Thinking of buying a 530d Touring. Real world running costs?

R

richarddaviesgb

Member
 Birmingham
Howdy folks of the All Knowing Z4rum!

Sadly, Uzo is soon to be replaced by baby wagon. Not because one is on the way but I'm now commuting daily and she's deserves better than the Birmingham grind.

So, I'm currently looking at a 5 series. I'd like a 6cyl oil burner but not sure what the real running costs are like? I know what the ad says and I've driven a couple but you don't get enough of a feel for the real world in a test drive really.

I'm getting mid to low 20's (before I left the mob I was getting early 40s on my trips) out of my Z, and I want to get 40s or more. Commute is dual carriageway mostly but still inner city driving. Believe it or not I do have the ability to have a light right foot although it's hard to resists that noise.... 8)

So question is...what mpg could I expect?
Does anyone run one?
Is the M suspension as firm as they say?
Would throwing the run-flats would make this better?
Would the 2.0 be a better bet for what I want? Is it quick enough?
 
Had a 07 520d m sport E61 (tourer) yes harsh ride on runflats / underpowered 177BHP for car size & MPG not that impressive tbh ? town was late 20,s & long run was 40ish
Which prompted a 330d in SE spec which was much more comfortable & after re-map a bit of a wild child 8) again though MPG not exactly frugal with mid 20,s in town & late 30,s average after a 1000 mile motorway jaunt to S oF France
The 530d is the plum choice i would say of the 5,s , the torque will blow you away in comparison to petrol car,s , just beware the dreaded swirl flap & DPF issues
 
My Mum has a 530d touring E61. She uses it daily too and from work and sees around 43 mpg and she drives on the A1 and into Edinburgh in rush hour. It's a great car if your doing some serious millage. You can get 800 miles out a tank just cruising up and down the motorway with a few B Roads chucked in for good measure.

Nice feeling drive, clearly nothing like the Z but smooth and power when you need it.

The servicing can be a bit of a ball ache but then oil burners always cost more but you'll save on petrol costs.

I'm not sure a 2.0l would be a better option you could opt for a 525d still a 6 cylinder and a bit more economical.
 
I've just bought at 520d m sport and I love it. It's not rocket ship quick but in real world driving it's easily quick enough for most circumstances, picks ou and overtakes on a and B roads easily enough for cross country driving. On a decent run 55 mpg is easily achieved and the work commute of 15 miles mixed peak time driving gives about 48. This is without trying. The suspension ride is a bit on the firm side but that's how I like my cars and it's by no means unpleasant.


I think it's great but I guess everyone is different. It's also got the service pack so I won't have to pay for servicing

Cheers
 
Hmmm interesting split opinions.
I should have about 16k (well 8k plus trade in) to spend which gets me a current gen 520d SE or a last gen 530d. Don't want to go about 60k miles wise.

Even thought about the butt ugly 5GT which is sooo nice inside...and with current gen interior (ish) but the 6cyl is in price bracket.

What to do? Argh.

Thanks for the input guys.
 
The 30d is a vastly nicer engine than the N47 20d lumps in any of their guises. Expect about 10mpg difference between them in the real world. People talk about the N47 timing chain issue but the 30d engine suffers from this as well. It's just not as well publicised as there are far fewer units about. I've had 3 cars with the supposed cursed engines and it's never bothered me.

The 5GT has really grown on me, mainly due to it's value for money and the fantastic interior. I think the looks are liveable with as long as you don't turn around as you walk away from it and keep the curtains closed. For me looks are quite far down the priority list. Drive, performance, quality, comfort, interior, cost all matter more to me.
 
I'm with you Mowflow. Priorities currently list out as;

Interior
Practicality of that Interior (which is why I'm looking at the interior or GT)
Comfort
Performance
Running costs
 
I echo what mr wilks says having owned both a E61 520d & E90 330d, the 177bhp 520d isn't up to much in that size vehicle to be honest & economy was pretty similar when we owned the two cars together both achieved around 43 mpg but the 3 litre engine is worlds apart in everyway compared to the 2 litre imo.

I wouldn't buy a 4 pot diesel engine ever again now & if I ran out of money I would sooner walk than experience a 2.0d again!!
 
That's me told then! Keep walking if you want but I'll enjoy my space and comfort in relative style performance and economy.

Having driven an M5 everything seems underpowered!

:thumbsdown:
 
bluespit said:
That's me told then! Keep walking if you want but I'll enjoy my space and comfort in relative style performance and economy.

Having driven an M5 everything seems underpowered!

:thumbsdown:
Click to expand...
Only said it tongue & cheek! :thumbsup:

I didn't like the engine at all but I loved everything else about my 5 tourer it was really comfy & practical & soaked up the miles with ease & it was also an enjoyable steer I thought, I just wished I had opted for a different engine that is all & people must love the 2.0d to be honest because I always see loads of 120d/320d/520d`s so I appreciate I am in the minority with my dislike of bmw`s 4 pot diesel.
 
I had a E61 2005 530d Auto M Sport touring. Worst car I've ever owned and sold it on after 3 months.

The gear box was dangerously slow to react pulling out of junctions etc and I struggled to get 35mpg on a run and 25mpg around town. I sold it and bought an E61 facelift manual 550i (4.8 V8) and lost 10-15% of fuel economy which was more than worth it for the noise and refinement! I felt cheated owning a 530d. Lets be honest, the main reason for buying diesel is economy and it's didn't deliver despite changing the EGR thermostat and other parts that are recommended on the forums.

I now have a 2011F11 525d M Sport Touring and it's 10x better than the 530d despite being a 4cyl twin turbo engine.

If it is a E60\61 you're looking at, just make sure you buy a feaclift, so 2007 onwards, interior and gearbox are much improved.
 
My uncle had an E61 535D tourer and the economy was pretty bad, was constantly in the garage. MPG problems, swirl flap issues, dfp, injectors, electrical issues had the turbos replaced twice, a warranty is a nessesaty. Like a rocket tho, sold it because over 100k the extended warranty is worthless.

He just traded it in after 105k 85 of which he did and bought the new one and it is a high step up in every respect average 40mpg round town 50mpg on motorway. The new 5 is a serious improvement over the last I would aim toward the new rather than old.

List price of 58k bought it 18 months old for 33k with 8k on it… very good value. Fully loaded, awesome motor.
 
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