Enter another 520D SE owner.....
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 370
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From: northamptonshire, UK
Hi
Wish I had found this site before I ordered my car - it would have helped out a lot!
Spent some considerable time wondering if i should get a 3 or a 5 series - kinda wanted another 3, but my family all pushed for the larger size and greater 'pose factor' (!) of the five. The money saving side of me wanted the three, but sense was that the two cars were so similar in cost (after discounts) that it was a no brainer to go with the five. So uch moe car and std features for the money.
I have read some debate as to wether the 520 or 525d is the way to go. In fact, my dealer told me he would prefer me to have a 525 as that counted to his dealer target and i would get a good discount. However, I do 30k a year, and a fall from 47mpg to 41 would cost ????!
During my test drives, i took out a (three) 320d SE and a 525 SE - they didnt have a 520D. I was suprised at what i found. The 320 was given to me for two hours to drive on my own - it had only 12 miles on the clock! didnt give it too hard a time, but still found it had fairly brisk performance, and did 45mpg after a 70 mile mixed driving session - inc some accelleration up a hill to 4,000 rpm. (sorry, future owner!). The car was a manual.
Then I had the 525d se for 40 mins or so. Dissapointing. It was an auto, and the mpg computer showed average of 30mpg. The auto box made the car sound thrashy - the engine was revving all over the place and felt much more 'diesely' than the 320d did.
So, I went for the median, of the 2.0d engine in the e60.
Deal was good - car at approx 26,300 list, dealer mats at 80 (!!!) and 500 quid of options. Left off the trick wax coating at ?300 - have it on my existing car - its not that great a feature. After negotiations, i got 27k of car for 24,100. that helped a little to offset bmw's not too competitive 9.9% interest rate on a PCP deal.
Ive got the car for 4 years and 120k miles - the deal usually allows a bail out after you have paid half the payments so if out of warranty at 90k (3 years) gets expensive, i can get rid of it. Im hoping to make my ?7k deposit stretch over 4 years before i need to find more dosh!
My car is fairly plain vanilla compared to most on here, but in the end I still have a great car with nice features!
agonised over leather , then the fake leather. Dealer said it wasnt popular and would affect resale values. However, pikkys on here make it look pretty good! Ive gone for the clinical grey cloth and black wood effect.
Still, too late to change! according to build schedule predictions on here, mine is likely being built as we speak.
ordered on 22nd oct. Supposedly available approx 20-30th of this month. Something to look forward to!!!!
cheers
steve
Wish I had found this site before I ordered my car - it would have helped out a lot!
Spent some considerable time wondering if i should get a 3 or a 5 series - kinda wanted another 3, but my family all pushed for the larger size and greater 'pose factor' (!) of the five. The money saving side of me wanted the three, but sense was that the two cars were so similar in cost (after discounts) that it was a no brainer to go with the five. So uch moe car and std features for the money.
I have read some debate as to wether the 520 or 525d is the way to go. In fact, my dealer told me he would prefer me to have a 525 as that counted to his dealer target and i would get a good discount. However, I do 30k a year, and a fall from 47mpg to 41 would cost ????!
During my test drives, i took out a (three) 320d SE and a 525 SE - they didnt have a 520D. I was suprised at what i found. The 320 was given to me for two hours to drive on my own - it had only 12 miles on the clock! didnt give it too hard a time, but still found it had fairly brisk performance, and did 45mpg after a 70 mile mixed driving session - inc some accelleration up a hill to 4,000 rpm. (sorry, future owner!). The car was a manual.
Then I had the 525d se for 40 mins or so. Dissapointing. It was an auto, and the mpg computer showed average of 30mpg. The auto box made the car sound thrashy - the engine was revving all over the place and felt much more 'diesely' than the 320d did.
So, I went for the median, of the 2.0d engine in the e60.
Deal was good - car at approx 26,300 list, dealer mats at 80 (!!!) and 500 quid of options. Left off the trick wax coating at ?300 - have it on my existing car - its not that great a feature. After negotiations, i got 27k of car for 24,100. that helped a little to offset bmw's not too competitive 9.9% interest rate on a PCP deal.
Ive got the car for 4 years and 120k miles - the deal usually allows a bail out after you have paid half the payments so if out of warranty at 90k (3 years) gets expensive, i can get rid of it. Im hoping to make my ?7k deposit stretch over 4 years before i need to find more dosh!
My car is fairly plain vanilla compared to most on here, but in the end I still have a great car with nice features!
agonised over leather , then the fake leather. Dealer said it wasnt popular and would affect resale values. However, pikkys on here make it look pretty good! Ive gone for the clinical grey cloth and black wood effect.
Still, too late to change! according to build schedule predictions on here, mine is likely being built as we speak.
ordered on 22nd oct. Supposedly available approx 20-30th of this month. Something to look forward to!!!!
cheers
steve
Members
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Hi
As a 520d E60 driver I find it a great car to drive, love it. Would suggest changing the front grills to the full chome. Yes its always nice to have a bigger engine but you need to draw the line somewhere.
On my test drive of the 3 series found it very small inside.
Good luck with your new car when it arrives, you will enjoy it
As a 520d E60 driver I find it a great car to drive, love it. Would suggest changing the front grills to the full chome. Yes its always nice to have a bigger engine but you need to draw the line somewhere.
On my test drive of the 3 series found it very small inside.
Good luck with your new car when it arrives, you will enjoy it
Senior Members
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 1
From: Greece, Patras
My Ride: 530i M-sports package, carbon black,Beige leather dakota, Steptronic, active steering, anti-theft alarm, sunblinds for rear window and back seat window, interior and exterior mirror with anti-dazzel function, poplar brown dark, comfort seats, PDC, extended lights package, Hi-Fi loudspeakers, Innovation Package (contains Xenon, Headlight washers, adaptive headlights, Comfort access), automatic air-conditioning, professional radio, individual high gloss satine chrome,Sunroof
congrats and 
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: northamptonshire, UK
Originally Posted by spider991' post='352371' date='Nov 4 2006, 08:12 PM
Hi
As a 520d E60 driver I find it a great car to drive, love it. Would suggest changing the front grills to the full chome. Yes its always nice to have a bigger engine but you need to draw the line somewhere.
On my test drive of the 3 series found it very small inside.
Good luck with your new car when it arrives, you will enjoy it
As a 520d E60 driver I find it a great car to drive, love it. Would suggest changing the front grills to the full chome. Yes its always nice to have a bigger engine but you need to draw the line somewhere.
On my test drive of the 3 series found it very small inside.
Good luck with your new car when it arrives, you will enjoy it
thanks all
i have seen full chrome grilles on ebay - just might do that. I also found the three a bit small inside - but i had two in the past and once you get used to a smaller car the feeling dissapears. When I took my drives i was coming down with a bug, and i couldnt tell if my legs ached due to the space constraints or the flu.... another reason for the e60 - just in case i did need that room
cheers
steve
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