual or auto but again check!

I found a mint manual 525d Sport I really liked but ended up pissing around worrying about the reliability issues that it got sold - in the end I bought a mint 530i Sport - the average economy is probably 28 petty V 36 diesel - but my car was about a grand cheaper for identical spec. (Manual, no leather otherwise std which is a lot on the Sport).

The 525d is a lot lower road tax band than the 530d and 530i (IIRC), but I bet the price difference between diesel and petrol now is massive. I was offered £3k for mine as a trade in recently!

So get a 530i cheap enough and it will work out much cheaper than a diesel! Or get a 525d if it must be diesel.

Have a look at this Poll/topic I started on bmwland about the diesel reliability and have a good look around that site for advice!

http://www.bmwland.co.uk/talker/viewtopic.php?t=64...

Oh - and why not post your question on the Audi section and see what response you get! Everyone in here is gonna shout for the Bimmer! lol

[timwatsham]

525d and 530d are in the same tax band...

I've had an E39 530d and an A6 1.9tdi avant. Sold the 530d as we were moving to a one car family and needed it to be an estate. Thought the A6 would be v sensible, cheap to run etc. but after 2 months its back up for sale. It just isn't a patch on the 530d.

Economy is good, 47mpg v 42mpg in the 530d (and the 530d was doing more regular long journies), but it just isn't interesting.

Its a very "good" car, just not a very "great" car in the way the 530d was. If it ticks your boxes then great, but think about whether you want that "mmm, lovely" feeling every morning when you get in to go to work. I used to get that in the 530d, and don't in the A6, hence looking for something else that will give it to me again.

Funnily enough, after thinking of everything (and trying quite a few) I think its going to be an X-Type diesel estate...

[amir_j]

Hired a audi a6 diesal automatic from Avis, nice interior but the ride was way too harsh considering its not a performance vehicle.

[davy9449]

I'm a little confused now. Read the poll about reliability, but I agree with one poster, you will probably get more people posting who have had problems vs people who haven't , so it isn't really measureable.

I can see the sense in opting for a petrol vs a diesel because of the difference in price to buy, i.e. 530i Sport may cost 6K - whereas equivalent diesel may cost 8K, so you may never make up the differential in cost on fuel expenses alone depending on your mileage. And if it is a fact that there are more diesel failures then that only compounds the argument against diesel engines by BMW.

To summarise this is my little mind, if you want a car that won't give you loads of grief, or worry, or bankrupt you, then buy an Audi... or a Mondeo oir a new BMW!

PS. The car I looked at I bid for on ebay but missed out on - was due a cat 2 service and had a set price in my mind so in a way pleased I didn't give in to temptation.

PPS. WTF are swirl flaps???