Ok I'm needing a new car, decided when putting in fuel again yesterday that the M5 is costing more than I can reasonably justify, easy 300 quid a month on fuel, avg 18 mpg.

The problem is I love the car and I dont want to get rid of it, i will never get one the same spec as it is a very very rare combo, but it's only going to get more and more expensive to run. I thought about parking it up somewhere and not using it, but it's still another car to insure and store, and when I do use it, it will ikely break if i leave it sitting for ages, thats when things tend to go wrong with any car IMO.

So, what's available to me, doesnt have to be mega fast, but BIG, good MPG, probs upto 15k but the cheaper the better obviously. I'm so hacked off with cars at the moment I'd even consider a shit diesel 306/406 for sub 1k

 

Obvious choice, 5 series derv.

 

Remapped 520D

 

Yep that was my inital thought too, not really clued up on diesels and ecomomy though so be glad to hear all alternatives.

 

Remapped 535D. 38 to the gallon and circa 350bhp and 510lb ft.

Puts a smile on my face whenever I drive mine.

 

Really, do you know the specs of remapped one of them, the very thought of the numbers 520 makes me think it'd be awful for a large car, but I'm not totally against it.

 

i think the remapped 520s are more or less as quick as the 530s un-remapped!

the 530/535 are good cars but theyre not great on fuel.

ive heard AMAZING reviews about the new 5 series, but those will all be well beyond the 15k budget.

 

Wont go anything like an M5, but you are looking at over 200bhp and 400NM of torque, and economy of about 50mpg on a run and even round town double what you are getting now.

 

what ive just bought. 535d.
Or a 530d or a 525d. All 6 cylinder 3 litre diesels. Get them remapped for more power and economy at the same time. Chip doing mine in a couple of weeks

 

The 6 cylinders are better for power and are smoother but the 4 cylinders are better for economy.

 

Mondeo ST TDCi? Or the later Mondeo 2.2d titanium...

The remapped 535d sounds a good choice

 

2.2 mondeo is a lovely car, but it still feels a bit pikey next to a 5 series TBH

 

My brother just shifted his 320D on so he could get a new toy. As it was when he first got it (standard) I hated the way it delivered the power and the way it drove. After a remap it was a different car altogether and was a very pleasant drive indeed. Based on what you want a 520D or 535D sounds right up your street

I'd be hard pushed to punt the M5 on though as it's one of my hankerings at the moment. Have you looked at getting something small and crap to do the mundane stuff in and then keep the M5 for best?

 

Buy a 330D M Sport like Iain had! Or if you want something bigger by an E90 530D or 535D. Simples

 

Stus got a 520d msport. Its great and has all the power you really need.

but honestly? if you really like the M5... keep it.

Do some sums... bet you only end up saving like Ł1k a year on fuel or less.

 

530 or 535D every time. I have considered the same myself... about 50 times, but I love the M5 for what it is.

To me they are a special car that tick every damn box I have.
Except fuel economy.

 

One thing with the M5 is it will probably depreciate less, so you need that in your sums too

 

Its a shame the huge Ł110 tank of fuel doesnt last very long as that seems to appreciate faster than fucking gold.

 

FLOL

There is the answer then.

He should buy 15K of fuel, silicon sealer up his garage and fill it up.

Use up 5k of it this year, then at the end of the year sell the remaining 10K of it for the 15K it will be worth at the time.

Free motoring, and what could possibly go wrong?

 

His missus telling Grandad he cant smoke in the house so if he wants to smoke he should go and stand outside near the garage....

 

That would make a hell of a headline!

 

535 if it was me

 

Yes, especially since he's dead....

Good input here though, appreciate the feedback, and after checking on the specs of the car Vs. other shitty 530i editions of similar it's defo worth keeping I think, even though it's still worth fuck all on the open market.
Going to have to come up with a masterplan though, even if it involves drilling an exploration well in my back garden to run it.

 

525 m sport auto, ours does 44mpg around town, is as quick as you need in a road car and looks good too..

 

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3788258.htm
http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3742163.htm

...for your budget, there can't be many bigger or better built cars with similar specification to your M5 than a VW Phaeton. Plus they're 4WD which comes in handy at times.


Cheers,
Grant

 

Great call on the phaeton, never tried one personally but they are meant to be really epic.

A6 with similar 3.0 tdi etc would be another option

 

Phaetons are epic as a mate of mine has a 3.0 tdi, he gets 34 to gallon at a steady 70 but only 21 around town!

 

E-class or S class diesel for me, more class than the BMW, plenty of power and bags of room inside

 

Go halfway between the two


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3798398.htm

personally, I have no problem throwing endless money at a car, but the one thing I really hate is depreciation. And a Ł15k 5 year old diesel is going to depreciate hard and fast seeing as there's likely to be a million and one of the same car for sale at any given time.

 

go to one of those big car dealer places and test drive a few different cars like the 5 series etc. and see if you like any of them. theyre not for everyone granted!

also consider keeping the M5 and getting another car to smoke around in.

 

Yeah keep the M5 and buy a 3K derv seems a good option
Double the insurance etc then, but at least no bad depreciation on either.

 

I've always wanted an M5 and it will be my next car purchase i think, so don't get rid...
Keep it and get a runaround for the mundane driving as said above!

 

S320 diesel ona 56 plate just sold at my work for 16k, full merc history, all the toys and the comfiest seats youll ever sit in

 

If i as after a big diesel car - as much as a love the 5 - i think the s320 cdi would be the one to have. Or is the cls close to the 15k mark?

what about the 7-series ?

 

my old man has an Audi A8 4 litre twin turbo v8 diesel and it does surprisingly impressive economy for such a huge car - its 4wd and has every toy you could think of. Nice motor.

 

^^^^^ ^^^^^

Rog,
You know what I'll say and you have been in the barge

Not a fan of the Phaeton, boss has one and it seems like a cheaper version of the A8.

28mpg as per the pic below while heading down to Silverstone, Bose surround sound, mood lighting, double glazing, alloy chassis and body (so no rust) the list goes on and on.

Without the trailer its something like 34/35mpg

Come have a drive of it if you like.

 

Hey Paul new plate?!

 

No not really, bought that middle of last year. Thought it looked cool

 

why not convert the m5 to lpg? is it a newish model m5? do you still get grants towards gas conversions for newer cars?

i was looking at those big a8's myself recently. i fancy a luxury barge to waft around in rather than an edge of the seat spine rattling sporty motor.