In the past 15 years I never considered gasoline sedans as a viable choice, for me. The big difference in fuel cost and fuel efficiency between gasoline powered and diesel powered versions of the same car always pushed me towards diesel engines: my cars of last 15 years are Audi A4 tdi, A6 tdi, A6 tdi quattro, MB E270 cdi, BMW 530d and the current BMW 535d. Now, with much more efficient BMW gasoline engines and very high diesel fuel cost, I'm changing my mind.
For example, in the E60 range the new 530i seems a pretty attractive package: 272 PS @ 6700 rpm, 32.6 kgm @ 2750 rpm, 6.3 sec from 0 to 100 km/h, fuel consumption 7.5 l/100km on mixed use.
Performance wise, it almost exactly overlaps the 535d, with most probably a good difference in 80 to 120 kmh time in favour of the 535d, fuel efficiency is pretty good and not so far away from the diesel one.
Price wise a 530i Msport is 55.650 euros, a 535d Msport is 63.000 euros (prices valid for Italy, taxes included); a big difference, but you have to keep on mind that the 535d comes standard with the 6speed Steptronic while the 530i has 6speed manual as standard.

So, I would like to know impressions from anybody actually driving a 530i of the latest series, especially with reference to diesel versions, 530d or 535d. Next time, I want to give to gasoline versions a better loook and second thought before ordering diesel as usual.
Thanks in advance

 

I think the new auto boxes are very, very, good indeed and offer an L/100k much closer to the manual cars. The 530i will not feel as fast as a 535d unless you use all of the revs, this will sound great. The big "D" engined cars give good fuel usage when driven normally but I would expect the petrol to need more careful driving to get even close to the figures.
I really love the lazy torque of my 530d and being a manual I can always find the right gear to keep it in the zone.
For fuel consumption and lazy performance I would have the 535d and for thrashing and a wonderful sound the 530i.

 

one thing to remember is that you never get the manufacturer milage figures in reality. You may be likely to get better milage on average with a diesel.

When I did a poll of UK owners a few months back, approx 80% had diesels.

 

If I had the choice I would have picked a 535d over a 550i any day.

 

Oh I'm in a 525d (3ltr) M Sport and for my 50/50 urban/motorway split it is near perfect, all i lack is a little more punch which I would get moving up to a 535d. . . I have to conclude though with the price of diesil going through the roof I will be considering petrol the next time around.

 

I'm driving an LCI 530i, albeit an E61, and I did some extensive testing between 530i/530d/535d before actually deciding for the petrol version. First, I decided to go for the 530d as everyone in Sweden now talks about diesel, diesel and diesel. Just a couple of years back diesel cars were a rare thing, but that changed with a new tax system introduced a couple of years ago. Today, it's 50-50 on diesel cars, and for some series like the 1-series, diesel outsells petrol 85% to 15%!

What swing me over (back) to petrol was the petrol engine's sound, performance delivery and the lovely smoothness from the inline six.

If you can step off the gas, the engine rewards you with a very moderate consumption; I hade the whole family in the car yesterday and as we where driving on small country roads, the average consumption where between 5.5 - 8.5. "Thanks" to some motorway and city driving it ended up at 8.2. Which is not bad for such a big car with auto transmision!

The 535d is an awesome car, but is still sounds like a diesel and doesn't have that... "magic" around it.

Whenever I drive in a tunnel, I open the sunroof, give it the beans and .... aahhh...just listen to that sound! I couldn't do that with a diesel.

 

I went for the 530i. Test drove the 535d and was not too impressed, just was not what I expected it to be.

Never had a diesel and wanted one as changed the car from a 2 seater coupe just so I could tow another car to track days.
The low torque appealed in the "d" but when I took one it just did not feel right where as the petrol did.

I really like the 530i and also test drove the 550i but in the UK the residuals for a 5ltr petrol are just plan silly so not a good long term bet. if I did buy again, would go for the "d" for 3 reasons,
1. You can chip it real easy
2. Towing would be in low revs and would sit in torque curve of diesel all the time, the petrol you need to rev by 1-2k just to get back to power band.
3. The residuals have already taken effect, a 535d which was the same price as my 530i is now ?1k more expensive in 4 months.

Ps only average 28mph normal driving and 18mph when towing. (UK gallon)

 

530 for me. Had 535D for 3 month's - sold it and now driving 3.0 petrol in UK.

 

given a free choice and money no object, id have the big engined 550i V8 any day. In the real world, funding the car myself and doing 100 miles a day at $10 a gallon in the UK, its got to be the diesel............. Still, drives nicely.