Mercedes CLS 320 v BMW 530D

I8A4RE

Just wondering how different/similar these cars are to drive/own?

I would be looking at a circa 07 model in both models, has anyone driven both?

Looks wise the CLS is the one but have not been in one but have driven a 530d and liked it.

YbFocus

Drive the cls and you'll know yourself

Mycroft H

Completely subjective here. CLS purely as it's less common, prettier and the 320CDI is meant to be a cracking diesel engine (510Nm of torque )

MadYaker

There are a few 530d owners on here. I personally have no experience with either car but id imagine the merc would be a bit slower and more comfortable, unless you're in the back. Considering the roofline and body shape I can't imagine theres much space back there, especially if you're 6 ft or more.

Have you considered a Jag XF of the same year?

YbFocus

I own a 30d, great car and fantastic to drive.

Can return some real impressive numbers if your steady with the throttle.
The mode l you'd be going for would be the 235bhp and 500Nm torque version.
Plenty quick at just below 7s to 100kmh.

The only point I'll say against mine is that on a long journey the car can seem a tad harsh and can leave you feeling a bit tired.

drunkmonkey

Depends on what your after, refinement or brute force, 530d's a brute, savage overtaking power for it's size.
If it's refinement lexus is also worth a look, there very comfortable cars.

JackF1

I've a 10' 525d auto with a good spec (comfort seats, adaptive xenons and a proper hifi). Options that understandably are hard to come by.

Standard BMW audio is rubbish. If it's an M-sport the suspension may drive you mad but rattling your back and bank account.

The CLS is a looker it's comfortable refined and a good drive. The downside - strictly a four seater, potential MB reliability issues.

obi604

YbFocus wrote: »

I own a 30d, great car and fantastic to drive.

Can return some real impressive numbers if your steady with the throttle.
The mode l you'd be going for would be the 235bhp and 500Nm torque version.
Plenty quick at just below 7s to 100kmh.

The only point I'll say against mine is that on a long journey the car can seem a tad harsh and can leave you feeling a bit tired.

Does the 530d from 06/07 have a single or a twin turbo ?

Skatedude

the 530d is considered one of the best diesel cars that you can get

JackF1

obi604 wrote: »

Does the 530d from 06/07 have a single or a twin turbo ?

Bmw nomenclature is very confusing these days.

The 114/116/118/120/316/318/320/330/518/520/530/730d are all single turbo engines

Twinturbo is reserved for the 125/325/335/525/535/M550d

obi604

JackF1 wrote: »

Bmw nomenclature is very confusing these days.

The 114/116/118/120/316/318/320/330/518/520/530/730d are all single turbo engines

Twinturbo is reserved for the 125/325/335/525/535/M550d

Are you sure your information is correct. According to above the 530d is a single turbo. And the 525d is a twin turbo. Doesn't sound right.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

obi604 wrote: »

Are you sure your information is correct. According to above the 530d is a single turbo. And the 525d is a twin turbo. Doesn't sound right.

525d is not twin turbo, 535d is.

If you are looking at a 530d OP, why not look at a 535d? I had one for the past while - cracking car with a wall of torque, 5.7 0-60 time, and practically linear power delivery, compared to most turbo diesels which have lag issues.

obi604

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

525d is not twin turbo, 535d is.

If you are looking at a 530d OP, why not look at a 535d? I had one for the past while - cracking car with a wall of torque, 5.7 0-60 time, and practically linear power delivery, compared to most turbo diesels which have lag issues.

Thanks, but I still havent got an answer to my question, is the 530 D a single or twin turbo ?

Cleveland Hot Pocket

obi604 wrote: »

Thanks, but I still havent got an answer to my question, is the 530 D a single or twin turbo ?

Single
Having been in both (e60 versions), there is a massive leap in performance between the 530d and 535d.

Gumbo

obi604 wrote: »

Does the 530d from 06/07 have a single or a twin turbo ?

Single turbo.

YbFocus

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

Single
Having been in both (e60 versions), there is a massive leap in performance between the 530d and 535d.

Absolutely massive

Yep single turbo on the 530d

The new 525d is a twin though. It's a twin turbo 520d basically.

mullingar

BMW model numbers are becoming less and less to do with the actual engine size, IMO the number is now a rough equivalent of power if it was a cc engine.

520d, 2.0
525d, AFAIK older ones are a detuned 3.0, power equivalent to a 2.5, newer are a 2.0TT (open to correction!!)
530d, 3.0
535d, 3.0 TT, rough equivalent to a 3.5L
640d, 3.0 TRI-turbo, equivalent to a 4.0L

Same with the smaller engines
316d, really detuned 2.0, equivalent to a 1.6d
318d, detuned 2.0, equivalent to a 1.8d
320d, 2.0

Even look at the petrol,

The 328i is a 2.0petrol TT

Cleveland Hot Pocket

YbFocus wrote: »

Absolutely massive

Yep single turbo on the 530d

The new 525d is a twin though. It's a twin turbo 520d basically.

It was funny to see the four of us getting out of my 535 all white as a sheet (myself included)!:p

The f10 525d is a twin turbo? Wow you learn something new every day.
Feckin' BMW with their quare complex naming structure!

Tea 1000

mullingar wrote: »

BMW model numbers are becoming less and less to do with the actual engine size, IMO the number is now a rough equivalent of power if it was a cc engine.

520d, 2.0
525d, AFAIK older ones are a detuned 3.0, power equivalent to a 2.5, newer are a 2.0TT (open to correction!!)
530d, 3.0
535d, 3.0 TT, rough equivalent to a 3.5L
640d, 3.0 TRI-turbo, equivalent to a 4.0L

Same with the smaller engines
316d, really detuned 2.0, equivalent to a 1.6d
318d, detuned 2.0, equivalent to a 1.8d
320d, 2.0

Even look at the petrol,

The 328i is a 2.0petrol TT

The 640d is actually the twin-turbo from the 535d. The tri-turbo you're referring to is currently only in the M550d, which isn't RHD yet.

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

It was funny to see the four of us getting out of my 535 all white as a sheet (myself included)!:p

The f10 525d is a twin turbo? Wow you learn something new every day.
Feckin' BMW with their quare complex naming structure!

Ya, the 2 litre twin turbo diesel started out in the 123d, it had around 208bhp if memory serves, maybe 211, can't remember! They never put it in anything else for a while, then Alpina put it in the facelift E90 which they called the D3 (The first E90 D3 was a tuned single-turbo 320d, the latter was stock 123d engine). Now it seems BMW are putting it in the F10 and calling it the 525d.

_Kaiser_

I'd have the CLS all day long. Completely different class to the BMW in my opinion

Cleveland Hot Pocket

I think given the choice of a CLS 320 cdi or an e60 530d I would take the CLS.

However I would take a 535d over both.

JackF1

obi604 wrote: »

Are you sure your information is correct. According to above the 530d is a single turbo. And the 525d is a twin turbo. Doesn't sound right.

Yes my post is entirely correct thanks