Which £15k 300bhp GT? BMW 640d or alternatives?
Discussion
Looking for a gran tourer but can decide which to go for? Thinking of a BMW 640d Msport as there is plenty of cabin space and creature comforts for longer journeys, good power with decent mpg. My budget is £15k but could stretch to £20k.
My reservations with the 640d is that they are no longer made so may not age well. I have a 520d msport so cabin will be same and not new/exciting. Also the diesel engine(N47) has given me nothing but trouble since I bought the car.
Has anyone got any alternative suggestions? Especially something a bit different.
My reservations with the 640d is that they are no longer made so may not age well. I have a 520d msport so cabin will be same and not new/exciting. Also the diesel engine(N47) has given me nothing but trouble since I bought the car.
Has anyone got any alternative suggestions? Especially something a bit different.
Does it have to be a diesel?
If not then take a look at the CL500 you're budget will land you a 4.7TT version which high 20's to low 30's on a run:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211251...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301042...
Diesel wise the E350cdi Coupe is the other option worth looking at:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212172...
If not then take a look at the CL500 you're budget will land you a 4.7TT version which high 20's to low 30's on a run:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211251...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301042...
Diesel wise the E350cdi Coupe is the other option worth looking at:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212172...
If rear seats aren't any issue then a 5.0 XKR is a lot of car for the money. They do like a drink though..
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301303...
Maserati GranTurismo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302214...
The cabin in the 6 series is a step up from the 5 series BTW. And take into account that at current prices the difference between a 25MPG petrol car and 35MPG diesel car over a 500 mile trip is only £40, so if you're not using it daily why bother?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301303...
Maserati GranTurismo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302214...
The cabin in the 6 series is a step up from the 5 series BTW. And take into account that at current prices the difference between a 25MPG petrol car and 35MPG diesel car over a 500 mile trip is only £40, so if you're not using it daily why bother?
ZX10R NIN said:
I'd avoid the 4.2 GT unless it's had the cam variator fix carried out, even if an Indy has done it most registered this with Maserati so you can check.
I'd 100% not buy any specialist car in this budget without a proper inspection. Even if they give the car a full bill of health it's a few hundred quid well spent for peace of mind IMHO.Mrinsignia said:
Looking for a gran tourer but can decide which to go for? Thinking of a BMW 640d Msport as there is plenty of cabin space and creature comforts for longer journeys, good power with decent mpg. My budget is £15k but could stretch to £20k.
My reservations with the 640d is that they are no longer made so may not age well. I have a 520d msport so cabin will be same and not new/exciting. Also the diesel engine(N47) has given me nothing but trouble since I bought the car.
Has anyone got any alternative suggestions? Especially something a bit different.
Just stumbled across this post. The immediate alternatives to the 6 are the Audi A7 and the Mercedes CLS. The Merc is particularly good value but most are a bit shy of your 300 bhp target (the 350d is 258).My reservations with the 640d is that they are no longer made so may not age well. I have a 520d msport so cabin will be same and not new/exciting. Also the diesel engine(N47) has given me nothing but trouble since I bought the car.
Has anyone got any alternative suggestions? Especially something a bit different.
I went from a 520d (G30) to a 640 GC. My thoughts are the opposite to yours. I think it is ageing nicely because it's not made anymore (it's not the old model as such although really the 8 is the new 6). The interior is very different to the 5 series. Low window profile and the swooping leather dash are very nice. The N57 is an amazing engine, loads of grunt yet 45 mpg. Has a pretty good reputation for reliability as well in normal usage. I say that as the police seem to manage to do something to them that they don't like!
What's your mileage and use like?
I have an F11 530d xDrive and it only exceeds 40mpg on longer runs and being reasonably gentle. In fact 40mpg is my long term average, but I almost never do short runs.
The N57 is a great power plant, but it doesn't seem immune to chain failure and with xDrive it can be nose heavy with some understeer in the wet on sharp turns like roundabouts.
Personally I'd consider the B58 40i if MPG isn't that much of a concern, probably in a smaller platform like a 4-series gran coupe and without the XDrive (as the transfer case is fickle and the extra driveshafts on the front are another failure point). The 5/6-series is a bit of a barge if you don't need the rear seats or trunk space at around 2 tonnes with the N57 and XDrive.
I have an F11 530d xDrive and it only exceeds 40mpg on longer runs and being reasonably gentle. In fact 40mpg is my long term average, but I almost never do short runs.
The N57 is a great power plant, but it doesn't seem immune to chain failure and with xDrive it can be nose heavy with some understeer in the wet on sharp turns like roundabouts.
Personally I'd consider the B58 40i if MPG isn't that much of a concern, probably in a smaller platform like a 4-series gran coupe and without the XDrive (as the transfer case is fickle and the extra driveshafts on the front are another failure point). The 5/6-series is a bit of a barge if you don't need the rear seats or trunk space at around 2 tonnes with the N57 and XDrive.
The cabin is not the same as a 5 series inside. It’s a much nicer place to be. Obviously some bits and pieces are the same but the 6 is lovely, best BMW interior of that era imo.
They drive nice, steering is abit numb but so is a 5 series and it’s a GT car at the end of the day. The 640d actually sounds okay although it’s synthetic. They go well. Insurance prices are stronger on the derv than the 640i for some reason I found.
The N57 engine is great, the biggest issue with them is the EGR cooler and it’s very common. BMW did a recall for them so check it’s been sorted or contact them.
They drive nice, steering is abit numb but so is a 5 series and it’s a GT car at the end of the day. The 640d actually sounds okay although it’s synthetic. They go well. Insurance prices are stronger on the derv than the 640i for some reason I found.
The N57 engine is great, the biggest issue with them is the EGR cooler and it’s very common. BMW did a recall for them so check it’s been sorted or contact them.
I'm another big fan of the 640d as well. Did 70k miles in one(took it from 15k miles to 85k miles and it was faultless). They are great looking things to my eyes, plus they are a lovely place to sit as well(they feel more special in comparison to some of the lower series models I reckon).
Having the same debate with myself as I have a GC 2016 640d that after 3 years I'm just bored of... But just can't find an alternative that excites me.
I did get a remap which turns rapid into very rapid with a small fuel economy hit (yeah, never found the remap / ecu work does the improvements on mpg claimed, but average 40). 700nm torque is fun.
Interior is lovely.
Temped to move to the convertible but not sure the child seats will fit :-(
Epic car.
I did get a remap which turns rapid into very rapid with a small fuel economy hit (yeah, never found the remap / ecu work does the improvements on mpg claimed, but average 40). 700nm torque is fun.
Interior is lovely.
Temped to move to the convertible but not sure the child seats will fit :-(
Epic car.
jamesF360 said:
Having the same debate with myself as I have a GC 2016 640d that after 3 years I'm just bored of... But just can't find an alternative that excites me.
I did get a remap which turns rapid into very rapid with a small fuel economy hit (yeah, never found the remap / ecu work does the improvements on mpg claimed, but average 40). 700nm torque is fun.
Interior is lovely.
Temped to move to the convertible but not sure the child seats will fit :-(
Epic car.
Take a look at the E400d the drivetrain is a step on from the 640d.I did get a remap which turns rapid into very rapid with a small fuel economy hit (yeah, never found the remap / ecu work does the improvements on mpg claimed, but average 40). 700nm torque is fun.
Interior is lovely.
Temped to move to the convertible but not sure the child seats will fit :-(
Epic car.
Hi everyone thanks for taking the time to respond. I went ahead and bought a BMW 640d. I was under some time pressure to buy a new car as I had sold my 5 series. Ideally I would have like do find a higher specced model with digital dash cluster, pan roof and adaptive lighting.
Anyhow I am very happy with the 640d. As people have commented it is definitely a step up in the cabin from the 5 series. The seats are super comfortable, extended leather over the dash gives a luxury feel, and the sat nav is really big without suffering from the "iPad glued to the dash" look. The exhaust note although synthetic sounds really good for a diesel. I love the exterior look of it, it's a big long car with a huge bonnet. When you put the car in sports mode it pulls like a train and if you don't look at the dials you can be at 100 mph before you realise. I am really surprised at how fast it is for a diesel and easily the fastest car I have owned. The back seats are surprisingly spacious and although I wouldnt want to be sat in them for a long journey, there is enough space for the dog crate for trips away.
I have thought about remapping but the car is pretty fast as standard, also it's a 10 year old car will 90k on the clock so I don't want to risk killing the engine also I have heard of timing chain failures and don't want to tempt fate. I maybe coming into some money a year from now so I will scratch the "faster car" itch at that point.
Thanks again to everyone that contributed to this thread.
Anyhow I am very happy with the 640d. As people have commented it is definitely a step up in the cabin from the 5 series. The seats are super comfortable, extended leather over the dash gives a luxury feel, and the sat nav is really big without suffering from the "iPad glued to the dash" look. The exhaust note although synthetic sounds really good for a diesel. I love the exterior look of it, it's a big long car with a huge bonnet. When you put the car in sports mode it pulls like a train and if you don't look at the dials you can be at 100 mph before you realise. I am really surprised at how fast it is for a diesel and easily the fastest car I have owned. The back seats are surprisingly spacious and although I wouldnt want to be sat in them for a long journey, there is enough space for the dog crate for trips away.
I have thought about remapping but the car is pretty fast as standard, also it's a 10 year old car will 90k on the clock so I don't want to risk killing the engine also I have heard of timing chain failures and don't want to tempt fate. I maybe coming into some money a year from now so I will scratch the "faster car" itch at that point.
Thanks again to everyone that contributed to this thread.
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