BMW 520D Msport good deal or not

skippy2

Hi Guys any suggestions welcome

Been offered an 2009 520D MSport for £24K sterling but not sure if this is a good idea on our potholed irish roads. Cant have more than 2lt engine so otherwise suits me but am worried about the drive on the roads anybody got any suggestions as to whether i should consider it or not had been looking at 520d SE up to now. Is this a good deal??

Anan1

Personally, I wouldn't. The MSport costs more, looks tacky, and rides more poorly than an SE. On the upside, the sports seats are (IMO) a must-have - the standard BMW seats are quite uncomfortable. I'd be looking for an SE with sports seats.

TVR777

I couldn't disagree more with Anan1 with regards to the 'tacky' comment. I personally think the MSport looks far superior to the SE (I am biased though, I have a 330d MSport). I would agree however that the sports suspension and run flat tyres make for a bumpy ride in the city and the tyres aren't cheap to replace! Still, I'd go for the MSport everytime!

bazzachazza

Have to agree with TVR777 Msport is the way the 3-5 series cars SHOULD have been designed as standard.

Eoin

Yeah, it's completely subjective - but when it comes to the look of a car, that's a given.

If the difference between the M-Sport and SE suspensions is similar to the difference in the e39, then I wouldn't say that the M-Sport is a poor ride at all, just a lot stiffer than some people might want from a motorway cruiser.

Anan1

eoin wrote: »

If the difference between the M-Sport and SE suspensions is similar to the difference in the e39, then I wouldn't say that the M-Sport is a poor ride at all, just a lot stiffer than some people might want from a motorway cruiser.

Remember the E60s are on run-flats, so they're all firmer than the E39 to start with. I've nothing against sports suspension, it just seems somewhat pointless in a 2.0 diesel whose ride is a bit on the firm side to start with.

Nonoperational

Jesus that is an absolutely beautiful car. I presume you know there is a new 5 series out in March so that may affect residules a bit.

Voodoomelon

I wouldn't be worried about the ride quality, even with stiffer suspension and bigger wheels the ride is still more than acceptable.

If you're going M Sport though, you need the 19"s IMO.

Mickeym530

has to be a M sport they are SAVAGE compared to the se

Viper_JB

Anan1 wrote: »

Personally, I wouldn't. The MSport costs more, looks tacky, and rides more poorly than an SE. On the upside, the sports seats are (IMO) a must-have - the standard BMW seats are quite uncomfortable. I'd be looking for an SE with sports seats.

+1
For that kind of money you could get something really special, not just a tractor in a sports frock. In saying that I have a high adversion to any beamer with an msport badge that's not a M1,M3 or M5. You just end up paying thousands for what something that stinks of disapointment and essentially says "I wanted an M5 but this is all I could afford". With 30k in your pocket you can get exciting practicle and best of it's kind with a little bit of shopping. However with motoring it's all down to what makes you smile and if that's an M badge then more power to you.

Gumbo

Viper_JB wrote: »

+1
For that kind of money you could get something really special, not just a tractor in a sports frock. In saying that I have a high adversion to any beamer with an msport badge that's not a M1,M3 or M5. You just end up paying thousands for what something that stinks of disapointment and essentially says "I wanted an M5 but this is all I could afford". With 30k in your pocket you can get exciting practicle and best of it's kind with a little bit of shopping. However with motoring it's all down to what makes you smile and if that's an M badge then more power to you.

what a silly silly post in my opinion :rolleyes:

anybody in the market for a 520d is not in the market for an M5 or anything near that!

Are you aware that the M-Sport kit is a styling option.....its not to make it look like an M5 or M3 or anything that you think it is.

OP i would drive both M-Sport and SE in a local dealer here to see which your prefer but i would pick M-Sport everytime!

i had an SE E90 and my other half currently has an M-Sport E90, both cars were on factory 18" wheels and imho the M-Sport drives much much better! i drive an E60 520d (2009) every second day too and if anything thats a more smooth ride than the E90 M-Sport!

so to sum up............you cant make your mind up by posting here, you need to go drive both and see which suits you best.

znv6i3h7kqf9ys

gumbo wrote: »

Are you aware that the M-Sport kit is a styling option.....its not to make it look like an M5 or M3 or anything that you think it is.

Wrong. Suspension is different and I think that's the point the op is trying to make.

Gumbo

Ava Few Speakeasy wrote: »

Wrong. Suspension is different and I think that's the point the op is trying to make.

ehh how nice of you to point that out! i think the meaning of my post was still understood. when you buy an M-Sport its not like your tying to fake it off as an M3 or M5 in whatever variant of the model you bought.

znv6i3h7kqf9ys

gumbo wrote: »

ehh how nice of you to point that out! i think the meaning of my post was still understood. when you buy an M-Sport its not like your tying to fake it off as an M3 or M5 in whatever variant of the model you bought.

Yes I understand what you wrote. I don't however understand what it has to do with the original post? The op wanted advice on which car to get based on his concern on the state of Irish roads. ie M tec suspension, is it up to the job?

skippy2

thanks all

Just to clarify..... and all posts are informative.... but it was as Les Paul has indicated it was really the suspension issue i am concerned about as a lot of my driving will be on secondary roads as such around Cork and Kerry etc. unfortunately not the best roads in the Country . But all comments are welcome.

What about Value for money at £24K sterling......
Have driven the 520d E60 and liked the drive in that but have not had a chance to drive the Msport yet but will do....

Anan1

skippy2 wrote: »

thanks all

Just to clarify..... and all posts are informative.... but it was as Les Paul has indicated it was really the suspension issue i am concerned about as a lot of my driving will be on secondary roads as such around Cork and Kerry etc. unfortunately not the best roads in the Country . But all comments are welcome.

Hmmm. On really bad roads, i'd even be wondering about an SE - they're still quite firm, even without big wheels and sports suspension. Afraid I can't help you on price.

Leonard Hofstadter

gumbo wrote: »

what a silly silly post in my opinion :rolleyes:

anybody in the market for a 520d is not in the market for an M5 or anything near that!

I couldn't disagree more, IMHO there is nothing more pointless than buying a car with sporty looks(FWIW the M Sport makes the car look the way it always should have, it's the ride that is so off putting) and sports suspension and then specifying it with the least powerful engine, especially a BMW, a supposed "Ultimate Driving Machine"(for a while before you get swirl flap and turbo troubles). If it was a 530d or a 535d I'd say something but on a poverty 520d not a hope!

Anan1

captainspeed wrote: »

I couldn't disagree more, IMHO there is nothing more pointless than buying a car with sporty looks(FWIW the M Sport makes the car look the way it always should have, it's the ride that is so off putting) and sports suspension and then specifying it with the least powerful engine, especially a BMW, a supposed "Ultimate Driving Machine"(for a while before you get swirl flap and turbo troubles). If it was a 530d or a 535d I'd say something but on a poverty 520d not a hope!

I wouldn't want an MPack on a 550i, but the Irish have always had a weakness for 'fur coat & no knickers' spec cars.:) In any case, the aesthetics of the thing are for the OP to decide, it's the ride comfort that matters here.

Gumbo

ride issues wouldnt be a problem on the M-Sport imo, but until the OP stated that he was using it in mayo and kerry, i would probably consider something totally different from the 5 series, wether it be SE or M-Sport.

paddy147

Theres alot of UK cars suddenly comming into Ireland that look in great condition,and going cheap,but they are actually CAT C or D crashed write offs and shouldnt be on the road.

People are doing them back up and selling them on over here in Ireland,and you think you are getting a bargin.

All you are getting is car that should not be back on the road after a cat C or D impact and you are getting a potential 4 wheeled coffin aswell.

Its also illegal for a car to be sold in this manner and a car dealer or auction house is not allowed to sell a car and not say it was crashed.

Theres were a few Beemers and Mercs that went through a well know car auctioneers on the Naas road last week and they were all crashed cars from the Uk,that were repaired,but the it only came out after the auction happened.

Just my 2 cents.

Gumbo

paddy147 wrote: »

Theres alot of UK cars suddenly comming into Ireland that look in great condition,and going cheap,but they are actually CAT C or D crashed write offs and shouldnt be on the road.

People are doing them back up and selling them on over here in Ireland,and you think you are getting a bargin.

All you are getting is car that should not be back on the road after a cat C or D impact and you are getting a potential 4 wheeled coffin aswell.

Its also illegal for a car to be sold in this manner and a car dealer or auction house is not allowed to sell a car and not say it was crashed.

Theres were a few Beemers and Mercs that went through a well know car auctioneers on the Naas road last week and they were all crashed cars from the Uk,that were repaired,but the it only came out after the auction happened.

Just my 2 cents.

thats why its important that any potential buyer does a HPI check and also bring a decent mechanic/panel beater with them if they dont feel that they could spot a lemon themselves.

kebrosnan

skippy2 wrote: »

thanks all

What about Value for money at £24K sterling......
Have driven the 520d E60 and liked the drive in that but have not had a chance to drive the Msport yet but will do....

On the price, you don't say what extras it might have but on the face of it presuming you are buying for cash, this looks a bit expensive as per http://www.whatcar.com/valuations/result?makeId=6805&modelId=6882&editionId=6991&yearId=39&mileage=

veetwin

skippy2 wrote: »

Hi Guys any suggestions welcome

Been offered an 2009 520D MSport for £24K sterling but not sure if this is a good idea on our potholed irish roads. Cant have more than 2lt engine so otherwise suits me but am worried about the drive on the roads anybody got any suggestions as to whether i should consider it or not had been looking at 520d SE up to now. Is this a good deal??

I recently bought one so I feel I'm in a position to comment. Like others have said you probably need to drive both on back roads for a good while to get a feel for them. Regarding the car you have been offered if its a good spec with leather, auto, bluetooth and sat nav in a colour combination you like then I'd say its a good deal. I would suggest all bar the sat nav are essential in the 5 series. I personally opted for the SE but that was down to the car I found more than anything else. Some do reckon that the ride is a bit too harsh in what is essentially a cruiser in 520D format. Maybe the bigger engines would be better with the stiffer suspension.

dolby

Im looking to buy a 520D sport, however it is 2010 and the value of the second hand market in the UK does not seam to be going down i.e. 2008 M Sport £23K the 09 models are the same not much difference. new model out cant see demand for 08/09 holding up?.. thinking to myself if an Irish 520D is now better value:rolleyes:

kebrosnan

dolby wrote: »

Im looking to buy a 520D sport, however it is 2010 and the value of the second hand market in the UK does not seam to be going down i.e. 2008 M Sport £23K the 09 models are the same not much difference. new model out cant see demand for 08/09 holding up?.. thinking to myself if an Irish 520D is now better value:rolleyes:

I am in a similar position looking at a 08 535d M. I have been monitoring UK prices for a few months at this point as well as looking at past trends. Last year due to a number of reasons, used car prices were up approximately 30% according to different articles I have seen. On the 5 series, I have seen prices starting to drop but as you say the difference between a 08 and a 09 can be minimum.

Two major things are happening in the UK in March, firstly a new reg is out, ie going from 59 to 10 and secondly the first of the new 5 series will be delivered to customers. For these two reasons, I expect prices should drop further but only time will tell by how much.

Also don't forget to take the exchange rate into account as the current rate of around €1 being £0.87 doesn't help when you consider it was at £0.95 at one point last year. At the begining of the year, many analysts were predicting that the euro would reach parity with Sterling within 6 months which obviously would really help anyone going to the UK to purchase but this only speculation.

dolby

Hey guys,
Just getting back to this, Has anybody traveled across the pond in the last month or so? im sitting on autotrader waiting for my dream car to pop up! no luck yet
Are Uk dealers great to move on selling price?