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Child Item

BMW 530D or 535D or 640D

Pkiernan

2015 to 2016...which would you choose and why?

The 535d has a small edge in 0 to 60 over the 530d, but I'm not that pushed by it.

Are there any other advantages?

I'd like a 640d Gran Coupe but not sure how well it works with child seats (2). Anyone got any real world experience?

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colm_mcm

The 640d if it’s within budget. It’s gorgeous and not nearly as common/popular as the 5 series. No idea how practical they are though.

Duke O Smiley

MarkN of this parish had one (a 6 series) until recently I believe. He has a detailed thread in the buying forum

Wailin

Pkiernan wrote: »

The 535d has a small edge in 0 to 60 over the 530d, but I'm not that pushed by it.

0-60 in 5.3 vs 5.8 might not seem much but it feels very different due to the twin turbo in the 535d. Much more torquey and power band much broader, from 1500rpm right up to almost red line. 530d has more mid range feel to it. 640d same engine as 535d. 313hp compared to 258hp in 530d.

640d would be way ahead for a premier feel sitting behind the wheel. Slighly slower than 535d due to extra weight but nothing noticeable. A good spec 530d would be my choice over a lower spec 535d. The difference in power in Ireland would not be a big factor.

MarkN

The rear of the 640d in the coupe was not great for child seats, my 3 year old was running out of leg room and I already had to have the front passenger seat quite far forward, with a new baby now here too, moving my seat forward wouldn’t have been an option, so I sold it a month ago.

I haven’t ruled out a GC, they’re just a fantastic car, look great, superb power, not common, €390 annual road tax etc but I would be wary of how much more leg room there is in the GC. I will at some stage try and put the two kids seats in the back seat of one and will either properly rule it in or out then.

So I’d suggest going to have a look at one and try the seats in the back, maybe before you drive it as the second you drive it you’ll probably want to get it

If it’s a factor, be prepared for quite a drop in residuals on a 2015 or 2016 one.

rabbitinlights

535d all day long - one of the best all round cars you can buy.

Theboinkmaster

If it wasn't for the kids I'd go 640d but with kids I'd say 5 is more sensible.

Just put the 2 car seats into a 6 GC and see how you get on.

Not just legroom but being lower down would kill my back as kids get heavy

blingrhino

rabbitinlights wrote: »

535d all day long - one of the best all round cars you can buy.

Very few knocking around.

Four Phucs Ache

I have passenger experience of all three,

530 d - ooh nice shove there

535d - aww man this is all you need

640d- Christ, I'm selling the kids

[Deleted User]

Four Phucs Ache wrote: »

I have passenger experience of all three,

530 d - ooh nice shove there

535d - aww man this is all you need

640d- Christ, I'm selling the kids

The 535d and 640d are the same engine so..... Aww man, christ I'm selling the kids, this is all you need

Pkiernan

So the kids are 3 and 5. So 1 will be in a booster, the other in a full size forward facing.

Pricewise from the UK, the 640d and the 535d are quite similar, so it boils down to the child seats really.

[Deleted User]

If child seats are the main concern between the 2, the best of both worlds is the 640d GC when it comes to access but it's a 4 seater whereas the 535d fits 3 across the back.

Pkiernan

Thanks

bazz26

The other problem with the 6 GC and child seats is the low sloping roofline. If your taking children in and out of the back regularly then it will do your back in because you're constantly bending down to get in. Something to be wary of. You should also take into account parking, both the 5 Series and especially the 6 GC are big wide cars, they can be a right pain to park especially if you are parking in multi-story car parks with spaces designed around a Micra.

Theboinkmaster

bazz26 wrote: »

The other problem with the 6 GC and child seats is the low sloping roofline. If your taking children in and out of the back regularly then it will do your back in because you're constantly bending down to get in. Something to be wary of.

As much as I adore the 6 GC - that would exactly be my issue, it's an absolute killer putting a 35lb kid into a car seat that low down

digiman

bazz26 wrote: »

The other problem with the 6 GC and child seats is the low sloping roofline. If your taking children in and out of the back regularly then it will do your back in because you're constantly bending down to get in. Something to be wary of. You should also take into account parking, both the 5 Series and especially the 6 GC are big wide cars, they can be a right pain to park especially if you are parking in multi-story car parks with spaces designed around a Micra.

Multi-story car parks are a total nightmare with my G31 5 Touring, at almost 5m long they are difficult to manoeuvre around and when your are trying to protect the alloys it's a real pain. The saloon version is only 6mm shorter so it will have the same problems.

djivide_

digiman wrote: »

Multi-story car parks are a total nightmare with my G31 5 Touring, at almost 5m long they are difficult to manoeuvre around and when your are trying to protect the alloys it's a real pain. The saloon version is only 6mm shorter so it will have the same problems.

I have to admit i have never had an issue with size, I have had 2x F10 and currently a g30 with 20" rims so i can understand trying to protect them but I have never found it too long / wide. I do keep an eye out for a wide parking space but generally not a problem. If you do find it big the 360 degree cameras are great, I dont have them on this car but had the previous one.

Wailin

5 series no bigger than your mondeos, passats, A6's etc so any large saloon will find it tight in these multi-story car parks. 6 series GC on the otherhand is longer and wider so will be very awkward to avoid kerbing. I wouldn't go near these car parks anyway unless no other option.

MarkN

A 6 series is a nightmare in most multi story car parks. I had mine 24 hours and I marked the lower front splitter in Jury’s Christchurch.

The parking sensors beep and display the usual green yellow and red but you don’t truly know how close the pointy ends of the car are to a wall or whatever.

digiman

djivide_ wrote: »

I have to admit i have never had an issue with size, I have had 2x F10 and currently a g30 with 20" rims so i can understand trying to protect them but I have never found it too long / wide. I do keep an eye out for a wide parking space but generally not a problem. If you do find it big the 360 degree cameras are great, I dont have them on this car but had the previous one.

I find in alot of the city centre multi story car parks in Dublin that you can't go up the ramps to the next floor in one go in a few cases. And the width of the spaces are so tight that it can be a real pain to get into most spaces and open your door. A real bad example recently is the Aisling Hotel car park on park gate street. A proper dump of a car park.

Thankfully I've still not done any damage but do find having to be much more careful than when I had the 3 series. I did have the 360 degree cameras on her but don't find them that useful in multistories. They were great for coming out of blind junctions though as they had cameras just after the front wheel arch so could see much further ahead that you can.

rabbitinlights

Is a touring out of the question? 535d Touring would be tasty.

Slightly biased but I think the F11 Touring is one of the best all rounders if you've kids - Rear Doors are much squarer for better access.