[Foxy]

In 12 months i may look at buying a 530d......used but the latest model.......i said MAYBE....

What's the score - what extras are best - is there a higher bhp version than some others, and what's i gonna cost?

Lastly - are they any good?

Hope you BMW nuts out there can shed some light....(lifts head above fence level to look out for Mikedav!)

 

[budgie]

i may look for one too jon ..i have a amd 330d as well as the the pd 150 tractor and the 330 is mind blowing in everyday driving ..so she tells me ..nah i do get to drive it ..quieter than a VAG and well refined isnt the word for it,mpg can take a hammering,if booted ,btw when i was buying it i bought 204ps 6sp manual cos the auto eats loads of more fuel..take a look at the official mpg's jon there wildly different..also go for the satnav/tv..its fun..there starting to come thru now on the used market so ..ill maybe like u take a dip say september time and the pd is gonna be no more[]

 

[hnergiz]

Ok heres the low down.

You have the BMW 530D

218bhp

386lb @2000rpm

1685Kg Kerb Weight

0-60mph 7.1 secs

and then you have the BMW 535d

272bhp

1735 Kerb Weight

0-60 6.5 secs

Get one with the following options.

Adaptive Headlights

Xenons

Leather and heated seats

18" Alloys - Avoid getting the run flat tyres. These have been slated by all the magazines that have reviewed it have hated it as it roughens up the ride alot.

Folding door mirrors

Possibly Sat nav

Price wise

BMW 5-Series Saloon

530d SE 4d 2004/04

Insurance Group 17 (get a quote)

Average mileage: 10,000 miles

Cost New ('04)

? 31882

Dealer Retail

? 29790

Private Good

? 28995

Private Poor

? 25270

Part Exchange

? 26335

No prices for the 535d but prices are gonna be really strong for these as they have only just come out

Hope this helps []

 

[Mikedav]

ears....burning.... []

hnergiz has covered everything I was going to say really... 530D - just a brilliant car.

If I were you I would make leather and Sport spec MUST haves. Ive driven a 530D SE and it was definetly softer than my Dads 530i Sport - the latter has a much more sporting ride and alu dash trim, rather than yuk wood. Not to mention it looks a million times better with the bodtkit. The 530d is, by all accounts, the better car, as it gives the same performance and dynamics as a 530i but at diesel running costs.

What to look out for? Not a lot to be honest. Ours did 37k in one year and didn't show any signs of age. Bonnet is a little prone to stone chips (and its a big bonnet), mechanics are indestructable if serviced properly, interior should be absolutely pristine unless interstella mileage.

A fabulous car and you can't really go wrong - 530D / 530i Sport are one of the last proper BMWs IMO.

 

[Richard W]

Have a chat with the folks on www.bmwland.co.uk a few 530d owners there who would be honest with their views.

A couple have had MAF problems (mmm...now where have I heard that before....?) but other than that a very desireable motor. Definately a Sport with the options already detailed but definitely sat nav, residuals are getting to the stage where most will have it and it'll be worth less without it (whether the buyer actually uses it is another matter!)

 

[craigv]

jon,

have you seen the torque figures for a superchips conversion it is nearly 500nm of torque!!!!!pals sister has one and even stock i think it is amazing and will hopefully be selling next year...started saving my pennies already.

craigv

 

[02 Bora]

i've also driven an E60 530d and was hugely impressed with it. A very, very nice car. This one had parking sensors, sat nav, leather etc, but i am not sure if these are std. features.

I friend is a BM parts manager, so he usually has a high spec car for when we meet up (not often). Hoping to get the 535D next time, which is apparantly pretty mental [!].

 

[AndyBurrows]

My brother has a 530d with the M sport kit that they do and it is a lovely car, cant really fault it in anyway - great performance, great economy, great looks with the M kit. Its an overtaking machine!

 

[Foxy]

I heard that BMS have given their 'M-tec' department a rocket because the stock 540d was likely to start embarrasing the performance of the M5 ........ or is that just pub talk?

 

[Richard W]

Pub talk mainly - the M5 V10 is not really of this world - the 535d has awesome performance and is probably the first diesel which can compete head on with petrol versions in std form, but an M5 is still an M5 and grunt alone is not enough to match it's capabilities.

Having said that, I'm not a good enough driver to get the most from an M5 so my choice would be a 535d Sport Touring (breathed upon by DMS....)

 

[KuniD]

Its gotta be the new 3.0 twin turbo (535d) [] []

My cousin works around the corner from Park Lane BMW and he knows a few people there, no one can believe the performance of this beast. Although as mentioned before even in a year its going to be hard to find a second hand one that isn't far off full price []

They're even putting the lump into the 6 [:O]

 

[mags]

My dad has a 530D 4 months old with a fair few options sat nav, heated seats, ?1500 comfort seats, electic memory, heated rears, Met paint, Climate upgrade, 18s, sports multi wheel, Xenons, Leather, bluetooth etc etc for which he paid ?43000, it has covered 6000 miles and he was just offered ?28k for it with 5 year service inc- it seems that they are not holding up to well!. At that sort of price it is a fantastic machine in all respects but it is the engine which stands out. The weight of it makes it a bit of a barge to drive and his has the 18's + sports suspension, tyre roar is a an issue too but that maybe as it has the run flats. I would suspect that next year you will get sub ?20K cars about and for that money it really does make sense infact if I can get his soon for ?25k I will sell the Gti. The new 3 series is going to have a 335D which should be pretty tasty.

 

[Foxy]

There was a nice 53 plate on flea-Bay today - was at ?21k with reserve NOT met.....lowish miles too.

 

[mags]

I'll have your wheels if your thinking of selling[]

Have you thought about the X5? with the 3.0D it is fantastic + good reiduals which although not good when buying at least it stops the running costs from getting silly.

 

[Mikedav]

Quote: posted by mags on 28/01/2005 22:40:49

....etc etc for which he paid ?43000, it has covered 6000 miles and he was just offered ?28k for it with 5 year service inc- it seems that they are not holding up to well!.

The problem your Dad has is that he spent ?11,000 on options...the standard car would have been ?32k, so in those terms it doesn't do too badly. Mind you as you say, nab that car when it comes up for sale - its got virtually everything.

It is the E39 (1996 - 2003) model you want right Foxy?

 

[Foxy]

Erm.......well either that or latest shape.

E39?:

 

[mags]

Quote: posted by Mikedav on 28/01/2005 23:05:28

Quote: posted by mags on 28/01/2005 22:40:49

....etc etc for which he paid ?43000, it has covered 6000 miles and he was just offered ?28k for it with 5 year service inc- it seems that they are not holding up to well!.

The problem your Dad has is that he spent ?11,000 on options...the standard car would have been ?32k, so in those terms it doesn't do too badly. Mind you as you say, nab that car when it comes up for sale - its got virtually everything.

It is the E39 (1996 - 2003) model you want right Foxy?

There a very few if any which don't have leather + auto plus a few options which total ?5k +. Most will have sat nav at least the business version.The dealer that he gets his car from said they would not be able to shift 2nd hand ones with cloth and no sat nav as people expect it. I can't beleive BMW's residuals at the moment apart from the X5 they are falling at a huge ammount every month, I can undersatnd the 3 series as it's being replaced but the 5 is a newish model and a fantastic car at that - i guess it is the Bangle styling and the efforts of audi and mercedes that are having an effect.

 

[sammyboy]

I'd forget the 535 good car though it is and wait for the new 3 series with the same engine. In coupe form it will be fantastic.

Why they call it a 535/335 is anyone's guess though, more confusing BMW model designations.

 

[dubbers]

530d Sport looks a great car from the ads Foxy..You'll probably only have a choice of auto in the 5. Like anything else, some engines are better than others - the better ones identified by higher mpg.

 

[Mikedav]

Quote: posted by mags on 29/01/2005 00:01:20

There a very few if any which don't have leather + auto plus a few options which total ?5k +. Most will have sat nav at least the business version.

Sorry Im confused, is your Dads the new E60 variant then or the previous E39 shape? As you say unfortunately BMW residuals are being hit hard by the Bangle styling, especially the 7er. I think I read 5er sales are down 1/3 wit this new model. But I agree, all have to have leather and auto (which suits the car) as they are just essential items in a car like this. Not so sure about Sat Nav though, ours didn't have it and although it would have been nice, it wasn't a must have or anything - and the majority of used examples Ive seen didn't have it.

Again, this might be because we are talking about different variants - E39 vs E60! I am guessing Sat Nav is far more common in the newer car what with iDrive?