2012 BMW 520 M Touring

Graham1978

Hi just looking for some advise, looking at the touring M Sport, with 125k miles. Is this really excessive for a diesel car ?
Thanks

bazz26

125k miles on a 6 year old diesel car = just over 20k miles per year which would be normal for a diesel car.

Service history is important with these cars especially around frequent oil changes as the timing chains can and do fail on them. Air suspension is also a common problem on the F11 estates with the suspension air bags giving trouble so it's quite common for them to need replacing.

Wildly Boaring

Have f10 with similar mileage.

It will need a DMF in next 10k or so. Will be over €1200 with clutch.

Suspension parts are expensive and seem to go early enough.

2 new trailing arms on mine in July and two springs. Looking at about €900 for that.

Little things wear so don't be put off if handbrake switch and on/off switch seem worn excessively for mileage. Cheap and easy to replace.

bazz26

I'd hope the OP is buying an auto and not a manual. The auto doesn't have a DMF and suits the car better.

Graham1978

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd hope the OP is buying an auto and not a manual. The auto doesn't have a DMF and suits the car better.

It is Auto yes 😉

Wildly Boaring

Graham1978 wrote: »

It is Auto yes 😉

Yeah if I'd my choice again I'd deffo go auto.

Had to buy quickly last time and car funds were tight.

rabbitinlights

Are you buying here or the UK? - Look at the 525d (2.0), it's a great option and you avoid most of the engine issues as it's an updated twin scroll turbo version of the engine. You also avoid the brake dust issues as the discs are bigger and under less pressure.

With regards to the mileage I'd prefer 120k miles of motorway driving Vs 60-80k city center driving.

bazz26

rabbitinlights wrote: »

Are you buying here or the UK? - Look at the 525d (2.0), it's a great option and you avoid most of the engine issues as it's an updated twin scroll turbo version of the engine. You also avoid the brake dust issues as the discs are bigger and under less pressure.

With regards to the mileage I'd prefer 120k miles of motorway driving Vs 60-80k city center driving.

You sure? The 525d 2.0 litre just has two turbos instead of one on the 520d, other than they are the same engine. Also my 530d has the same size brake discs as my previous 520d, you have to go to the 535d for bigger discs.

darragh o meara

My 13 520d touring has 128k on it at the moment, drives perfect and is really reliable. No timing chain issues so far and I service it every 8k miles amd have the start stop turned off constantly just for piece of mind ( I have it in my mind that the vigorous start stop program the car has is someway responsible for chain stretching and ultimate failure, suppose that's just the engineer in me )

The airbags do go from time to time in the rear suspension but replacement bags are easy got, I replaced mine with 2 aftermarket Arnott branded bags which come with lifetime warranty.. Not sure how that'll work out but I got 2 for the price of 1 OEM bag.

The auto is the one to get and the only issue I can see is that they go through brake pads fairly often, OEM pads seem to last the longest though so worth the extra few quid. Other than that the tyres for the MSport 19" rims are saucy enough, I had to fork out €300 a piece for Goodyear Eagle F1s for mine a while back!! The 18" rims are easier and cheaper to get tyres for.

Once the car has a full service history you should be good, BMW are apparently still offering goodwill for timing chain issues if you have all your service requirements met, hopefully I won't need to rely on them.

Blazer

bazz26 wrote: »

You sure? The 525d 2.0 litre just has two turbos instead of one on the 520d, other than they are the same engine. Also my 530d has the same size brake discs as my previous 520d, you have to go to the 535d for bigger discs.

It’s a retuned version of it done by Alpina from what I recall so basically same engine.

Blazer

bazz26 wrote: »

You sure? The 525d 2.0 litre just has two turbos instead of one on the 520d, other than they are the same engine. Also my 530d has the same size brake discs as my previous 520d, you have to go to the 535d for bigger discs.

It’s a retuned version of it done by Alpina from what I recall so basically same engine.