BMW and M Power Owners

F10 520D SE, talk to me. Need a motorway muncher for around 20k a year. Budget £15K.

- Should I buy sub 60K mileage and take the used warranty?
- Main dealer premium worth it for their warranty instead?
- What are must have options? Aside from automatic.
- Should I be considering any other cars?

Cheers!
 
The engines have an expensive and serious issue with the timing chain so a warranty is essential and therefore so is sub 60k miles. Get an SE with Pro Nav and Xenon's for maximum value at 15k. You'll probably get a 2010/11 for this budget.

Other cars to consider are the W212 E Class Mercedes.
 
Robbo said:
It's a BMW thing so you can have just cold air on your face for example. I don't use it much but some people really like it. It's an extra feature rather than a negative. :p
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Wondered what the hot/cold wheel was for on my 118. Tis nice to have warm hands and cool feet.
Interestingly, the OH's 218 doesnt have it.
 
[TW]Fox;30054122 said:
The engines have an expensive and serious issue with the timing chain so a warranty is essential and therefore so is sub 60k miles. Get an SE with Pro Nav and Xenon's for maximum value at 15k. You'll probably get a 2010/11 for this budget.

Other cars to consider are the W212 E Class Mercedes.
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Thanks Fox.

Does the warranty renew at the same price each year if you take it out before 60K?
 
Havana_UK said:
Is the 218 a bus or a coupe? The coupe has it AFAIK
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Tis the bus version. OH loves it. Loads of space, has a higher driving position which she likes. lots of toys on it. I dont mind driving it as i can dial in a perfect driving position thanks to all the adjust-ability in the seats/wheel.
 
Shoei said:
Wondered what the hot/cold wheel was for on my 118. Tis nice to have warm hands and cool feet.
Interestingly, the OH's 218 doesnt have it.
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On the current pre-LCI 1 series it only came as standard on M Sport models, yet on the LCI models they removed the more upmarket climate system and gave it LED lights as standard instead, crafty.
 
[TW]Fox;30054258 said:
Only if it's a monthly with no renewal date. The downside though is that they charge a good 20% more for a monthly policy.
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Thanks, good information.

Warranty on a 520D <60K is looking about £800 per year.

Rises to £1200 per year if between 60K and 100K.
 
Anyone on here able link to a safe place to buy map updates? I'm currently stuck with the early 2013 version.
 
[TW]Fox;30054951 said:
Don't rule out a 530d or a 525d. They'll have better spec and are IMHO better cars.

Should get a nice 2010 530d SE for £15k.
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Thanks, I had not considered them as the 520d I test drove felt "good enough". Did not realise they came with a higher spec as standard either. I guess the 6 pot will be a lot smoother than the 520d. Cheers for the heads
 
Dis86 said:
Anyone on here able link to a safe place to buy map updates? I'm currently stuck with the early 2013 version.
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BMW? Last time I was in it was only £20 or so (plus VAT) for the updated maps.

Of course, it's the SKC you really need to activate the maps (the maps can be downloaded online, if you're lucky via a torrent, but more usually through a bunch of mediafire links or similar, and the last time I did it, they were about 30 GB or something). You can get the code from BMW, but it's about £200 or so. Or there are places you can get the code for around 60 Euro or something.

Pretty sure I have mentioned it in here before, and a not so subtle clue on where to look.
 
Fox, before I hand over this deposit...

Are they reliable cars? No common or known issues? I guess I'm just cautious about walking from a dodgy car (both my XFs had their fair share of issues) to something that might also have problems.
 
Steedie said:
Fox, before I hand over this deposit...

Are they reliable cars? No common or known issues? I guess I'm just cautious about walking from a dodgy car (both my XFs had their fair share of issues) to something that might also have problems.
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I can't think of anything should concern you on a 16 plate car. I wouldn't run an older one without a warranty because they are enormously complex and everything goes wrong occasionally but I can't recall any fundamental flaws bar the timing chains in the older 2 litre diesels.

There is a bloke on PH with a failed engine on an 535d but it doesn't seem common.
 
Took delivery of my 520d today based on the thread that I put together a few months back. I've not had a proper chance for a look and play yet other driving up to my folks earlier as it was dark and I have been dealing with situations at work but from my limited time with it so far it seems great.

Thanks for the help speccing fox - made a big difference
 
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