C220 or 525/530d

Oct2008

Doing alot of milage to/from work and am looking for something comfortable. Looking at a diesel only. Doing approx 500 miles per week
Was looking at the above a BMW or Merc around €3k to €8k. dont care what year but want a high enough spec. climate control and cruise control prefferably.
I'd prob buy a 2002/03 530d tomorrow if it wasn't for the road tax, think they are a lovely car just not sure if want to commit to that sort of expense each year.
What would either of the above be like on diesel? would you get 40+ mpg?

What do ye think and any other suggestions?? Need to buy a car soon and am nearly getting sick of looking. I'd be enjoying it only for i'm under time pressure.

BlackWizard

I get 45mpg in my 530d driving long runs on the motorway.

But for example if I drive from Lucan to the Airport I would get 35mpg.

If I drive from Lucan to the city centre in the morning I would get 24mpg.

Tax :mad: Yeah the tax isn't nice. I got about 10months free tax on mine and it had very little milage. Otherwise I'd be in the same boat as yourself.. thinking about it.
Maybe that's why I landed a decent bargain because no one wants to fork out over 1000 euro when other cars are paying 150 euro.

Oct2008

If I could average 40mpg from a 530d i'd be reasonably happy considering it's a car I always wanted and would put up with less mpg just to be driving the car I want. Any thing else I'd need to be getting 45+mpg.

Would the 525d be much better? Lower road tax at least!

BlackWizard

I honestly don't know anything about a 525d.

This is my old thread that I created on the 530d. http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055871950

CountingCrows

If the tax premium (500e a year more than a standard diesel) is a worry then maybe BMW/Merc isn't the car for you considering the servicing, parts, tyres etc cost associated with those brands.

frank gooding

The 5 series is a bigger car then the C class.

I would defo go BMW over the merc.

E39MSport

FYI: 2700 notes last year on our 2002 530D. 92k on the clock - full history.

They may be good on juice but can cost a pretty penny to maintain.

Auto's are shyte imo. More than 10mpg on the manuals.

Oct2008

E39MSport wrote: »

FYI: 2700 notes last year on our 2002 530D. 92k on the clock - full history.

They may be good on juice but can cost a pretty penny to maintain.

Auto's are shyte imo. More than 10mpg on the manuals.

that sounds cheap, looking on carzone they are asking alot more!!

Is that 10mpg less than the manual?

Anyone know if there is much difference between the 525 and 530 diesels?
there is a nice looking 525 auto on donedeal but no details given in the add.

Oct2008

CountingCrows wrote: »

If the tax premium (500e a year more than a standard diesel) is a worry then maybe BMW/Merc isn't the car for you considering the servicing, parts, tyres etc cost associated with those brands.

It's not a worry just dont know if i want to spend it on road tax thats all.

Anyone recommend any other cars. Really like the newer A6 but dont want to spend over €10k at the moment.

Conor_M1990

CTDI Accord? older A6 well specced Passat 320d loads out there for the budget

shawnee

There's a real move away from anything over 2000 cc at moment due to the crazy road tax involved added to a probable increase in insurance costs for higher engine size. Great value to be had if you are willing to pay up this and forget about it for a year. You would really need to be getting something with service history as the maintenance costs on these would also be pretty high. Thought about it myself but eventually settled for a Mondeo Zetec Diesel. Comfortable and reliable and plenty poke when required , also quite economical and getting around 45 to 50 mpg .:D The auto's while nice are generally heavier on diesel.

E39MSport

Oct2008 wrote: »

that sounds cheap, looking on carzone they are asking alot more!!

Is that 10mpg less than the manual?

Anyone know if there is much difference between the 525 and 530 diesels?
there is a nice looking 525 auto on donedeal but no details given in the add.

Sorry, I meant 2700 maintenance bill. The auto in my experience covers way less miles than the manual.

I think the 525's here are mainly uk imports but not sure.

Model
Engine typeDisplacement (cc)Bore/Stroke (mm)Comp. ratioFuel systemPowerTorque0-100 km/h (s)Production

525d

I6 24V249780/82.801:17.5Common rail turbodiesel120 kW (163 PS; 161 bhp) @ 4000350 N·m (260 ft·lbf) @ 20008.9 (man) / 9.1 (aut)2000–2003

530d

I6 24V292684/8801:18.0Common rail turbodiesel135 kW (184 PS; 181 bhp) @ 4000390 N·m (290 ft·lbf) @ 17508.0 (man) / 8.4 (aut)1998–2000530dI6 24V292684/8801:18.0Common rail turbodiesel142 kW (193 PS; 190 bhp) @ 4000410 N·m (300 ft·lbf) @ 17507.8 (man) / 8.0 (aut)2000–2003

edit: - that didn't show up too well.

R.O.R

I'm pretty sure the E39 525d wasn't sold in Ireland from around 2000 so most of them for sale will be swimmers. I think the 525tds were the last 525's before the E60 was launched here.

I drove a couple of 05 525 manual's last year and they were pretty crap. Relativley high mileage (180,000km +) and they were really feeling it. Had a lot to do with how the previous driver's had treated them. These were the old 2.5 engine before the 525 became a 3.0 and they weren't a patch on a similar age 530.

BnB

Hi OP

I'm in the same position as the you and looking at similar cars. A 02 or a 03 525d was top of my list, but it is difficult enough to find one.

I'm not mad about the Mercedes. It's just something that bugs me, but the interior is very drab. There was a facelift in 04/05 that greatly improved the interior, but the facelifted ones would probably outside your 8k budget. (and outside mine too)

Did you consider the Saab 93. For your budget, you would get a top spec 05 or a 06 1.9 TiD 150 BHP. If not in Ireland, definately in the UK. Being less than 2 litre, the tax isn't mad and you still get 150 bhp.

Also, a 03 1.9 tdi Audi A6 130 bhp would be worth considering

Eric Cartman

530d

trabpc

I drive a 2002 530d Manual and average 45-46 MPG motorway mostly.
A lovely car if you can put up with the Tax.

You could always buy a new one for 62k and pay €430 yr tax.

IMHO i recommend a 02,03 530d Msports is the way to go. A great car for 6 to 8K

some people here will have you believe auto and leather is the only way to go, sorry not me, I hated cold leather seats and could not put up with poor economy of the Auto. 32MPG odd.

Max Power1

Well the c class is a different class to the 5 series, its one class lower (would be equivalent of a 3 series beemer). For me its the 530d every time. Plenty around for under your budget. Definitly gotta get the higher spec model with auto and leather, otherwise it will be sale proof (if you intend selling on down the line)

E39MSport

trabpc wrote: »

I drive a 2002 530d Manual and average 45-46 MPG motorway mostly.
A lovely car if you can put up with the Tax.

You could always buy a new one for 62k and pay €430 yr tax.

IMHO i recommend a 02,03 530d Msports is the way to go. A great car for 6 to 8K

some people here will have you believe auto and leather is the only way to go, sorry not me, I hated cold leather seats and could not put up with poor economy of the Auto. 32MPG odd.

+1 ^ Spot on. (However, there are heated seats out there ;-)