BMW 525d opinions

heathersonline

http://www.trinitymotors.ie/used_cars.php?id_car=636&used_car=2008-BMW-5%20Series&price=22995

Hi folks. Have been on the lookout for a new car for the past couple of weeks. Mainly looking at 520d's. We found the above 525d m sport the other day though and fell in love with it. Problem is its priced quite a lot higher (5-8k) than the equivalent 520d. Have tried to make comparisons however there seems to be very few 525d on the market. Would anyone be able to advise if

1. The above looks overpriced or about right?
2. Is it worth spending the extra thousands on the 525?
3. Any major issues we should be on the lookout for?

bazz26

It's listed at 21,950 here which I assume is the straight deal price:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/5-Series/525D-M/31413596262888680/

Very nice looking car that looks like it has been well taken care of, plus it doesn't suffer from the same timing chain problems that the 520d suffers from. As you said it is hard to put a true value on them as they are so scarce on the ground.

Have you looked at going to the UK for one? A lot more choice over there. I was browsing a 2009 530d M Sport with 50k miles the other day on autotrader and the garage were asking £15k for it.

Leonard Hofstadter

Apart from the fact that the 525d will be much more reliable than the 520d, and will be faster, it also has six cylinders. The six cylinders on its own is reason enough to buy a 525d even if it didn't produce a single extra horsepower over the 520d. Six cylinders means it will be much quieter than a 520d and of course it will be so much nicer to drive, as well as sounding sweeter.

Also, the world and his mother has a bloody 520d these days - I'd prefer something a bit rarer and less common - BMWs are supposed to be a bit 'exclusive' after all. While I'd normally advocate a 530d to anyone prepared not to follow the herd and buy a poverty spec 520d, that car looks really clean and looked after. If it goes as well as it looks, I think you should buy it OP .

heathersonline

bazz26 wrote: »

It's listed at 21,950 here which I assume is the straight deal price:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/5-Series/525D-M/31413596262888680/

Very nice looking car that looks like it has been well taken care of, plus it doesn't suffer from the same timing chain problems that the 520d suffers from. As you said it is hard to put a true value on them as they are so scarce on the ground.

Have you looked at going to the UK for one? A lot more choice over there. I was browsing a 2009 530d M Sport with 50k miles the other day on autotrader and the garage were asking £15k for it.

I've thought about going the UK route all right but I have the trade in. Might try drop the price on the vectra and take a look at UK prices. Might be able to pick one up with NAV over thee although the lack of it doesn't really bother me to be honest have always used the phone

bazz26

heathersonline wrote: »

I've thought about going the UK route all right but I have the trade in. Might try drop the price on the vectra and take a look at UK prices. Might be able to pick one up with NAV over thee although the lack of it doesn't really bother me to be honest have always used the phone

These are what caught my eye when browsing:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201305206846140/sort/default/usedcars/seller-type/trade_adverts/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/maximum-age/up_to_4_years_old/body-type/saloon/fuel-type/diesel/transmission/automatic/engine-size-cars/3l_to_3-9l/model/5_series/make/bmw/onesearchad/used/radius/1501/postcode/bt39jp/keywords/m_sport/page/1?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201305086655817/sort/default/usedcars/seller-type/trade_adverts/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/maximum-age/up_to_4_years_old/body-type/saloon/fuel-type/diesel/transmission/automatic/engine-size-cars/3l_to_3-9l/model/5_series/make/bmw/onesearchad/used/radius/1501/postcode/bt39jp/keywords/m_sport/page/1?logcode=p

Max Power1

Have you considered a 535D?

Same engine but a ton more power!

Max Power1

Max Power1 wrote: »

Have you considered a 535D?

Same engine but a ton more power!

What's the price difference though going form the 525-535 ?

Obviously the 535 would be most fun!

What's the tax on them ?

MetzgerMeister

Max Power1 wrote: »

Have you considered a 535D?

Same engine but a ton more power!

Same engine but it has an extra turbo

heathersonline

Would like the 535 but they seem to be even rarer. I'm going to test drive a 520 and take the 525 out again and make a decision on whether it's worth the extra or not. Head V's heart time and I've a feeling the 525 will win out!

veetwin

520d owner here. A mate bought a 525d recently and I got the chance to compare the two. TBH if I was going 6 cylinder diesel I'd be looking at the 530 or 535. These are vastly superior to the 520d. The 525d is only a little better though the one in the OP looks a nice example. In my experience and my mates the 520d is actually quieter in normal driving. The 6 cylinder is a beast that makes a nice noise for a diesel but definitely feels noisier. Reliability is a real worry with the 520d though and it's hard to recommend them to anyone in light of the timing chain issue.

MetzgerMeister

But if you were going down the 530d route, would you not be better off getting a 525d and getting it remapped to 530d spec or are they both taxed as 3ltr anyway?

heathersonline

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

But if you were going down the 530d route, would you not be better off getting a 525d and getting it remapped to 530d spec or are they both taxed as 3ltr anyway?

I'm not sure really. I know the 525 is approx 550 p.a but am not majorly worried about the tax. As long as it's not astronomical. I'd like to keep the car for a good few years so the tax difference between the 07 and 08 could run into several thousands, will look out for a post 08 if at all possible

Bigcheeze

is the only difference between a 525D and 530D a remap ?

MetzgerMeister

Bigcheeze wrote: »

is the only difference between a 525D and 530D a remap ?

As far as I'm aware, yes. They're both 3ltr diesel just with different maps on the ECU.

Gumbo

The engines are the same capacity but arent the same, the 530d has various upgrades including bigger valves in the head and a gearbox thats able to take more torque than the 525d one.

bazz26

530d has different injectors and a larger turbo afaik.

Gumbo

bazz26 wrote: »

530d has different injectors and a larger turbo afaik.

The uk lads seem to think the LCI 525 and 530 are the same car as the turbo is the same part number. The heads have different part numbers which lead them to believe different valves and ports set up, and also a detained map.

Anyway, OP, I'd buy theb525 over the 520 all day every day, especially in 2007 onwards as the tax difference is meh!

heathersonline

Just an update, decided to go for this in the end. Took a lot of time to consider the 2l Audi v's 3l BMW, in the end the head ruled. Audi has pretty much all the bells and whistles. Going to look at adding a chip over the coming weeks. Am picking it up tomorrow, seriously excited!!

http://www.slaneyviewhonda.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=36313680326930440&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Audi%20A6%2C%20Dealer%3A%20Slaney%20View%20Motors%20Ltd%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=117398535&CFTOKEN=10456126&jsessionid=f030337c19600ecadc4a06e83c773b1a1c56