520d vs e220d?

Throw the Volvo S90 into the mix. https://www.donedeal.ie/cars/Volvo/S90?year_from=2018&year_to=2019

Not a huge choice at the moment, but they are superb.

I'd have no issue with diesel as you'll get your full value out of the car assuming you are keeping it for a few years. A low mileage 2018 might make more financial sense

I have driven the G30 520d, w213 E220d, and S90 inscription. For me the Volvo S90 was the best of the 3. It has the most tech as standard, its very comfortable, the seats are amazing. However the boot is the smallest of the 3. I haven't driven the new model A6

One issue I have with the S90 is the gearbox is a bit slow/not as smooth off the mark without the polestar upgrade than the 2 germans, but the polestar upgrade from the dealership fixes this. The selection of s90's on the market is very poor at the moment thanks to brexit as people are snapping them up. They are beautiful and quite reliable from what I heard from a friend in the trade. Every time I see one I think they are very striking yet elegant at the same time.

Bmw is awful for reliability outside of a warranty with the least tech as standard. That's why you never see a 5 series as a taxi. The E220d is probably more reliable than the S90 but the better standard tech in the S90 wins it for me.

I rank them in this order.

1. S90

2. E220

3. G30

I'd be going for the E220, but I'm biased because I already have an E220 ,not 191 reg, unfortumantly, but was in one yesterday, and as you have said, its something else. The owner has driven only MB E class in twenty years, first as it was a company car, but when he retired, he choose the E220 again, the one I was in. Aside from the comfort element, he finds it very economical, and in his experience, has never had any major technical issues.I'd say that down the road we will all be driving EV's,,, but not for quite a few years yet.

Well, I'd fit the age part anyway, but I've driving many different vehicles, and in many different Countrys too...and on roads (or lack of them !!! ) you would not believe. But even on the Irish secondary roads, I find that the E class 220 ( or even the 200 ) performs very well, given that the E class is more or less a long distance motor cruiser type vehicle. And in Germany, you will find that the the E class ( and S class too) are most common make of taxi's. And with the 220 engine producing 170 BHP ( and mappable to higher levels) and mated to a 7 speed automantic transmission, it's quite a car, IMHO. I'm on my 2nd one presently, an it ticks all the boxes for me, But its a very subjective thing. I have not yet driven any Volvos much, so cannot comment. The BMW is a fine car, but as has already been pointed out, it can have annoying mechanical niggles. + the N47 timing chain did a lot damage to the brand. The A 6 are fine cars, I owned one at one stage, and would not say NO to another one....main problem I found with it was the the suspension / steering links need replacing frequently., and that irish roads are to blame for most of it.

Well the first w212 E class Mercs ( 2009-2013 ) had the really long bonnet, the one with the MB "Gunsight" badge on it. The 2013 onwards model had the more streamlined sloping bonnet, and the MB Badge on the bonnet, was laid "Flat" on it. While they are all the same overall length overall, the 2013 models look smaller, and therefore seem more "Drivable" . But there's no escaping the fact, they are big cars. For the BMW's , they are a big car too. But they are all managable. ( but then after driving old Volvo N10's where they had to have two visibility poles mounted on the front bumper to show you where the bumper actually was, anything would seem managable.)

You're not really aware of the F10 size while driving, more so its weight, but with PDC parking is no problem. But it is a very long bonnet alright considering 95% of them have a humble 4 pot under the hood, blame the V8 engineering requirements.