F10 5 series v F01 7 series

Heres Johnny

Looking to change out of my e60 this year and decided to have a look across the water at 2011-2012 f10 prices and stumbled across the fact that the f01 730d on a year for year basis are not much dearer than the f10 520d. Had a good look and realistically you would get a 730d at same price as 520d if you just go 1 year older. A small bit more VRT and motor tax but not much in it. This doesn't bother me, nor does the 2.0d v 3.0d fuel economy coming from petrol all my life.

So it got me thinking really about the 7. I have had 2 e39 and an e60 as my last 3 cars over 10 years so might be time to look at a 7. I didn't like the e65 at all but I do like the f01 a lot. See them on the road the odd time and they have a great presence. I would certainly go msport in whichever car I go for but I have never even sat in a 7 never mind driven one.

Is it much of a step up over the 5? I'd honestly be happy in a 5 as I have been over 10 years in them but thought I would ask about the 7. Too many 5s have the crappy small screen though!!

I'm definitely going to look at a few over Christmas and take a spin, if Irish prices and soecs are close to UK I would buy here but I think UK will win out in the end.

Total budget 15 to 18k

Oral Surgeon

I drove a 730d as a loan car for a few days. Bit of a barge... But that can be a good thing if you are after a motorway cruiser...
Standard spec on the 7 would be better than on the 5. Better engine, more room...

A 530d (or 535d) would be better than a 730d IMO as it would be a slightly more sporty drive. But if the choice is between 520d and 730d then I'd go with the 7....

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Looking to change out of my e60 this year and decided to have a look across the water at 2011-2012 f10 prices and stumbled across the fact that the f01 730d on a year for year basis are not much dearer than the f10 520d. Had a good look and realistically you would get a 730d at same price as 520d if you just go 1 year older. A small bit more VRT and motor tax but not much in it. This doesn't bother me, nor does the 2.0d v 3.0d fuel economy coming from petrol all my life.

So it got me thinking really about the 7. I have had 2 e39 and an e60 as my last 3 cars over 10 years so might be time to look at a 7. I didn't like the e65 at all but I do like the f01 a lot. See them on the road the odd time and they have a great presence. I would certainly go msport in whichever car I go for but I have never even sat in a 7 never mind driven one.

Is it much of a step up over the 5? I'd honestly be happy in a 5 as I have been over 10 years in them but thought I would ask about the 7. Too many 5s have the crappy small screen though!!

I'm definitely going to look at a few over Christmas and take a spin, if Irish prices and soecs are close to UK I would buy here but I think UK will win out in the end.

Total budget 15 to 18k

mickdw

I'd go 7 series every time. 7 will as standard have kit that only high spec 5 will have. It's a nicer looking car overall and of course you are getting the 6 cylinder diesel which again is a significant price jump in the 5 series.
Everyone wants a 5 series. Nobody considers a 7. That I believe is why the price drops harder. Same with audi. Everyone seems to be getting A6 but nobody even looks at A8.

colm_mcm

Would a 6 series saloon be outside of budget?

Heres Johnny

colm_mcm wrote: »

Would a 6 series saloon be outside of budget?

Not necessarily I could afford one if I wanted they are going to drop again in price this year but I'd have to nearly fully finance it though as opposed to buying a 5 or a 7 in mainly my own cash. The 640d GC looks the absolute business too what a good looking car. Another spanner in my works there Colm!! I would have to check out the rear seats for leg and headroom though. So now I'm stuck between a 5 6 and 7!!
I do like the big barges though

bazz26

The difference between a 5 Series and 7 Series is notifiable in the way going from a 3 Series to a 5 Series. The F10 and F01 are built on the same chassis but that's really where the similarities end. The F10 is a bit of a barge itself in that it's not really a driver's car imo as it's rather too wide and too big. The F01 is bigger again and adds even more refinement and luxury but again if your looking for a sharp drive it's just too big and heavy. It's perfect for eating miles though where comfort, refinement and luxury are your priorities.

If you prefer performance to upper luxury then a high spec F10 535d might be a good compromise but make sure it at least has pro nav, xenons, etc which would have been extras on the F10 back then. I suppose it could really boil down to spec. A 730d is like a 520d in that it's the entry level model of the 7 Series range and while it's basic spec is higher than the basic spec of a 5 Series, the options list was still vast on them. Get the best spec you can for your money.

Regarding the 6 Series GC, they are a big car too, moreso on the outside but interior space not so much and being a coupe headroom is tight also. Prices are still strong on them even in the UK, they are only around since 2012 and you would still be looking at mid 20k for a 2012 example unless you went for a non desirable SE over M Sport model. 640d performance would knock the socks off a 530d/730d though.

Heres Johnny

Was on auto trader again just now the 6 is asking more money than the 7.

Definitely leaning towards the 7 more so now. Just such good value in my opinion at the end of the day they are an executive car and executives don't want a 5 or 6 year old car. They are just not sought after. If I didn't dislike the e65 so much I'd just buy one of those for small money and keep for a while. But I think my days of pre 08 3.0 litre tax are coming to an end.

The e60 I have is a bit of a barge anyway so I'm not to worried about the 7 being bargey.
I probably just want a change from the 5 to be honest they are literally everywhere now.
Reg plate doesn't bother me in the slightest so no bother again going a year or 2 older and getting a nice 7.
Plenty of power in the 30d engine so I don't think I'd pay the premium for a 40d engine in the 6. But again, they are seriously beautiful cars.
I'll look at a 6 and a 7 when garages reopen to see what I think.

mickdw

bazz26 wrote: »

The difference between a 5 Series and 7 Series is notifiable in the way going from a 3 Series to a 5 Series. The F10 and F01 are built on the same chassis but that's really where the similarities end. The F10 is a bit of a barge itself in that it's not really a driver's car imo as it's rather too wide and too big. The F01 is bigger again and adds even more refinement and luxury but again if your looking for a sharp drive it's just too big and heavy. It's perfect for eating miles though where comfort, refinement and luxury are your priorities.

If you prefer performance to upper luxury then a high spec F10 535d might be a good compromise but make sure it at least has pro nav, xenons, etc which would have been extras on the F10 back then. I suppose it could really boil down to spec. A 730d is like a 520d in that it's the entry level model of the 7 Series range and while it's basic spec is higher than the basic spec of a 5 Series, the options list was still vast on them. Get the best spec you can for your money.

Regarding the 6 Series GC, they are a big car too, moreso on the outside but interior space not so much and being a coupe headroom is tight also. Prices are still strong on them even in the UK, they are only around since 2012 and you would still be looking at mid 20k for a 2012 example unless you went for a non desirable SE over M Sport model. 640d performance would knock the socks off a 530d/730d though.

I think the point is though that a high spec 535d will command huge money whereas in the 7 you get alot of that luxury as standard

James Bond Junior

This goes against everything I believe in as a BMW fanboy but if you want the size and comfort of a 7 and the chuckability of a 5 I would look at an A8. There have been 3 in the family in the past 6 years and they are all round a fantastic car. The quattro means they are glued to the road when you want to push on yet are comfy and bargey when you want. The last one was replaced by a BMW this year and the general feeling is it was a step down in build quality over the A8.

PS please take one for a test drive, be it a 7 series or A8, you can't appreciate the sheer size until you drive it and especially try to park it.

Heres Johnny

I will look at the a8 Too, always really admired them.
I like the model from 2011 onwards now, the older one, just like the the e65 just doesnt do it for me anymore.

James Bond Junior

Heres Johnny wrote: »

I will look at the a8 Too, always really admired them.
I like the model from 2011 onwards now, the older one, just like the the e65 just doesnt do it for me anymore.

There was 1 older one a 2009, followed by 2 of the newer ones. The 11 and 15 were a fantastic step over the 2009, a jump akin to a 5 to 7 actually. The first one actually replaced a 7 series and the 7 just couldnt compete.