520d Sport Touring - Engine too small, do you need the 525?

[cheese]

I'm looking at getting a 5 series Touring (E60) too replace my A4 Avant.

My budget of 11k or so, will limit me to one of the smaller engines as I want the sport model.

I've read that with the 3 series, the 2 litre, 4 pot diesel can be as good as the larger engine as it's lighter and more free revving.

Is the smaller engine going to be too underpowered in the larger 5 series (I will probably get it remapped at some point too)

I could go for a petrol unit also as my mileage isn't going to be too high.

Any advice would be most welcome.

[edo]

I had a 2008 520d auto for a few months whilst my 320d was on order, and I was very surprised that it didn't feel painful at all.

It is all down to personal choice, but I would have a drive of one before dismissing it.

[Matt UK]

I was pleasantly surprised by the 520d, plently quick enough as a commuter car.

[HellDiver]

cheese said:

Any advice would be most welcome.

Buy a 6-pot, 4-pot in a 5 is wrong.

[OllieWinchester]

Get a petrol, cannot understand why you would be looking at paying a premium for an oil burner when you don't need to?

[Matt UK]

Oh, if your miles are low get a 525 / 530i.

[excel monkey]

What kind of A4 do you run at the moment? If it's a bog standard 1.9 TDI, then a late model 520d won't feel slow.

[edo]

OllieWinchester said:

Get a petrol, cannot understand why you would be looking at paying a premium for an oil burner when you don't need to?

Back to back a 20d versus a 20i and then see if you still feel the same.

[Matt UK]

edo said:

OllieWinchester said:

Get a petrol, cannot understand why you would be looking at paying a premium for an oil burner when you don't need to?

Back to back a 20d versus a 20i and then see if you still feel the same.

Do they still make a 520i? Thought it was phased out with the e39

[edo]

Matt UK said:

edo said:

OllieWinchester said:

Get a petrol, cannot understand why you would be looking at paying a premium for an oil burner when you don't need to?

Back to back a 20d versus a 20i and then see if you still feel the same.

Do they still make a 520i? Thought it was phased out with the e39

Dont think they put the 20i in the 5, no. 20d is entry. No point in the 20i - less powerful, slower, doesnt even make a decent noise!

[ex vtskid]

I'm pretty sure there was a E60 520i, 2.2 though not 2.0

[Matt UK]

The e39 520i was a straight-six 2.2
Then the 320i became a 4-pot on the e90 models.

If an e60 520i did exist I guess not many people biught it..

[OllieWinchester]

edo said:

OllieWinchester said:

Get a petrol, cannot understand why you would be looking at paying a premium for an oil burner when you don't need to?

Back to back a 20d versus a 20i and then see if you still feel the same.

We're not though, because there is a premium on the diesel models so he could probably get a 525i for the price of a 520d.

[Fox-]

cheese said:

I've read that with the 3 series, the 2 litre, 4 pot diesel can be as good as the larger engine as it's lighter and more free revving.

Only amongst those who have tried to convince themselves they didnt want the better model they couldnt afford anyway.

[petrolveins]

If it's any help my dad looked at a 520d and after a little encouragement from me tried a 525d, and rather preferred that so got a 530d.
It wasn't so much the fact that the 520d wasn't powerful enough, it was perfectly adequate, but nothing more. Also a tad noisy on the motorway, the 6-cylinders are far more refined, and need to be worked much less. And when you press on they just seem to whoosh along very nicely. You will pay on fuel economy though.

[torqueofthedevil]

525d is a 3.0l - just mapped to be less than a 530d.

Go for diesel. I drive a 528 and a 330d and would go for diesel everytime.

[Fox-]

torqueofthedevil said:

525d is a 3.0l - just mapped to be less than a 530d.

The older ones are 2.5 litres.

[quote]
Go for diesel. I drive a 528 and a 330d and would go for diesel everytime.

Well I drive a 530i and a 530d and would go petrol everytime. Don't bother with diesel unless either:

a) You do lots of miles
b) You have an allergic reaction to changing gear and therefore have a just reason to care about 'ingear acceleration'

[torqueofthedevil]

I find the petrol is a more refined smooth power that builds up to a satisfying peak power but can feel as though it bogs down when driving slowly. The diesel feels like a sledge hammer everytime you move - less refined and less revvy but just a constant feeling of immense power!

[edo]

Fox- said:

cheese said:

I've read that with the 3 series, the 2 litre, 4 pot diesel can be as good as the larger engine as it's lighter and more free revving.

Only amongst those who have tried to convince themselves they didnt want the better model they couldnt afford anyway.

I could have had a 325d or a 330d, as I have a weekend car, I chose to stick with the 320d - there is nothing in the performance v the 25d, and the better tax, benefit in kind etc makes it a no brainer. It is also noticeably lighter up front. Of course, this is a co. car decision, privately it may be different.

Back on topic, the 520d is the cheapest model by £3k - the cheapest petrol (523i) being £3k more. Note the 520d is as near as damn it the same performance as the 523i and does 20mpg more....

Model OTR Price Fuel BIK (%) CO2 (g/km) Combined fuel consumption (mpg) Power Output (hp) 0-62mph (secs)

523i SE £31,360 Petrol 24% (24%) 177 (178) 37.2 (37.2) 204 7.9 (8.2)
528i SE £33,040 Petrol 25% (24%) 182 (178) 36.2 (37.2) 258 6.6 (6.7)
535i SE £37,300 Petrol 28% (28%) 199 (195) 33.2 (33.6) 306 6.0 (6.1)
520d SE £28,045 Diesel 18% (19%) 129 (137) 57.6 (54.3) 184 8.1 (8.1)
525d SE £33,100 Diesel 24% (24%) 162 (160) 45.6 (46.3) 204 7.2 (7.2)
530d SE £37,175 Diesel 25% (24%) 166 (160) 44.8 (45.6) 245 6.3 (6.3)

Edited by edo on Wednesday 16th June 21:05

[Fox-]

torqueofthedevil said:

just a constant feeling of immense power!

If its the car in your profile it has 184bhp..