Help me choose between 3 similar(ish) cars!

Heres Johnny

Ok, decided to pull the trigger on a new car and move on from my e60 5 series after procrastinating for a good while.

I've been in BMWs since 2004 I think and the brand has never once let me down. I did 1 brief stint in an Alfa 156 after I sold an e39 but then sold the Alfa within 6 months and bought another e39 but since then it's been 5 series all the way. I'm sticking with BMW so no Octavia and superb recommendations please!

I've never owned a diesel car, drove a 520d f10 a few times but that's it. All petrol

Now I'm stuck between a 3 series, a 5 series and a 6 series for next car

If I go 3 series I'll be looking at a 330e only likely a 2016/17 car. Won't go for 320d or 330d. It's the e I'm after if I go 3 series.

If I go 5 series it will be 530d probably about 2015

If I go 6 series it will probably be a 2013 or so 640d GC

All will be msport models and I'll wait a few months to find the right one if I need to. My budget is 30k max as it's my own money I won't be financing. But if something for 20k popped up i liked id take it, maybe a slightly older 5 series.
I've never had a car loan in my life so put a few quid away every month and generally drove older, cheaper cars. E60 is a 2006 523i I've had for 4 years now bought for buttons.

This car will be far and away most expensive car I've ever bought and I will keep for 4 or 5 years.

I've no real requirements in a car to be honest. Just something i won't be bored in and looking to change in a year or 2. I'm employed and also self employed side business. I do about 15k kms a year I'd guess. Don't have kids. If I do the fiances horrible Kia Sportage will cover that.

Just weighing up the relative merits of each car.
330e because I've driven it and I could do my regular commute on electric and I'm happy to use petrol engine when needed

530d because it's a 5 series I've been in for many many years now and it's what I know and like.

640d GC because of wow factor and relative rarity compared to 3 and 5 series. Will have to be older than the other 2 to come into budget but I've no problem there.

So just looking for the merits of the PHEV, the lovely looking 640d GC or stick in the 5 series

Bigus

330e is the way to go, just get one with extended warranty and maybe an extended service pack which if uk sourced can be serviced up north.
BMW Salesmen will always drive these on weekends if there're available ... says it all.

Heres Johnny

Leaning towards the 330e to be honest. Just have to view it in isolation away from the 5 series and 6 series. When I went into dealerships I liked the 3, but only before I sat into a 5 or a 6 which are just more impressive inside. I won't be buying from a dealership so won't be distracted by the 3s bigger brothers.
With the 3, I'll get a newer car for my money and it won't be diesel. Might tee me up nicely for a 530e in a few years.
The short distances available on electric don't really bother me but I'll rather think of it as a bonus I can do my commutes on. As I said I've been in petrol all my life, big 6 cylinders most of it so I don't mind spending money on fuel but reckon my driving style and habits suit the PHEV well.

Mooooo

Afraid no experience of any of them but think the 640 gc is a gorgeous car. Is there a new 3 series model due out? If so you may get nearly new on current model

Heres Johnny

That's just it the 640gc is just beautifully styled. Could get one for well in budget. The 3 would do me just fine, a golf or a focus would do just fine for that matter.
So not too sure. Probably set myself a deadline of March 2019 before brexit is in and possibly can't import as cheaply. It's my assertion that stg will reach parity with euro or very close to it in early 19 making it cheaper still to import.
But realistically January to be honest. I'd still be happy going for a 12 or 13 reg in January and save a few quid, not stuck on any particular age of car.
Just can't make up my mind.

Stallingrad

Do yourself a favour and just buy another E39, they don't get much better and you'll have €25,000 in the bank.

Heres Johnny

Stallingrad wrote: »

Do yourself a favour and just buy another E39, they don't get much better and you'll have €25,000 in the bank.

Would you believe I thought of getting an e39 m5 today! Wouldn't lose much money on one of them once I kept it well

Blazer

It all depends...
Can you spare the cash...I know you can..but spending it all in one go will you regret it later on.

I have the F10 525D 3 litre model and I love it..some small issues since its a 2010 version but I've been looking around and ideally would love a 330e since they really appeal to me.
The 5 series is a fantastic car and a nice upgrade over the e60 interior wise and the 8 speed auto is fantastic.
The 6 series...absolutely gorgeous.

Its down to the 3 series and 6 for me if I don't have to be lugging kids around etc as boot space is smaller in the 330e.
And I think I'd go with the 330e..would love a petrol again and its a nice way of getting one.

Heres Johnny

Yeah I can spare the cash it's ok....I've always been a good saver and I'll just keep saving instead of paying back a car loan. Once in good habits i can keep the cycle going. I was thinking along the lines of a 330e but today I saw a couple of 640d and really like them. A lot.
530e far too expensive just yet for me.
I do think this will be my last ICE car so might make it a 3 litre twin turbo. Even if it's diesel!

MarcusP12

Hi OP.....I'm in a very similar boat to you. I'm working abroad at the moment, returning in January whereby I will very quickly need to get myself a motor. We held on to our E60 '08 523i for our trips home and we're holding on to that for the wife's car as she'll have to do all the picks and drop off etc for the crew and while they're young we don't mind them wrecking it for another year or so rather than also change that for a nice motor.

Have you considered the 4 series GC? I think i'll be focusing my attention on that. Maybe the 430d for a bit more poke. I always liked the idea of the 330e but i'm facing a 60km commute up and down the m50 each day when i'm back so might not be the sensible option. Plus I think the 4 series is better looking and better spec'ed? I'd be concerned also with the imminent replacement of the 3 series causing 2nd hand values to plummet soon after you (and I) pull the trigger early next year. Without knowing, I'd say you'd squeeze an extra year out of the 4 series before that is replaced. 30k will probably get you into a 2 year old 4 series from my tracking, especially if you're a cash man like myself. Seriously considering the UK also but I don't really have time to sort all that out I don't think in my case as i'll need to buy within a couple of weeks of coming back. But I need to look more into that.

I'm not gone on a 5 series even though I've had one for a few years, all be it an SE and not an M Sport which is what i'd also go for. The new ones are not quite in price range yet and i'm not overly gone on the look. But we'll see.

Was thinking about 6 series myself also. 30k would get you a 13 alright i'd say. Lovely car. What puts me off is its just that bit too flash! I think the 4 series is a bit more anonymous if that's an issue for you. Maybe it isn't! Good thing about the 6 series is its probably lost most of its value and would probably cost a bit less per year in depreciation than the others but that's just an opinion. Running costs will probably be quite high though so best to look into that before being seduced by the looks alone!

One option which I was thinking of myself is the Merc CLS. You'd get a face lift '15 220d AMG for early 30s. I think they look class but like the 6 series, they're quite flashy which puts me off a little. Not particularly fast with the 220d either as its a big car for that size of engine but it probably means the running costs would be a lot less than the 640d. Just one to have a think about.

Another option would be the A5 sport back but don't know much about them and never really been that into Audi's.

Any, very interested in what you settle on and other's opinions since as I say, I'm in a very similar boat....

Heres Johnny

Actually I'm not going to need to go anywhere near 30k to get what I want.
Looked at AutoTrader and a 2016 330e can be got for 16,500 GBP now.
After converting currency at rate of 1.1 euro for 1 GBP and adding 1800 VRT I could have a 40,000 mile 2016 330e msport landed here tomorrow for 20k euro. I'm probably happy to wait until early next year and I'm guessing that the same car will be somewhere in the 13/14k GBP range, STG will be the same value as euro and VRT will be a small bit less giving a landed price of around 16k

A 640d 2013 with 80k miles is about 17,500 GBP now with a 5k VRT bill so about 23k landed.
Allowing for depreciation and STG devaluation that I believe will occur this could be a 18/19k euro car next year.

So they're my 2 choices. If I can get a car I like for 16k or 18k I'm not going to go newer and more expensive.

I am gravitating towards 640d an awful lot now it's a serious machine. Never had a spin in one only sat in them in main dealers which was a nice place to sit. Apparently quite frugal and a hoot to drive going by reviews I've read and seen. It's a 100k car so if I can get a 5 or 6 year old for 20k or so I'd consider it great value.

Blazer

Just remember its a 100k car when it comes to servicing her no matter what price you get it for

Sounds like your mind is made up on the 6 series. Its going to be an itch you just have to scratch or you'll always regret it.

Heres Johnny

My cousin is main dealer trained and owns a well know independent specialist now so he's always done my work for me for free I just pay for parts because I do some pro bono work for him on his taxes so I'm not worried about servicing. The e60 I have was a 65k car new so I don't think the 640d will be much different on that front.
Now I just have to reconcile giving away a perfectly good e60 for about 2k euro if I'm lucky! He might sell it for me though

Blazer

very nice...always good to have a mechanic you can trust and even better if its a family member for cheaper service

MarcusP12

Heres Johnny wrote: »

My cousin is main dealer trained and owns a well know independent specialist now so he's always done my work for me for free I just pay for parts because I do some pro bono work for him on his taxes so I'm not worried about servicing. The e60 I have was a 65k car new so I don't think the 640d will be much different on that front.
Now I just have to reconcile giving away a perfectly good e60 for about 2k euro if I'm lucky! He might sell it for me though

Formerly known as Ac cars/motors??

Heres Johnny

Blazer wrote: »

very nice...always good to have a mechanic you can trust and even better if its a family member for cheaper service

Yeah he's done my work for 10 years or more he's a good mechanic knows them inside out keeps me away from extortionate dealership rates. Looks at every car before I buy too

Wailin

You do know the electric range on a 330e is only around 30 km if you're lucky? Pretty much pointless unless you do short city driving.

Heres Johnny

Wailin wrote: »

You do know the electric range on a 330e is only around 30 km if you're lucky? Pretty much pointless unless you do short city driving.

Ah yeah I know that it doesn't bother me. It's just if I went with a 3 series it's the model I'd choose. It will get me in and out of work anyway at that range. I've driven them and they are a good car and they're gone cheap now

Heres Johnny

Took a colleagues Skoda superb for the day today to see if I liked it. 2.0tdi automatic. Didn't like it one little bit. Turbo lag was awful and the diesel sound at low speeds was a deal breaker. Also took a 520d last week and while not as bad as the superb for either lag or noise (it was much better insulated) I now now 4 cylinder diesels are definitely out. They are the sensible option but just don't like them.

I'll defo try to see if I can get a 530d for a spin as a happy medium. 640d is going with the heart, 330e with the head.
I assume I won't find a 6 cylinder petrol 5 series f10 anywhere but ill look.

pinktoe

Get the 6 series.

I got a 640d at the start of the month and I'm still smiling. Comfy, cheap to run and I'm getting it remapped soon as it's marginly slower than my previous 2 gs450h.

Don't kid yourself in thinking a 5 is anything similar.

It's nice to go to work and not see loads of people driving the same car as you ;-)

Wailin

Did you remap the 450h? There's no way a standard 450h is quicker that the 640d.

pinktoe

Wailin wrote: »

Did you remap the 450h? There's no way a standard 450h is quicker that the 640d.

They are .2 seconds faster and accelerating from 80km or so it would easily dispatch the 640d

Heres Johnny

Well the 2 frontrunners in this battle have lost out to...f10 530d msport 2014

My cousin brought it in from UK last week I bought it this morning. Much quicker than I expected to do buy something.

In the end the 330e is just not as nice a place to be as even my 12 year old e60 and the 640d is just too flash.

The 5 series, like my last 4 purchases, felt just right.

Wailin

pinktoe wrote: »

They are .2 seconds faster and accelerating from 80km or so it would easily dispatch the 640d

Lol so they can do 0-60 in 3.4 seconds? 640d 0-60 in 5.4 seconds, 450h in 5.9 sevonds.

Wailin

Best of luck with the F10. It is a big step up from the 3 series in comfort and refinement. What colour did you get and what spec?

pinktoe

Wailin wrote: »

Lol so they can do 0-60 in 3.4 seconds? 640d 0-60 in 5.4 seconds, 450h in 5.9 sevonds.

Do you not know that .2 is one fifth of a second. Learn to read before laughing

Gs450h is 5.3 seconds 0-60 or 5.9 0-62 due to gear change.

640d is 5.5 seconds

But what would I know even though i owned both

Heres Johnny

Wailin wrote: »

Best of luck with the F10. It is a big step up from the 3 series in comfort and refinement. What colour did you get and what spec?

Imperial blue I think it's called. Tan Brown/orange interior, nice contrast. Same interior as my e60 which is strange as it's rare.

He still has the car until Monday so I don't have chassis number or anything to do a full check on the specs but off top.of my head I know it has:

Auto gearbox
M sport spec, seats
Black headlining
Sunroof
Adaptive suspension
19 inch wheels
Widescreen pro nav
46000 miles
Harman Kardon sound system

It's nice. Very similar to my e60 spec just newer and a good bit more power due to the diesel torque. And idrive big step up which is obvious enough.

Looking forward to keeping it for about 5 years I'd say all going well. It's a bit newer than I usually buy. I hate selling cars too and now I've to figure out what to do with the e60!!

Heres Johnny

Sorry it's not imperial blue. I'm not sure of the exact name of it but it looks closer to estoril blue or similar. Like an e36 coupe I had about 14 years ago my very first car I bought myself!! Think that was called Avus blue but can't remember.

This new one is a light-ish blue I'll see if I can find a link I've no pictures yet unfortunately.

bazz26

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Well the 2 frontrunners in this battle have lost out to...f10 530d msport 2014

My cousin brought it in from UK last week I bought it this morning. Much quicker than I expected to do buy something.

In the end the 330e is just not as nice a place to be as even my 12 year old e60 and the 640d is just too flash.

The 5 series, like my last 4 purchases, felt just right.

Well wear with it. Be sure to post a few photos when you get a chance.

bazz26

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Sorry it's not imperial blue. I'm not sure of the exact name of it but it looks closer to estoril blue or similar. Like an e36 coupe I had about 14 years ago my very first car I bought myself!! Think that was called Avus blue but can't remember.

This new one is a light-ish blue I'll see if I can find a link I've no pictures yet unfortunately.

Mediterranean Blue?

Big Nasty

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Imperial blue I think it's called. Tan Brown/orange interior, nice contrast. Same interior as my e60 which is strange as it's rare.

He still has the car until Monday so I don't have chassis number or anything to do a full check on the specs but off top.of my head I know it has:

Auto gearbox
M sport spec, seats
Black headlining
Sunroof
Adaptive suspension
19 inch wheels
Widescreen pro nav
46000 miles
Harman Kardon sound system

It's nice. Very similar to my e60 spec just newer and a good bit more power due to the diesel torque. And idrive big step up which is obvious enough.

Looking forward to keeping it for about 5 years I'd say all going well. It's a bit newer than I usually buy. I hate selling cars too and now I've to figure out what to do with the e60!!

Sounds very similar to my own only mine's an F11. Came from a 523i E61 too.

Best of luck with it dude.

Heres Johnny

https://carland.com/search/used-car/bmw-5-series-2014-antrim/7411879

It's this colour and looks very similar altogethet. It is estoril blue. Should have taken photos! Will on monday

bazz26

Estoril blue is rare on the F10 outside of the M5. I think it was an expensive option, one of the Individual colours.

Heres Johnny

Yeah I have a good knack of picking up unusually coloured cars. Its more common in 3 series, and 4 series now too.
It just looks a bit different to the norm.

I've never seen an e60 in the exact shade of dark green mine is either. Close, but not quite the same. That turned out to be a special order too, just got lucky I picked that up for peanuts. Bitch to keep clean though. And the interior is definitely rare too but I think that's because it only works with certain exterior colours and trims and is probably not to everyone's taste but this is the 2nd time I've gone for it and very happy with it.

Wailin

pinktoe wrote: »

Do you not know that .2 is one fifth of a second. Learn to read before laughing

Oops, sorry you're right, i need glasses, thought you said 2 secs rather than .2!

Wailin

That's a lovely color and nice spec indeed, best of luck with it. Adaptive drive really changes the handling, nice extra and not too common.

Heres Johnny

Wailin wrote: »

That's a lovely color and nice spec indeed, best of luck with it. Adaptive drive really changes the handling, nice extra and not too common.

I've read that alright so I'll see how I feel about it after driving for a while. My hope is its a bit better than my e60 over harsh surfaces, ive 19s on e60 too.
I was being patient about changing car for once in my life this time then I saw this and realised it was what I really wanted.

Wailin

I have the adaptive dampers and they are a nice touch switching from comfort to sport, very noticeable difference in ride. Only negative is the car sits a bit higher than standard M sport suspension because of it, same as the SE. Adaptive drive (if that's what you have) have anti roll bars as well as adaptive dampers so car supposedly handles very well for a big barge. Looking forward to seeing some pics when you get it.

Big Nasty

When you select Sport you can feel the dampers and steering stiffening up. Throttle becomes more responsive too. Select Sport + and you loose traction control too!

Heres Johnny

Before I'd ever heard of adaptive dampers/suspension or anything like that I always said I'd love a 5 series that looked like a m sport and felt as comfortable as the SE, even back on my e39. Local taxi man still has a 530d e39 taxi and every time I was in it just thought it was better than my sports models over the likes of speedbumps etc....i would have always had bigger wheels to be fair which doesn't help.

So sounds like I will like this car. It will be a 142 when registered here. Have to get it on for NCT asap too I suppose as it's already gone 4

Wailin

In comfort or comfort + mode it will definitely feel like an SE. Great to have the option to stiffen up the ride though if you want.

bazz26

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Before I'd ever heard of adaptive dampers/suspension or anything like that I always said I'd love a 5 series that looked like a m sport and felt as comfortable as the SE, even back on my e39. Local taxi man still has a 530d e39 taxi and every time I was in it just thought it was better than my sports models over the likes of speedbumps etc....i would have always had bigger wheels to be fair which doesn't help.

So sounds like I will like this car. It will be a 142 when registered here. Have to get it on for NCT asap too I suppose as it's already gone 4

If it still has a valid MOT then you can get that swapped for a NCT disc now until the original MOT expires.

Old diesel

Edit - I replied to a post without seeing full thread

Apologies