540i for approx 25k pa

[AAD44H]

Hi all,

I have recently got a new job where I will be travelling approx 25k pa, any disadvantage with driving a 540i as oppose to one of the lesser 5 series?

I currently have an M140i and really don't want to lose that engine however I need something more comfortable so have decided on a 540i touring (to fit the dog).

Anything I need to know/be aware of with the 540i?

Thanks,

[jm8403]

AAD44H said:

Hi all,

I have recently got a new job where I will be travelling approx 25k pa, any disadvantage with driving a 540i as oppose to one of the lesser 5 series?

I currently have an M140i and really don't want to lose that engine however I need something more comfortable so have decided on a 540i touring (to fit the dog).

Anything I need to know/be aware of with the 540i?

Thanks,

theyre thirsty

[cseven]

I get mid 30's on the motorway and about 25 urban. Assume if you are doing 25k a lot will be motorway so about 10 miles per gallon less then say a 520d touring (which I had before).

Cracking engine, imo worth the extra.

[jm8403]

cseven said:

I get mid 30's on the motorway and about 25 urban. Assume if you are doing 25k a lot will be motorway so about 10 miles per gallon less then say a 520d touring (which I had before).

Cracking engine, imo worth the extra.

what age is yours? i assume newer ones are more efficient. mine is an e39 and was much lower mpg

[AAD44H]

jm8403 said:

cseven said:

I get mid 30's on the motorway and about 25 urban. Assume if you are doing 25k a lot will be motorway so about 10 miles per gallon less then say a 520d touring (which I had before).

Cracking engine, imo worth the extra.

what age is yours? i assume newer ones are more efficient. mine is an e39 and was much lower mpg

Sounds good, I will be looking at the G31, 2017+ with a turbo therefore much better MPG than the e39

[Wills2]

I'd pick the 530d instead for 25k per year, I'd go for an MHT version with close to 300hp and 650nm it's perfect for high mileage and you'll see an easy 50-55mpg on a run and over 40 round town.

.

[Maxus]

Considering the fuel price variance between diesel and petrol, the ppm isn’t that big anymore between a 3.0d and 3.0 petrol. I’m currently in a 640d and averaged 45 mpg over 30k miles. I calculate a 40i getting 35 mpg would only be c3 ppm more expensive now.

I am very likely to get a petrol next.

[cseven]

jm8403 said:

what age is yours? i assume newer ones are more efficient. mine is an e39 and was much lower mpg

Mine is a 2019 G31

I imagine the e39 v8 must be lovely but like you say rather more thirsty!

[Wills2]

Maxus said:

Considering the fuel price variance between diesel and petrol, the ppm isn’t that big anymore between a 3.0d and 3.0 petrol. I’m currently in a 640d and averaged 45 mpg over 30k miles. I calculate a 40i getting 35 mpg would only be c3 ppm more expensive now.

I am very likely to get a petrol next.

That presumes the petrol is better I get petrol M car (I've had 6) but generally in a large normal BMW the 6cyl diesel engine is just a better drive.

[MarkJS]

jm8403 said:

theyre thirsty

They’re really not.

[nordboy]

I had a 540i msport tourer until I took advantage of the high used prices and sold it back to the main dealer. I'd originally ordered a 530d tourer but the dealer cocked the order up so offered me the 540 they had in stock for a very good price. I'm so glad they did.

Loved the engine, it was very quick for a big barge and the handling is so much lighter and better than the diesel versions. MPG is good for a car that size, probably better than the AMG Merc I ran after it, and definitely better than the Jag supercharged 3.0 v6 petrol I have now. I really liked it and would be quite happy to have another one.

[2 GKC]

MarkJS said:

They’re really not.

Pretty expensive way of covering 500 miles a week though. Not many tourings for sale, most of them seem pretty poorly specced and expensive.

[jm8403]

MarkJS said:

They’re really not.

I had no idea what age of 540 we are talking, but my 540 is thirsty. I love the sound of it and noise though. if you compare it to the majority of cars, they're thirsty. If compared to a truck, they're not. It seems like the newer ones are more economical, so if his heart want it enough, data is there.

[MarkJS]

2 GKC said:

MarkJS said:

They’re really not.

Pretty expensive way of covering 500 miles a week though. Not many tourings for sale, most of them seem pretty poorly specced and expensive.

500 miles per week isn’t going to be particularly cheap whichever way you do it. There are certainly cheaper ways of doing it but there are an awful lot more expensive ways of doing it. Taking purchase costs out of the equation, they are very efficient considering the performance on offer and have long service intervals (I’m not entirely convinced that these can be healthy, but if you go by the manufacturers guidance…..).

[Tam_Mullen]

jm8403 said:

I had no idea what age of 540 we are talking, but my 540 is thirsty. I love the sound of it and noise though. if you compare it to the majority of cars, they're thirsty. If compared to a truck, they're not. It seems like the newer ones are more economical, so if his heart want it enough, data is there.

If you'd read the OP properly you would know exactly what age he was on about.

He has a 140 and doesnt want to lose the engine...

[jm8403]

Tam_Mullen said:

jm8403 said:

I had no idea what age of 540 we are talking, but my 540 is thirsty. I love the sound of it and noise though. if you compare it to the majority of cars, they're thirsty. If compared to a truck, they're not. It seems like the newer ones are more economical, so if his heart want it enough, data is there.

If you'd read the OP properly you would know exactly what age he was on about.

He has a 140 and doesnt want to lose the engine...

Ok dad. Regardless of age, I was giving my experience that they are thirsty and to consider that. It seems they have got a lot more efficient with age. what have you suggested?

[steve_n]

Of course a V8 is more thirsty than a turbo straight six...

[SL550M]

OP, you’ll definitely be impressed with the comfort aspect of a 540. I’ve had mine (a 2017 car with the optional Adaptive suspension) for almost 2 years and it’s a standout feature of the car. A pleasure to do long journeys in. Passengers always comment on it. The engine is obviously a peach. Economy-wise, I think you’ll get roughly 500 miles on a full tank which isn’t too bad. I test drive a diesel 5 series of a similar vintage and much preferred the way the 540 goes. Good luck.

[GuyW]

steve_n said:

Of course a V8 is more thirsty than a turbo straight six...

The 540i isn't a V8! At least not in G3X guise.

[JNW1]

Wills2 said:

I'd pick the 530d instead for 25k per year, I'd go for an MHT version with close to 300hp and 650nm it's perfect for high mileage and you'll see an easy 50-55mpg on a run and over 40 round town.

Much as I like the B58 engine I tend to agree, for 25k miles/annum the 6-pot diesel makes a lot of sense. Almost by definition a lot of that mileage is likely to be on motorways and/or dual carriageways and in that type of running there's no real downsides to the diesel (but a notable upside in terms of mpg and hence range).