520i and 520d-which one better?

[Zacharymah]

I have booked a BMW F10 at auto Bavaria Jb but now confusing between 520i and 520d. I need some advice here...please help.

 

[fabianyee]

The 2 are different in various ways, so it's the question of which one suits ur needs better... For example, the 'd' is more economical to run (gets better mileage) but engine noisier compared to the petrol. However, u won't hear the noise from inside cabin.

Test drive both and see which feels better, for u...

 

[Zacharymah]

The 2 are different in various ways, so it's the question of which one suits ur needs better... For example, the 'd' is more economical to run (gets better mileage) but engine noisier compared to the petrol. However, u won't hear the noise from inside cabin.

Test drive both and see which feels better, for u...

Bro,I have tested the car already but I just can't make up my mind to go for 520d or new 520i with new engine.point that caused me these thinking are the following:
Resale value after 3 years- which one depreciates faster?
FC- not that much different (base of specs)
Performance- almost same
The engine sound- 520i is more silent than the 520d but the 520d is acceptable.
Tuning purpose-heard that the 520i can tune to 528i?but what the 520d running can be done?

Decision date- by tomorrow evening because I will start to do the loan on Monday.

 

[fabianyee]

FC- not that much different (base of specs)

but based on user's feedbacks, HUGE difference in consumption especially if u drive around a lot and on interstate trips...
As for resale value, maybe you can check on those for 320i and 320d as reference... but wat happens in 3 years time would depend on the sales performance of the 2 models you're comparing. but more and more ppl are accepting the diesel technology...

 

[dark1234]

520d can go to
224 bhp & 463 Nm with chiptunning ( http://www.chipexpress.com/products/2808/ )

but my question being will you do it ? even in malaysia people who buy supercharger for their BMW is RARE , i have lots of friend who brought M54 engine last time with me told me they buy that 325 / 520 blah blah so they can supercharge it !!, but till the day they sold the car also never even dare to upgrade the air intake or exhaust.

imho if you want 528i get the 528i now price diffrent is around 50K , if you go after aftermarket to get 528i like performance you may spend more than 50k easy , of cuz if you decided to DIY 520->528 your roadtax is chaper ? , sound better and may even better than 528i.

again its down to $$ and this time i am not going to chicken out like my previous 2 bmw , am getting the chip express or vector this time right after the day my warranty expired .

Bro,I have tested the car already but I just can't make up my mind to go for 520d or new 520i with new engine.point that caused me these thinking are the following:
Resale value after 3 years- which one depreciates faster?
FC- not that much different (base of specs)
Performance- almost same
The engine sound- 520i is more silent than the 520d but the 520d is acceptable.
Tuning purpose-heard that the 520i can tune to 528i?but what the 520d running can be done?

Decision date- by tomorrow evening because I will start to do the loan on Monday.

 

[Zacharymah]

but based on user's feedbacks, HUGE difference in consumption especially if u drive around a lot and on interstate trips...
As for resale value, maybe you can check on those for 320i and 320d as reference... but wat happens in 3 years time would depend on the sales performance of the 2 models you're comparing. but more and more ppl are accepting the diesel technology...

Hmm...so if you were me, u will go for 520d right? Thanks so much for ur advise..by the way, do u know that is there and new engine for the diesel tech coming up or maybe I should ask the sales girl..

 

[Zacharymah]

520d can go to
224 bhp & 463 Nm with chiptunning ( http://www.chipexpress.com/products/2808/ )

but my question being will you do it ? even in malaysia people who buy supercharger for their BMW is RARE , i have lots of friend who brought M54 engine last time with me told me they buy that 325 / 520 blah blah so they can supercharge it !!, but till the day they sold the car also never even dare to upgrade the air intake or exhaust.

imho if you want 528i get the 528i now price diffrent is around 50K , if you go after aftermarket to get 528i like performance you may spend more than 50k easy , of cuz if you decided to DIY 520->528 your roadtax is chaper ? , sound better and may even better than 528i.

again its down to $$ and this time i am not going to chicken out like my previous 2 bmw , am getting the chip express or vector this time right after the day my warranty expired .

Hi bro, thanks for ur advise but I'm not going to spend so much money to make it 528i look like engine if this needs so much money. Better go for 520d as per booking..just feel that it is not the latest engine with twin turbo charge...

 

[cafee]

Hi. I tested both the 520i and the 520d this morning.

It all depends what you seek in a car.

To be honest the 520i and 520d are very close in terms of "felt" performance. Paper spec aside you can hardly tell which vehicle you are in.

520d steering doesn't feel all that much different compared with 520i active steering - you won't be missing anything there.

Low end torque below 1800/2000 rpm, the petrol feels better. Diesel slightly better mid range but the petrol shines again pass 4000rpm.

So it's up to you. I went for the 520i. Also because there is stock for the 520i in the color combo that I wanted.

BTW, the 520d engine remains the same.

For some reason I felt more comfortable and less bumpy in the diesel - no logic unless it's because the 520i only had 8km on the odometer.

 

[Zacharymah]

Hi. I tested both the 520i and the 520d this morning.

It all depends what you seek in a car.

To be honest the 520i and 520d are very close in terms of "felt" performance. Paper spec aside you can hardly tell which vehicle you are in.

520d steering doesn't feel all that much different compared with 520i active steering - you won't be missing anything there.

Low end torque below 1800/2000 rpm, the petrol feels better. Diesel slightly better mid range but the petrol shines again pass 4000rpm.

So it's up to you. I went for the 520i. Also because there is stock for the 520i in the color combo that I wanted.

BTW, the 520d engine remains the same.

For some reason I felt more comfortable and less bumpy in the diesel - no logic unless it's because the 520i only had 8km on the odometer.

Hi bro,congrats....but I think I will choose 520d which have to wait till end march before the car reaches me....

 

[docrayboy]

Test drove the 4 cyclinder turbopetrol 520i today at Ingress with astroboy, BlackE90 and an Aud TT enthusiast (Black's friend) all sitting at the back. The new engine is peppy and revvy even with 5 grown up men in and a biggish sedan to tow. Good pickup and can overtake other cars without much effort. Throw it into corners and there's good grip all the way. The 528i comes in Monday and will be fun too to test, we are sure. The 520i will give petrol enthusiasts a car they will cherish to drive evryday and we wait with baited breath for the same engine in 320i and 328i guises.

One thing for sure: BMW cars are now very fun to drive across the range! A big welcome to the BMW turbopetrol 4 cylinder engine!

 

[wjmg]

Hi. I tested both the 520i and the 520d this morning.

To be honest the 520i and 520d are very close in terms of "felt" performance. Paper spec aside you can hardly tell which vehicle you are in.

It's good to hear that 520i and 520d are close in performance according to butt dyno. The last time I tested 523i, I felt that it was so much different from 520d. Now I'm eagerly looking forward to test the 520i, hopefully tomorrow.

 

[docrayboy]

It's good to hear that 520i and 520d are close in performance according to butt dyno. The last time I tested 523i, I felt that it was so much different from 520d. Now I'm eagerly looking forward to test the 520i, hopefully tomorrow.

You will like the 520i.

 

[xero200]

Turbo is the way to go man!

 

[Zacharymah]

For my opinion,both car is a good car to choose..it's depends on individual preference.i was in difficult position to choose but at the end,I chosen to wait for the 2012 520d to arrive on end march...

 

[docrayboy]

The 520d is now the cheapest F10 to own still........sales wll surely go up even more!

 

[willie]

Hi bro, thanks for ur advise but I'm not going to spend so much money to make it 528i look like engine if this needs so much money. Better go for 520d as per booking..just feel that it is not the latest engine with twin turbo charge...

I don't think BMW malaysia will start to produce 525d (twin turbo, 2.0 I4) till our diesel is at least Euro4...

 

[fabianyee]

I don't think BMW malaysia will start to produce 525d (twin turbo, 2.0 I4) till our diesel is at least Euro4...

Technically speaking, none of the BMW's sold now are produced here... Either fully imported or in semi-knocked-down form and assembled in Kulim...

 

[Zacharymah]

Hi bros..thanks so much for these valuable comment..I just wait for my 520d to come on end march then I will update u all on the experience...hope I never regret..

 

[zhul]

Managed to test drive the 520i at Ingress today while at the same time seeing the i8 Mission Impossible car at their showroom :top:

After the test, I think the 520d is a better car to drive because its engine is more willing and pulls better than the 520i. Also the 520i is noisier in the inside compared with the 520d, for some strange reason. The 520i has two additional settings Comfort+ and Eco Pro from the panel to choose from which my testdrive guy was not able to explain. For some reason the people manning the Ingress showroom today were lethargic.

I also noticed that the front driver's door of the 520i does not close properly - need to apply unnecessary force to shut it. This was evident on both the showroom car and on the test drive car. The explanation why this is so? Oh, because the doors are lighter so need to slam it harder :stupid:

The 520i is still better performing than the 523i but you are going to miss the engine note of the 523i. Overall i feel the 520d is the car to go for, unless you really cannot tahan the diesel smell, then 520i is the car for you.

 

[fabianyee]

Diesel-engined BMWs outsells the petrol version in the UK and other euro countries... Partly due to lesser running cost as diesel engines is more efficient and produce less pollutants and also lesser trips to the petrol station.