Bmw 5 series G30 advice

Zane97

Was just looking into one of these for my father. He has a 2012 A6 sline and is ready to change it.

They had a 2008 318d MSport from new before it and my mother really loved it just not the rwd part in ice/snow etc. Got rid of it one I heard about the timing chain issues people were having.

Just looking at a used 520d xdrive. Wouldn’t mind importing one. Am I right is saying vrt isn’t that bad or do I have my figures wrong? Big enough saving on Irish ones?

Any way, just looking for advice on them.

Thanks.

MarkN

Robbie G wrote: »

Was just looking into one of these for my father. He has a 2012 A6 sline and is ready to change it.

They had a 2008 318d MSport from new before it and my mother really loved it just not the rwd part in ice/snow etc. Got rid of it one I heard about the timing chain issues people were having.

Just looking at a used 520d xdrive. Wouldn’t mind importing one. Am I right is saying vrt isn’t that bad or do I have my figures wrong? Big enough saving on Irish ones?

Any way, just looking for advice on them.

Thanks.

Doesn’t seem to be any major issues so far although it’s early days with them.

If the all wheel drive is purely for a bit of a snow I wouldn’t bother. The X-Drive sits higher and apparently doesn’t engage the same as the traditional RWD although neither of those issues may be of any concern to your parents. They’re a bit dearer than a standard model too.

Lovely car though, I’ve driven a 520d in the G30 a couple of times as I’ve looked at a few but have had stage fright due to a fairly big drop in engine output and horrendous trade in prices. Spacious interior, lovely place to sit, great boot, looks pretty smart on the outside and many have compared them to a mini 7 series. Gear changes in the auto are even quicker than the F10 etc.

Big money to be saved on UK imports on them too.

Zane97

Thanks MarkN..... the 4wd is purely a reassurance for them both. I think she spun a bit one of the mornings and hated not having the control, he was the same opinion too. Yes the seem dearer alright in xdrive.

They never had an auto before but it would be a good change I reckon and if buying another a6 they are pretty much the same.

€43-45000seem right for one all in including vrt?

€63000 new here ,171 are around the €50000 price over here.

bazz26

I wouldn't bother with the X-Drive unless you live on the side of a mountain or steep incline. Investing in a good set of winter tyres to stick on for the 4 months or so would be wiser imo.

JoeA3

MarkN wrote: »

Doesn’t seem to be any major issues so far although it’s early days with them.

If the all wheel drive is purely for a bit of a snow I wouldn’t bother. The X-Drive sits higher and apparently doesn’t engage the same as the traditional RWD although neither of those issues may be of any concern to your parents. They’re a bit dearer than a standard model too.

Lovely car though, I’ve driven a 520d in the G30 a couple of times as I’ve looked at a few but have had stage fright due to a fairly big drop in engine output and horrendous trade in prices. Spacious interior, lovely place to sit, great boot, looks pretty smart on the outside and many have compared them to a mini 7 series. Gear changes in the auto are even quicker than the F10 etc.

Big money to be saved on UK imports on them too.

I’m actually in one of these this week Mark for a couple of days (courtesy car) and I must say I think the boot seems a bit on the small side. Definitely seems very narrow? Significantly smaller and much less useable anyway than my 4 series boot for sure.
It is a nice car though I agree. The ‘20d seems quieter / more refined than the same engine in my own car. Probably down to better noise insulation. Performance wise I think it feels a tad slower than my 420... I guess due to the extra size/weight. I’d say the ‘30d would be a peach in this car. Cabin is quite nice, the configurable ambient lighting, digital dash, all very smart. The electronic brake/auto hold is great, very like the setup I was used to in the Golf.

carsfan2

Robbie G wrote: »

Was just looking into one of these for my father. He has a 2012 A6 sline and is ready to change it.

They had a 2008 318d MSport from new before it and my mother really loved it just not the rwd part in ice/snow etc. Got rid of it one I heard about the timing chain issues people were having.

Just looking at a used 520d xdrive. Wouldn’t mind importing one. Am I right is saying vrt isn’t that bad or do I have my figures wrong? Big enough saving on Irish ones?

Any way, just looking for advice on them.

Thanks.

I recently got one of these albeit in touring model. It’s a great car all round.
If you can go to UK or NI there are good savings on Irish dealers but I would always buy from a Bmw dealer there.
If your parents want x drive, they only command a small premium and for peace of mind for your parents would be worth it. The suspension is not any higher or different to the regular car as it previously was on other Bmw’s so handling is similar.
Look for a car with a few extras as spec makes the car more special and there are loads of them out there with bits on them and the prices are not any dearer.

Truckermal

VRT on a 520D (171 with 8k miles) is 7k and 750 more for the X Drive.

Stallingrad

To reiterate what was said already, 4 winter tyres will outperform 4wd on all season tyres.

Wailin

I struggle to believe that. Winter tyres on a rear wheel car is still just 2 tyres vs 4 on an awd. Front are useless.

Blazer

Besides its his parents and I assume they're 60 plus?
Who on earth would expect their parents to change their wheels twice a year at that age?
Get the x-drive and runflats. They'll thank you for it.

Zane97

carsfan2 wrote: »

I recently got one of these albeit in touring model. It’s a great car all round.
If you can go to UK or NI there are good savings on Irish dealers but I would always buy from a Bmw dealer there.
If your parents want x drive, they only command a small premium and for peace of mind for your parents would be worth it. The suspension is not any higher or different to the regular car as it previously was on other Bmw’s so handling is similar.
Look for a car with a few extras as spec makes the car more special and there are loads of them out there with bits on them and the prices are not any dearer.

Thanks for this info... with regards to the vrt, how can you get an accurate figure if you go for one with extras.... etc msport plus and a few packs.

I did a vrt calculation before on just an xdrive and it was coming in at €7500

carsfan2

Robbie G wrote: »

Thanks for this info... with regards to the vrt, how can you get an accurate figure if you go for one with extras.... etc msport plus and a few packs.

I did a vrt calculation before on just an xdrive and it was coming in at €7500

There is a sliding scale of depreciation for cars up to four years old that revenue use to calculate extras. It is on revenue website and I think in the uk importing thread. It’s a bit convoluted and apparently until you present the actual cat you won’t get a figure. On a car like the 5 series they take the vin and check out the full spec and then come back with a price.
Would your parents want m Sport?
Ride is definitely better on se trim.

jesus_thats_gre

Truckermal wrote: »

VRT on a 520D (171 with 8k miles) is 7k and 750 more for the X Drive.

Been searching all weekend and seem to be getting 9k plus on the ROS website

Zane97

Looked at one here in an Irish dealer. I was gonna sell his car current private but got a shock on how low the offer was on his car as trade in.

I thought they were trying to get sales,not turn them away! Intend to buy in NI or England. Going to look at another tomorrow.

Anyway, his current car is a 2012 Irish A6 sline,manual with blackpack on 72400km. It has original 20” wheels.

What kinda money should it sell for private?

Wailin

Dealer prices vary but seem to be around 16.5 to 17k. Selling privately would need to be less obviously. What did the BMW dealer offer for the A6?

carsfan2

I’d be surprised if a BMW dealer offered more than 12-14k for your dads Audi. It’s not a car they would retail and it would go into the trade.
I reckon if you got 16k for a private sale you would be doing ok. Not great for what I’m sure is a lovely car but probably realistic I’m afraid.

grogi

Stallingrad wrote: »

To reiterate what was said already, 4 winter tyres will outperform 4wd on all season tyres.

You sir must be joking here...

Rwd with winter tyres will be good enough for any winter on Ireland. But AWD on all seasons will be a class better.

Zane97

Audi North Dublin was offering €20k back in March. This Bmw we looked at was from an indi but a big Vw dealer.

They offered €14k

bazz26

When trading in you need to focus on the cost to change price rather than the price they are giving you for your car. 6 year old A6s ain't fetching 20k even back in March, the dealer probably priced their car high so that they could add it onto the trade-in value of your car to make it look more attractive.

In saying that I'd say you will do better trading in an A6 with an Audi dealer than you will trading in an A6 with a BMW dealer. As said they won't resale it on their forecourt, it will be sold onto the independent dealer network which means they will give you it's trade value.

If you can sell it privately then that's the way to go but with a car of that value it will not be plain sailing, your up against the cost of importing the same car from the UK and people also prefer the peace of mind of a dealer warranty and availability of credit facilities.

Stallingrad

grogi wrote: »

You sir must be joking here...

Rwd with winter tyres will be good enough for any winter on Ireland. But AWD on all seasons will be a class better.

https://youtu.be/7l2cMlNRX_A

Front wheel drive but the principal is the same.

grogi

Even though x-drive is a permanent 4x4 (with 40:60 split under no-slip conditions), I personally would get a quality all-season tyres and RWD. It will be sufficient for Irish weather.

Stallingrad wrote: »

https://youtu.be/7l2cMlNRX_A

Front wheel drive but the principal is the same.

Are you aware what an all-season tyre is? Those in the video you've linked are not all season tyres, but regular summer tyres. Summer tyres are miserable on snow.

Here's a test of summer focused all-season tyre...

Majority of all-season tyres are winter focused... Here a picture from a 7000km trip in winter to Norway... On All-seasons Nokian Weatherproof.

Stallingrad

My mistake Grogi, meant to refer to Summer tyres at the outset. Back on topic OP. :-)

Wailin

Wailin wrote: »

I struggle to believe that. Winter tyres on a rear wheel car is still just 2 tyres vs 4 on an awd. Front are useless.

I dunno.

In Germany and Austria etc mud and snow rated tyres are sufficient from 1 November to 15 April ...... I know you'll see lots of x drives over there compared to here but an AWD on summer tyres could be effectively zero wheel drive in the ice etc.

grogi wrote: »

......I personally would get a quality all-season tyres and RWD..........

Indeed, all seasons are decent. I'll quite likely get them the next time I'm getting a set of tyres.

Wailin

I think the topic has been derailed enough with tyres

Op might be worth your while travelling to Quinns in Athlone. Easy to deal with and not afraid to do a good trade deal. Plus great selection of G30's to choose from.

Zane97

Wailin wrote: »

I think the topic has been derailed enough with tyres

Op might be worth your while travelling to Quinns in Athlone. Easy to deal with and not afraid to do a good trade deal. Plus great selection of G30's to choose from.

Hey there Wailin. We put a deposit on one today. Smashing car to drive! I’m sure Quinn’s would be easy to deal with, but wanted to save the folks money by going via NI or Uk.

This dealer was happy to deal with us and folks were very happy in the way in which he wasn’t pushy.

I did explain to them that I could get them an SE in xdrive but they liked the msport.

Need to make up my mind on buying their current A6.

I hope the vrt isn’t to big

carsfan2

Where did they buy and what spec did they get?

Zane97

carsfan2 wrote: »

Where did they buy and what spec did they get?

171 520d Xdrive msport plus. Enhanced Bluetooth WiFi and folding mirrors.