I'm in a 218 bhp 530d for 2 months and 3000 km now (my first auto and first diesel after 20 years of driving) and to be honest if I had the choice again I'd go for a manual 530i. I love revving a great sounding engine and I love the control of a manual, being in the right gear for the corner with no shifting mid corner and no slushy torque converter.

Also the cold start clatter is crass. I hope the 231 hp car is better. A friend drives a new A6 3.0TDI Quattro Avant and that engine sounds like a petrol on start up. OT - In a traffic light drag race our 2 cars are literally neck in neck like they were superglued

Manual 530d might be an interesting option. It's the downshifting on acceleration when it's not necessary that I don't like - ruins the point of using all that low down torque.

--
Przemek

 

You're still sounding confused. The current 535d (272ps) has the same block as the 'old' 530d (218ps). The 'new' 530d (231ps) has a 25kg lighter block and this will hit the 'new' 535d with about 282ps... So a little bit more power and a little bit lighter - not major but welcomed

 

Oh ok so you're saying exactly the same thing as the original poster. How do you know it's the same block? That's what i asked in the 1st place. Not that i don't bealive or anything but this is news to me and i'd like to know more about it and some facts.

 

You'll just have to trust me...

Remember the 535d came out Jan 2004 and the updated 530d Aug/Sep 2005... (The 535d was based on the 530d at the time) See 'Lighter grade of diesel' here : 530d

 

Aham...so there is no pure data. All we could do is to speculate and follow logical steps. What if they implemented the block on 535d as soon as it was available for 530d?! I really would like to find out for sure what is what. So 535d doesn't benefit from this either: " Direct diesel injection is via a third-generation common-rail piezo system operating at 1600 bar. Detail changes include a new piston-crown design and uprated turbocharger. " Hmmm....

 

That's right, the 535d hasn't benefited from the lighter block or better injection - yet! But it will soon...

The 'better' turbo isn't applicable because the dual-sequential design allows a small and large turbo for the appropriate rev-range. The updated single-turbo has to cope with the whole rev-range alone...

 

Again...i'd like to know tangible and official news about the injection system and block on the 530d (218), 530d(231) and 535d. There's too much speculation.
Show me a link to a direct statement...
PS: I say it again...this is not an defensife attitude. I really want to know all those facts but i'd like to know for sure.

 

Gee, you'll be saying man didn't land on the moon!

I'll defer until the announcement that the 535d receives the aforementioned upgrades...

 

Fair enough...about the second part of your comment....
PS:I hope you know there is a theory about man never landing on the moon and it's the biggest hoax the humanity has seen. I kinda bealive it just for some questions nasa has not been able to respond to.

 

I'm totally agree with PoleApart, after 2 mount and 5000km in my first diesel car ever (530d) i miss the sound and revving of my last four petrol V8 cars. We will see next week when i got my "tuningbox" from mehrleistung.com if it make any difference. I like the lower mpg on highways but in towns the difference is not that big, especial with our Swedish diesel-taxes.