BMW 5 series 530d or 530i

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Wed 28 Jan 2004 23:41
BMW 5 series 530d or 530i - Peter C
I have now decided to buy a 5 series about 2 - 3 years old. I have heard good reports about the 530d but also problems with the turbo. The 530i appeals to me because it is fast and BMW petrol engines are definately sound also I should be able to buy it for less than the diesel. Any comments from owners appreciated.

Cheers

Peter


Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Jan 2004 09:14
BMW 5 series 530d or 530i - carayzee
No experience of the diesel, but my girlfriends dad has a 528i of that era which I've driven quite a lot and it's a lovely car. Refuses to do under 29mpg despite being "used" properly. The diesel does around 37-40mpg so, as you say, it's up to you whether you do enough mileage to recoup any price difference. Either way, it's a choice between one of the best petrol or diesel engines ever made.
I'd take the petrol though :-) pulls cleanly from 1,000-6,000 rpm in 5th.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Jan 2004 15:32
BMW 5 series 530d or 530i - blank
"...6000 rpm in 5th"

I trust that is not an experience you have enjoyed in the UK?!!
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Jan 2004 09:31
BMW 5 series 530d or 530i - patently
My daily runabout is a 2001 530i which is ustterly superb. It pulls cleanly and the handling is exemplary. Typical mpg figures are 25-27 depending on what you do. Optimax improves things (ooops... here we go..)

I don't have experience of the 530d but know that a 2-3 year old model will be the old engine so some sacrifice in power but vast improvement in mpg.

So far as I can tell, both are very good cars, so it depends what you want.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Jan 2004 09:49
BMW 5 series 530d or 530i - CM
Engines changed late 2000 for the 530d, so some X's are the 184bhp engine and some are the 193bhp. Also the new engine had a facelift at the same time and has "angel eye" headlights.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Jan 2004 20:25
BMW 5 series 530d or 530i - Ben {P}
530i is better to drive and more refined. A 2001 model year onwards 530d will give you 45mpg plus on the motorway, even at 90 it will do around 45mpg. (my experience is based upon a manual 530D- not tried an auto).
Reply | Report as offensive | Link