needforspeed

I agree with both of you - I still think I bought the right car - but in hindsight I could have afforded a newer one. I've thought about other more expensive things I could buy and to be honest nothing makes sense (other than perhaps a 535d) and at the moment I'm content to hang onto my 530d for a bit longer.

Although it's a fine car the 520d is a compromise that really suits company car drivers due to the tax implications.

For private owners it makes less sense as the 525d, 530d and the petrol models suddenly become affordable.

I was persuaded by the fact that the 530d is as fast as anything with a comparably sized engine (excpet the 535d) for everyday use and that it would not cost much more than the 525d to run.

Like the others have said - if you are buying this as your own car and can make the numbers work - it's worth the stretch.

cravensmythe

I would never really call the 520d a compromise as to me it gives me good performance, fuel econemy and is cheap to maintain and insure.

Regarding the fuel if I drive it hard as hell it still yields 38mpg, and with my normal congested m1 / a road commute of 20miles a day it general gives me 42mpg with a clear motorway mpg of about 50 driven gentlly. The mpgs are calculated from brimming the tank as the obc was very pessimistic on mine, until I recalibrated it with my brimming values.

My friend drives a 530d and I test drove a 525d and a 530d, and as we all know it cannot be argued that the 520d is faster or as fast as a 530d. I find it has a fair bit of punch and certainly seemed to match the performance of the 525d auto I test drove, so with the monthly outgoing savings made the 520d won.

So to sumit all up the main reason I ended up with the 520d M Sport is I am a tight yorkshire man :-) and really wanted to limit my monthly outgoings yet still drive a swanky motor. All in all I am very happy with my decision and paul_b I think you will be as well

nbusbridge

Not meaning to belittle the 520.
If that gets you into a 5er and ticks all the boxes for you - GO FOR IT !
Good luck and enjoy