Motorcheck 520d vs E220

jRoy

Hi,
I am trying to decide between an automatic 520d and E220; got mixed reviews online and tried one of each today. It was a bit unfair comparison tbh since 2011 520d was an vanilla SE and E220 an AMG :P which felt like a rocket in sports mode.

I know 520d is drivers car and all but I also found a lot about failing timing chains on 520d costing a fortune (between 1 and 10 grand) to fix, its apparently improved in newer version but not sure if that's the case with a 2011 model. I am looking at a car with around 90,000 miles on the clock (looks about right but its not from a main dealer...) I wonder if the engine in E220 more reliable?

I am still keen on getting a 2011 520d and would be really handy to have checklist of what I should be looking out for, gotchas, to assess it myself. The main dealers are up to 6 grand more expensive than the SIMI dealers and they want to trade in my old car for peanuts and complementary coffee while I wait
Please advise.
Jay

You are comparing pears and artichokes. If you want the extra power and better quality it is the Benz, but it will be more cost to run.

drunkmonkey

90,000 miles on a 2011, not sure how much mileage you do but if it's significant enough to justify a diesel you'll be pissing your money away unless your getting it very cheap.
I'd be looking for something with a lot less mileage, preferably Irish and in km and if it up around 2011 it'd want a full Bmw service history.
If your looking at anything go drive a 530d if you can find one there's no comparison with a 520 or the e220 and the tax isn't a whole lot more.
Personally I wouldn't touch a 520 made between mid 2008 and December 2011. Try a 530 or 535 ; )

Gumbo

The 5 series timing chain issue is part of a QE program at the moment. If you buy it, the main dealer will check it for free and replace for free if it is suffering from it.

kceire

kceire wrote: »

The 5 series timing chain issue is part of a QE program at the moment. If you buy it, the main dealer will check it for free and replace for free if it is suffering from it.

Regardless of service history etc?

R.O.R

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You are comparing pears and artichokes. If you want the extra power and better quality it is the Benz, but it will be more cost to run.

The 'Benz' has extra power and quality? Could have sworn the E220 is only 170 ps, with the 520d being 184 ps.

As for quality, that's a matter of opinion, but having driven both a few times, I know where I'd be putting my money, and it wouldn't have a 3 pointed star on it.

Henry Ford III

R.O.R wrote: »

The 'Benz' has extra power and quality? Could have sworn the E220 is only 170 ps, with the 520d being 184 ps.

As for quality, that's a matter of opinion, but having driven both a few times, I know where I'd be putting my money, and it wouldn't have a 3 pointed star on it.

The AMG badge doubles the engine power.

darg

kceire wrote: »

The 5 series timing chain issue is part of a QE program at the moment. If you buy it, the main dealer will check it for free and replace for free if it is suffering from it.

Have you a link to show this as im currently in the market and want a 520d but the risk is too great

bazz26

drunkmonkey wrote: »

90,000 miles on a 2011, not sure how much mileage you do but if it's significant enough to justify a diesel you'll be pissing your money away unless your getting it very cheap.
I'd be looking for something with a lot less mileage, preferably Irish and in km and if it up around 2011 it'd want a full Bmw service history.
If your looking at anything go drive a 530d if you can find one there's no comparison with a 520 or the e220 and the tax isn't a whole lot more.
Personally I wouldn't touch a 520 made between mid 2008 and December 2011. Try a 530 or 535 ; )

I don't see what advantages the car being Irish over one from the UK makes. In fact chances are the UK car will be in better condition, have a more traceable & detailed service history and be higher spec. Km v miles is only an issue for people who cannot get their head past it, in reality it's very simple to get used to. Remember we drove cars up to 10 years ago with dual speedometers.

Regarding the timing chain issue, there are cases of cars from 2012 and 2013 having this problem so there really is no proper safe build date. Also the 3.0 litre N57 engine suffers from the same issue, just not as many of them about.

Gumbo

Augeo wrote: »

Regardless of service history etc?

Depending. We got ours done with an Indy history.

Gumbo

darg wrote: »

Have you a link to show this as im currently in the market and want a 520d but the risk is too great

Discussed here :

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056828710

http://www.bmwhaus.ie/forum/showthread.php?tid=5746

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=104209

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41063

On of the lads got an email from BMW this week confirming that the QE Program doesn't apply to all of the engines. Seemly they can check against the VIN number but they told him to also go to any BMW dealer and they can check with their kit to confirm.

Tea 1000

R.O.R wrote: »

The 'Benz' has extra power and quality? Could have sworn the E220 is only 170 ps, with the 520d being 184 ps.

As for quality, that's a matter of opinion, but having driven both a few times, I know where I'd be putting my money, and it wouldn't have a 3 pointed star on it.

I think the E220 has more torque, and as for quality... the propellor badge doesn't inspire any confidence in me whatsoever.

WacoKid

bazz26 wrote: »

I don't see what advantages the car being Irish over one from the UK makes. In fact chances are the UK car will be in better condition, have a more traceable & detailed service history and be higher spec. Km v miles is only an issue for people who cannot get their head past it, in reality it's very simple to get used to. Remember we drove cars up to 10 years ago with dual speedometers.

Regarding the timing chain issue, there are cases of cars from 2012 and 2013 having this problem so there really is no proper safe build date. Also the 3.0 litre N57 engine suffers from the same issue, just not as many of them about.

Can you not just select the display to be in Kms or Miles using the iDrive, I can!?

Bigcheeze

WacoKid wrote: »

Can you not just select the display to be in Kms or Miles using the iDrive, I can!?

The speedometer is analogue.

Gazzmonkey

Tea 1000 wrote: »

the propellor badge doesn't inspire any confidence in me whatsoever.

Same, when I see that silver arrow I think to myself... meh