Suggestions for 525i replacement/upgrade

farna_boy

I currently have a 2007 BMW 525i and I am looking to change for something different and I'm looking for suggestions

The biggest reason I want to change is that there isn't enough room in the back for the young fella's rear facing car seat so that my wife can sit comfortably in the passenger seat. Seeing as he is only 1, it doesn't look like this will change to front facing any time soon and my wife isn't happy about chewing her knees anytime she sits up front with me.

Ideally, I would like something with more power along with bigger space in the back. I would prefer a petrol car and since my daily commute is only 12km, it's probably most suitable. It also means though that I'm not too bothered about mpg.

My budget is about 7-10k but if it was something really nice I might think about stretching that a little.

Looking around though so far I can't see too many suitable petrol cars, so if I do have to go to the dark side (i.e. diesel) I would like something that is at least very pleasant to be in and drive.

All suggestions more than welcome!

colm_mcm

Maybe look at a different rear facing seat.

listermint

He's 1 and in rear facing?


He'll have a front facing seat in about 4 months if not less.

Changing car because you bought a rear facing seat is madness. It will be gone very soon

DaveyDave

How big is the seat and how tall is your wife? I'm 6'4, I've sat in the front of a Focus with a large rear facing seat and managed to just about fit. I wouldn't have thought a 5 series would be lacking in room? A smaller seat would probably be the cheaper option.

colm_mcm

listermint wrote: »

He's 1 and in rear facing?


He'll have a front facing seat in about 4 months if not less.

Changing car because you bought a rear facing seat is madness. It will be gone very soon

Some people want a child to be rear facing for as long as possible. I think I saw some people on here saying 4 or 5.
Rear facing is safer in a crash.

listermint

colm_mcm wrote: »

Some people want a child to be rear facing for as long as possible. I think I saw some people on here saying 4 or 5.
Rear facing is safer in a crash.

Fair enough. It's generally considered safer for front on collisions.

I suppose drive more carefully with your kids in the car should never get overlooked. A forward collision is very much in the drivers power.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Some people want a child to be rear facing for as long as possible. I think I saw some people on here saying 4 or 5.
Rear facing is safer in a crash.

I’ve never seen a child even at 2 still in a rear facing seat (even by 1 and a half most would be in forward facing)., I wasn’t even aware they made rear facing seats for a 4 year old as 4 year olds don’t even sit in full seats they are on boosters by then.

colm_mcm

Adrianna Broad Fig wrote: »

I’ve never seen a child even at 2 still in a rear facing seat (even by 1 and a half most would be in forward facing)., I wasn’t even aware they made rear facing seats for a 4 year old as 4 year olds don’t even sit in full seats they are on boosters by then.

Yep, it’s a thing alright.

Example: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=103639223

Mine was out of rear facing by 18 months.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Yep, it’s a thing alright.

Example: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=103639223

Mine was out of rear facing by 18 months.

Fair enough but it must be exceptionally rare and total overkill. The faster you can get them out of a rear facing seat the better imo as they are a nuisance.

Heres Johnny

More power and bigger space in the back for 7k? Doesn't exist as far as I know. The 525i is 215bhp isn't it? I'm just out of one the last year.

Idbatterim

I’d stick with what you have if possible. Don’t see how the leg room could be that bad. If you are going to change, I’d go for the likes of the below ...

No point in half assing it if you are going to change ...

https://m.carzone.ie/used-cars/Mercedes-Benz/S-Class-S350-AMG-BLUE-EFFICIENCY/201905308477180

Phileas Frog

Put the seat in the middle? Problem solved?

farna_boy

To answer a few questions about the seat. The most recent recommendations are to leave the child rear facing as long as possible.

With this in mind, we bought this car seat which had the biggest allowance to do this. This car seat supports rear facing until the child is 18 kg which in our case we reckon he'll be about 3 when he switches. The same car seat is then also able to work as a front facing seat.

Like I said, I would ideally like more power (or a similar level of power) but I don't think that's going to work out.

I took a test drive in an E250 CDI (with an Avant Garde trim) yesterday which has about 200hp and although the rear seat was big enough, I didn't think it was significantly more comfortable as the 525i (which is my criteria for switching to diesel/losing power) and the equipment seemed fairly basic (no sat nav or Aux in).

I also took a test drive in 2008 A6 2.0TDI (S line trim) and that was far more comfortable and had a decent amount of room in the back. The problem with that car though is that it is only 140hp and I would still hope for a bit more.

Maybe that's the question I should have asked from the start:
Is there an alternative to the 2008 A6 2.0TDI (S Line), with the same amount of rear space, equipment and comfort levels but has more power that is generally available in Ireland?

Idbatterim

No love for the s class?

bazz26

Lexus GS 450h petrol hybrid?

https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2310720&r=s.php%3Fm%3D44%26o%3D367%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0

Stoolbend

Just on the rear facing. We have a 3 year old rear facing still. 16.5kg so another while yet before we change.

The days of forward facing a 9 month old are disappearing. Even new i-size seats require rearward to 15 months by law.

Andrewf20

Phileas Frog wrote: »

Put the seat in the middle? Problem solved?

Unfortunately not. Most cars dont have isofix in the middle. Non isofix seats need to be behind a front seat for support also.

XamXam

Our eldest is now 4.5 years old and has been rear facing all the time. We had a 520d and there was very little room in the front passenger seat. I couldn’t sit there at all being tall. My wife found it a struggle at average height.
We changed to a VW Tiguan which is much better but still restricted due to the seat. It’s a balance to make but the 5 series was woeful.
We’ll be keeping the kids rear facing for as long as possible.
Good luck with your search

drunkmonkey

Will he go behind the drivers seat in the rear facing, I think that's where my oldest chap was in the rear facing as had a 07 5 series when he came along. It was nothing to do with passenger comfort just didn't want him anywhere near the blood seat. An F10 isn't a lot better. Have a golf now with 3 of them and it's surprising practical.

farna_boy

Thanks for the suggestions so far, that S Class looks nice but €1200 on tax is a small bit too much. I guess if there are no alternatives I would pay it but if I can find something with tax <€1000 i'd prefer that.

The GS looks nice too, I just have to figure out if it's on the new (€750) or old tax (€1809) tax rate. I think the cassette player in it is hilarious though.

Does anyone know if a Jaguar XF has a lot of room in the back?

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Will he go behind the drivers seat in the rear facing, I think that's where my oldest chap was in the rear facing as had a 07 5 series when he came along. It was nothing to do with passenger comfort just didn't want him anywhere near the blood seat. An F10 isn't a lot better. Have a golf now with 3 of them and it's surprising practical.

At the moment he is in behind the passenger seat because he definitely wouldn't fit behind me, not that I'm that tall (5'11) but my seat is a bit further back than the passenger seat. I don't think I've ever heard that position called the blood seat though?

My wife is 5'8 and with the car seat behind her, her knees are hitting off the glove box.

redlead

If a child seat can't fit in a 5 series then there is something seriously wrong with your child seat or your wife is Devin Toner. You aren't going to get any more room in an E Class or A6 if you want bigger. You would be looking at an S Class or a 7 series. For your money, realistically a skoda superb and take the hit on power.

All joking aside, are you sure you've fitted the child seat correctly?

IrishZeus

I swapped recently from a Superb Combi (171), to a 5-series Touring (141 F11). The 5-series is far tighter in the rear. We have a 3year old and a 4.5year old but they are forward facing so no issues for us.

For those large rear-facing carseats, you could look at a Superb. Probably the only car i can think of that would take them comfortably as the space in the rear genuinely is massive.

wersal gummage

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201904056677520?minimum-badge-engine-size=2.0&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=sw1p4df&model=SUPERB&page=1&make=SKODA&fuel-type=Petrol&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used

drunkmonkey

farna_boy wrote: »

At the moment he is in behind the passenger seat because he definitely wouldn't fit behind me, not that I'm that tall (5'11) but my seat is a bit further back than the passenger seat. I don't think I've ever heard that position called the blood seat though?

Were the same height he was definitely in the back seat of mine in the rear facing and the Mrs is 5,10 don't remember any issues. I've to put the rearward facing in the GTi tonight I'm wondering will it work but the back seems bigger that a 5 series.

The blood seat, used to work in the motor trade and some of the guys used to call it that. Basically in an accident you don't want to be in the passenger seat as your going to get it first..