How good is a 530d sport?
Discussion
Hi guys,
I'm looking to buy a mid sized family car that looks good, drives well and is reliable.
I think a 2002 or 2003 530d sport tickes all of the boxes for me.
I was just wondering how good are these cars?
Most of these seem to have done a few miles and approx 80,000 seems the average mileage for one of these.
My question is how do these 3.0 deisels fair with a few miles on them and what sort of mileage are they good for,
What are the known trouble issues with these 5 series's
I've read loads of good thing but wery few bad things,
If anyone here could let me know what to look for, I would really appreciate it,
I am a car technician but I am unfamiliar with these cars,
Cheers,
I'm looking to buy a mid sized family car that looks good, drives well and is reliable.
I think a 2002 or 2003 530d sport tickes all of the boxes for me.
I was just wondering how good are these cars?
Most of these seem to have done a few miles and approx 80,000 seems the average mileage for one of these.
My question is how do these 3.0 deisels fair with a few miles on them and what sort of mileage are they good for,
What are the known trouble issues with these 5 series's
I've read loads of good thing but wery few bad things,
If anyone here could let me know what to look for, I would really appreciate it,
I am a car technician but I am unfamiliar with these cars,
Cheers,
They are very good, but the 530i is better.
I reckon the 530i E39 sport is the best all round car BMW have ever built.
I can only get 28-38mpg from the 530d and I get between 24-34mpg from the 530i.
Realistic averages for both, and that is using them without resetting the OBC for at least a dozen tankfuls sees me with an average of 30 on the diesel and 26 on the petrol, that is lots of short trips and driving them hard.
The diesel commands a premium, has a lot more to go wrong, is no where near as nice to drive and now costs more to fuel compared with the petrol.
You have to really want a diesel.
I reckon the 530i E39 sport is the best all round car BMW have ever built.
I can only get 28-38mpg from the 530d and I get between 24-34mpg from the 530i.
Realistic averages for both, and that is using them without resetting the OBC for at least a dozen tankfuls sees me with an average of 30 on the diesel and 26 on the petrol, that is lots of short trips and driving them hard.
The diesel commands a premium, has a lot more to go wrong, is no where near as nice to drive and now costs more to fuel compared with the petrol.
You have to really want a diesel.
wezzer-45's said:
Hi guys,
I'm looking to buy a mid sized family car that looks good, drives well and is reliable.
I think a 2002 or 2003 530d sport tickes all of the boxes for me.
I was just wondering how good are these cars?
Most of these seem to have done a few miles and approx 80,000 seems the average mileage for one of these.
Q.Why do people buy BMW 5 Series diesel cars ?I'm looking to buy a mid sized family car that looks good, drives well and is reliable.
I think a 2002 or 2003 530d sport tickes all of the boxes for me.
I was just wondering how good are these cars?
Most of these seem to have done a few miles and approx 80,000 seems the average mileage for one of these.
A. Because they are high mileage drivers who want a good handling car with comfort and style
Therefore 80,000 miles on a 6 year old car is less than average
If you want to know to know more about their merits or otherwise, then browse this forum
I'd have to second the 530i Sport as a recommendation.
I have recently bought one after initially wanting a 530d. I do 12k miles a year, and reckoned it would take me 2-3 years before the extra costs of buying/maintaining the diesel evened out with the petrol. Add to that that the petrol drives better, is quieter and has a simpler and more reliable engine.
I have recently bought one after initially wanting a 530d. I do 12k miles a year, and reckoned it would take me 2-3 years before the extra costs of buying/maintaining the diesel evened out with the petrol. Add to that that the petrol drives better, is quieter and has a simpler and more reliable engine.
jamoor said:
Transmissions, turbos, swirl flaps, injectors.
Mine has had all of them replaced/fixed :/
Thanks for your comments.Mine has had all of them replaced/fixed :/
I drive adout 18 miles a day and they are all stuck in traffic and I rarely go over 30mph, this is why I woukd favour a deisel engined car,
I din't think I could justify doing under 20mpg in these conditions with a 530i petrol.
Are these problems common with the 530d engines then? what sort af mileage are they good for untill the turbo and injectors play up.
What was the transmission issue and what sort of mileage did it fail.
Is the manual gearbox a better option then?
wezzer-45's said:
jamoor said:
Transmissions, turbos, swirl flaps, injectors.
Mine has had all of them replaced/fixed :/
Thanks for your comments.Mine has had all of them replaced/fixed :/
I drive adout 18 miles a day and they are all stuck in traffic and I rarely go over 30mph, this is why I woukd favour a deisel engined car,
I din't think I could justify doing under 20mpg in these conditions with a 530i petrol.
Are these problems common with the 530d engines then? what sort af mileage are they good for untill the turbo and injectors play up.
What was the transmission issue and what sort of mileage did it fail.
Is the manual gearbox a better option then?
My 530d used to see 24mpg in traffic, my 530i would drop to just under 22mpg, never less.
Do the maths.
The 530d is a very good car, but I vote for the 530i as well.
The fact that you do short journeys at low speeds kind of rules out any advantage the diesel may have. Can't help but think you are considering paying more all-in for the privilege of driving a diesel??
I do over 20k a year and still went for the petrol.
Fox should be a long in a bit - I think he runs both a 530i and 530d - a useful person to give you the facts you the insight you are looking for re running costs.
Each to their own though - good luck with your new car. Either way you'll enjoy it I'm sure.
Cheers,
Matt
The fact that you do short journeys at low speeds kind of rules out any advantage the diesel may have. Can't help but think you are considering paying more all-in for the privilege of driving a diesel??
I do over 20k a year and still went for the petrol.
Fox should be a long in a bit - I think he runs both a 530i and 530d - a useful person to give you the facts you the insight you are looking for re running costs.
Each to their own though - good luck with your new car. Either way you'll enjoy it I'm sure.
Cheers,
Matt
I have 2 BMW's in my household already.
My wife drives a 2005 320cd M sport which is an excellent car in all areas especially in the consumption department,
Then on the other hand I drive an E30 M3 every day and I get on average about 18-19mpg back and fore to work,
I'm going to use the M3 limited miles only and buy another car,
I thought a 530d would have been a good option as from what Ive read they will do approx 26mpg around town as opposed to 20mpg on the 530i.
Obviously you guys run these cars daily and it looks like there isn't too much difference between the 530d and the 530i to out weigh the extra cost of the deisel, so it looks like the fuel cost's £ per mile are about the same for both then.
So from what you say should I achieve approx 25mpg from a 530i auto when being gentle in my daily 8 mile run in traffic or less?
My wife drives a 2005 320cd M sport which is an excellent car in all areas especially in the consumption department,
Then on the other hand I drive an E30 M3 every day and I get on average about 18-19mpg back and fore to work,
I'm going to use the M3 limited miles only and buy another car,
I thought a 530d would have been a good option as from what Ive read they will do approx 26mpg around town as opposed to 20mpg on the 530i.
Obviously you guys run these cars daily and it looks like there isn't too much difference between the 530d and the 530i to out weigh the extra cost of the deisel, so it looks like the fuel cost's £ per mile are about the same for both then.
So from what you say should I achieve approx 25mpg from a 530i auto when being gentle in my daily 8 mile run in traffic or less?
As Matt pointed out we have both a 530d and a 530i, both are 2002. Mine is the 530i, the 530d is my Dads but I drive both of them often.
The 530d:
a) Is quicker when I'm lazy and cannot be bothered to change gear
b) Is more economical to the tune of about 6-7mpg per circumstances. Around town from cold I get 20mpg from the 530i and 26mpg from the 530d. On a long Motorway run I get 38mpg from the 530i and 45mpg from the 530d.
c) Is noisy at idle (Well, compared to the near silent 530i).
d) Is hugely more complicated with high pressure commonrail injectors, turbocharger etc which generate 4 figure bills
The 530i:
a) Is, overall, a noticeably faster car if you are in the mood
b) Sounds much better
c) Is smoother
d) Is in theory more reliable
e) Takes fuel which is 10% cheaper
On balance, we both prefer the 530i. Both are great cars but it's hard to make a financial case for the 530d, especially as they get older and become more unreliable.
The 530d:
a) Is quicker when I'm lazy and cannot be bothered to change gear
b) Is more economical to the tune of about 6-7mpg per circumstances. Around town from cold I get 20mpg from the 530i and 26mpg from the 530d. On a long Motorway run I get 38mpg from the 530i and 45mpg from the 530d.
c) Is noisy at idle (Well, compared to the near silent 530i).
d) Is hugely more complicated with high pressure commonrail injectors, turbocharger etc which generate 4 figure bills
The 530i:
a) Is, overall, a noticeably faster car if you are in the mood
b) Sounds much better
c) Is smoother
d) Is in theory more reliable
e) Takes fuel which is 10% cheaper
On balance, we both prefer the 530i. Both are great cars but it's hard to make a financial case for the 530d, especially as they get older and become more unreliable.
[quote=Fox-]As Matt pointed out we have both a 530d and a 530i, both are 2002. Mine is the 530i, the 530d is my Dads but I drive both of them often.
The 530d:
a) Is quicker when I'm lazy and cannot be bothered to change gear
b) Is more economical to the tune of about 6-7mpg per circumstances. Around town from cold I get 20mpg from the 530i and 26mpg from the 530d. On a long Motorway run I get 38mpg from the 530i and 45mpg from the 530d.
I take it the 530i is an automatic from the 20mpg?
I would be looking to buy a pre march 2001 car mainly because i refuse to pay the government extra cash for tax for the same car that is a bit newer, I know the massive increases have been put back for a year but they will go up.
I don't mind either an Auto or manual, But I think I would prefer a manual given the choice, but they seem to be quite rare beasts.
The 530d:
a) Is quicker when I'm lazy and cannot be bothered to change gear
b) Is more economical to the tune of about 6-7mpg per circumstances. Around town from cold I get 20mpg from the 530i and 26mpg from the 530d. On a long Motorway run I get 38mpg from the 530i and 45mpg from the 530d.
I take it the 530i is an automatic from the 20mpg?
I would be looking to buy a pre march 2001 car mainly because i refuse to pay the government extra cash for tax for the same car that is a bit newer, I know the massive increases have been put back for a year but they will go up.
I don't mind either an Auto or manual, But I think I would prefer a manual given the choice, but they seem to be quite rare beasts.
wezzer-45's said:
I don't mind either an Auto or manual, But I think I would prefer a manual given the choice, but they seem to be quite rare beasts.
Manuals are rare - most punters want the most excellentauto box.
The autos have a "clutchless manual" mode, so you can pick
the gear you want anyway.
wezzer-45's said:
I take it the 530i is an automatic from the 20mpg?
No, it is a manual but my town driving consists of a cold start, 1 mile over speed ramps, then 4 miles into town. The same is repeated in the evening. I doubt the oil ever reaches operating temperature. They are horrible inefficient when cold but by contrast hugely efficient when up to temperature.dcb said:
wezzer-45's said:
I don't mind either an Auto or manual, But I think I would prefer a manual given the choice, but they seem to be quite rare beasts.
Manuals are rare - most punters want the most excellentauto box.
The autos have a "clutchless manual" mode, so you can pick
the gear you want anyway.
How reliable are the auto boxes then?
wezzer-45's said:
Isn't the steptronic part just a manual way of changing gears, it's a plus and minus instead of moving the lever through 4 3 2 1 isn't it?.
wezzer-45's said:
How reliable are the auto boxes then?
Not heard much negative press about them really. I'm sure there may be individual issues out there, but it doesn't appear to be a know weak-spot. Cooling system is the area I'd be paying close attention to.
wezzer-45's said:
dcb said:
wezzer-45's said:
I don't mind either an Auto or manual, But I think I would prefer a manual given the choice, but they seem to be quite rare beasts.
Manuals are rare - most punters want the most excellentauto box.
The autos have a "clutchless manual" mode, so you can pick
the gear you want anyway.
How reliable are the auto boxes then?
The steptronic is thoroughly useless as it's just too slow.
jamoor said:
They are ok I guess.
The steptronic is thoroughly useless as it's just too slow.
Sigh - there will always be someone somewhere who thinks The steptronic is thoroughly useless as it's just too slow.
that something is too slow. The five series isn't a sports car ;->
For the record, your opinion is the first time I've ever
heard anyone express the idea that the five series auto box
is too slow.
The auto boxes do seem pretty reliable - touch wood mine's been trouble
free and it's on 96Kmiles, been all over the Austrian Alps and it's been
over 140 mph many times.
The change pattern on the box is +/- written near the
lever with digits 1-5 displayed in the driver information panel.
jamoor said:
wezzer-45's said:
dcb said:
wezzer-45's said:
I don't mind either an Auto or manual, But I think I would prefer a manual given the choice, but they seem to be quite rare beasts.
Manuals are rare - most punters want the most excellentauto box.
The autos have a "clutchless manual" mode, so you can pick
the gear you want anyway.
How reliable are the auto boxes then?
The steptronic is thoroughly useless as it's just too slow.
I tend to leave it in D and it always seems to be in the right gear for my driving style. You can always knock into S and it'll hold gears for longer. It's not as quick or controlled as a manual, but not many autos are. I do a lot of rush hour driving on my commute though so auto is the way forward for me.
OP, get some test drives in different cars under your belt.
Slushboxes have come a long way. The e60 has a ZF 6hp26 in it. That's the same box as many other expensive motors (7 series, A8, Continental GT, S6, XKR, Quattroporte to name a few). It has 6 speeds, can lock up in any gear and compeltely disengages at idle. It's also adaptive with four maps depending on driving style (two economy for D mode and two sport for S mode).
Seems madness to buy a manual in a big comfortable executive barge....
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