BMW 5 series 520D SE model

peneau

Considering 2015 BMW 5 Series 520D SE 71,000ml 2.0 Diesel €19,500 any opinions/suggestions/advice appreciated

bazz26

If it's the brown manual one on carzone then I wouldn't bother to be honest. They are much nicer in automatic and 90% of 5 Series are sold in automatic because it's a much nicer car.

Overall they are a good car especially for mile munching, a 2015 520d would have the newer B47 engine so doesn't suffer from timing chain issues that some of the previous ones had. Make sure whatever you look at has a good service history, service history on modern BMWs are recorded digitally if kept within the BMW dealer network and certain BMW specialist garages so it should be listed in the car's on board computer rather than a traditional service stamp book.

Idbatterim

I’d agree. Don’t get that car in a manual ! Also brown ?! Good luck selling that without giving it away , if u buy it !

Leonard Hofstadter

I'd get an M Sport, they look so much nicer and they'll be easier to sell on as well.

While I haven't driven one, I have been in an SE, and they feel so heavy, floaty and barge like, I'd prefer the stiffer suspension of an M Sport. I'd agree with the comments on automatics, the 8 speed box changes gears imperceptibly and they'll be much more desirable second-hand, too.

Wildly Boaring

Problem is OP if you go msport and auto you may add at least 5k and probably more.

They are the desirable ones and hold better resale. Every f10 thread goes this way. And i agree that the msport auto is superior.

I just got the SE manual. Not as nice but was in budget.

Find it good. Decent in a corner and great for long days driving. Got all the bells and whistles.

Shipping it on cus getting what I paid for it after driving for 10 months. More mileage at work than I was expecting so gonna drive something as bit cheaper to run. BMW parts are mad money.

We're talking 50k miles annually

nogoodnamesleft

Leonard Hofstadter wrote: »

I'd get an M Sport, they look so much nicer and they'll be easier to sell on as well.

While I haven't driven one, I have been in an SE, and they feel so heavy, floaty and barge like, I'd prefer the stiffer suspension of an M Sport. I'd agree with the comments on automatics, the 8 speed box changes gears imperceptibly and they'll be much more desirable second-hand, too.

M sport has a premium attached for a body kit and stiffer suspension. If the OP wants to go all out there is a "M Sport +" option available in the UK 19 inch alloys, M sport kit and it also has an upgraded sound system. However if you consider that the car will be on Irish roads stiffer suspension with run flat tyres may lead to a bumpy ride and additional wear on suspension components.

I went for a Luxury spec 520d Auto with the B47 engine when I got mine (its Euro6 so it will avoid the additional tax that will be on diesel cars going forward). Luxury as lots of additional specs such as full nav and additional idrive functionality and a few other bits like illuminated sill panels, Led lights on the door handles etc.

peneau

Lots to mull over, many thanks to all for advice, M sport would be a dream I suspect, out of budget, I'll keep digging so.

bazz26

I'm on my third F10, an SE on 18" and two M Sports on 19" rims. The SE suspension makes it feel like your sitting on a coach, it's very floaty which may or may not be what you want. The M Sport suspension is definitely stiffer/firmer but the ride is still very comfortable even over poor enough roads.

The one disadvantage is the cost of run flat tyres for the 19" wheels, they are pretty pricey €250-€300 a corner), however there are 18" rims on some of the more basic M Sport models too. You can also get the M Sport with the deleted M Sport suspension which means it has the SE suspension. These sit slightly higher and visually just don't look right to me.

CiDeRmAn

I'm trying to make a call on a 2012 5 series tourer, an A6 Avant or an EClass of the same vintage.
That or a 2014 Superb Estate.

bazz26

What do you need from an estate? From a space and comfort point of view I'd say the E Class would edge both over the 5 and A6. The 5 Series would be the more involving to drive while the A6 would offer the best interior of the bunch. As good as a Superb is it's not really in the same class as the other 3. I'd suggest driving them all for yourself.