16-18k miles p/annum - Petrol or diesel?

[pmanson]

Hi All,

My MG ZT is slowly falling apart around me and I need to think about changing it in the next couple of months (service will be due soon, as will new front tyres, a front bumper respray (and two replacement fogs) and it keeps blowing bulbs...

So i've started looking at e39's!

I do approx 16-18k miles per year with about 8k of those being business miles (I get a car allowance + 14ppm [with a tax claim in April due to go in]

The question is do I spend £5k on a 530d or £3k on a 530i and keep the remainder for the extra fuel. I'm currently getting an average of 30.1 out of the ZT (i'm based in Milton Keynes so the 12 mile commute to work over lots of roundabouts is a killer)... although I do get approx 400 miles from a tank (62ish litres) when doing the motorway runs.

If I went petrol I wouldn't like to return an average mpg any lower than what I get now but if the overall cost of ownership is similar I think the petrol may be a safer bet...

Any thoughts?

Phill

[StottyZr]

530i £3000 e39
530d £5000 e60 (Yes £5000 buys you a 2004 e60)

530i avg 26.4mpg
18000/26.4*4.55*1.3=£4032p.a
530d avg 40.9mpg
18000/40.9*4.55*1.35=£2703p.a

Fuel cost difference = £1329 per year

530i will obviously sound a lot nice, its down to you to work out if its worth the extra cost.

If your set on an e39 I'd go for the 530i as the e39 530d isn't really much better on fuel!