help in estate choice

[NewMB]

Well if thats the case the 535d must be quite bad, as in a small Uk based forum of X5 owners turbo failure was common on the single turbo engines.

This particular salesguy told me that within one week, he had 3 freshly delivered cars with the same turbo problem.

Also lots of leaking roofs on the new 3-series convertible.

 

[Barryh]

Considering where we are, I'd go for the.......

Mercedes!

Is the 280 cdi not an option?

Simon

No C280cdi avaliable.unless I get another E280.

 

[Barryh]

Sorry that is not correct.

The M-Sport uses Bilstein shocks with eibach springs and soaks up poor UK roads far better than the cheap and nasty Boge/Sachs set up on the SE.

Also the sidewalls being stiff are the problem with the run flats and thus, 18's and 19's are actually more compliant and more comfy than the 16's and 17's.

Best ride so far is the M-Sport with Micelin Pilot Sport Zero Pressure 18" tyres, worse ride is an SE on 17" Bridgestones.


530d M-Sport from March 2007 is a nice ride and with the new gear box will return around 38mpg compared with 30mpg for the previous one.
I nearly didn't buy my 535d sport touring because of the interior, but once you get to live with it I think you will change your mine, I loved mine.

This was mine...

Only thing I would have changed is probably the aluminium trim, prefer the black ash or Piano Gloss black...

I would definitely try and get one with the HUD, it is a fantastic option for anyone that does a few miles or travels abroad, switching your car so all reading are in metric so you get L/KM, KMph, Metres till next turn etc. is spot on.

Also, I would forget the run flats, buy the emergency wheel and a set of 4 Falken FK452's, will cost you £500 all in and the ride is sublime.



However.........I am going towards the Merc!
As a big estate the Merc seems to suit it better, just a shame the E320cdi feels so sluggish though, but hey ho, it is very comfy, a nice interior and makes you keep your speed down a bit.



Audi Quattro. Please don't get me started on them, quite frankly the most dull and boring car I have ever owned!!
I absolutely detested mine!

Don't get me wrong, love the image (well used to even that is going downhill fast, every one sat on your **** in the outside lane now seems to be an A4 2.0tdi driver!!) and the design, plus the interior is well put together and the nav is good, but they are horrible to drive, I think they make sense for those that need a 4x4 but don't want a traditional one, but why people buy them who don't need it is beyond me, I fell for it once and never again!!!

My old one...

So to sum up, with a Merc you waft around in comfort, with a BMW you tend to hammer it everywhere with a big grin until that camera flashes you again and with the Audi you either understeer into the wall or just crash into it because you have fallen asleep through complete and utter boredom!!


All just my opinion of course.

I am of course thinking of changing from E class 280cddi to 220 c class.320 is to greedy on fuel

 

[jeremytaylor]

Having driven a Citroen C6 with a Head Up Display, I too think they should be standard on all cars. They work brilliantly.

 

[Barryh]

since the pull seems to be MB,what is the better choice E 280/320 or c220

considering C is all new and assume similar spec.space is not top priority but swift overtaking ability & comfort priority.E due to be replaced in 09.

 

[gIzzE]

This particular salesguy told me that within one week, he had 3 freshly delivered cars with the same turbo problem.

Also lots of leaking roofs on the new 3-series convertible.

The 530d has had a few failures, but the 535d with two smaller turbos working less hard have been fine, I have been on the BMW forums for 5 years now discussing the 535d and not known one to have failed yet. 1000's of owners all over Europe.


Also, if you are buying auto the difference between 530d and 535d is only £1400, and the 535d destroys the 530d for performance.






If you don't need the space then it has to be a C class, the new C is the best non AMG Merc so far for driver fun. Why not a C320cdi??

 

[gIzzE]

If you could go a "notch" down you could get a C320cdi W204 estate and Brabus it, then you'd be okay.

I see you've had petrol cars, does this estate have to be a diesel? E500's are very cheap and the performance on offer would be a match for your tuned 335i?

Need the space of an E, hence the change.

I bought an E320 V6 the other day, W210, as we just had our second child and the dog and buggy and all my teenage daughters stuff is too much for the 3 series touring, and have fallen for it.

So I have sold the 3er and will sell the E320 and get a W211, I was looking at 07 Sports and thought the best bet for depreciation would be the cdi. I have just spoke to someone about an 03 E320cdi avantgarde though, 60k miles and £12k, may just get that and run it for 5 years, would owe my nothing at the end.
Looked at a couple of E500's but not many around and they seem to owe the dealers alot so they don't want to haggle and to be honest I would rather get an 06 E55 if going that route.

 

[st4]

since the pull seems to be MB,what is the better choice E 280/320 or c220

considering C is all new and assume similar spec.space is not top priority but swift overtaking ability & comfort priority.E due to be replaced in 09.

If space isn't a top priority then get a C class. It will depreciate less and the 220cdi will easily be powerful enough for the car.

 

[glojo]

I have been on the BMW forums for 5 years now discussing the 535d and not known one to have failed yet. 1000's of owners all over Europe.

I fear that we have a quisling in our midst that appears to be trying to boost the sales of the most ugly vehicle ever to be introduced onto our highwaqys and bye-ways.

I have no idea how serious the issue is with the '35' twin turbo'd engine but please do not insult our intelligence by saying it is bullet proof.

My neighbour (two doors away) traded in his 320CDI estate for a new 535D estate and that thing was everything the 320CDI was not. The 535 spent more time at the dealership than at my friends home and eventually after two very serious engine issues BMW took the thing back. To keep this person happy he was given a new very well equipped X5 (he had enough of the terrible unreliability of the 535)

I don't know what forum's you frequent but I thought it was common knowledge that there were issues with this high performance engine which when running correctly is a power plant that is second to none.

E class or C-class?? What is your budget The E is a beautiful vehicle that exudes luxury and perhaps presence

John

 

[NewMB]

I fear that we have a quisling in our midst that appears to be trying to boost the sales of the most ugly vehicle ever to be introduced onto our highwaqys and bye-ways.

I have no idea how serious the issue is with the '35' twin turbo'd engine but please do not insult our intelligence by saying it is bullet proof.

My neighbour (two doors away) traded in his 320CDI estate for a new 535D estate and that thing was everything the 320CDI was not. The 535 spent more time at the dealership than at my friends home and eventually after two very serious engine issues BMW took the thing back. To keep this person happy he was given a new very well equipped X5 (he had enough of the terrible unreliability of the 535)

I don't know what forum's you frequent but I thought it was common knowledge that there were issues with this high performance engine which when running correctly is a power plant that is second to none.

E class or C-class?? What is your budget The E is a beautiful vehicle that exudes luxury and perhaps presence

John

+ 1

This is exactly what I have heard as well. Personally if I've have taken the BMW route, I would have chosen the 530d over a 535d without a doubt.

 

[st4]

+ 1

This is exactly what I have heard as well. Personally if I've have taken the BMW route, I would have chosen the 530d over a 535d without a doubt.

I fear that we have a quisling in our midst that appears to be trying to boost the sales of the most ugly vehicle ever to be introduced onto our highwaqys and bye-ways.

I have no idea how serious the issue is with the '35' twin turbo'd engine but please do not insult our intelligence by saying it is bullet proof.

My neighbour (two doors away) traded in his 320CDI estate for a new 535D estate and that thing was everything the 320CDI was not. The 535 spent more time at the dealership than at my friends home and eventually after two very serious engine issues BMW took the thing back. To keep this person happy he was given a new very well equipped X5 (he had enough of the terrible unreliability of the 535)

I don't know what forum's you frequent but I thought it was common knowledge that there were issues with this high performance engine which when running correctly is a power plant that is second to none.

E class or C-class?? What is your budget The E is a beautiful vehicle that exudes luxury and perhaps presence

John

Just like to add that the single turbo engine is far from perfect with plenty of turbo failures, it was suggested that maybe the 35d might even be more reliable.

Apparently the 35d is the best diesel when running and performing, but many owners on BMW forums seem unimpressed with the fuel consumption. I spoke to a BMW salesman and he said it was not at all an economical engine and I'd be better with a 335i or a 330d.

There is a few cars which are arguably uglier than the 5 series, i.e. the X6 and 6 series. If I were going for a 5 series my advice would be a used petrol one.

 

[gIzzE]

I fear that we have a quisling in our midst that appears to be trying to boost the sales of the most ugly vehicle ever to be introduced onto our highwaqys and bye-ways.

I have no idea how serious the issue is with the '35' twin turbo'd engine but please do not insult our intelligence by saying it is bullet proof.

My neighbour (two doors away) traded in his 320CDI estate for a new 535D estate and that thing was everything the 320CDI was not. The 535 spent more time at the dealership than at my friends home and eventually after two very serious engine issues BMW took the thing back. To keep this person happy he was given a new very well equipped X5 (he had enough of the terrible unreliability of the 535)

I don't know what forum's you frequent but I thought it was common knowledge that there were issues with this high performance engine which when running correctly is a power plant that is second to none.

E class or C-class?? What is your budget The E is a beautiful vehicle that exudes luxury and perhaps presence

John

www.e60.net
www.bmwland.co.uk
www.tyresmoke.net
www.e90post.com (loads of 335d owners)
www.mtorque.co.uk
www.pistonheads.co.uk


As I say, I have not personally heard of any major problems with the 3/535d and turbo failure, hundreds of users, most of them with remapped cars and not heard of one.


Seems to me that some of the Mercedes uses are a very narrow minded breed that can't see beyond a three pointed star.
The guy was asking for advice on 5er tourings and as somone that had owned one thought I would give an opinion based on some facts, don't expect to be shot down by someone for giving out that opinion.
To be called a traitor just shows how narrow minded and blinkered you realy are when it comes to different brands. A traitor???

 

[NewMB]

Just like to add that the single turbo engine is far from perfect with plenty of turbo failures, it was suggested that maybe the 35d might even be more reliable.

Apparently the 35d is the best diesel when running and performing, but many owners on BMW forums seem unimpressed with the fuel consumption. I spoke to a BMW salesman and he said it was not at all an economical engine and I'd be better with a 335i or a 330d.

There is a few cars which are arguably uglier than the 5 series, i.e. the X6 and 6 series. If I were going for a 5 series my advice would be a used petrol one.

Agree on used petrol. That 3 litres in 530i and 330i are one sweet engine.

X6, 6, 5 series all win the contest of being ugly!

But, even if the cars were really beautiful, the fact is that the 3 series outsells even Mondeo. Common as m**k.

It's like a Volvo in Sweden! Everybody has one!

 

[st4]

Agree on used petrol. That 3 litres in 530i and 330i are one sweet engine.

!

I had an X5 with it, lovely smooth engine, better than their V8 offering. I however wouldn't recommend a 5 estate purely on the grounds of a 4* NCAP and appearances. I'd probably go with a 330i if I were in the market for an esate, but I'd rather have a 204. The BMW cabins in the new gen doing nothing for me, and as you say, they are EVERYWHERE.

Not many folk seem keen on Audi's A6 offering. Lovely V6 diesel, 4WD security, good 5* NCAP - a lot to recommend.

 

[gIzzE]

Just like to add that the single turbo engine is far from perfect with plenty of turbo failures, it was suggested that maybe the 35d might even be more reliable.

Apparently the 35d is the best diesel when running and performing, but many owners on BMW forums seem unimpressed with the fuel consumption. I spoke to a BMW salesman and he said it was not at all an economical engine and I'd be better with a 335i or a 330d.

There is a few cars which are arguably uglier than the 5 series, i.e. the X6 and 6 series. If I were going for a 5 series my advice would be a used petrol one.

Yeah the fuel consumption is pretty poor, pre March 2007 cars would return 26-36mpg, post March 2007 cars will however return 34-44mpg.

However, I think they are more unimpressed compared with other BMWs, some are getting 40-50 mpg from the 530d.
The new 330d has got the new alloy engine and is now seeing 45+ all day long with a 0-60mph of 6.1 seconds, that will be in the 5 series in the Autumn.



All cars have their faults, Mercedes bought our W211 E270cdi back off us, it went in 14 times in over a few months for various things, from ABS units and a whole host of electrical problems, but it was one of the very first UK cars and all brands can have teething problems.
They did us a deal on an S320cdi and, I kid you not, the rear wheel came off as we pulled down the road, that was a brand new car, it was left on by one bolt!!
They gave us free servicing for life along with free tyres, wipers, brakes etc. etc.
Probably to keep it out the papers. My old man is pretty laid back and just laughed about it, but I can tell you now, Mercedes took it pretty seriously.

We can all pick faults with other brands, and the W211 has a really bad reputation for being a nightmare car when it comes to rust and electronics, but you only here from the handful of people who have had problems, I bet it is less than 5% in reality.

 

[st4]

Yeah the fuel consumption is pretty poor, pre March 2007 cars would return 26-36mpg, post March 2007 cars will however return 34-44mpg.

However, I think they are more unimpressed compared with other BMWs, some are getting 40-50 mpg from the 530d.
The new 330d has got the new alloy engine and is now seeing 45+ all day long with a 0-60mph of 6.1 seconds, that will be in the 5 series in the Autumn. .

Ah, the numbers always seem to be v.good with BMW's, but it will be riddled with problems. Even the 4 clylinder bread and butter models are not without trouble. See babybmw.net and turbo failure etc seems a common theme. 1 car was on its 2nd Tubro by 10k miles.

All cars have their faults, Mercedes bought our W211 E270cdi back off us, it went in 14 times in over a few months for various things, from ABS units and a whole host of electrical problems, but it was one of the very first UK cars and all brands can have teething problems.
They did us a deal on an S320cdi and, I kid you not, the rear wheel came off as we pulled down the road, that was a brand new car, it was left on by one bolt!!
They gave us free servicing for life along with free tyres, wipers, brakes etc. etc.
Probably to keep it out the papers. My old man is pretty laid back and just laughed about it, but I can tell you now, Mercedes took it pretty seriously.

We can all pick faults with other brands, and the W211 has a really bad reputation for being a nightmare car when it comes to rust and electronics, but you only here from the handful of people who have had problems, I bet it is less than 5% in reality.

Sounds grim, and my experience of BMWs (2 petrols) my merc has a lot to live up to. W211's post 03 are galvanised, rust shouldn't be an issue. Early cars seemed problematic but a good 2004 onwards car should be fine. Check warranty historys @ dealers to get an idea. The E class got a good review from what car for reliability.

Its too early to tell but 204's seem to be going well, seems like a great car and so far few problems.

 

[gIzzE]

320d pre 2003 have had problems with swirl flaps and turbos, you have to remember the 2.0d engine is probably the best selling engine in the UK.
The ones you hear about with problems are such a small percentage, same with the W211's, it will be a handful, if anyone buys into the 'they're unreliable pieces of junk' they are a moron. You may by a friday afternoon car, but you may get the most reliable and enjoyable car you have ever owned.

 

[st4]

320d pre 2003 have had problems with swirl flaps and turbos, you have to remember the 2.0d engine is probably the best selling engine in the UK.
The ones you hear about with problems are such a small percentage, same with the W211's, it will be a handful, if anyone buys into the 'they're unreliable pieces of junk' they are a moron. You may by a friday afternoon car, but you may get the most reliable and enjoyable car you have ever owned.

Fair cop, although with E classes it wasn't too bad. I know two E46 320d owners and admittably the cars are fine. On babybmw lots of 1ers were having difficulty with turbos but all the petrol owners ranted and raved about how good the mechanicals of the things were. Petrol + manual for BMW.

So if Barryh is going for a BM, make it a cheap used 330i manual. Otherwise go for a 204 diesel.

 

[hawk20]

The 5 series finished 54th in JD Power last year and 45th this year. Lot of discontent. The E class finished in the top ten this year and owners were pretty chuffed. What Car website has the details.

Knock it all you like but it is the biggest survey of owners and pretty detailed.

 

[gIzzE]

Means sweet FA to me mate, I buy a car and enjoy it, if it goes wrong I take it in get something new to play with for a couple of days and then get my car back fixed.

Reliability tests, NCAP tests etc. etc. just bore me. I have never even heard them mentioned on a BMW forum, but have already heard them both mentioned on here in the last couple of days, I guess you have to look for different positives with a Merc rather than just enjoying them as driving machines which seems a real shame.