BMW 520d Efficient Dynamics

BrianD3

Wow, this thread started well but descended quickly into the usual bullsh*t and wild exaggerations, about "crap" 4 cylinder engines, exploding turbos blah blah blah.

I wonder how many here have
a) driven the F10 5 series
b) are in the market to buy one new or nearly new

I have driven the 520d and 525d on a variety of roads and would consider getting the 520d. The 525d with its fabled 6 cyl engine is in no way worth 10k more than the 520d. Both engines are obviously diesel when standing outside the cars with them idling. But on the move, both cars have superb refinement. The difference between the 520 and 525 is not great and certainly not 10k of a difference.

Re: the standard dampers. Don't believe everything you read in a magazine. The F10 on standard dampers has a great blend of handling, ride and refinement.

As for those criticising BMWs future strategy and engines. Do you think that BMW gives a crap what you think? BMW is giving new car buyers what they want and that's all that matters.

The 520d is starting to become common our roads. Not surprising as it is an excellent car that looks great while making a lot of sense. 3 year standard warranty with an extension available. 400 quid for 5 years/100k km of servicing. 0-60 in ~8.5 secs. Maybe 60 mpg. Around 140 mph top speed. Not poverty spec. Extremely strong body in its EuroNCAP test etc.

It is quite tiresome when a 15 year old 7 series with the all important 6, 8 or 12 cylinders is suggested as the solution to every motoring dilemma while cars like the 520d get continualy bashed.

n97 mini

mickdw wrote: »

Im saying it is crap to say that it doesnt matter how many cylinders a diesel has.

And I said it doesn't matter how many it has you'll still know it's a diesel.

Leonard Hofstadter

R.O.R wrote: »

Have you had a look at the differences between the models in the 5 series range?

The 525d SE Auto is €10,789 more than the 520d SE Auto, and that's before you start adding extra's (extra on the 525d are more than the 520d because of the VRT bracket).

That won't be the case for 2012 - the 525d will be in band B rather than band D as at present, sure even the 530d auto will be in band B next year because the CO2 is 139 g/km, just 2 g/km more than the current 520d auto.

In Germany, the current model 525d with the six cylinders is a much more reasonable €4,550 more than the 520d, while the 530d is €9,150 more.

Obviously we will have to add VRT onto those, but expect the 525d to be a much more reasonable €5,500 extra (and now you'll be getting an extra 34 bhp instead of 20), and the 530d next year will be close to this year's 525d on prices.

I think we'll all agree with that much more sensible pricing, it's no longer necessary to choose the poverty engine 520d, not only because the pricing will be more reasonable, but because you won't be paying extra tax, therefore the resale value won't be effected.

I wouldn't pay €11k for a 525d over a 520d, six cylinders or not for all the reasons previously mentioned, but I certainly *would* pay €11k for a 258 bhp 530d with six cylinders over a four cylinder 184 bhp 520d any day of the week, especially when there is no tax penalty for having the much better six cylinder engine.

v10

Is there a pricelist or are all these prices being assumed ?

Out of curiosity how many people that have commented here have actually driven both the 2011 520d & 525d ?

J77

Will be interesting to see the new pricelist, particularly to see how cheap the 520d ED will be. Not that it's the most interesting one!

Any Idea when we'll see pricelist?

Does anyone else find it strange that BMW put the twinturbo 2l diesel in the 5 series before the 3 series? Would have been well suited to the 3-series (as the alpina D3 has proved) but there's more of a case for people complaining about the 4 cylinder in the 5 series.

bazz26

J77 wrote: »

Will be interesting to see the new pricelist, particularly to see how cheap the 520d ED will be. Not that it's the most interesting one!

Any Idea when we'll see pricelist?

Does anyone else find it strange that BMW put the twinturbo 2l diesel in the 5 series before the 3 series? Would have been well suited to the 3-series (as the alpina D3 has proved) but there's more of a case for people complaining about the 4 cylinder in the 5 series.

No point in putting the new engine into the 3 Series when the current E90 is being replaced by the new F30 model next year.

J77

bazz26 wrote: »

No point in putting the new engine into the 3 Series when the current E90 is being replaced by the new F30 model next year.

Yeah no point doing it now but they've had that engine (or a similar incarnation) in the 123d for years - would have made sense to put it in with facelift in 09. I haven't driven an alpina D3 but someone who has told me that it is closer to the 330d than the 325d. I understand people wanting 6-cylinders in a 5er but a TT 4 cylinder in a 3 series is more than acceptable, I think.

One thing I will say for having the TT 4 cylinder in the 5 series line up is it adds variety - I prefer variety in an engine line up rather than the same engine in different states of tune.

And whatever about not having driven the current 525d/520d obviously no one has driven the coming 525d on here so don't knock it til you try it!

RedorDead

v10 wrote: »

Is there a pricelist or are all these prices being assumed ?

Out of curiosity how many people that have commented here have actually driven both the 2011 520d & 525d ?

Tis the usual keyboard warrior nonsense. People spout an awful lot of rubbish here and form opinions they are not qualified to do. I have driven the new 520d and 530d but not the 525d. The 520d is a really capable car and with 184 horsepower is all the car the vast majority of buyers will need. The 525d and 530d are of course better but some buyers just dont need the extra pace.

captainspeed

captainspeed wrote: »

...........I suspect it will prove to be about as reliable as a Fiat Ritmo..........

The parents had two, both very reliable. The 2nd was a 1985 model, they bought it in 1987 and ran it to 1996, it rusted but was very very reliable. Your talking arse biscuits again old boy :P

exador

VolvoMan wrote: »

It will be interesting to see how Jaguar price the new XF 2.2D. I think that's where my money would be going in this segment.

The new XF 2.2 i4 Diesel starts from €44,995 excluding dealer delivery and related charges and will be available in Ireland from the 1st September

Padraig Mor

exador wrote: »

The new XF 2.2 i4 Diesel starts from €44,995 excluding dealer delivery and related charges and will be available in Ireland from the 1st September

If that's coming with the same spec as current (leather/auto/nav), it throws down a serious gauntlet to the 5er.

unkel

That's a good price for the Jag. That's manual I presume? How much for the auto? How do emissions / performance / price compare with the BMW?

coolbeans

RedorDead wrote: »

Tis the usual keyboard warrior nonsense. People spout an awful lot of rubbish here and form opinions they are not qualified to do. I have driven the new 520d and 530d but not the 525d. The 520d is a really capable car and with 184 horsepower is all the car the vast majority of buyers will need. The 525d and 530d are of course better but some buyers just dont need the extra pace.

I don't really agree. I know a lot of people seem to talk a lot of rubbish about the 520d but I can see where they're coming from even if their arguments lack balance. I've driven the 520d and the and the 530d too. I grew up as a serious petrol head during the 90's and 00's and to me the E39 was the best car in the world. I wanted a 528i as a real world motor and later on a 530d. I know my aspirations weren't high but for me these were very complete cars. A 528i had around the same power as a 520d today but they're totally different cars to drive. The 6 cylinder power in the older car was delivered in a more linear, fluid and balanced manner with a noise, that while relatively subtle, never failed to make me smile. This car was a lot of fun to drive where the 520d just left left me cold. To a real enthusiast who grew up dreaming about these cars a 520d is a very poor substitute indeed. A very poor substitute. I've driven 525s too and they were a lot of fun but I've never had the same experience in four cylinder diesel even if it does have more power. The diesel might satisfy the bean counters but for an old school motor head it'll never do.

exador

unkel wrote: »

That's a good price for the Jag. That's manual I presume? How much for the auto? How do emissions / performance / price compare with the BMW?

No manual available... 8 Speed auto -

The new XF 2.2 i4 Diesel - 52.3 mpg (5.4l/100 km) on the combined fuel consumption cycle.
190 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque,
new ZF 8-speed automatic transmission
CO2 emissions 149g/km.
Road tax for the 2.2 i4 model will be €302

Voodoomelon

Sat in a brand new 520d last night, what a wonderful place to be. I find most cars a bit small because im used to the E38, but the 5 certainly wasn't cramped, more "cocooned" than anything.

Very nice cream leather with a piano black trim all round, its a serious amount of car for the money. Leather was a bit on the cheapy side I have to say, a bit thick and plasticy. But that centre console, display, gear lever, steering wheel, general trim etc is fantastic looking and feeling.

The sides of the onboard display look a bit crap as it looks like theres some plastic filler inserts on either side to accommodate a larger screen if specified. There was no TV or sat nav on this model which I though was a bit of a downer. Also heated seats but manual adjustment? Bit of a bizarre combination there.

The boot would give an Octavia a run for its money, its huge. All in all, an impressive car.

Zonda999

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/258036/

Other changes in the 5-series range include a new four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel for the 525d to replace the current six-cylinder unit and new petrol engines for the 520i and 528i. Both the cars get 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, the 520i’s producing 181bhp and 528i’s 242bhp.

So the 525d and 528i are now 4 cylinder motors

Jebus...

Reading this thread earlier (not very thoroughly btw), i thought that these models would still be 6 cylinder, kinda saddened by this tbh... Always like the unmistakable growl of a 6 cylinder diesel..

RedorDead

coolbeans wrote: »

I don't really agree. I know a lot of people seem to talk a lot of rubbish about the 520d but I can see where they're coming from even if their arguments lack balance. I've driven the 520d and the and the 530d too. I grew up as a serious petrol head during the 90's and 00's and to me the E39 was the best car in the world. I wanted a 528i as a real world motor and later on a 530d. I know my aspirations weren't high but for me these were very complete cars. A 528i had around the same power as a 520d today but they're totally different cars to drive. The 6 cylinder power in the older car was delivered in a more linear, fluid and balanced manner with a noise, that while relatively subtle, never failed to make me smile. This car was a lot of fun to drive where the 520d just left left me cold. To a real enthusiast who grew up dreaming about these cars a 520d is a very poor substitute indeed. A very poor substitute. I've driven 525s too and they were a lot of fun but I've never had the same experience in four cylinder diesel even if it does have more power. The diesel might satisfy the bean counters but for an old school motor head it'll never do.

My point is made for current buyers of the 5 Series and not posters here. For punters actually buying the car, for the vast majority it is sufficient. For the petrolheads in here a 4 cylinder diesel will never be enough, but i dont think that makes it a bad car. Just not as good as a 6/8 or 10 cylinder petrol model.

coolbeans

Yes, it's certainly true that the 520d would be more than adequate for the majority of buyers, there's no denying that but, as I think we agree, most buyers really aren't that into cars and this is where it really scores. Enthusiasts need to look elsewhere. No self respecting motorhead would buy a four cylinder diesel BMW IMO.