BMW E60 530d v 530i

Rossmac · 8 Jun 2008 at 15:41

Just interested on people thoughts on the following:

(yes i also posted this in another thread)

Current situation:
Ford Focus MP3 1.8 Petrol
36mpg
115 bhp (i think)
12000 mpa
Fuel cost: £1,776.65 Tax: £170 (Band E) this year, £270 after that (Band J)
Insurance: £780

Upgrade Choices:
BMW 530d E60 Sport:
40mpg
231bhp
Fuel: £1,773.32 Tax: Same
Insurance: c.£1,500

Total (excluding other running costs): £3463.32..... next year £3543.32...... year after £3563.32

BMW 530i E60 Sport
30mpg
270bhp
Fuel: £2,131.98 (regular) or £2,286.34 (premium)
Tax: £210 now, £300 next year, £430 after that
Insurance: c.£1,800

Total (excluding other running costs): £4141.98..... next year £431.98...... year after £4361.98

So thats a difference of £678.66 during year 1, £778.66 in year 2 and £798.66.

Probably keeping the car for the next 4-5 years, so that means a difference of between £3000 - £4000 by the time you take into account the complexities of fixing a diesel, by which point it will become even more difficult to sell a petrol on. Diesels just seem to make much more sense for what I want to do.

Given that im going to remap the car, this results in the same similar aftersales power levels for both the petrol (+20bhp) and diesel (+55bhp), although I take it with a pinch of salt. But im not gonna get into why i want a remap on this thread.

Any points that make the 530i more favourable would be welcomed, i'm sure i've missed a few things.

olv · 8 Jun 2008 at 15:59

it won't sound like a tractor and have a power band shorter than Hear Say's music career.

Phil W · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:03

olv said:
it won't sound like a tractor and have a power band shorter than Hear Say's music career.

A friend has a 530d Sport, its a far cry from sounding like a tractor.

A lot of the guys at work who first saw it when he pulled up thought it was a petrol car.

Scania · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:14

Try a 530d before you consider a re-map, tbh there damn good as is!

Whilst BMW make some of the best diesels in the business, in this age of stupid diesel prices the relative advantage of the diesels extra MPG is fast diminishing.

In that light, given modern petrol engine efficiency, the diesel looks less & less attractive.

As good as the 530d is, the petrol is far better to drive imo and would get my vote.

Oh and it won't be prone to popping its turbo once the mileage creeps up!

dilated · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:33

there have been many discussions recently that conclude that the cost gap between petrol is narrowing and I can see the logic behind this.

however - what is more economical wheen driven quickly, a 530d or a 530i ???

OllyM · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:35

Buy a 530i - I test drove an E60 530d recently and thought my E39 530 felt quicker and much nicer to drive.

If you like driving, diesel is not good.

Rossmac · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:45

R124/LA420 said:
Try a 530d before you consider a re-map, tbh there damn good as is!

Whilst BMW make some of the best diesels in the business, in this age of stupid diesel prices the relative advantage of the diesels extra MPG is fast diminishing.

In that light, given modern petrol engine efficiency, the diesel looks less & less attractive.

As good as the 530d is, the petrol is far better to drive imo and would get my vote.

Oh and it won't be prone to popping its turbo once the mileage creeps up!

OllyM said:
Buy a 530i - I test drove an E60 530d recently and thought my E39 530 felt quicker and much nicer to drive.

If you like driving, diesel is not good.

Yes but I dont think I could really justify an extra £3k - £4k over my ownership of the car. But considering they generally seem to cost less by around £1-2k so maybe it would be worth going for.

I have heard different views that would suggest that diesels can sustain higher mileage than petrol before things start going wrong, any truth to this?

EDIT: Do 530i's need premium petrol?

Saytan · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:46

dont the wiesels need servicing more often?

pitchfork · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:49

Petrol.
Stop buying diesels new and they'll eventually dissapear

You'll be glad of having that extra power and with smoother delivery.

Rossmac · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:52

Saytan said:
dont the wiesels need servicing more often?

Servicing for either model wont be a problem for me as i can get i all done at cost, which is pretty sweet.

PMKeates · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:53

Rossmac said:
Do 530i's need premium petrol?

According to BMW, for optimum economy and performance, yes.

Saytan · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:53

Rossmac said:
Servicing for either model wont be a problem for me as i can get i all done at cost, which is pretty sweet.

yes, but 10 services at cost is still going to cost more than 8 services at cost.....

note: all numbers are purely for illustrative purposes

OllyM · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:55

Rossmac said:
EDIT: Do 530i's need premium petrol?

Should be run on super unleaded, yes. Even more so with the new direct injection engines.

If you're quibbling over a few grand over the years of you owning the car perhaps you should just go for the diesel.

Have you driven both? You'll soon make your mind up as to which you prefer.

Rossmac · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:58

Rossmac said:
BMW 530i E60 Sport.....
Fuel: £2,131.98 (regular) or £2,286.34 (premium)

PMKeates said:
According to BMW, for optimum economy and performance, yes.

So thats an extra £150 a year then, doesn't sound that much but the gap then widenens to c.£500

Really trying to convince myself to get a petrol but cant get past the diesel at the moment.

jamoor · 8 Jun 2008 at 16:59

Also, I hope you arent purchasing the car purely on those figures, don't forget the running costs compared to your focus.

OllyM · 8 Jun 2008 at 17:00

jamoor said:
Also, I hope you arent purchasing the car purely on those figures, don't forget the running costs compared to your focus.

Indeed.

If money is that much of a concern is a 5 series really the right car to be owning?

Rossmac · 8 Jun 2008 at 17:02

Saytan said:
yes, but 10 services at cost is still going to cost more than 8 services at cost.....

note: all numbers are purely for illustrative purposes

I know you just said that to illustrate the point but surely a yearly service would be the height of it? Notwithstanding any unforeseen breakages of course, bearing in mind an ownership of 4-5years.

Rossmac · 8 Jun 2008 at 17:07

OllyM said:
Indeed.

If money is that much of a concern is a 5 series really the right car to be owning?

Not really a concern, i can afford either, just dont see the point in spending money on a petrol that i can get for less initially but costs more in the long run, unless it has major advantages over the diesel in someway.

Yet to drive the petrol so potential differences remain to be seen first hand, but the diesel is obviously far better than my focus.

OllyM · 8 Jun 2008 at 17:11

Rossmac said:
unless it has major advantages over the diesel in someway.

It has major advantages because it doesn't sound like a tractor, you don't need to wear plastic gloves when filling up, it's smoother and has better power delivery, feels faster and actually has some revs to use rather than running out at 5000rpm (which is high for a diesel actually). No turbo lag on the petrol either.

Rossmac · 8 Jun 2008 at 17:15

jamoor said:
Also, I hope you arent purchasing the car purely on those figures, don't forget the running costs compared to your focus.

Maybe I've been lucky but I've only put new 4 tyres on my focus and had a service, mot etc. Maybe only £350 a year tops. Is a BMW really that different? I do know that all the parts are more expensive, surely its not that bad. Plus I've yet to hear any real horror stories.