Discussion
Can't advise on spec but my 2012 F11 (touring) has now done 65k with nothing going wrong other than consumables. In fairness, I wouldn't expect anything to have gone wrong at that mileage either.
It'll do 50mpg (slightly more actually) on a 70MPH cruise but overall I get 44MPG out of it across my driving.
Good luck.
PS - go auto as the 8 speeder is excellent and the manual is really an afterthought (check out the position of the manual cup holder!)
PPS - the halogen headlights are s
te. Get Xenon's if you can.
It'll do 50mpg (slightly more actually) on a 70MPH cruise but overall I get 44MPG out of it across my driving.
Good luck.
PS - go auto as the 8 speeder is excellent and the manual is really an afterthought (check out the position of the manual cup holder!)
PPS - the halogen headlights are s
te. Get Xenon's if you can. Just sold mine 60 plate 87,000 miles.
Over 50 on a run
46 day to day
Had it serviced 4 times , no issues apart from consumables like tyres/ pads
No warranty issues at all.
Auto
Xenons
Are a must , plus anything else you fancy.
Just replaced it with another 520d auto 64 plate tells you what I think of them.
Over 50 on a run
46 day to day
Had it serviced 4 times , no issues apart from consumables like tyres/ pads
No warranty issues at all.
Auto
Xenons
Are a must , plus anything else you fancy.
Just replaced it with another 520d auto 64 plate tells you what I think of them.
A friend of mine has just bought one of these and I had a drive the other day. M Sport seems to be essential these days, rather than an extra just for the keen driver. The standard car tends to understeer quite a bit. To be honest, even the M Sport 520d makes its weight felt in certain circumstances, but that's obviously a trade off for having a 5 series instead of a 3 or 1. Performance was fine - it's not fast by any means, but a 2.0 diesel in a big car like the 5 shouldn't worry you too much unless you're into straight line speed. My friend has the auto, which isn't to my tastes, but it was a good auto box as far as auto boxes go. He also had the upgraded stereo, which sounds ok, but to be honest it's closer to what I'd expect a standard stereo to sound like rather than anything spectacular (I therefore suspect that the standard stereo isn't that great).
I just picked up a new F11 520d last weekend, the M Sport version. First impressions really good and agree with everything being said above. Go for Auto 8 speed, I have the paddles but not sure they're going to get much use. Also went for pro nav and harmon kardon speakers. I've stuck with the 18 alloys, I've heard they're cheaper than the 19s and I expect the ride comfort is slightly improved. It's ample quick enough for the sort of driving I'll do, regards mpg difficult to get a steer as I've only done a few hundred miles!
I can't comment on ownership, but we had one of these in for various test work and I had a quick go. I was extremely impressed, a very well thought-out car which seemed properly put together, and the 8-speed gearbox is superb - which is coming from a staunch manual advocate who's never entertained the idea of an auto.
We weighed it, and found that all four corners were within a 15kg range. On a great big 1700kg auto diesel saloon. Only BMW
We weighed it, and found that all four corners were within a 15kg range. On a great big 1700kg auto diesel saloon. Only BMW
Slightly different car but I have a 14 plate 535d M Sport.
Done 17k in six months, it has been absolutely perfect in every way.
If you can get a bigger engined one then go for it - I get 50mpg on a run and 40 day to day, even with 320bhp and 600+ NM. I got £12k off list (list £54k, paid £42k)
And its quicker than the six cylinder M5 was.
Probably the best all round car in the world to be honest.
Done 17k in six months, it has been absolutely perfect in every way.
If you can get a bigger engined one then go for it - I get 50mpg on a run and 40 day to day, even with 320bhp and 600+ NM. I got £12k off list (list £54k, paid £42k)
And its quicker than the six cylinder M5 was.
Probably the best all round car in the world to be honest.
Soov535 said:
Slightly different car but I have a 14 plate 535d M Sport.
Done 17k in six months, it has been absolutely perfect in every way.
If you can get a bigger engined one then go for it - I get 50mpg on a run and 40 day to day, even with 320bhp and 600+ NM. I got £12k off list (list £54k, paid £42k)
And its quicker than the six cylinder M5 was.
Probably the best all round car in the world to be honest.
Done 17k in six months, it has been absolutely perfect in every way.
If you can get a bigger engined one then go for it - I get 50mpg on a run and 40 day to day, even with 320bhp and 600+ NM. I got £12k off list (list £54k, paid £42k)
And its quicker than the six cylinder M5 was.
Probably the best all round car in the world to be honest.
Only if you care about MPG and want a pointlessly big barge to drive around in.To the OP, the 20d engine is very impressive in terms of combining fuel efficiency with reasonable grunt, but it sounds horrible and is not much fun at all. If you can afford it, I would go for the 30d engine, especially in a 5.
We have had some in work and they've held up really well as pool cars. Engine is very economical and reasonably powerful but I wouldn't want one as a manual as the powerband is tiny, and fk me is it rough. Almost unbelievably rough for such an expensive car, I don't think I could put up with it personally. Is the 525 a 6 pot? Otherwise I'd be looking for a 530d.
k me is it rough. Almost unbelievably rough for such an expensive car, I don't think I could put up with it personally. Is the 525 a 6 pot? Otherwise I'd be looking for a 530d.I have a 10 plate 530D, and can agree with it being silky-smooth. I get a long term mpg of about 37mpg,though I do a 9 mile commute each way during the week then 150-200mile runs at the weekend. Short commute drags the mpg down to mid 30s (few hills and I don't care about mpg) but then the long more chilled out runs gets me 44mpg.
We have two in the family, I have an F10 530d and my father has an F11 520d. Both are excellent cars, a real improvement over the E60 which went before it. Both are SE spec cars and I don't seem to notice this 'horrendous understeer' you allegedly get if you don't buy an M Sport despite coming from a 530i Sport. It drives very well.
Essential options for me would be (And by this I am going to list essential ones, ie deal breakers, everyone just seems to confuse essential with a wishlist):
a) Pro Navigation - the dashboard is designed for the proper 10.2" widescreen and integrated navigation. It looks far better and it works far better with a big screen.
b) Xenon headlights - without these you get crap halogens with no LED indicators
c) Automatic Transmission - the 2.0d is a chore to drive with a manual box, the 8 speed box makes the pain go away.
Nice to have is Sports Automatic Transmission - not because you need paddles, I rarely bother using them, but becuase it adds a nicer gear shifter, a leather gaitor, a better Sport mode and a sports steering wheel, all for what was about £120 extra when new.
IMHO the 18 inch wheels are the best choice. The 17's just look crap and the 19's simply don't ride as well. The F11 is now on 18 inch non RFT's and it rides and handles wonderfully compared to the stock 17 inch runflats.
Infact the only thing I dislike about either car is that they have diesel engines and would be smoother, more refined and generally nicer with petrol engines.
Essential options for me would be (And by this I am going to list essential ones, ie deal breakers, everyone just seems to confuse essential with a wishlist):
a) Pro Navigation - the dashboard is designed for the proper 10.2" widescreen and integrated navigation. It looks far better and it works far better with a big screen.
b) Xenon headlights - without these you get crap halogens with no LED indicators
c) Automatic Transmission - the 2.0d is a chore to drive with a manual box, the 8 speed box makes the pain go away.
Nice to have is Sports Automatic Transmission - not because you need paddles, I rarely bother using them, but becuase it adds a nicer gear shifter, a leather gaitor, a better Sport mode and a sports steering wheel, all for what was about £120 extra when new.
IMHO the 18 inch wheels are the best choice. The 17's just look crap and the 19's simply don't ride as well. The F11 is now on 18 inch non RFT's and it rides and handles wonderfully compared to the stock 17 inch runflats.
Infact the only thing I dislike about either car is that they have diesel engines and would be smoother, more refined and generally nicer with petrol engines.
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