530d, Just about to press the button.

[Davie_GLA]

Right.

i've found a car I like, the only thing is that it isn't an M Sport. There is an M at the same place for similar money but this one is better equipped. Over standard this one has:

Active Steering
Auto-Dim Int + Folding Ext. Mirrors
Automatic Air Conditioning-Advanced
Automatic Gearbox
Comfort seats. front
Dark Poplar Wood - High Gloss
De-chrome
Extended Interior Light Package
Floor Mats
Head-up Display
Heated Front Seats

The only thing it's missing is nav and bluetooth. Bluetooth i can remedy with parrot or whatever and i've heard the BMW nav isn't that great anyway.

So other than that it's done 55k, and i part of the AUC programme. I've heard some right horror stories about swirl flaps, are they sound?

Anything else i need to be weary of?

Thanks in advance.

David.

[daemon]

Davie_GLA said:

Right.

i've found a car I like, the only thing is that it isn't an M Sport. There is an M at the same place for similar money but this one is better equipped. Over standard this one has:

Active Steering
Auto-Dim Int + Folding Ext. Mirrors
Automatic Air Conditioning-Advanced
Automatic Gearbox
Comfort seats. front
Dark Poplar Wood - High Gloss
De-chrome
Extended Interior Light Package
Floor Mats
Head-up Display
Heated Front Seats

The only thing it's missing is nav and bluetooth. Bluetooth i can remedy with parrot or whatever and i've heard the BMW nav isn't that great anyway.

So other than that it's done 55k, and i part of the AUC programme. I've heard some right horror stories about swirl flaps, are they sound?

Anything else i need to be weary of?

Thanks in advance.

David.

M Sport is very much the preferred spec level.

Nav is pretty much seen as a 'must have' on a 5 series.

Bluetooth is an expected feature these days, but as you say, you can get round that.

Therefore buying an SE with no Nav / Bluetooth maybe isnt the best idea BUT, if the price is right and you really want the car then go for it, particularly if you plan on keeping the car for a while

Whats your budget by the way?

[Garlick]

I concur, built in nav is almost essential on this car isn't it? Even if a £150 Garmin works better.

[Ari]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

If that's your £55k I'd have to question your sanity on spending that much on a 5 series diesel.

"It's done 55K".

That'll be the mileage then, not the price...

[si2085]

I think the 55k refers to the mileage?!

Beaten to it...

[7mike]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

If that's your £55k I'd have to question your sanity on spending that much on a 5 series diesel. If it is a company car and not your money then nice choice.

Swirl flap problems related to much earlier engines so nothing to worry about there.

Where did the op say he was spending £55k ?
Me too!

[Davie_GLA]

55k is the mileage, not the price.

Nav is bothering me but not essential. i've lived without it up until now and as has been mentioned there are better systems.

Budget is around £13-£15k.

[einstein75]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

If that's your £55k I'd have to question your sanity on spending that much on a 5 series diesel. If it is a company car and not your money then nice choice.

Where does the OP mention he's paying £55k?!

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Ari said:

RedWhiteMonkey said:

If that's your £55k I'd have to question your sanity on spending that much on a 5 series diesel.

"It's done 55K".

That'll be the mileage then, not the price...

Yes, apologies. I realised that after I posted and by the time I deleted my post I'd already been quoted. I was paying more attention to my lunch than what was written!

[daemon]

Davie_GLA said:

55k is the mileage, not the price.

Nav is bothering me but not essential. i've lived without it up until now and as has been mentioned there are better systems.

Budget is around £13-£15k.

Heres an 06 M Sport with Nav, Bluetooth and Leather and is an AUC car. Mileage is slightly higher. I think you could push for £750 - £1000 off this.

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/bmwauc/details/0,,1156_...

[daemon]

Outside of BMW AUC, theres better choice for your budget, this one popped up on Autotrader..

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[Davie_GLA]

That's nice, but this car has a lot more equipment. Is sacrificing Logic 7, heads up, advanced aircon and heated comfort seats for nav and BT worth it? Obviously it's an M Sport but still.

I could change the exterior to look like an M Sport if required, the suspension wouldn't be as easy but again something i could live with.

[Davie_GLA]

Also, being in Glasgow these cars are miles away, so the extra cost in travel and effort would offset any savings on them.

[minicab]

Just had a flick through the Classifieds.... with that budget, I'd be buying this one

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2787239.htm

A few more miles than yours, but full BMW history, and warranty still active.

Plus it have leather, nav and blue teeth.

[minicab]

Or right at the top of your budget... this one

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2962168.htm

The idea of a manual is quite appealing!

[daemon]

Davie_GLA said:

That's nice, but this car has a lot more equipment. Is sacrificing Logic 7, heads up, advanced aircon and heated comfort seats for nav and BT worth it? Obviously it's an M Sport but still.

I could change the exterior to look like an M Sport if required, the suspension wouldn't be as easy but again something i could live with.

The beauty of such a choice of BMW's out there is, that you can decide whats the best car for you, rather than be limited to a choice of one or two

If you really like the car you're looking at, and the spec works for you then I say go for it. The standard sound in a 5 series is naff, so if music is important to you then Logic 7 would be superb (relatively!!)

I was never a fan of HUD, but some people who have it swear by it.

Just be aware that come resale time it will be hard to sell on.

[daemon]

minicab said:

Or right at the top of your budget... this one

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2962168.htm

The idea of a manual is quite appealing!

Oh superb!!

Thats an LCI car, and is the later Space Grey colour.

Great find - fantastic price!!!

[Ramses]

From my experience:

Active Steering is dire.
Auto-Dim Int + Folding Ext. Mirrors are a gimick and not really needed.
Comfort seats are awful, no support, slide off them at every corner
Heated Front Seats are another gimick and seldom get used (and I leave at 6am every morning in Shorts and a T-Shirt).
Extended Interior Light Package another gimick that you won't evern notice

That said

Automatic Gearbox is the perfect marriage to the 30d engine
Dark Poplar Wood - High Gloss looks great
De-chrome - essential
Head-up Display - very cool and very useful....but you get away without it


NAV is a HUGE ommision in my opinion, almost vital on this car....BUT.....if you are keeping it long term, then resale isn't a major factor.
Pre-09 BMW Bluetooth is st.


For my money, an M-Sport and Nav are essential.

My 2p....

Edited by Ramses on Tuesday 12th July 14:04

[Davie_GLA]

daemon said:

If you've made your mind up on the car your looking at then it would probably have been better to just buy it, rather than try to find reasons not to buy alternatives

I guess there is a bit of this but if the options on it are as crap as they sound then perhaps the M-Sport is the better choice.

I'm going to drive both at the weekend so may have a better idea then.

Re-Sale might be important as although i plan on keeping it a while i get bored fairly quickly.

[philmots]

I wouldn't consider a non M-Sport BMW mainly because of how hard it would be to sell on. I'd be looking for NAV in a 5 too.

Just like my old 330 Sport that didn't have leather, I loved it and didn't miss it but by god did it take ages to shift on. Wouldn't have another without for that reason.