Car Change...

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OK, I've a dilemma.

I am currently driving a 64 plate (January 2015 so B57 engine) F10 520d SE. Base spec apart a H&K stereo. It had 26k miles on purchase in Feb' 2019 and currently is on 78k plus change. I do 15k miles a year, all motorway (literally going 2 miles to a motorway junction and then 50 miles and 1 mile off at the other end, if you do the maths then the reason for the lower miles was the pandemic). I've serviced it as per schedule (at BMW) but also, I've had the oil changed (at my BMW dealer) every 9-10k miles. Its a great car, running fine, 4 good tyres and no issues. If I were to keep it I would get the ZF gearbox serviced and that's about it (luckily 30ish miles up the road are number of ZF specialists). Next service is the minor "brake and fluid". I have BMW insured warranty until Feb 2023 (I pay £700ish a year but it will go £LooL after then, I haggled to get the discounted extension as I was over the 60k limit for the discounted(?) BMW insured warranty on last renewal). It's had an easy life since my ownership (motorway miles and not the primarily family car, just used for commuting) and tbh, so have I overall. It's also £20 a year to tax.

Thing to be born in mind; I have a car allowance from my employer, one of the stipulations is cars must be 8 years old or less. This is loosely enforced (they have not upped the allowances since i've been employed (well over a decade, and during the pandemic they withdrew the company car scheme which they could force you into if you didn't abide by the rules of being in receipt of a car allowance) so I can't see them forcing me out of my vehicle.

So my dilemma is this (cheers for bearing with me thus far if you are still reading) i'm reluctantly looking for a replacement vehicle. I am a cash buyer, my budget is 30k (including the value of my existing car (roughly £8-8.5k going by WBAC, I can't be bothered with tyre kickers).

My mate (who is car mad, I am not) has thrown all and sundry at me, as he loves looking at cars (mostly BMW and Mercedes, but a smattering of all the non-budget makes to be fair) thinks I should go for a 30k miles BMW 3 or 5 series or a CLA or E220 or a A6. These are usually base spec (the main selling point being metalic paint), I think differently. I like my 520d as it is a tool, it does the job I set it to, with a lack of fuss, in comfort and it gives me no grief, but I don't think it is the only class of car that can do this.

For that 30k at my local car supermaket I can get a less than 18 months year old VW estate (for example) with less than 10k miles for c.£30K with "crippling tax" as over 40k initial purchase price, or any number of BMW 3/5/6 series/A6/E-class/CLA at or about 30k miles but invariably base specification and 3-4 years old and also with the remainder of their higher tax bracket charges.

He thinks I'm mad going for a VW (or something similiar) and should be aiming for something better, to me it makes more sense. OK no badge to point at, but lower insurance and warranty/servicing costs. They'd also still be a comfortable drive for me on my commute.

PS. Bear in mind i'm slightly more mature (mid 50s) and do not aim to be banging down the motorway in over 5 years time. 5 years with a 10k miles car at 15k per year is 85k, 5 years with a 30k miles car is 105k miles. I don't change my car so this one would be until it breaks.

If you have any advice it would be most welcome!
 
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It's at 78k miles and almost 9 years old. Even with an easy life things will start to go wrong, things get a bit unknown with BMWs after 100k miles, i'd rather head that off than find out.

With your usage and maintenance I don't see why it would start to go wrong. Stuff like bushes etc will eventually wear out but that's easy to keep on top of.
 
With your usage and maintenance I don't see why it would start to go wrong. Stuff like bushes etc will eventually wear out but that's easy to keep on top of.
That's half the reason why i'm in such a quandary, in the past (before for me; company cars etc.) I changed cars when they broke, but due to the distance of my my commute, I've become more conservative. Half the reason why i drive the 5 is because of BMW assistance and the guarantee of a alternative vehicle if yours is out of action.
 
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Is your mate who thinks you should get something more "premium" offering to pay the higher running costs/repair bills? Because if not then it doesn't really matter which car he thinks you should get.

It's at 78k miles and almost 9 years old. Even with an easy life things will start to go wrong, things get a bit unknown with BMWs after 100k miles, i'd rather head that off than find out.

Cars don't just suddenly blow up at 100k, yes obviously a newer lower mileage car is probably less likely to go wrong, but on the flip side, you know the history of your current car & how it's been driven the last 4 years/50k miles, vs the unknown history of any replacement.

If you want a new car then fair enough, but it sounds like you already have a decent, well looked after one which does exactly what you want of it.
 
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Have a think about the value of your current car.

It's probably less than a new car would depreciate in the the first year. Keeping your current car is certainly the cheapest option.

If it does need work that costs more than your comfortable with, just part-ex it.
 
Just get a newer 2021/early 2022 520d for £35k.. (<£10k miles), loads on AT, various spec points, all look good, if you are keeping for a long time, I'd not skimp out, the 520d will always be a nice place to be..

or if you want way better spec, this is great, 2022 - £40k, 3.5K Miles, From Cotwold BMW - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306238848688 with what I consider a very nice options list.



Don't worry too much about the additional RFL, £310 for 3-4 years is nothing in the grand scheme of things, and the 5 series is a much nicer place to be.. IMO..
 
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what I consider a very nice options list.

I wouldn't want to see what you'd consider a not very good options list! All that really has that's useful is the technology pack. It's missing most other nice things you'd want, but has the obviously important large wheels and black styling pack instead.

A 520d would need to be a very good specification to be worth spending 40k on and that really isn't. You could easily get a good 530d for that.
 
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I wouldn't want to see what you'd consider a not very good options list! All that really has that's useful is the technology pack. It's missing most other nice things you'd want, but has the obviously important large wheels and black styling pack instead.

A 520d would need to be a very good specification to be worth spending 40k on and that really isn't. You could easily get a good 530d for that.
Yeah, we differ on option priorities, but I bow to your OCD levels of BMW options knowledge.

But the comfort, tech and M-Sport Pro packs bring quite a lot of very nice stuff.. I love the comfort access, comfort seats and sun protection glass, with the digital cockpit and HUD etc, that makes it quite a nice experience. I get you hate styling packs, but it's not derogatory to actually like the sportier look.. and the M-Sport brakes are a good upgrade IMO.

Aside from ACC and sunroof etc, what else would be essential?

[edit] misread the OP, £30k including PX, not excluding so definitely something older or different brand..
 
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Keep what you have. With the money you save, go on several really nice holidays
He does mention there is a company policy to have a car < 8 years old, so might need to change.. Whilst he says they might struggle as they don't have any options they could remove his car allowance if he isn't compliant, so would need to find out for sure..

However, I'd keep his current car and run it in to the ground if I was able to as it sounds a good fit.
 
I can't believe I'm gonna be 'that guy' but for £30k you could get an EV that seems like it would fit, e.g. enough range for ~110 miles in a day, and it'd be way cheaper to run assuming you've got off-road parking for a charger?

New the options are a little sparse, MG4 maybe, second hand opens up a fair few options I think.
 
Yeah, we differ on option priorities, but I bow to your OCD levels of BMW options knowledge.

But the comfort, tech and M-Sport Pro packs bring quite a lot of very nice stuff.. I love the comfort access, comfort seats and sun protection glass, with the digital cockpit and HUD etc, that makes it quite a nice experience. I get you hate styling packs, but it's not derogatory to actually like the sportier look.. and the M-Sport brakes are a good upgrade IMO.

Aside from ACC and sunroof etc, what else would be essential?

[edit] misread the OP, £30k including PX, not excluding so definitely something older or different brand..

The digital dashboard is standard.

I don't 'hate' styling packs at all, it's been a very long time since I owned a BMW which didn't have one fitted! But 20 inch black wheels on a 520d isn't great for either comfort or looks. It also has the basic lighting package which they've gone out of their way to make look bad to try and encourage people to upgrade.

It's not terrible but neither is it particularly stand out either - which for a £40,000 520d you'd hope it would be. You can do much better for the money, or you can get something similar for less.

For example, this:


It even has those wheels you like :D

Or for less, a 520d with a Visibility, Comfort and Technology pack:


Alternatively, if the original budget of £30k is to be kept:

 
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For example, this:


It even has those wheels you like :D

The last owner must have been actively polishing the steering wheel if that's only done 10,000 miles :p
 
The digital dashboard is standard.

I don't 'hate' styling packs at all, it's been a very long time since I owned a BMW which didn't have one fitted! But 20 inch black wheels on a 520d isn't great for either comfort or looks. It also has the basic lighting package which they've gone out of their way to make look bad to try and encourage people to upgrade.

It's not terrible but neither is it particularly stand out either - which for a £40,000 520d you'd hope it would be. You can do much better for the money, or you can get something similar for less.

For example, this:


It even has those wheels you like :D

Or for less, a 520d with a Visibility, Comfort and Technology pack:


Alternatively, if the original budget of £30k is to be kept:

Appreciate the comments as always!

You might have me confused with someone else on the wheels front, it's actually lower down my priority list (except undersized wheels that make the car look odd) :)

The last one you linked is actually not a bad example of a 520d, good VFM and dare I say, a pretty "OK" set of packs on it..
 
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