Advices for buying BMW 520d

mitra · 27-04-2021 11:15pm #1

Planning to buy a 142 reg 520d SE model with 100k miles on it for 14.5k with 2 yrs BMW warranty. is it worth it?
Is 100k miles too many for a BMW 5er?

Thanks!

bazz26 · 27-04-2021 11:41pm

100k miles is low to average for a 7 year old diesel car. It's not too low for them by a long shot, they are designed to eat miles, however a 142 could either have the old N47 engine or the new B47 engine. The older N47 engine is known for timing chain issues but the issue became less common by the time the engine was replaced with the newer B47 engine mid way through 2014. Assuming it's an automatic the N47 engine version will be €280 to tax whereas the B47 engine versions were €200 I think. Get one with the B47 engine if you can as they don't have any issues with timing chains. All these models also had a recall for the EGR cooler to be replaced too so check with the dealer that it was replaced.

The 2 year BMW warranty is well worth it especially at that age as these were expensive cars when brand new and that doesn't change when something goes wrong. Tyres, brake pads & discs can be expensive too and these cars are heavy so go through them fairly frequently. You can sign up to www.bmw-first.ie for discounts off main dealer servicing and parts and you can get an idea of main dealer servicing costs from www.bmwservice.ie (I think getting it serviced at the main dealer is a condition of the 2 year used BMW warranty).

mitra · 28-04-2021 8:55am

Thanks, @Bazz26 for the detailed writeup. As the car is early 142, the sales guy reckons it is N47 engine. It is automatic as well. Somewhere I read the tax is €200, but even if it is 80 more then I'm okay with it.
Unfortunately, there aren't many 15 reg approved cars within €20k. There are 16 which costs at least €6-7k more with around 55-60k miles. I feel it's a bit of a stretch in terms of budget.

Thanks for those links. I went through them to check the cost as you mentioned. I noticed the car may require DPF filter replacement after 125-155k miles and it costs €2k which is very expensive. Does it all need to be replaced or can it be reconditioned? Somewhere I read it can be reconditioned as well? Is it covered under warranty or it's considered normal wear and tear?

The more I unearth, the more scared I'm. Now I'm thinking to save €6-7k, I shouldn't be spending the same amount on the repairs of an old car, while I could get a relatively new car with low mileage. The only appealing factor was a 2-year warranty on this car.

bazz26 · 28-04-2021 10:50am

The DPF should only need replacing if it becomes so blocked that it cannot be cleaned out and they can be bought cheaper than what BMW will charge you. In all honesty most modern diesel cars will be same. Unless most of your driving is all short journeys then there are plenty of high mileage cars still working on their original DPF. If you are doing nothing but short journeys then diesel is not a suitable option for you to begin with.

As for the running costs, remember that these are premium branded cars that cost north of 50k/60k when brand new, they might be more affordable to buy 7 years later but if they break they can still cost money to fix, you can mitigate some of that with the 2 year warranty from BMW but you are paying for that in the price of the car or you can stay away from main dealers and find slightly cheaper options from independent specialists. But you need to have some money aside for unexpected bills as these cars are not going to be as cheap to own as a similarly priced Skoda Octavia or Toyota Corolla.

Henry Ford III · 28-04-2021 10:53am

Warranty sounds decent - I'd buy it as these can be quite troublesome.

mitra · 28-04-2021 11:13am

Thanks for that. That's a bit of a relief to know DPF may not need a replacement! I'd be mainly using it for the long distance drives, churning motorway miles, and maybe few short journeys. So hope it lasts longer

Yes, I'd totally agree with the cost of ownership. As it's a premium ride, definitely there'd be premium expenses in terms of maintenance! So I'd rather pay a slight bit extra for the warranty than paying a lot more for repairs.

But does saving €6/7k on a slightly older model make more sense then than paying for one/one and half year younger models? I.e 142 would cost €14.5k, 161/162 cost ~€22k. I'm going to keep the car for about 3 yes (or max 4 yrs)
Guess the depreciation rate on the younger car would be much more than the older car in 3 yrs? So I thought it makes sense to keep the savings of €7k, and can spend that in case of any major repairs come after 2 years warranty? If I'm lucky it'd go without any major expenses at all!

Am I right in my thought process and calculations!? Would like to know what others think!?

26000 Elephants · 28-04-2021 11:36am

mitra wrote: »

Thanks for that. That's a bit of a relief to know DPF may not need a replacement! I'd be mainly using it for the long distance drives, churning motorway miles, and maybe few short journeys. So hope it lasts longer

Yes, I'd totally agree with the cost of ownership. As it's a premium ride, definitely there'd be premium expenses in terms of maintenance! So I'd rather pay a slight bit extra for the warranty than paying a lot more for repairs.

But does saving €6/7k on a slightly older model make more sense then than paying for one/one and half year younger models? I.e 142 would cost €14.5k, 161/162 cost ~€22k. I'm going to keep the car for about 3 yes (or max 4 yrs)
Guess the depreciation rate on the younger car would be much more than the older car in 3 yrs? So I thought it makes sense to keep the savings of €7k, and can spend that in case of any major repairs come after 2 years warranty? If I'm lucky it'd go without any major expenses at all!

Am I right in my thought process and calculations!? Would like to know what others think!?

Keep as much cash in your pocket, and get to know a good specialist. You sound like you wont have dpf issues with the way you drive, anyway they can be pretty well cleaned for about €150 these days.

Just remember that car values tend to drop over a cliff at the 10 year mark: you wont hit it with the 161 @ 3 years but definitely on the 141 @ 3 years. Worth considering, but I'd still go with the cheaper option, especially with warranty.

mitra · 28-04-2021 2:57pm

Paid 35 euro to Cartell and I got the vehicle report. To my surprise, the engine is B47 :cool:

Initially went with DoneDeal greenlight check, but it's waste, doesn't even have 50% of the details covered by the Cartell. It didn't show the engine code, there was just the engine serial number.

I'm glad that I got the report. I should have done it sooner rather than later, Would have saved me some anxiety attacks

Theboinkmaster · 29-04-2021 8:14am

mitra wrote: »

Planning to buy a 142 reg 520d SE model with 100k miles on it for 14.5k with 2 yrs BMW warranty. is it worth it?
Is 100k miles too many for a BMW 5er?

Thanks!

Why SE may I ask? Personally I’d only get the m sport.

Some options I’d look out for:

Msport+

Pro navigation
Sun protection glass
Sports transmission
Harmon speaker upgrade

Mr.David · 29-04-2021 10:42am

I've had a 520d MSport for 3 years.
Only issue I have had was with air suspension (fitted on rear), fixed under warranty. Quite common. No engine issues, suspect there is a reporting bias (as in the only ones you read about online are where people did have issues, not where people had no issues). Would love to see stats for % of cars that it actually effects.

Loads of positives, its a great car really and an excellent all rounder. The opening glass panel on the tailgate is so handy I cannot understand why all estates don't have it.

Negatives - I really hate the 4cyl diesel. Came from a straight six previously and I just cannot stand it. But apart from being noisy its perfectly fine (plenty quick for family car, economical, quiet at speed). Ride could be better, if you are happy sacrificing the appearance of the MSport then I think SE is better choice and cheaper too. Having said that the ride is acceptable, have driven much worse. The flip side of it is the body control is excellent, I wouldnt go so far as to describe it as fun to drive but its very composed and controlled. Lastly its a big car, annoying for parking at times.

I dont have the Pro Nav, its an option that a lot of people seem to have as essential. Personally I don't know why, I hardly ever use Sat Nav. Mostly just for radio/settings and stuff and wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. Standard audio system I find fine too unless you are an audiophile.

I would avoid 19 inch alloys, the low speed ride is marginal enough over broken surfaces/potholes as is (mine is on 18s).

Brakes are expensive particularly discs (which are composite). Worth checking for disc wear and if worn factoring into the price.

Options I dont have which I would like - folding mirrors, think its crazy they are not standard on such a wide car. Memory seats. Apple car play (or capability to play audio from phone through the car).

mitra · 29-04-2021 1:51pm

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Why SE may I ask? Personally I’d only get the m sport.

Some options I’d look out for:

Msport+

Pro navigation
Sun protection glass
Sports transmission
Harmon speaker upgrade

Not that I don't like MSport, they aren't just available for the price that I'm after in approved used car scheme with 2 yrs warranty. Even if there are, they are at least 5k more than an SE and for me, it just doesn't justify that money. Also, I read a lot that SE is more than sufficient for most driving situations unless someone always likes aggressive driving.

I think the above mentioned spec is hard to find in the local market, guess there would be plenty of options if someone is willing to import from the North or from the UK.

mitra · 29-04-2021 2:19pm

This would be my first affair with a premium car and I don't want to get myself too deep into the ocean of debt.

So from an experience point of view, guess I'm not missing too much with SE compared to MSport model. The ProNav, high end speakers and memory seats are nice to haves but not mandatory. Initially, memory seat was on the must have list, but soon I realised they're rare finds, so dropped to nice to have.

I wish I could import from the north, but with the Brexit & the pandemic, there are lots of uncertainties. I don't think it's going to be that easy within next year. And I don't think I have the patience to handle all the logistics at this time.

punisher5112 · 29-04-2021 2:32pm

mitra wrote: »

This would be my first affair with a premium car and I don't want to get myself too deep into the ocean of debt.

So from an experience point of view, guess I'm not missing too much with SE compared to MSport model. The ProNav, high end speakers and memory seats are nice to haves but not mandatory. Initially, memory seat was on the must have list, but soon I realised they're rare finds, so dropped to nice to have.

I wish I could import from the north, but with the Brexit & the pandemic, there are lots of uncertainties. I don't think it's going to be that easy within next year. And I don't think I have the patience to handle all the logistics at this time.

Nothing wrong with going the northern route but be 100% sure it's a northern car or it was imported from mainland UK correctly so not to be hit with the new fees.

If you add up the Nox, vrt etc and you save then go that way.

Obviously if the car is on the high Nox it would cost too much.

shnaek · 01-05-2021 9:46pm

mitra wrote: »

This would be my first affair with a premium car and I don't want to get myself too deep into the ocean of debt.

I went for an SE 2 years ago and the only problem I've had with it was a puncture. I love the drive, the comfort, the look of the car. Like you the msport was too pricey for me. I was nervous for the first few months, waiting for something to go wrong, like you often are when you pick up a car. But at this stage I can say I am delighted with it.

bazz26 · 01-05-2021 10:20pm

I've owned 3 of those model 5 Series, a 520d SE, a 520d M Sport and a 530d M Sport. They are all comfortable cars even the ones with the M Sport suspension. The SE suspension is definitely softer and feels more like sitting on a big comfy arm chair. They all feel like a barge though but you will feel fresh as a daisy getting out of one after a long journey. I preferred the M Sport versions myself as I found the SE is a bit ordinary to look at but that's a personal preference really.

BTW there was also a Luxury model that fit in between the SE and M Sport. It was based on the SE but came with a few extra features such as the widescreen infotainment system, 18" alloy wheels and extra bits of exterior chrome.

Water2626262 · 02-05-2021 10:06am

Sounds like the SE is fine and to be fair hard suspension and big rims can be really annoying at times, especially when on bad roads. Also the cost of tyres will be much cheaper. Also you never see your car while your driving so does it really matter. Also a simple upgrade like dechroming the windows will make it look way sportier if that’s your preference.

I probably have some sort of mental condition but I do find myself lusting after the all the options I didn’t get (after a few months of ownership). If you don’t have that then go with the SE.

bazz26 · 02-05-2021 1:44pm

As I have already said, I've owned two 5 Series M Sports with 19" wheels and the suspension is perfectly comfortable on them even on fairly bad roads. The suspension soaks it up well and there is plenty of profile on the tyres to avoid destroying a rim on most proper roads. The OP can buy an SE if they that's what they want and are happy with but if the price of tyres is a concern then your best buying something different altogether with cheaper running costs. And as for not seeing the car while your driving, sure why care what car you buy then? Sure they will all do the same thing from the inside if that's all you see in a car.

Buddy Bubs · 02-05-2021 1:53pm

Buying a 7 year old car now means you'll be selling it after it's a 10 year old car and that means one thing, young lads will be your market. And most of them won't look at an SE, I know I didn't in my 20s and now in my late 30s, I still don't. That's if resale bothers you.

I had 2014 530d msport on 19s and now have an audi a6 S Line on 19s and they were both fine on the mix of roads I used. I wouldn't rule out an msport based on comfort either. Nice sports seats in both cars helps comfort. I'll hold my hand up though and say I've never driven an SE in either of them.
And this is coming from someone that thought the new 330e msport pro was far too hard on a test drive before Christmas, but I do believe I didn't use the adaptive suspension correctly, I was too focused on range.

mitra · 03-05-2021 6:41pm

Thanks a lot, folks for all your inputs. I've decided to go with this car as this is the cheapest available in the market with all the warranties.

A 2014 M Sport with similar mileage costs at least €4k more (and no guarantee that it is not going to an N47 engine). I've been tracking the market for well over 4 months now and there aren't many coming up in the market under 20k. Not sure if this was always the case or the effect of pandemic & Brexit.
Even if I go for a 2016 reg, it would still be an older F10 LCI version. In 3 years' time, there'd be plenty G30 in the used market. So regardless it is the 2014 or 2016 model, I think the value would depreciate quite drastically in 3 years.

So after a lot of deliberation, I've decided to go with it and take a chance. Wish me luck!

Buddy Bubs · 03-05-2021 6:45pm

Do you have a link to the actual car? Apart from that, if you're happy, go for it.
Msports probably what everyone that uses motoring forums would go for, but there is a market out there for SE as well of course. Best of luck.

mitra · 03-05-2021 6:50pm

Btw, is there a way to insure the new car temporarily for a day?
I don't want to transfer my insurance to the new car immediately as I'm thinking to drive in the old car with my wife and she'd bring the old one back home. And after a day I'll be transferring the insurance to the new car and the old one will be in the garage as we are not going to use it regularly until we are back in the office if that ever happens.

mitra · 03-05-2021 7:03pm

Buddy Bubs wrote: »

Do you have a link to the actual car? Apart from that, if you're happy, go for it.
Msports probably what everyone that uses motoring forums would go for, but there is a market out there for SE as well of course. Best of luck.

The ad is taken out from the marketplace. Here are some pics I got from the dealer.

I was a bit skeptical with the Space Grey, I was looking for a Black. But when I went to take a look, it was looking way better than in these pictures, and under the sun it looks much nicer. There aren't any major scratches or stone chipping or scuff marks. Hope I'll be able to maintain the upholstery white

Buddy Bubs · 03-05-2021 8:34pm

Grey is a nice colour. I have black car now and it's a pig to keep clean. Looks the biz when it's clean though and the sun shines on it. But that's rare enough! Best of luck with it

mitra · 07-05-2021 7:47pm

Here is a quick update on my experience after taking the delivery.

The car had minor scratches, minor stone chippings and a bit of corrosion paint were worn off on the wheels which the agent had agreed to fix. They have resprayed all 4 wheels (looks great now), got two new tyres but not the scratches. He told it would look odd if they try to fix it. It would look like a line drawn on the body and may not match the original paint. I too felt it's better to leave it rather than getting a dirty job done. Not sure if he was giving genuine reason or just trying to avoid the job.
I walked away thinking it's minor and I can live with it but it's annoying me now. I might get it done with some professional services like Chipsaway or elsewhere. Hope it doesn't cost a lot. Pls advise if you know some good place in Limerick or Galway or even Dublin would do.

The car had service records updated in iDrive system up to 90k km. But after that it was serviced outside by the previous owner, so didn't get that service history. I wasn't really sure of it until the last min. I thought it was served at some other dealer/ authorised service center, not with the dealer whom I was dealing with. I was a bit worried, but as I was getting 2 years warranty, it means they are vouching for that car. It must have gone through checks.

They said the car was serviced before the delivery and it has got all it needed, but the latest service was not updated in the iDrive system. It is not showing the next service due. Can they do it now? Is it possible to backfill the records? Should I get it updated? How important it is?

I checked for any outstanding recalls, found that there was one with code 0011290500 (don't know which recall it corresponds to?). So raised it with them, they said it was already done before the delivery and they won't release the car without the job done. There was a delay in updating the system. When I checked today it was showing no outstanding recalls.

In the sale agreement, the warranty says - 2 year BMW premium selection. Guess that's what it is called for a used car warranty? Can anyone confirm this pls?

When I asked the service manager if I have to service at a BMW authorised service center for the warranty, he told is not mandatory but the outside garage must use original parts and authorised oil for the service. Is that the case? I thought if it is not serviced with the BMW authorised service center, it'd void the warranty?

So, overall it was not a great experience that I was expecting from an authorised dealer. Got an impression that I was not a very important customer for them and he was trying to shoo me away. He was always trying to finish the conversation asap. Not sure if it's common with all big brand dealers or it was particularly with the one I was dealing with.

I must mention some good points as well - the car drives very smoothly, gear shifts are smooth, inside the cabin it's really nice, the seats don't show any wear. Got original rubber mats for front seats and in the boot.

dickdasr1234 · 07-05-2021 10:28pm

mitra wrote: »

Here is a quick update on my experience after taking the delivery.

The car had minor scratches, minor stone chippings and a bit of corrosion paint were worn off on the wheels which the agent had agreed to fix. They have resprayed all 4 wheels (looks great now), got two new tyres but not the scratches. He told it would look odd if they try to fix it. It would look like a line drawn on the body and may not match the original paint. I too felt it's better to leave it rather than getting a dirty job done. Not sure if he was giving genuine reason or just trying to avoid the job.
I walked away thinking it's minor and I can live with it but it's annoying me now. I might get it done with some professional services like Chipsaway or elsewhere. Hope it doesn't cost a lot. Pls advise if you know some good place in Limerick or Galway or even Dublin would do.

The car had service records updated in iDrive system up to 90k km. But after that it was serviced outside by the previous owner, so didn't get that service history. I wasn't really sure of it until the last min. I thought it was served at some other dealer/ authorised service center, not with the dealer whom I was dealing with. I was a bit worried, but as I was getting 2 years warranty, it means they are vouching for that car. It must have gone through checks.

They said the car was serviced before the delivery and it has got all it needed, but the latest service was not updated in the iDrive system. It is not showing the next service due. Can they do it now? Is it possible to backfill the records? Should I get it updated? How important it is?

I checked for any outstanding recalls, found that there was one with code 0011290500 (don't know which recall it corresponds to?). So raised it with them, they said it was already done before the delivery and they won't release the car without the job done. There was a delay in updating the system. When I checked today it was showing no outstanding recalls.

In the sale agreement, the warranty says - 2 year BMW premium selection. Guess that's what it is called for a used car warranty? Can anyone confirm this pls?

When I asked the service manager if I have to service at a BMW authorised service center for the warranty, he told is not mandatory but the outside garage must use original parts and authorised oil for the service. Is that the case? I thought if it is not serviced with the BMW authorised service center, it'd void the warranty?

So, overall it was not a great experience that I was expecting from an authorised dealer. Got an impression that I was not a very important customer for them and he was trying to shoo me away. He was always trying to finish the conversation asap. Not sure if it's common with all big brand dealers or it was particularly with the one I was dealing with.

I must mention some good points as well - the car drives very smoothly, gear shifts are smooth, inside the cabin it's really nice, the seats don't show any wear. Got original rubber mats for front seats and in the boot.

BMW.ie: "A pre-owned vehicle with the BMW Premium Selection certificate is at most five years old and has a maximum mileage of 120,000 km."

A minor error, I imagine but don't ever forget that you are dealing with a second-hand car salesman.

The good news is that BMW back up their promises even if the garage does not measure up. I was sold an absolute lemon with a little sharp practice thrown in for good measure but the issue was resolved by BMW customer care.

Backdating service records should only take minutes - it's amazing how careless they are in this regard. Apparently the service record is uploaded to BMW central and must be downloaded back to the car before it shows up.

I would be concerned about a missing service that has no documentation to back it up but it most likely has not been uploaded. Insist that the service record be updated in its entirety before you accept the car.

BMW.ie: "When you buy a pre-owned vehicle, you want to know everything: about the previous owners, customer service, any accidents and repairs. This is why every certified pre-owned vehicle from BMW also has a complete, certified vehicle history."

LillySV · 07-05-2021 10:40pm

mitra wrote: »

Not that I don't like MSport, they aren't just available for the price that I'm after in approved used car scheme with 2 yrs warranty. Even if there are, they are at least 5k more than an SE and for me, it just doesn't justify that money. Also, I read a lot that SE is more than sufficient for most driving situations unless someone always likes aggressive driving.

I think the above mentioned spec is hard to find in the local market, guess there would be plenty of options if someone is willing to import from the North or from the UK.

Model will make a difference when it comes to selling ... u sell an m sport easily and it hold its value a lot more than an se. ps don’t be thinking bmws are unreliable cars... they’re not!some of them have glitches like every manufacturer has! I’ve an e60(the model before f10) and love it. No trouble so far and have it 4 years.bmws are real drivers cars ..they have unbelievable handling also ... go for it !

Edit: just read the last page, congrats on purchase . Who u buy from? I got mine from a bmw garage and it didn’t have a full history ... missed one or two sevrice that were done by indies instead... they still provided it with the 2 year warranty u have so happy days

dickdasr1234 · 08-05-2021 3:45pm

An indie service is fine, as long as you have the documentation.

mitra · 08-05-2021 6:37pm

dickdasr1234 wrote: »

BMW.ie: "A pre-owned vehicle with the BMW Premium Selection certificate is at most five years old and has a maximum mileage of 120,000 km."

A minor error, I imagine but don't ever forget that you are dealing with a second-hand car salesman.

The good news is that BMW back up their promises even if the garage does not measure up. I was sold an absolute lemon with a little sharp practice thrown in for good measure but the issue was resolved by BMW customer care.

Backdating service records should only take minutes - it's amazing how careless they are in this regard. Apparently the service record is uploaded to BMW central and must be downloaded back to the car before it shows up.

I would be concerned about a missing service that has no documentation to back it up but it most likely has not been uploaded. Insist that the service record be updated in its entirety before you accept the car.

BMW.ie: "When you buy a pre-owned vehicle, you want to know everything: about the previous owners, customer service, any accidents and repairs. This is why every certified pre-owned vehicle from BMW also has a complete, certified vehicle history."

Thanks, @dickdasr1234.Good to know BMW back up their promise. That's a bit of peace of mind.

They don't have the records of when it was serviced at an indie garage between 90-160k kms. If it was some garage selling the car I wouldn't have accepted at all. As this is being sold by an authorised BMW dealer with a promise of 2-year warranty I went with it.

According to the dealer, the car was serviced before delivering it to me. But to back that claim, the iDrive doesn't have a record of it. And I'm insisting they update it as well. The car isn't showing the next service either. It is just randomly showing 10k km as the next service due.
I'll try to get the records updated, if they ignore my requiest I'll directly get in touch with the BMW customer service. Hope this will be resolved without a lot of struggle.

mitra · 08-05-2021 6:45pm

LillySV wrote: »

Model will make a difference when it comes to selling ... u sell an m sport easily and it hold its value a lot more than an se. ps don’t be thinking bmws are unreliable cars... they’re not!some of them have glitches like every manufacturer has! I’ve an e60(the model before f10) and love it. No trouble so far and have it 4 years.bmws are real drivers cars ..they have unbelievable handling also ... go for it !

Edit: just read the last page, congrats on purchase . Who u buy from? I got mine from a bmw garage and it didn’t have a full history ... missed one or two sevrice that were done by indies instead... they still provided it with the 2 year warranty u have so happy days

Thanks, @LillySV. Glad to know your car is still going well! Many more miles to you

. Yes, I love the drive. It is absolutely fantastic. Even though I'm working from home due to the pandemic, I'm making some excuses to take the car for a drive after work

Yes, I know Msport will hold its value better than an SE, but the price difference is so huge that it was out of my budget. Had it been a couple of grand more, I would have gone with it, but was at least €4k that too for an older car or with much higher mileage.

I bought it from the Authorised dealer, N.Conlan BMW in Limerick.

Yes, same with me. the car is BMW approved with 2 year warranty but it has a couple of missing service records as they were done by indies as well. Good to know it's common and not a dodgy sale

The only thing that is annoying me now is the latest service record isn't updated. they claim that the car was serviced before the delivery but that isn't reflecting in the iDrive system to back their claim.

bazz26 · 08-05-2021 7:56pm

What is the idrive currently saying about the schedule of the various items as it stands? Ie when is the next oil change due according to the idrive? If it is not flagged as being due now or due within about 2000 km then they won't update the idrive system if they did an unscheduled service on it.

LillySV · 08-05-2021 11:44pm

mitra wrote: »

Thanks, @LillySV. Glad to know your car is still going well! Many more miles to you . Yes, I love the drive. It is absolutely fantastic. Even though I'm working from home due to the pandemic, I'm making some excuses to take the car for a drive after work

Yes, I know Msport will hold its value better than an SE, but the price difference is so huge that it was out of my budget. Had it been a couple of grand more, I would have gone with it, but was at least €4k that too for an older car or with much higher mileage.

I bought it from the Authorised dealer, N.Conlan BMW in Limerick.

Yes, same with me. the car is BMW approved with 2 year warranty but it has a couple of missing service records as they were done by indies as well. Good to know it's common and not a dodgy sale
The only thing that is annoying me now is the latest service record isn't updated. they claim that the car was serviced before the delivery but that isn't reflecting in the iDrive system to back their claim.

Your right to ensure the record is updated , I’m sure they will sort it, but it’s bad that they haven’t so far. What they say to you?

Advices for buying BMW 520d

Comments