E39 520 or 523

[Mike400]

Is there a massive difference between an E39 520 and 523??

Im talking the early ones, i.e. 150bhp 520 and 170bhp 523.


Basically I might be moving office, and I fancy an E39 for commuting - would be about 55 miles daily, 90% clear motorway.

On paper there doesnt seem to be a great difference in economy between the two - according to "whatcar?", the 520 will manage 41mpg on a run, compared to 39 for the 523.

Is this realistic, and what are other people getting mileage wise?

Obviously if there isnt much difference surely the 523 would be the better one to look at considering it has a bit more shove?

[[TW]Fox]

The 2.0 520 is rubbish and not suitable for the car.

The fuel economy between all the E39 6 cylinders is largely the same, simply get the biggest 6 pot you can as it wont cost much more to run.

41mpg on a run is optimistic - i can get 39 out of my 530i but thats on the Motorway at a constant 70mph.

[Mike400]

Thanks for that, 39 on a run is pretty good for what is a heavy enough car.

Just the green-light I needed to look at a few with proper engines...

[chrisr29]

Neither. Go for a 528i. I'd imagine the 520i is utterly gutless and would need a heavy foot to make reasonable progress resulting in high fuel consumption. Where as the 2.8 has a more usable amount of torque and can waft along quite happily in a high gear resulting in good mileage. The 528i I had for a short while gave remarkable economy for the size and weight of the car; 30s easily.

[Mike400]

chrisr29 said:

Neither. Go for a 528i. I'd imagine the 520i is utterly gutless and would need a heavy foot to make reasonable progress resulting in high fuel consumption. Where as the 2.8 has a more usable amount of torque and can waft along quite happily in a high gear resulting in good mileage. The 528i I had for a short while gave remarkable economy for the size and weight of the car; 30s easily.

Sort of along the lines I was thinking - If im going to spend say 90% of my journey cruising along a well surfaced clear motorway at say 60, A larger engined variant will need less effort and potentially be more economical?

[chrisr29]

Mike400 said:

chrisr29 said:

Neither. Go for a 528i. I'd imagine the 520i is utterly gutless and would need a heavy foot to make reasonable progress resulting in high fuel consumption. Where as the 2.8 has a more usable amount of torque and can waft along quite happily in a high gear resulting in good mileage. The 528i I had for a short while gave remarkable economy for the size and weight of the car; 30s easily.

Sort of along the lines I was thinking - If im going to spend say 90% of my journey cruising along a well surfaced clear motorway at say 60, A larger engined variant will need less effort and potentially be more economical?

Yup, spot on me thinks. I bought mine on a whim but sold it a few weeks later 'cause it was really too big for my needs. I must say though that the Steptronic auto box is fab. Never usually a fan of autos' but that one worked great, even the manual mode was pretty responsive.

[Mike400]

Ive heard good things about the autos, but for me it has to be a manual, personal preference and all that.

Thanks for the info guys, some food for thought there

[dcb]

Mike400 said:

Ive heard good things about the autos, but for me it has to be a manual, personal preference and all that.

I used to think that, until I bought a BMW auto.

Quite possibly one of the finest autos available for sale.

You can drive it like a clutchless manual if you want to,
but no one does.

Gear changes are really smooth and swift - no waiting around
for baggy autos to swap cogs lethargically.

[fluffnik]

dcb said:

Mike400 said:

Ive heard good things about the autos, but for me it has to be a manual, personal preference and all that.

I used to think that, until I bought a BMW auto.

Quite possibly one of the finest autos available for sale.

dcb said:

You can drive it like a clutchless manual if you want to,
but no one does.

I do!

(admittedly I've got shift buttons on my steering wheel)

Manual mode is great in the twisties or when picking off a line of slow traffic...

dcb said:

Gear changes are really smooth and swift - no waiting around
for baggy autos to swap cogs lethargically.

...and thanks to a whole bunch of sensors, no unwanted mid-corner shifts nor upshifts when you close the throttle on cresting a hill.

All round top notch 'box.

[dr matt uk]

[TW]Fox said:

The 2.0 520 is rubbish and not suitable for the car.

The fuel economy between all the E39 6 cylinders is largely the same, simply get the biggest 6 pot you can as it wont cost much more to run.

41mpg on a run is optimistic - i can get 39 out of my 530i but thats on the Motorway at a constant 70mph.

I would agree with this. I've just purchased a rather lovely 530i Sport auto and haven't looked back. A bigger engine can keep up with traffic with such little effort and you get the power when you need it and the smoothness when you want to waft. DO NOT get the 520i - this engive struggled in the e46 3er I used to run - it had to be worked quite hard most of the time and as such got rubbish MPG. In mixed driving I'm getting about 29MPG (auto, don't forget - manuals are better) but the sort of drive you have suggests that low to mid 30's is possible. Go on treat yourself!