[Soul_Glo]

Heart was set on a 535i SE but you know when another offer comes along and it makes you think twice... the other offer is the 125D in M sport guise...

The F10 is fully loaded... I mean ridiculously well spec'd. It has 96k miles on the odometer and is going for 15k

The 125D has a decent spec... n sport brakes, heated seats.... 17k cost and 69k on the clock... the only reason for choosing this I guess would be for fuel economy...

I have driven petrol all of my life so it would be my first diesel if I did go with it... inside the cabin it is quiet-ish but with the windows down it is embarrassingly loud. I had a 120D loaner and in the morning it sounded like a farm tractor...

Currently my N52 is quiet... and at times I have wondered if it is running. Having had an Audi S3 in the past... I am aware that the HPFP can sound a bit a diesel-ish at times too....

It is just the economy that is pulling me toward the diesel and nothing else... my daily commute is 50 mile round trip of a/b roads (35 mins in the morning and 1 hour 10 on the way home via a different route)... Petrol comes to about £47 a week. On the weekends we tend to go places...

The 535i SE has around 306ps and 300 lb/ft torque, 0-60 in 5.7s
The 125 D has around 218ps and 332 lb/fit, 0-60 in 6.5

The diesel is cheaper to insure and tax... why couldn't they put a 6 pot in the 125D?! They are so much smoother than a bag of nails...

Very tough decision... I am thinking about things like reliability... wear and tear... I mean at 96k... I don't know if that turbo has much life left on it... the shocks may even require replacement.... I need to check it out in person... but I don't trust their 120 point check... just a piece of paper that gets blindly ticked at times and they only fix things if you flag them... obviously for warranty reasons... so they are not squandering their dealership profits.

[Icekube]

so why are you ignoring a 330D? you seem to be swinging from one end of the spectrum (luxobarge) to the other (compact)

a 330D will be as fast as the 535i, and much bigger than the 1'er

[HighlandPete]

I agree that is a big difference in car choice.

Will be totally different driving experiences, best to test drive and see if either really fit your needs.

N55 engine makes for a superb drive, no doubt about it and suits the F10.
What is the history of the 125d? Timing chains sorted?

HighlandPete

[lifeofjono]

Originally Posted by Broken_Gearbox

Heart was set on a 535i SE but you know when another offer comes along and it makes you think twice... the other offer is the 125D in M sport guise...

The F10 is fully loaded... I mean ridiculously well spec'd. It has 96k miles on the odometer and is going for 15k

The 125D has a decent spec... n sport brakes, heated seats.... 17k cost and 69k on the clock... the only reason for choosing this I guess would be for fuel economy...

I have driven petrol all of my life so it would be my first diesel if I did go with it... inside the cabin it is quiet-ish but with the windows down it is embarrassingly loud. I had a 120D loaner and in the morning it sounded like a farm tractor...

Currently my N52 is quiet... and at times I have wondered if it is running. Having had an Audi S3 in the past... I am aware that the HPFP can sound a bit a diesel-ish at times too....

It is just the economy that is pulling me toward the diesel and nothing else... my daily commute is 50 mile round trip of a/b roads (35 mins in the morning and 1 hour 10 on the way home via a different route)... Petrol comes to about £47 a week. On the weekends we tend to go places...

The 535i SE has around 306ps and 300 lb/ft torque, 0-60 in 5.7s
The 125 D has around 218ps and 332 lb/fit, 0-60 in 6.5

The diesel is cheaper to insure and tax... why couldn't they put a 6 pot in the 125D?! They are so much smoother than a bag of nails...

Very tough decision... I am thinking about things like reliability... wear and tear... I mean at 96k... I don't know if that turbo has much life left on it... the shocks may even require replacement.... I need to check it out in person... but I don't trust their 120 point check... just a piece of paper that gets blindly ticked at times and they only fix things if you flag them... obviously for warranty reasons... so they are not squandering their dealership profits.

my 2 pence.

what i took away from this- you really love the 535i and from the looks of it have had your eyes on one for awhile but the 125d is more ecomical

Surely if you're going to do 50 miles a day you'd want to do it in a car you enjoy?


your saying that you're main draw for the 125d is economy.
but on the subject economy/money wise. (depending on how long you intend to own)
the 535i is £2k cheaper - granted the 535i has 30k more on the clock so potentially is slightly riskier for things to go wrong.

but
would the 125d savings overtime equal or better this?

IMO if you're spending a bit either way i would rather pay a bit more for something i love and enjoy than a wildcard im not sure on.


ultimately,
I guess test drive both and see how you feel.

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by Icekube

so why are you ignoring a 330D? you seem to be swinging from one end of the spectrum (luxobarge) to the other (compact)

a 330D will be as fast as the 535i, and much bigger than the 1'er

To be honest I have not looked at the 3 series at all and went with my heart... but that could be an option... so I will research it...

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by lifeofjono

my 2 pence.

what i took away from this- you really love the 535i and from the looks of it have had your eyes on one for awhile but the 125d is more ecomical

Surely if you're going to do 50 miles a day you'd want to do it in a car you enjoy?


your saying that you're main draw for the 125d is economy.
but on the subject economy/money wise. (depending on how long you intend to own)
the 535i is £2k cheaper - granted the 535i has 30k more on the clock so potentially is slightly riskier for things to go wrong.

but
would the 125d savings overtime equal or better this?

IMO if you're spending a bit either way i would rather pay a bit more for something i love and enjoy than a wildcard im not sure on.


ultimately,
I guess test drive both and see how you feel.

Right on... that is exactly how I feel. I have driven both and I loved both... I am leaning into the 5... and will close the deal tomorrow morning I think... life is too short to settle for second best... the 125D reminded me of my hot hatch days... but the 5 is unbelievably comfortable... I could cruise for many miles in that ship...

I guess I need to put my thoughts out... and have input from others to make that final decision... I'm taking the 5...

[Aragorn30d]

330d/335d seems the obvious choice? Or a 535d for extra luxury?

The 6 cylinder diesels sound really nice compared with the 4 cylinder, its a smooth fruity sound and not that typical diesel clatter.

35d's have the performance to match the 35i while retuning a good chunk better economy wise.

[Soul_Glo]

Yes.. the 535i I had my eye on was fully spec'd... I mean madly... and really well done.. almost every single option chosen but well co-ordinated... sadly it is now sold... I love the 535d and drove one and it goes decently.. its just about finding the right one for me... we've got an issue with our drive... its not big enough and the 5 would over hang the drive... and I wouldnt want to put it on the street as we have a few wollys on our street... who have been known to scuff a car and drive off... I could park it an angle on the drive and make it fit fully but then the other car would be on the street... I would kind of be okay with that as the other car is worth much less and is our run around...

[dy63]

two totally different cars so should be an easy decision?

[Russbmw]

I'd have taken the 5 all day long, provided the service history was all there and it was in decent shape.

Much nicer place to be when you're sat in it daily, and that's worth more to me that saving a few quid on fuel a week.

[The0pportunist]

I would go for the 5 series because the 1 series is for women (YEH I SAID IT)

[Wobble]

How about a 325i m sport? I've got one in the classifieds

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by Wobble

How about a 325i m sport? I've got one in the classifieds

Haha moving on from that myself. Have had the m sport and currently have the SE

[Wobble]

No worries bud,think for me then it have to be the 5. I'm only selling as want a 3 series m sport tourer or another marque estate as just had a little boy so want more room x

[surrey 335i]

Having just sold a perfect 123d sport 2008 (125d predecessor) and having previously mainly had 6 cylinder petrol and diesel BMWs - I did not like the engine in the 123d. For a diesel its very good BUT you cant ignore the fact its a 4 cylinder diesel - its noisy and rough compared to a 6.
Also the 1 series interior is built to a budget lower than the 3 and 5's I've had, hard to explain it just felt cheap and a bit crap inside and things were starting to wear at 70k miles that you would not see on a 150k miles 3 or 5 series trim.