E60 535d?

jamief

jamief

jamief

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I'm currently in the process of choosing my next car - saw a 535d M-Sport the other day which I liked quite a bit.

Budget would be 20k or so.

Seems to be a few 2005 models 18k/19k - the AU BMW ones are obviously more but I wouldn't mind buying elsewhere and would be taking a Tesco warranty.

Anything particular to look out for with these? How does the 530d Sport compare?

EDIT: I was getting prices from http://www.4usedbmw.co.uk/ - any feedback on them? I probably wouldn't travel that far to buy but just to get an idea of general prices.
 
Why would you want to spend £20,000 on a car you only 'quite liked' 'a bit'?

If I was spending £20k on a car I'd have to absolutely love it, otherwise just buying something cheaper.
 
[TW]Fox;14796522 said:
Why would you want to spend £20,000 on a car you only 'quite liked' 'a bit'?

If I was spending £20k on a car I'd have to absolutely love it, otherwise just buying something cheaper.
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To some people £20k is pocket change.
 
[TW]Fox;14796522 said:
Why would you want to spend £20,000 on a car you only 'quite liked' 'a bit'?

If I was spending £20k on a car I'd have to absolutely love it, otherwise just buying something cheaper.
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Oh lets not get into the semantics. You can assume that because I'm asking, I like the car enough to give it serious consideration.

I have a few other things I "like", I'm looking for opinions on this at the moment.

Also, I said "liked quite a bit" - selectively quoting and rearranging my words to give them different meaning is a bit sad!

And no, £20k isn't pocket change, but I have a budget for a car and that is what it is.

EDIT: Just to clarify, I had been going to buy an A5 3.0TDI S-Line, but the leasing rates have shot up so I cancelled my order, so this is "a bit cheaper".
 
jamoor said:
To some people £20k is pocket change.
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True but those people don't tend to buy Tesco warranties or post on OcUK so for the sake of simplicity we'll make the assumption he's a normal chap and hasn't just returned from banking the profits of his latest Superyacht sale.

Unless you particularly want to be able to drive at Warp Speed 9 when the mood takes you I'd probably recommend the 530d over the 535d. The 535d is quicker, and once you've driven it you'll want the performance but the fuel economy is closer to a petrol than a diesel and you'll pay more or get an older car with less spec than the equivilent 530d. The 530d is not slow.

Get a 530d Sport.

Unless you don't do 20k+ a year, in which case get a 530i M Sport and enjoy the correct powerplant for an executive sport saloon.
 
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That is what I was looking for - if the 530d is nearly as capable I'd happily spend a bit less and get one of them.

I do a varying number of miles, 17k in the past year.

I will be going for a diesel - I'm of the opinion that it will have stronger residuals too.
 
jamief said:
I will be going for a diesel - I'm of the opinion that it will have stronger residuals too.
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These guys do not share that opinion - as you can see at 1 year old the gap between them financially is the same as that at 4 years old:

dep.png


This is at least partly because of the lack of supply of the petrol models as these days everyone choses the diesels without even bothering to look at the alternative meaning there are 10 530d's for every 1 530i so even if the market for used 530i's is a quarter that of used 530d's, demand exceeds supply.

Proper cars need proper engines ;)

That said there is nothing wrong with the 530d - it is an excellent car.
 
Good point... I do worry slightly that the market for something like a 530i will be even smaller in 4 years time though... who knows!

Anything specific to watch out for with them? (530d)? And I guess M-Sport is the trim to go for?
 
To be honest at the budget and age you are buying buying a good one is easy - simply insist that its flawless. It should be like new inside and out and drive perfectly. If it doens't, dont bother, its that simple.

In theory an AUC car offers the best chance at a perfect example but in practice they can often be lazily prepared so do check them over..

The trim to go for depends on your tastes and driving style. M Sport has a harsh ride which will annoy some, but obviously handles better. The decision is helped by the fact that in SE form, the E60 5 Series looks utterly terrible. So yea, M Sport.
 
Thanks.

Out of interest, what kind of premium do you pay for an AUC one? 15%?

I do have a worrying feeling that we're getting a dog soon so I might end up looking at tourers which seem rather rare..
 
Ta - I'll keep an eye out. Not in too much of a hurry - current leased car runs out Jan so I'll be looking around December I guess, although if the right one came along now I'm sure the wife could be persuaded!

One final thing - I've read up a bit on servicing, but are there any major works needing done at 60k/80k etc?
 
I'm with Fox (again, yawn). :p

The 535d was quicker but only really at the higher ends. Certainly around town there was no justifiable difference. I went for the 530d because I got a much better car for the money. The same money would have bought me a 535d from the year before or certainly not as well spec'd.

Avoid the 18"s if you can. These use run flats, unless they've been changed. The 19"s look nicer and actually by all accounts give a better ride and feel to the car.

Oh, and E60s don't follow the Insp I, Insp II route they run "condition based service".

For instance, my 4th service, going by the cars information will simply be an oil service with the full vehicle check not due for another 10k miles, but this is not a service, it's just a check.
 
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[TW]Fox;14796542 said:
Unless you don't do 20k+ a year, in which case get a 530i M Sport and enjoy the correct powerplant for an executive sport saloon.
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Easier said than done it would seem! I was having a look whilst browsing and they're all diesels or auto, petrols are rare as rocking horse ****!
 
Burned_Alive said:
Easier said than done it would seem! I was having a look whilst browsing and they're all diesels or auto, petrols are rare as rocking horse ****!
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Nobody even knows how good the petrol one is because they just walk right into the dealer and ask for a diesel. It could have 8000000bhp and do 1000000mpg but nobody would know.
 
Burned_Alive said:
Easier said than done it would seem! I was having a look whilst browsing and they're all diesels or auto, petrols are rare as rocking horse ****!
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I was going to ask him if a diesel was necessary but then remembered that to find a 530i in the colour, spec, age, mileage you wanted would be like forceably removing your own kidney, jumping up and down on it until it popped, putting it back together with a rusty needle and some rotten thread, surgically reimplanting it in to your body and everything be fine.

In other words, they're rare.
 
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