520d or 525d ?
02-11-2006, 11:23 AM
#31
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My Ride: E60 530d Sport - Carbon Black, Black Dakota Leather, Media Pack (satnav, bluetooth, CD changer), heated font seats, through load
Originally Posted by doctorwolf' post='238495' date='Feb 11 2006, 08:17 PM
Agreed. I much prefer manual compared to the autos I've driven a lot in the US. Feels more like you're actually driving the car. I do mostly motorway and major A roads - very little urban or city. So if those are your auto figures, I reckon I could get 42mpg out of a 530d manual. So now it's down to a choice between 520d with loads of options or 530d with fewer...........
I don't pay tax - it's a company-subsidised PCP
I don't pay tax - it's a company-subsidised PCP
And I'm not sure you get quite as good economy wihtout the "magic" 
I did the maths on company car Vs private. No great advantage either way, so I put the cost through the company. And after driving the 530d, I'd still have bought a diesel even if it was a private purchase. And I'm glad that I'm not paying the extra 3% tax for 2006 cars.
02-11-2006, 11:36 AM
#32
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[
If you plan for 42mpg out of a 530D you will be disappointed. Even with a manual transmission you will need to be doing most of your mileage on open roads at 50-60 mph to get that.
My 530D auto averages 28 - 29 mpg on a mixture of A roads, Motorway and town driving, and I do not work it too hard.
The difference between the 520 and 530 is sheer driving pleasure, the 530 goes like stink when you ask it to. It makes short work of the 'shall I , shan't I ' overtake situation. And when you get the uphill strech with a truck ahead of you, no problem it just powers away up the hill and you get past whilst others are still thinking about it.
As somebody posted in another thread recently 'if you take the plain vanilla 530D you get 90% of the car for 60% of the price. Sod the toys, get a car !
Originally Posted by BangleBox_530d' post='238488' date='Feb 11 2006, 08:06 PM
I reckon I could get 42mpg out of a 530d manual. So now it's down to a choice between 520d with loads of options or 530d with fewer...........
I don't pay tax - it's a company-subsidised PCP
I don't pay tax - it's a company-subsidised PCP
If you plan for 42mpg out of a 530D you will be disappointed. Even with a manual transmission you will need to be doing most of your mileage on open roads at 50-60 mph to get that.
My 530D auto averages 28 - 29 mpg on a mixture of A roads, Motorway and town driving, and I do not work it too hard.
The difference between the 520 and 530 is sheer driving pleasure, the 530 goes like stink when you ask it to. It makes short work of the 'shall I , shan't I ' overtake situation. And when you get the uphill strech with a truck ahead of you, no problem it just powers away up the hill and you get past whilst others are still thinking about it.
As somebody posted in another thread recently 'if you take the plain vanilla 530D you get 90% of the car for 60% of the price. Sod the toys, get a car !
02-12-2006, 01:22 AM
#33
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I test drove a 320da (E91), 525ia (E61), 525da (E61). My choice fell on the 525da.
In my opinion manual transmission is for sporty drive, and thus a pertol car is the best choice, no turbo lag and longer rev stretch.
As for diesel the rev stretch is more narrow and demands more work with gear shift. Today the steptronic is a 6 step gear box, which makes the car more sporty and optimise torque use. I have therefore chosen to go for a automatic on my car (and the fact that it makes it easier for my wife to drive it).
As for the 525ia vs the 525da, the 525i was more smooth and felt better to drive from 0-60 km/h, but passing 60km/h the diesel ruled. There no way the 525ia can keep up with the 525da when in speed. And of course the 525ia with automatic is very thursty as well.
For the 320da, I liked the performance up to about a 110km/h, but then the available power seemed to drop. The 2,5 liter diesel at least gives you full accelaration up to and passing 140 km/h.
On the other hand the current 2,5 liter diesel seems to contain the "oldest" technology of the current BMW diesels. It has less power and less torque per cylinder volume compared to all other BMW diesels.
When it comes to cost of the car, it is usually so that the cars with more expensive engines also include more extras.
In my opinion manual transmission is for sporty drive, and thus a pertol car is the best choice, no turbo lag and longer rev stretch.
As for diesel the rev stretch is more narrow and demands more work with gear shift. Today the steptronic is a 6 step gear box, which makes the car more sporty and optimise torque use. I have therefore chosen to go for a automatic on my car (and the fact that it makes it easier for my wife to drive it).
As for the 525ia vs the 525da, the 525i was more smooth and felt better to drive from 0-60 km/h, but passing 60km/h the diesel ruled. There no way the 525ia can keep up with the 525da when in speed. And of course the 525ia with automatic is very thursty as well.
For the 320da, I liked the performance up to about a 110km/h, but then the available power seemed to drop. The 2,5 liter diesel at least gives you full accelaration up to and passing 140 km/h.
On the other hand the current 2,5 liter diesel seems to contain the "oldest" technology of the current BMW diesels. It has less power and less torque per cylinder volume compared to all other BMW diesels.
When it comes to cost of the car, it is usually so that the cars with more expensive engines also include more extras.
02-12-2006, 01:51 AM
#34
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Originally Posted by tonye60' post='238452' date='Feb 11 2006, 09:10 PM
You have to keep in mind, though, that most people buying a 520 are doing so to save money. Cost of auto, as a proportion of the car cost, is relatively high on the 520, and mpg suffers too (14% on the 520). And not all of us are city drivers. I'd go for manual, especially since it's likely to be easier to sell when the time comes (not a concern for company car drivers of course).
i hate autos, i just never feel in control of the car, the press and stop drives me mad, i wonder sometimes if this is why when you drive in america its all stop start
i hate autos, i just never feel in control of the car, the press and stop drives me mad, i wonder sometimes if this is why when you drive in america its all stop start
Skaffa
02-12-2006, 06:25 AM
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Even if the oficial figures were the same there is no way a BMW 4 cyls would give the same driving pleasure a 6 cyls. It is just a much noble engine. Believe me I've had a 320d an X5 3.0d and now a 525d.
If you can afford go for the 525d. Agree that the currently 525d engine is the lest stretched one of the entire range (should be upgraded soon by BMW) and due to its potencial you should consider chip reprogramming.
Regarding residuals, here in Portugal, the 530d is the one with less value. People either go for performance (535d) or economy/equipmement (525d) which leaves 530d in "no mans land". And IMHO and after last Sept. upgrade is just the BEST engine.
If you can afford go for the 525d. Agree that the currently 525d engine is the lest stretched one of the entire range (should be upgraded soon by BMW) and due to its potencial you should consider chip reprogramming.
Regarding residuals, here in Portugal, the 530d is the one with less value. People either go for performance (535d) or economy/equipmement (525d) which leaves 530d in "no mans land". And IMHO and after last Sept. upgrade is just the BEST engine.
02-12-2006, 07:00 AM
#36
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Originally Posted by Bobkare' post='238829' date='Feb 12 2006, 10:22 AM
On the other hand the current 2,5 liter diesel seems to contain the "oldest" technology of the current BMW diesels. It has less power and less torque per cylinder volume compared to all other BMW diesels.
I remember when I bought our previous 320d Touring - we test drove a 136bhp version, which used some sort of unusual turbo set up - but went on to order a facelifted 150bhp version, which saw the introduction of common-rail... it was noticeably less refined.
02-12-2006, 08:16 AM
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The toys just make me want to keep the car after the first year. Normally I'm tired of my ride after a year, but this one still makes me smile.
Personally I think it's the comfort seats and seat heaters I am getting the most pleasure out of, even more than the engine..
Personally I think it's the comfort seats and seat heaters I am getting the most pleasure out of, even more than the engine..
02-12-2006, 11:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Flowerfred' post='238962' date='Feb 12 2006, 05:16 PM
The toys just make me want to keep the car after the first year. Normally I'm tired of my ride after a year, but this one still makes me smile.
Personally I think it's the comfort seats and seat heaters I am getting the most pleasure out of, even more than the engine..
Personally I think it's the comfort seats and seat heaters I am getting the most pleasure out of, even more than the engine..
02-12-2006, 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Keith Farrow' post='238508' date='Feb 11 2006, 08:36 PM
[
If you plan for 42mpg out of a 530D you will be disappointed. Even with a manual transmission you will need to be doing most of your mileage on open roads at 50-60 mph to get that.
My 530D auto averages 28 - 29 mpg on a mixture of A roads, Motorway and town driving, and I do not work it too hard.
The difference between the 520 and 530 is sheer driving pleasure, the 530 goes like stink when you ask it to. It makes short work of the 'shall I , shan't I ' overtake situation. And when you get the uphill strech with a truck ahead of you, no problem it just powers away up the hill and you get past whilst others are still thinking about it.
As somebody posted in another thread recently 'if you take the plain vanilla 530D you get 90% of the car for 60% of the price. Sod the toys, get a car !
If you plan for 42mpg out of a 530D you will be disappointed. Even with a manual transmission you will need to be doing most of your mileage on open roads at 50-60 mph to get that.
My 530D auto averages 28 - 29 mpg on a mixture of A roads, Motorway and town driving, and I do not work it too hard.
The difference between the 520 and 530 is sheer driving pleasure, the 530 goes like stink when you ask it to. It makes short work of the 'shall I , shan't I ' overtake situation. And when you get the uphill strech with a truck ahead of you, no problem it just powers away up the hill and you get past whilst others are still thinking about it.
As somebody posted in another thread recently 'if you take the plain vanilla 530D you get 90% of the car for 60% of the price. Sod the toys, get a car !
02-12-2006, 12:17 PM
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My Ride: MY RIDE is DA real .-) HAMANN 5 aka BLACK MAMBA born on 16/06/2005/delivered on 05/08/2005 as following:
530dA (steptronic), Black II (JET), leather Dakota auburn black, mapple trim, head-up display, dynamic drive, active steering, adaptive xenon headlights (auto levelling) with headlight washers, alarm, comfort seats with massage function, advanced A/C, big compartment armrest, aux-in, MP3, Logic 7, Radio PRO, CD in-dash+cd changer, power rear sunshades, rear airbags, park distance control, auto dimming folding mirrors, smoking package, shiny shadow line (individual), fold down rear seats, ski bag, sport suspension, run flats on �116-style� rims (Good Year NCT5+), cup holders, debadged, fire extinguishers, additional permanent power outlet, BMW coat hanger, trunk release button (installed by Hobi), GPS tracking device and a big thx 2 Iceman.
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Originally Posted by Flowerfred' post='238962' date='Feb 12 2006, 06:16 PM
The toys just make me want to keep the car after the first year. Normally I'm tired of my ride after a year, but this one still makes me smile.
Personally I think it's the comfort seats and seat heaters I am getting the most pleasure out of, even more than the engine..
Personally I think it's the comfort seats and seat heaters I am getting the most pleasure out of, even more than the engine..
I agree with you 530d