06 520d or 525d?

Hi

So today I took a deposit on my e90 330i and a month ago I bought a Volkswagen passat but it's has slowly been killing my enthusiasm for cars.

I'm doing higher mileage now so need a diesel and have a second baby on the way so need bigger boot than the 3 series.

I've been looking out at the 5 series. There's one I'm going to look at Monday a 525d auto how bad are they on diesel? How reliable is the auto box?

As far as I'm aware the 06 520d engine is not the troublesome timing chain engine?

Thanks

I'd look at a 530d aswell, looked at one last weekend, they're a super machine.

I tried an 07 520d and found it pretty dissapointing...I'd definitely go for the 6 pot if you can

I've had both.
My 2005 525d auto was a nice car after been remapped. It was approx 210bhp (177 standard).

My MPG for city driving was 22ish.

22mpg ouch I'd have expected better I got that in the 330i.

I think any diesel I get will be getting remapped.

I'd say that's 100% city

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Originally Posted by Dave

I'd say that's 100% city

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Yeah, 100% city but with some motorway at the weekend. Not much though, Finglas to blanch or Clongriffin.

If I was doing city driving or low mileage no way I'd be driving a diesel would have stuck with the 330i.

Pretty much decided I'm going to go with a manual 525d now it's just trying the right one could take a while.

Test drove one lovely car but couldn't get past the fact it wasn't leather interior.

Theres lci leather interiors on donedeal and adverts for 4-500 its an easy swap done in a few hours and you'd get 250 id say for your old one

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Originally Posted by Gar

Theres lci leather interiors on donedeal and adverts for 4-500 its an easy swap done in a few hours and you'd get 250 id say for your old one

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its not so easy to swap seats from LCI to non LCI or up side down :wink: bit modified wiring on door cards,and very big difference with seat wiring .different air bag system

Decent manual ones are few and far between plenty of automatic ones knocking around the place.

One gone up tonight with high mileage which I'm not to sure of and grey leather interior isn't that enticing either. Maybe I'm just to fussy :smiling:

Grey is the least desirable , try the auto im a die hard manual nut but the bmw auto is a very nice box and is a joy to drive suits the short rev range well in the diesel

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Originally Posted by Gar

Grey is the least desirable , try the auto im a die hard manual nut but the bmw auto is a very nice box and is a joy to drive suits the short rev range well in the diesel

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Yeh grey just looks dull to me each to there own but never understood someone buying a new car opting for leather and then picking grey leather. Might be why that one is up so cheap does seem to be well maintained though.

I test drove one auto just isn't for me I like feeling like I'm driving the car not the car driving me I've always enjoyed manual for me auto takes some the fun out of driving.

Hope I find something soon the Passat is slowly killing me plus don't want to have to put any more money into it by taxing it.

Its going to be very very hard to find a manual 90% of 5 series are autos but you have held out this long may as well hold out a little longer

Ok just a little update went and had a look at 530d tonight.

Nice car to drive not to bad on the diesel okay so not a miser but a lot more economical than the 330i.

Low enough mileage an 04 with 109000 miles clutch and flywheel replaced recently, along with new discs and pads and a bit of other smaller work carried out. Full service history and receipts for all work carried out.

Is there anything else I should look out for on them or be wary off? Seems legit only issue I could see was a small dint scratch on the drover door and front driver side panel which in time I could get fixed after a remap and tinting the back windows for the kids.

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Originally Posted by Marty mcfly

Ok just a little update went and had a look at 530d tonight.

Nice car to drive not to bad on the diesel okay so not a miser but a lot more economical than the 330i.

Low enough mileage an 04 with 109000 miles clutch and flywheel replaced recently, along with new discs and pads and a bit of other smaller work carried out. Full service history and receipts for all work carried out.

Is there anything else I should look out for on them or be wary off? Seems legit only issue I could see was a small dint scratch on the drover door and front driver side panel which in time I could get fixed after a remap and tinting the back windows for the kids.

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Swirl flaps were they removed ? And exhaust manifold tends to crack , e39 cast iron ones are a direct replacement but costly

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Originally Posted by Pentea

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marty mcfly

Ok just a little update went and had a look at 530d tonight.

Nice car to drive not to bad on the diesel okay so not a miser but a lot more economical than the 330i.

Low enough mileage an 04 with 109000 miles clutch and flywheel replaced recently, along with new discs and pads and a bit of other smaller work carried out. Full service history and receipts for all work carried out.

Is there anything else I should look out for on them or be wary off? Seems legit only issue I could see was a small dint scratch on the drover door and front driver side panel which in time I could get fixed after a remap and tinting the back windows for the kids.

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Swirl flaps were they removed ? And exhaust manifold tends to crack , e39 cast iron ones are a direct replacement but costly

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He never mentioned either of them to be honest is removing the swirl flaps a big job? It's a manual would it have swirl flaps? I'll ring tomorrow and check to see if either have been done on it.