seymour

Thats exactly what i needed! That justiies waiting for the newer engine. How have they managed to drop emissions by so much? Thats ace. Moving forward from that- would you thoroughly recommend the auto over the manual? I do around 40k miles a year and i also cycle. recently my hamstrings have been hurting and i am sure this is due to the excessive holding the clutch in on our great motorways! But i dont want an auto if its going to be a dog!

Just off to check the 525d tax liabilty......

nforneas

Go for the auto! No hesitation at all.
If you can pick any 6 cyl. engine. The 4 cyl engine is great but 5 series refinement begins at 6 cyls. :-)

525d MSport

Why is it so much better...BMW needed to do something because the manuals weren't bad on fuel and emissions, but add an auto box and it all went wrong - not so any longer.

There is lots of new technology:

Efficient dynamics - not sure if all are on 5 series, but electric water pump saves 2% fuel, electric power steering 3% (up to 3kW at high speed of power lost in traditional power steering pump) , active air flaps 1% (behind grill close unless cooling really needed, in cool weather flaps remain closed at up to 110mph - better aerodynamics, Brake energy regeneration 3% (alternator mainly produces power when accelerator released so uses "free" kinetic energy).

You get the idea. If I could type quicker I could give more...

I haven't driven the latest 520d with auto box, but the 6 speed auto box in my 525d is fantastic IMO and streets ahead of my C270cdi. I would have said the 520d box is the same but not sure.

Try one!

Regards,

new generation

1. regarding navpro : in my 520d i can choose my destination by postal code in all european countries except for the UK (do they have/use postal codes ? maybe i do it wrong) The nav sytem allways gives possibility to enter both the location name or postal code.

2. i also have the latest 520d auto 177hp version but here in belgium you can buy it with reduced power to 163hp (so it is a reduced 177hp with the same lower emissions) as i have done for the taxpurpose. i find it strange you can still buy a new bmw at 163 hp with the higher emissions ?
by the way : in this latest vesion it now comes with the same shift-by-wire technology as the 525d

3. regarding the auto-shifter with 520d : drives great, I think i would have to do a hell of a good timed shifting with a manual gearbox to match the same speeding results, certainly when i put the autogear in sportsmode.

525d MSport

Interesting, I take it there is a fair cost difference in tax?

In the UK the 520d is only available with 177bhp as tax is based on emissions only - power output is not a factor.

It could be that seymore is thinking about a used car with 163bhp, or maybe old dealer stock??

Incidently, here in the UK diesel company car drivers pay more car tax than petrol drivers even if the emissions figures are the same.

The car is treated as earned income taxed at a percentage of list price (inc options).

e.g. a 530i auto is taxed at 22%

While a 530d auto is 25%.

My 525d auto is 24% but as my company have an all diesel policy a 525i or 530i wasn't an option.

I expect to see sales of the petrols to increase over here...

Regards,

new generation

e.g. in belgium :

520d
a) 163 hp = 120 kw = ? 1.239,- to bring it on the road + each year ? 383,14-
b) 177 hp = between 121kw and 155kw = ? 2.478,- to bring it on the road + each year ? 383,14-

525d
? 2.478,- to bring it on the road + each year ? 1.061,86-

With our new government forming they are planning to find ways to taxing us even higher and i guess the emissions will come in to play...

In the end we'll all be driving bicycles with the BMW LOGO turning in the wheels...

525d MSport

Humm, lots of 520ds then and not many 525ds!!

Here, the annual road fund licence is ?300 for cars over 225g/km (the highest band).

For 166-185g/km ?165.

There are 5 bands, the lowest of up to 150g/km is ?115.

Mind you, you then have to factor in fuel duty. Diesel here is ?1 per litre and rising - most of the cost is tax.

You have explained though why BMW have the bicycle range...

Regards,

seymour

You presume correct. Again due to tax been based on list price including extras, i was offered an ex-demo that would be invoiced as a car and not show all the extras. This then reduces my tax! It was at this point i noticed that all new 520ds are 177bhp, but the one i was been offered was 163bhp. A bit more digging and i found out why.

My problem now is that i can buy a brand new 520d auto touring cheaper on drivethedeal or autoebid than any second hand or ex-demo one from a dealer!!! that probably means i will be buying ordering a new one next week.

What i have learnt about company car tax is that our government will always get the money one way or another!!

525d MSport

Let us know what you decide to do for!

Regards,