Another What Car thread

[James Bond Junior]

I will admit that the 550i example was a bit tongue in cheek.

I should point out though, that in 2010 the RRP for the SE here in Ireland was around €95k and the options on this example would probably add €15-20k to that. With VRT paid the price on the road represents about a 15% residual value. Anyone think that this car is 85% used?

Loving the man maths!

[dergside]

Loving the man maths!

Hey, if that's a capital offence I'll have company in front of the firing squad

On the other hand, the math of a 520d actually stands up to scrutiny

[Mark]

Mark - I know exactly what you mean about the 520d thing. That's what concerns me a little. Its why I ended up with this 530i in 2015, having spent the previous 9 months in a very nice spec f10 520d SE. In fact the proceeds of the 520d bought both the e60 and e63.

The thing is that as time progresses, and car lifecycles move on, an equivalent age/mileage but more desirable (M-Sport) spec costs significantly less than both the 520d cost in 2014 and the combined cost of equivalent models of the other cars.

Experience, with both the current 530i and more than my share of other bigger engined cars over many years, says that the 530i, or equivalent, does and will pretty much continue to use the car allowance I have. That's not especially a problem, that's what the allowance is for, but when you calculate, on the same basis, that a 2016 520d M-Sport would use just half of it then you have to stop and think if there is any rationality in the older cars, or you are putting a huge premium on the user experience of the bigger engines cars.

And then you find something like this - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ice-asc&page=4

It depends on how much importance you put on low speed NVH and also general engine character. As I said, I did all the maths and had myself convinced but the 520d just didn't do it, certainly not when we're talking about the amounts of money that a 2016 520d costs! There is a lovely (albeit high mileage) 08 730i for sale at the moment with comfort seats, much nicer place to spend your time! It does sound like your mind is made up on the 520d though, if so just go for it.

Out of interest - do your man maths include all costs i.e. not just fuel and tax but depreciation and likely repairs. Also the risk factor that, if you've put ~17k into a car and it drops a gearbox (or a timing chain..) you're going to be invested so will have to foot the bill. If your 530i drops a major failure tomorrow, you are not stuck with a massive sunk investment that you have to protect...

I wish there were a glut of 6 cylinder petrols @ about 5-7 years old because that's what I'd be buying but there just isn't. It's a shame but I feel I'll be stuck in "old petrols" for some years..

[dergside]

Firstly, yep, the TCO figures, I've calculated cover purchase cost, 3 years worth of road tax, maintenance, repairs, consumables (tyres, etc.), fuel and a ballpark residual value - all calculated back to a price per mile, based on 3 years/45k miles. Same rules apply to all that I've compared so maintenance and repairs calculated for an older car are estimated a little higher per year than a fresher younger diesel. That's just using the accumulated experience of >20 year and 650k miles of BMW experience.

On NVH - I see your point, but if the main role of the 520d is to do a decent job of the 30 minute commute twice a day rather than a late night 250 mile non-stop run to the tip top of Donegal then your level of tolerance of NVH with a 4 pot diesel is different. In this scenario then the existing 630i or similar would deal with NVH where it counts.

In an ideal world I'd keep on buying good value 6-7 year old straight six petrols, but like you said, that's not a realistic option in the times in which we live, and not going to get a whole lot better. Given todays apparent government formation then it could get worse even more quickly.

The 520d approach isn't a foregone conclusion here, in fact just before reading this post I was looking at this - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...e=60000&page=4 and checking it on the VRT Calculator. However, it does make a strong real world argument.

[318 iS Cosmos]

Diarmuid, that 335i looks stunning and the DCT is a rare option on these (if the ad is correct).

I still can't get over the distinct lack of F3x petrol variants for sale on our shores, everything is still diesel unfortunately.

[dergside]

I still can't get over the distinct lack of F3x petrol variants for sale on our shores, everything is still diesel unfortunately.

A legacy (maybe the only one) of the last Green influenced government. Can't wait to find out what they've got in store for us this time around. I'm sold on the need for change, but I think we can expect it to hurt.....