Any 530e owners out there?

ZV Yoda

I'm looking to change cars in the next few months. Have driven Alfas for the past 10 years (166, 159s) and was set on getting a Giulia, but I've recently come across the 530e & it seems like a great proposition.

I'm very interested to hear from existing owners about their real-life experience with it.

I hadn't really considered a hybrid, but I'm an ideal candidate. My daily commute is less than 20km round trip. Usually a bit more running around at week-ends & the occasional run down the country.

What are peoples' experiences of the 530e? There's great value in the UK for 2017/18 models & VRT is less than €3.5k. I'm very tempted.

bf

I have one at the moment, pending arrival of a Tesla Model 3. 2018 530e MSport with the plus pack & have to say I'm delighted with it so far after 6 months. It will be for sale if I ever get a delivery date for the Tesla :pac:

I imported from the UK & got great value, even better now with Sterling being so low. It sounds like your commute is ideal for this car - real world range for me has been about 35kms. Very comfortable, quick with 272bhp.

It takes about 3 hours to charge on a 3 pin plug or 2 hours at a charger. The short range/requirement to plug in is probably the only real world nuisance (I haven't put in a home charger). Boot is smaller than a regular 5 series due to batteries, as is the petrol tank. My commute is about 30kms a day, and I've done over 2,500kms since I put any petrol in.

Kramer

Echo bf's comments.

Consumed 73 litres of petrol over the last 2,500 kms so averaging 3l/100km (trip computer above includes an estimate for the electricity consumed too - must look into BMW's kWh to litre ratio unless anyone knows it?

Have hypermiled it (for craic :eek:) on battery only (9.2kWh) to a range of just over 50km but 35 to 40 would be usual. Can be far less obviously depending on driving style/weather etc.
Very nice drive & practically seamless switching between battery alone, battery boost, engine only, charging etc.

Long motorway trips up around 6.5l/100km at sane speeds.

With a commute of up to 40km per day or 80km if a socket/charge point is available at work, I'd say it's worthy of consideration. In that scenario, one could run 10,000km to 20,000km per year on electric power alone.

Lovely car, even if I do say so myself :cool:.

Soarer

I presume they're the same as the 330e, but just bigger?

How reliable are they? Seem to remember reading/hearing that the 330e isn't great.

Also seem to remember something similar about the Golf/Passat GTE (because of the 1.4 engine), but again could be dreaming!

Phileas Frog

Does the engine always kick in over a certain speed no matter what battery range is? My commute is about 25km each way but most of it is along a dual carriageway at 100km/h

Kramer

Soarer wrote: »

I presume they're the same as the 330e, but just bigger?

Completely different animal to the old 330e (new model just out for 192 reg). Bigger battery (9.2kWh), digital display, new chassis (G30), lots of 7 series switchgear - night & day. I spent some time with a 330e & it's miles behind the 530e. Not been in the new 330e so I assume that is closer to the 530e in terms of modernisation/interior etc.

Soarer

Kramer wrote: »

Completely different animal to the old 330e (new model just out for 192 reg). Bigger battery (9.2kWh), digital display, new chassis (G30), lots of 7 series switchgear - night & day. I spent some time with a 330e & it's miles behind the 530e. Not been in the new 330e so I assume that is closer to the 530e in terms of modernisation/interior etc.

Ah ok.

The 5 is a lovely looking car.

Kramer

Phileas Frog wrote: »

Does the engine always kick in over a certain speed no matter what battery range is?

You can decide what the car does or let it decide, but it will stay on battery all the way up to 140km/h in "max battery" mode, only kicking in the engine if you "kickdown" the accelerator pedal for the max 252bhp.

jesus_thats_gre

Imported one from the UK last week. Had a 2012 520D before this. Very impressed so far but not got my head around the various hybrid options so far. Exceptionally good value sourcing them from the UK at the moment - bought a Jan 19 car, 9k on the clock, M-Sport Plus and Comfort Pack trim for 33k sterling.

Kramer

Soarer wrote: »

How reliable are they? Seem to remember reading/hearing that the 330e isn't great.

I'd say an extended BMW warranty would be a necessity when the factory 3 year warranty is up - lots of complexity = lots of €uros should something go wrong.
That said, it seems very well built, even by BMW standards.

unkel

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Imported one from the UK last week. Had a 2012 520D before this. Very impressed so far but not got my head around the various hybrid options so far. Exceptionally good value sourcing them from the UK at the moment - bought a Jan 19 car, 9k on the clock, M-Sport Plus and Comfort Pack trim for 33k sterling.

With sterling as low as it is, that's a touch over €36k if you got a cheap flight and ferry. It's a lot of car for the money. New M-Sport one here starts at €57k before options

How much VRT did you have to pay? Did you know how much it was up front?

Mike9832

unkel wrote: »

With sterling as low as it is, that's a touch over €36k if you got a cheap flight and ferry. It's a lot of car for the money. New M-Sport one here starts at €57k before options

How much VRT did you have to pay? Did you know how much it was up front?

I'd hold out for one of these

35kWh M140e

400bhp total, 100km range

https://www.motor1.com/news/364129/bmw-m140e-electrified-hot-hatch/

jesus_thats_gre

unkel wrote: »

With sterling as low as it is, that's a touch over €36k if you got a cheap flight and ferry. It's a lot of car for the money. New M-Sport one here starts at €57k before options

How much VRT did you have to pay? Did you know how much it was up front?

Appointments is for next Friday but have budgeted for 4.5k. Reckon it might go slightly over that but will challenge the OMSP if I can.

But yes, 36,100 euro and reckon I will come in just under 41.5k all in.

A mate is doing the same this week purely based on the numbers I got.

Ps. Still possibly going to be surprised in the VRT office but I have done all I can on that front I think. Checked a few dealers for quotes on what they would charge me to import a series of similarly spec'd cars. They consistently came in higher than the 41.5k but not enough to cause concern - the difference being a reasonable margin for them.

Soarer

Because bmw is a premium brand, they’ll try pick out all the optional extras, find out from bmw Ireland how much they would’ve been to spec when knew, and charge you for them too.

unkel

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

But yes, 36,100 euro and reckon I will come in just under 41.5k all in.

It's actually in the VRT calculator. Filling in your details it comes to €4,345 VRT for the M-sport unless they charge you more for optional extras

So just over €40k really, I bet you would be pleasantly surprised if that was it

A nearly new 520d SE from a BMW dealer in Ireland would be thousands more than that. Why do people still buy those yokes?

stesaurus

You won't get a figure on the day. They'll look into it and get back to you after checking every extra I'd imagine. Be ready to challenge it I guess.

Kramer

Soarer wrote: »

Because bmw is a premium brand, they’ll try pick out all the optional extras

The good thing about the 530e was the high level of standard equipment. As Unkel says, it's already on the VRT calculator with a somewhat high OMSP & the VRT figure it generates includes the €2250 PHEV discount.

unkel

Metallic is free in Ireland. Comfort pack is €2.9k. Let's say that is worth €2k second hand. 14% VRT * €2k = €280

I really can't see the VRT being more than €4,345 + €280 provided there are no other extras

So €36,100 + €4,345 + €280 or less than €41k landed

Soarer

Kramer wrote: »

The good thing about the 530e was the high level of standard equipment. As Unkel says, it's already on the VRT calculator with a somewhat high OMSP & the VRT figure it generates includes the €2250 PHEV discount.

I thought the same when I brought in our T-Spirit Prius.
In the system, and a higher rate of vrt than the other models seeing as it was the top spec.
But they still charged extra for things that weren’t available on the Irish version.

jesus_thats_gre

Soarer wrote: »

I thought the same when I brought in our T-Spirit Prius.
In the system, and a higher rate of vrt than the other models seeing as it was the top spec.
But they still charged extra for things that weren’t available on the Irish version.

How much did they charge you?

Kramer

Soarer wrote: »

But they still charged extra for things that weren’t available on the Irish version.

As far as I know, BMW UK & Ireland speck are identical these days so that shouldn't be an issue for the 530e.
Extras such as the comfort pack &/or technology pack etc. will attract VRT though, as Unkel calculated above.

Well wear though .

Soarer

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

How much did they charge you?

Can't remember if I'm honest. 'Twas a good few years ago now.

As a percentage of total VRT, it was a good bit over.
Kinda like the VRT should've been €650, but they charged me €150 for the extras. Something like that.

jesus_thats_gre

Soarer wrote: »

Can't remember if I'm honest. 'Twas a good few years ago now.

As a percentage of total VRT, it was a good bit over.
Kinda like the VRT should've been €650, but they charged me €150 for the extras. Something like that.

Being entirely transparent, that ratio won't upset me too much. Hoping for 4.5k but have budgeted up to 5.5k.

unkel

You might be luckier than that! Will you report back here when you know?

jesus_thats_gre

unkel wrote: »

You might be luckier than that! Will you report back here when you know?

Will indeed. Appointment is late this week.

bf

Be prepared to appeal. Given make & model it will be sent off to Revenue for valuation, so you’ll have to wait 10 days at least.

They managed to value my 9 month old car at more the same as a new one :eek:

I successfully appealed & got just over 50% of the VRT paid back

jesus_thats_gre

Dropped into the VRT office yesterday. They want to bring me back for a manual inspection.

Third_Echelon

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Dropped into the VRT office yesterday. They want to bring me back for a manual inspection.

ouch... rubber gloves coming out!

phill106

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Dropped into the VRT office yesterday. They want to bring me back for a manual inspection.

cough please...


Id say its a lovely motor. where did you get it from?

Kramer

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Dropped into the VRT office yesterday. They want to bring me back for a manual inspection.

I wouldn't worry about that to be honest. When I cleared a 530e earlier this year, they said the same - it would have to go off to revenue. This was approaching 5pm so close of business.
Had a call first thing the next morning saying it was all done & to call in to complete the paperwork, get the new reg etc.
Took no more than 5 minutes.

Well wear btw - sure you're delighted with it .

jesus_thats_gre

Got things all wrapped up today. Charged me 5,375 euro.

So car cost me a hair over 42k as things stand now.

jesus_thats_gre

phill106 wrote: »

Id say its a lovely motor. where did you get it from?

Got it from a BMW garage just south of London. Plenty of them on the Used section of the BMW UK Website.

Starting to get the hang of eDrive now. Was a bit concerned originally on the fuel economy front after driving her the across the UK for the ferry. Defo need to put her into the right mode every so often based on your planned trips etc.

Kramer

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Got things all wrapped up today. Charged me 5,375 euro.

I'd be appealing that!
Popping a 3 month old 530e into the online calculator returns €4,400 odd.
Yours is €1k higher & as it's at 14%, that would make any extras be valued at €7k, before any depreciation.

Seems very high to me...........no harm in appealing .

Well wear again - great car .

unkel

I'd appeal it too, based on the VRT calculator value and the second hand value of optional extras on your car. Argue that half of the value of optional extras is written off the moment you drive away from the forecourt.

galwaytt

unkel wrote: »

A nearly new 520d SE from a BMW dealer in Ireland would be thousands more than that. Why do people still buy those yokes?

....the usual reason: there are no factories churning out s/hand cars, only new ones........

And, for 'you' to be able to buy them as OP is, someone else does actually have to buy them new............no omelettes without breaking eggs etc.

unkel

I was comparing a second hand 530e with a second hand 520d

The latter costs more to buy than the former to be imported. And the former is so much the better car in every way. My question was why people still buy a 520d when they can have the 530e for less money?

Mike9832

unkel wrote: »

I was comparing a second hand 530e with a second hand 520d

The latter costs more to buy than the former to be imported. And the former is so much the better car in every way. My question was why people still buy a 520d when they can have the 530e for less money?

520D is still cheaper to run on motorway?

jesus_thats_gre

Mike9832 wrote: »

520D is still cheaper to run on motorway?

Funny how "discussions" start on boards..

ZV Yoda

unkel wrote: »

I'd appeal it too, based on the VRT calculator value and the second hand value of optional extras on your car. Argue that half of the value of optional extras is written off the moment you drive away from the forecourt.

I was thinking the same thing... although when I checked, there were 2 choices for 530e msport... and 2 choices for 530se. Seems strange.

In each case, the result were different - so it gives 2 different quotes for the same car based on whether you click the first option or the second option. On the car I checked, the difference was over €1k for both m sport and non m sport versions

sheeprelate

nice car - is battery reliability and degradation a concern for owners? and are warranties on UK BMWs fully honored in Ireland?

Mike9832

sheeprelate wrote: »

nice car - is battery reliability and degradation a concern for owners? and are warranties on UK BMWs fully honored in Ireland?

Suprisingly for such a complicated machine reliability seems pretty good.

Battery degradation is a non issue, they are high life cells with low energy denaity, with 1/3 of a buffer keeping them in the golden range of lithium ( 20-80%)

They will last a long long time

Pretty cool cars to be fair

manaboutdog

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Got it from a BMW garage just south of London. Plenty of them on the Used section of the BMW UK Website.

Starting to get the hang of eDrive now. Was a bit concerned originally on the fuel economy front after driving her the across the UK for the ferry. Defo need to put her into the right mode every so often based on your planned trips etc.

I'm interested in one of these just had a look on there, two questions.

There seems to be a huge disparity on prices between cars of similar age, spec and mileage - for example would you be wary of going for this Feb '19 for £28k vs this Jan'19 for £38k?

Is there much room to haggle in general?

jesus_thats_gre

manaboutdog wrote: »

I'm interested in one of these just had a look on there, two questions.

There seems to be a huge disparity on prices between cars of similar age, spec and mileage - for example would you be wary of going for this Feb '19 for £28k vs this Jan'19 for £38k?

Is there much room to haggle in general?

There differences between those is somewhat explainable by the specs, i.e. the more expensive car has both the M-Sport Plus (20 inch wheels for example) and Comfort packs.

But the difference in prices for the same spec did concern me at first but it seems to have worked out ok, i.e. I went for a car in the lower end of that cost band.

Not a massive amount room for haggling - maybe 300 to 500. A mate did manage to get 1k but he is a wheeler dealer at heart.

manaboutdog

Another quick one - if the car is registered in Feb 19, but the English plate is a 68, will it still get a 191 in Ireland?

kanuseeme

its free to use https://totalcarcheck.co.uk/ put the UK reg into that, gives some details on the car, reg date, CO2 etc.

The date its registered is the date you will get here.

Feb 19. = 191

bf

manaboutdog wrote: »

I'm interested in one of these just had a look on there, two questions.

There seems to be a huge disparity on prices between cars of similar age, spec and mileage - for example would you be wary of going for this Feb '19 for £28k vs this Jan'19 for £38k?

Is there much room to haggle in general?

That one at £28k looks great value - should be under €37k landed for a 191

manaboutdog

bf wrote: »

That one at £28k looks great value - should be under €37k landed for a 191

Mileage is under 5k so VAT would also be applied though?

unkel

manaboutdog wrote: »

Mileage is under 5k so VAT would also be applied though?

It's only got 1k km on it! But I'm telling ya, it's a long drive from London to Holyhead. Just checked it on Google maps. Exactly 5k km :pac:

sk8board

unkel wrote: »

I was comparing a second hand 530e with a second hand 520d

The latter costs more to buy than the former to be imported. And the former is so much the better car in every way. My question was why people still buy a 520d when they can have the 530e for less money?

I’d have the 530e too

Some reasons I can think of:
- The 520d is a cast iron cult hero here since the infamous €156 annual tax on the ‘08. Even today it’s only €200 and 60mpg is a breeze.
- Being a plug-in is an issue for sure. Some will be lazy and won’t want the home charger just now while the market evolves, others won’t have the facility to charge it by their house.
- High-milers love their diesel. Petrol still has a name for high fuel bills

Casati

unkel wrote: »

It's only got 1k km on it! But I'm telling ya, it's a long drive from London to Holyhead. Just checked it on Google maps. Exactly 5k km :pac:

You buy it vat free so 20% off and then pay 23% vat here. It cheap isn’t it for a nice spec 2019, has the important split seats too. Check that you are happy with the boot space as it is tight

obriea3

Nice car to be fair.
Can I ask if the instrument panel is fully digital and can you therefore change it to km....assuming it's in miles for the UK that is!