2007 535d - Am I going to get hammered?

[lord trumpton]

I'm looking at a low mile 2007 535d (65k miles) as a replacement for my current daily drive golf.

As I'm not a derv owner I've not really kept abreast of the forthcoming taxes.

I'm not going to be entering cities - it's just a daily hack and mile muncher.

I'm just wondering what people think is likely to happen going forward over the next few years re fuel prices and tax - I just don't want to buy it and get slapped with an unsaleable 'dirty diesel' come resale in a couple of years.

I was tempted to go for a Golf R estate but I know I'm likely to lose more on depreciation with the R that I would do with the BMW

Hmmm

[anonymous-user]

I'd be more worried about the bills that a decade old and highly complex diesel engine can kick you in the knackers with!

[red_slr]

I had a similar decision to make and for now just went with the 2L diesel (merc not BMW) as it should hopefully miss any new curve balls that get thrown at DERV cars. Its only 6 years old also which I hope will help.

[Sa Calobra]

https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/fuels-environ...

I imagine pre Euro 4 would get hammered. Euro 5 onwards would be as clean as some petrol?

[xjay1337]

dme123 said:

I'd be more worried about the bills that a decade old and highly complex diesel engine can kick you in the knackers with!

It'll be fine...... Petrols are just as complex, if not more! With more electronics.

[MajorMantra]

The tax element is highly unpredictable, but is it not possible that a big drop in demand for diesel could see the price at the pumps decrease?

I doubt they'll be hiking VED on old diesels (changes usually affect new cars, no?) but residuals will certainly suffer as the tide turns against them. And for anyone driving into major cities things are likely to get very expensive. (But the OP says he doesn't do that.)

Realistically, there's always going to be a market for a fast luxury car though, even if it is powered by the wrong fuel.

[TooMany2cvs]

MajorMantra said:

The tax element is highly unpredictable, but is it not possible that a big drop in demand for diesel could see the price at the pumps decrease?

Unlikely. The demand could easily be managed by fuel duty on diesel going up, and - as well as commercial vehicle demand - that fraction of crude is also used for heating oil and the like.

[MajorMantra]

TooMany2cvs said:

Unlikely. The demand could easily be managed by fuel duty on diesel going up, and - as well as commercial vehicle demand - that fraction of crude is also used for heating oil and the like.

I expect you're right, the government isn't going to want to incentivise more people to keep driving diesels...

[RobM77]

The issue with diesels is particulate pollution, so understandably the big cities are going to start restricting or banning them. For long distance driving though the CO2 emissions are still very low, so I can't see any logical argument or possibility of them being hammered in that respect. I get over 70mpg out of mine and I'm sticking with it!

[TooMany2cvs]

RobM77 said:

The issue with diesels is particulate pollution

That was a decade and a half ago. It's NOx these days.

[Sa Calobra]

TooMany2cvs said:

That was a decade and a half ago. It's NOx these days.

That's good, the OP isn't buying a VW diesel

[RobM77]

TooMany2cvs said:

RobM77 said:

The issue with diesels is particulate pollution

That was a decade and a half ago. It's NOx these days.

That's not a huge problem in terms of climate change though, the main issue with NOx is like the particulates - local air pollution in cities. It does have an indirect effect on the earth's climate, but it's nothing like CO2.

http://www.ghgonline.org/othernox.htm

[lord trumpton]

Thanks for the replies

Having thought about it then I might give it a miss.

Remembering the previous push away from large engined petrol engined cars then almost overnight the used values fell off a cliff.

I can't be arsed with all that stress and probably plumb for a Golf R Estate - Equally as quick and probably very similar on fuel consumtion

[RobM77]

lord trumpton said:

Thanks for the replies

Having thought about it then I might give it a miss.

Remembering the previous push away from large engined petrol engined cars then almost overnight the used values fell off a cliff.

I can't be arsed with all that stress and probably plumb for a Golf R Estate - Equally as quick and probably very similar on fuel consumtion

I guess it depends what you want. I'd choose RWD over Haldex any day of the week.

[lord trumpton]

RobM77 said:

lord trumpton said:

Thanks for the replies

Having thought about it then I might give it a miss.

Remembering the previous push away from large engined petrol engined cars then almost overnight the used values fell off a cliff.

I can't be arsed with all that stress and probably plumb for a Golf R Estate - Equally as quick and probably very similar on fuel consumtion

I guess it depends what you want. I'd choose RWD over Haldex any day of the week.

Me too - That said it's just a daily smoker for school stuff and holidays really so not too fussed about that really.

I've already got RWD in another car

[GreatGranny]

Golf R isn't my idea of a daily smoker :-)

Or a 535d.

Too complicated and liable to throw big bills if it does go wrong.

If its a new/newly new Golf R then at least it will have a warranty with it.

[Retset]

Talking of potential big bills on older BMWs, my 2007 325i Touring developed an occasional misfire followed by the orange engine warning light and almost no ability to accelerate. After the first dealer visit and a new LP fuel pump sensor, the fault returned. So it went back and had a HP fuel pump. They road tested and the fault came back. So it got 2 new injectors and a new ECU (factory codes to my VIN). Dealer estimates total bill of around £2,500.Thank goodness I kept the full BMW warranty going! In the past it has blown the HP fuel pump, a knock sensor and main traction computer, not to mention leaking auto gearbox oil so I am thousands ahead with the warranty! I would now not buy a second hand premium car unless it was AUC with extendable warranty ... Still, getting bored of my annual dealer repair visits and that's why I am on this sub forum

[kurt535]

I owned up until a year ago a 2009 535d.

Useful to know which side of the LCI it is?

They are complicated beasties.

Twin turbo means engine is under less stress than the smaller single turbo units
Panoramic roof - if fitted - means you need to get rid of plastic drain plugs IIRC located in rear wheel arches. Check boot area, including both arches are dry; serious electronics located there. If they go puff due to dampness welcome to a world of pain.
Expect your best mpg to be on first run. After that expect igure of @ 36mpg
Bin RFT's and get some Cross Climates put on it.
Regular oil filter changes (did mine very 5k) pays dividends
Suggest engine idle for a minute or so after a run to calm it down and allow T's and P's to return to normal.
Ally bonnet and wings need caring for. You can only repair a ding once; if it happens in same place you'll have problems if you're OCD on bodywork.

Overall, imperious load luggers. Loved my time with the car. It has its cornering limits being a heavy gal but will happily stay with premium sports cars etc whilst children are playing with their iPads in the back