BMW 520d 2012

ice.cube

A friend of mine is considering buying a 2012 BMW 520d manual from a dealer. Car has just under 100k miles.

Anyone have any opinions on what these are like. Id be wary myself but any info would be appreciated!

Thanks

MetzgerMeister

Tell your friend to go either 530d or 330d due to the huge drop in chances of chain failure.

Leonard Hofstadter

ice.cube wrote: »

A friend of mine is considering buying a 2012 BMW 520d manual from a dealer. Car has just under 100k miles.

Anyone have any opinions on what these are like. Id be wary myself but any info would be appreciated!

Thanks

If your friend wants a 520d then he or she should get one of the facelifted cars with the newer engine that has no timing chain problems. The issue there is they may be beyond budget as the earliest cars with the latest engine were from late 2014 so realistically you're talking about a 151 reg as the oldest.

Otherwise, get a 530d, they can suffer the problem but a heck of a lot less likely, if it's got decent service history it should be fine as long as it the oil is changed as per schedule (ideally it should be earlier as BMW's allowance for up to 30,000 km on the same oil is nuts IMO).

Heres Johnny

I've a 2014 530d and a 2014 Audi A6 in the house and the Audi, despite not being mine, is my favourite. It's my first time driving Audi after a load of BMW 3 and 5 series. S Line and M sport models so they still look very fresh and modern.
Tell your friend its a very viable alternative as I'd be avoiding that age of a 520d due to the timing chain problem. It was just too common a fault for me to consider one. The 530d had chain replaced before I bought it in UK and has been fine.

ice.cube

Yes it really the timing chain issues that has me very wary. A new model one would be well out of budget too. To be honest my friend won't be doing hardly any milage. Mostly in and around town driving. I have tried to advise something petrol or hybrid.

I think there heart is set on the BMW atm! Any viable petrol alternatives for around? Must be something premium.

Idbatterim

why would you get a manual in a 5 series, a6 etc?!

MetzgerMeister

If you want petrol and premium, maybe An Audi A5 1.8 TFSi.

ice.cube

I would have a huge preference for auto too!

Heres Johnny

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

If you want petrol and premium, maybe An Audi A5 1.8 TFSi.

That's a good call, if going premium is the main call. Lovely looking car and about the only thing going in petrol that I can think of, apart from maybe a lexus hybrid.

ice.cube

Heres Johnny wrote: »

That's a good call, if going premium is the main call. Lovely looking car and about the only thing going in petrol that I can think of, apart from maybe a lexus hybrid.

Yes that is a great suggestion, they are a fine looking car. Does anyone know of any common issues with them or the petrol unit?

Much appreciated.

canonball5

I got a 520d 2011 about 3 months ago. I have to say, I love it. Plenty of power and luxury! Get one with a full history and ask the dealer to check with BMW if the chain has been done. If oil changes have been done you shouldn't worry too much. If you can afford an M-Sport I suggest getting it, and try and get one with sat-nav and the updated wider screen inside if the M-sport isn't a runner.

Stallingrad

The day you buy is the day you sell, a manual will be almost impossible to shift when he tires of it, which he will.

The auto suits the diesel much better and if you pal likes changing gears he can look for one with flappy paddles (though he will never use them).

drunkmonkey

Don't get a manual and don't buy a 520 without driving a 530. The difference in road tax and mpg will be irrelevant when your behind the wheel.

Stallingrad

Is this it OP? Only 2012 sub 100k miles.

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/5-series/fpa/201910153328753

shnaek

I bought a 520D 2012 but the chain had been done and it had a full service history. So far I'm loving it. Couldn't afford to go for a newer model, so I just hung on until I found one with a satisfactory history. And it's manual too.

bazz26

The F10 5 Series is a very big car to primarily be using around town. You will find fitting into small multistory car park spaces a challenge. Normally I'd agree with a 530d over a 520d but it sounds like a 530d would be even more pointless than a 520d being mostly used around town. Buy something either petrol or hybrid that isn't as big would be my advice for the type of use you are describing OP.