i have read in the glass guide that they value used e60 525d and 530d exactly the same, considering the cost diffrence when new, has anyone driven both and is there much diffrence. ?3000 is a big price jump.

 

I doubt whether you would notice much difference in day to day driving. A 530d would probably walk away from the 525d above 100mph or so but how often do you drive that fast?

I have a 525d and the car certainly does not feel underpowered. Besides you can always get it remapped at Kempower in Belgium for 600 GBP and you would have the same performace as a 530d.

 

I have tested both 525d and 530d before I made my order.

The difference is evident in every condition (town/motorway/etc): while in 525d you need to select the DS mode (with steptronic option) to have power and push in the 530d you can leave the gearbox in D mode. The need to manually select the gear is more evident in 525d while in 530d there is practically no need in everyday driving.
Moreover I was told from my dealer and from the chief technician that the 530d needs less fuel than the 525d.

In Italy the price difference is not so high but the resale value is better for the 530d.

Hope it helps

 

That is quite likely. The 530d is more comfortable with the weight it is carrying.

The 525d is 1 sec slower to 62mph and 1.1sec slower from 50-75 in 4th. Noticeable but not shattering day-to-day.

 

I've never driven the 525d, but the difference betwenn the 525's 400Nm and the 530's 500Nm is pretty big. But ?4500 is also pretty much... I have the 530d and wouldn't mind even more power... But for me it was easy, the 2005 530d included Leather upholsery and 17inch wheels.

 

I have driven both and obviously there was a difference between the two. But the 530d is no way worth the extra premium. You can easilt obtain the power of a 530d with a remap.

The 525d has just been voted Executive car of the year 2005. It beat the new A6 and 530d.

The 525d cant be that bad.

 

Guys

Don't forget that the 530d gets metallic paint and PDC as part of the price. I'm not sure what else but that's a ?1000+ to add onto the 525d if you want them which I imagine you would!
It's not just the engine cost!
Looking at the specs most of you have the metallic and PDC on the 525d's!

 

Who said it was bad? I'm sure you couldn't tell the difference in everyday driving. But still; the specifications speaks for themselves. And it was after looking into these facts I choose the 530d. Here in Sweden we have a lot of narrow long country roads with heavy traffic. Therfore I wanted the extra boost during overtaking the 0.5L bigger engine gives me. And yes; you can remap the 525d to almost the same performance as the 530d. But you can also remap the 530d.

 

from 530 to 535 it's not to much price difference either. but from 525 to 535 there's a big gap. You just gotta fix a budget and chose what you're (financially) comfortable with. I've chosen the big engine and dumped navpro, logic 7, comfort seats and xenons. In the end i should have gotten the seats as well but hey, you always need something to wish for.

One very important thing they all have in common: the smoothest running 6 cilinder diesel available!

 

Totally agree with your comment on the 6cyl's smoothness. But what about the fantastic noise they make under hard acceleration!