BMW 535i - Family MPV - but which to sell?

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Mon 21 Mar 2011 15:54
BMW 535i - Family MPV - but which to sell? - Chris on the road

Hi, bit of a dilemma...I have agreed to (finally!) make the change to an MPV for the wife, 3 kids and 2 dogs (bit of a squeeze in a 10 year-old Mk IV Golf!) I can't really avoid changing as I'm swanning (very comfortably) in a 13 year-old E39 BMW 535i (absolutely gorgeous to drive, smooth and reliable, but drinks the juice at 24mpg, and I'm really starting to feel this in my wallet!) But which to sell - the Beemer or the Golf (worth about £2.5K each, I reckon). Both due MOT in Oct 2011; Beemer's immaculate, Golf clean but EPC light on and beeps "Engine Workshop!" warning every start-up (I left it with a good independent garage (ex-BMW/VAG) who cleared the EPC code and fitted a new brake switch but this didn't solve the problem - driving perfectly well though). I've read the MkIV Golf isn't so reliable and I guess I'm concerned things are going to start going wrong. Against that the Beemer is a bit longer in the tooth (94K done,regularly serviced) but then again, all the depreciation is out of the car. BMW insurance £450/Golf £250 annually.The Golf will do 32mpg(urban),50mpg(extra-urban) and the Beemer averages at,as I say,24mpg. So which motor to sell? And what to get? I'm thinking sell the Beemer and get a 1 year-old Zafira....any ideas? Or is getting rid of the Beemer stupid? (in a couple of years, it'll qualify for classic insurance!!)

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Tue 22 Mar 2011 11:49
BMW 535i - Family MPV - but which to sell? - Ethan Edwards

If you sell the BMW you'll get chump change for it. Why not keep it and run it on LPG - half price motoring. Then swap in the Golf for a Diesel MPV of your choice.

Everybody wins!

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Tue 22 Mar 2011 21:45
BMW 535i - Family MPV - but which to sell? - Avant

if they're both worth about the same, if I were you I'd try to PX the Golf for the MPV - you might get more against another VW (Touran) than a Zafira. Toyota Verso, Mazda 5 and Ford C-Max are also worth looking at in that size of MPV.

You could then do most of the miles in the MPV and just use the 535 when two cars are needed. 94k is just nicely run-in for a 535 but the Golf by the sound of it could start to get expensive at 10 years old.

And of course money, though vital, isn't the only consideration: if you're fond of the BMW and less so of the Golf this must count for something!

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