523i or 528i sport

[ming]

Hello,I am new to this forum and i hope to learn a bit about BMW cars. I have never own one and my current car is an old Volvo 240. I am in the market to buy either a 523i or 528i. I am not sure which to choose. I have test drive the 523i which was comfortable and handling nice but happen to notice that the car feels heavy and movement not as quick. My question is how will the 528i compare? I will test drive it this weekend but would like some expert feedback from forum members.The 528i is about RM70-80,000 more. It has a M sport package and a bigger engine. Does this translate to good value?? If there is such a thing as value for cars..I am more concern with safety and comfort but i like a car that can dash around quickly in the city with burst of speed. I did not consider the 3 series because i want more passenger space and comfort.Thanks for reading my posts and please feel free to comment and help. Never bought a luxury car in my life.Ming

 

[DJH]

I suggest go for 528i. More power, paddle shift, M Sport (normal 528 no sun roof but has reverse camera, M sport without reverse camera and sunroof which is of no use in M'sia anyway), projected on front glass panel speed & other info view, has on-board internet access........ best bit 0-100 km/h 6.7 seconds and top speed 250 km/h.
I suggest you try out 528i M sport and also 520d. Without trying what you see here are all theories.

 

[ICEMAN 68]

what about this one ....

http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?45053-Me-wts-my-E34-M60B40

 

[JFT63]

Hello,

I am new to this forum and i hope to learn a bit about BMW cars. I have never own one and my current car is an old Volvo 240. I am in the market to buy either a 523i or 528i. I am not sure which to choose. I have test drive the 523i which was comfortable and handling nice but happen to notice that the car feels heavy and movement not as quick.

My question is how will the 528i compare? I will test drive it this weekend but would like some expert feedback from forum members.

The 528i is about RM70-80,000 more. It has a M sport package and a bigger engine. Does this translate to good value?? If there is such a thing as value for cars..

I am more concern with safety and comfort but i like a car that can dash around quickly in the city with burst of speed. I did not consider the 3 series because i want more passenger space and comfort.

Thanks for reading my posts and please feel free to comment and help. Never bought a luxury car in my life.

Ming

Hi Ming...Welcome to our forum.BTW,from what u wrote, i guess u are vying for e39...i'm using 523 97' model, if possible get a 528 0r 530 for smoother powerful delivery. 523 is just a decent ride to commute around everyday. just prepare yrself for a higher roadtax and pure driving pleasure..Happy hunting

 

[ck318ci]

I think thread starter is eyeing on the F10.

He did mentioned the price difference is 70-80,000

 

[DJH]

yup, my thoughts exactly.

Ming, my comments are meant for F10

 

[JFT63]

Owh, my bad la bros......overlooked the price difference stated..

 

[ming]

Wow, you guys are helpful and fast to reply.

I just finish reading a rather long thread on F10 problems. Scared me to death!! I am about to splash so much money and the last thing i want is a problem car.

Is the F10 safe car to buy now? BMW has a 5 year service and warranty.

I did not consider the 520d because heard some where that Malaysian diesel will spoil the engine.

Truth be told i actually hope for some more specifics like M sport package plus a bigger engine should be a lot more than RM70,000. So that i can sell this idea to my wife .. hehe. Maybe road handling better, safer etc. More grip on the road?

Thanks

 

[DJH]

No worries, whatever there are to complain, I've already done that and now F10 is a good buy. If u read that thread, I was one of the victim and complain the most. 520d spoil engine? U heard of famous Paul Tan. He has one.

 

[ALBundy]

Wow, you guys are helpful and fast to reply.

I just finish reading a rather long thread on F10 problems. Scared me to death!! I am about to splash so much money and the last thing i want is a problem car.

Is the F10 safe car to buy now? BMW has a 5 year service and warranty.

I did not consider the 520d because heard some where that Malaysian diesel will spoil the engine.

Truth be told i actually hope for some more specifics like M sport package plus a bigger engine should be a lot more than RM70,000. So that i can sell this idea to my wife .. hehe. Maybe road handling better, safer etc. More grip on the road?

Thanks

If you tally up the additional features on the 528, then its definitely worth the additional 70-80k.

As for problems, I believed the initial suspension "thumping" sound is resolved with a new absorber design. Malaysia's diesel is rated at 500ppm sulphur content, which is about Euro2 standard, with Euro 3 rated at 350ppm. The 2.0d engines are all Euro 3, and BMW has "localised" the engines to suit our diesel, ie by reprogramming the ECU (lower injector pressure by 10%) and remove the particle filter. So far I have not heard anyone using the 2.0d engines with any problems. Anyway with BMW's warranty program and BSRI (which is the best program in the market), there shouldnt be anything to worry about.

 

[wobbles]

I take it that ming is referring to the 528i which runs on the N52 engine, available in Malaysia, as opposed to the new 528i which utilizes the N20 4-pot twinpower turbo engine, which was just launched in Singapore?

If that's the case, frankly speaking, no brainer - go for the 528i with the N52B30 IL6 engine. It's a better engine than the N52B25 which the 523i uses (and will be phased out soon).

 

[ming]

If thats the case then 520d is something i should seriously consider. I am no expert in car specs but if you have such high torque, would that mean overtaking cars would be better compared to 523i and 528i??

 

[wobbles]

If thats the case then 520d is something i should seriously consider. I am no expert in car specs but if you have such high torque, would that mean overtaking cars would be better compared to 523i and 528i??

Yes & no. As I mentioned in another post HERE, but in a nutshell: the higher the peak torque, the higher the peak acceleration, but without increasing HP the lower the vehicle speed that acceleration will be available at. Remember, acceleration & Vmax is a little different

Hope that's not too confusing

And yes, the 520d is something worth considering.

 

[ck318ci]

I driven the 320d. The speed that this car goes... put an evil grin on your face.
My 523i, is more cosseting and gently wharft you along like a giant whale swimming in deep ocean. peaceful... but when it needs to poke... it can hunt a sea lion down and decapitate it like a killer whale!

 

[ming]

Oh gosh, now i am more confuse than ever. At this point in time i dont know which to choose? My heart wants the 528i but my brains and my pocket tells me the 520d is good enough. Now my in laws are telling me BMW got a lot of problems and resale value not good.

BMW has this 5 year service and maintainence warranty up till December. Is this a common offering from BMW or is this the perfect time to buy the 5 series. Also in overseas they have 4 cylinder 5 series with turbo, will this reach our shores. Should i wait or what.

 

[aoch88]

I think all continental cars would suffer a huge drop in re-sale value. One of the possible reason is because we are paying too much for the car (which isn't worth the price). It's not because the car isn't good but our tax system is cut throat Before we even enjoy our ride the government took a fortune out of our bankroll so literally that is why we end up losing so much in re-sale value.

Hence if you really want to drive a BMW, be prepared to lose around RM100K when you sell it off 2-3 years down the road. It's a good car to drive though.

 

[wobbles]

Oh gosh, now i am more confuse than ever. At this point in time i dont know which to choose? My heart wants the 528i but my brains and my pocket tells me the 520d is good enough. Now my in laws are telling me BMW got a lot of problems and resale value not good.

BMW has this 5 year service and maintainence warranty up till December. Is this a common offering from BMW or is this the perfect time to buy the 5 series. Also in overseas they have 4 cylinder 5 series with turbo, will this reach our shores. Should i wait or what.

Hi Ming, honestly, no one will buy a BMW or any car for that matter, to make money out of it. Depreciation is a given, and frankly, if you don't want to take a hit, buy a second hand unit so that the first owner would have taken the chunk of the pain for you.

Moreover, with the way technology is intertwined in cars nowadays, the risk of things going wrong has been magnified - and the BMW will be no different. That's where the warranty and what you guys call the BSRI come in.

But, don't worry - you see the number of fanatical BMW fans here? We wouldn't be as fanatical about our rides if they kept breaking down. Don't worry, don't worry - our rides give us hours of enjoyment on the road, and our love for our rides enable us to make good friends here.

 

[528i]

I think all continental cars would suffer a huge drop in re-sale value. One of the possible reason is because we are paying too much for the car (which isn't worth the price). It's not because the car isn't good but our tax system is cut throat Before we even enjoy our ride the government took a fortune out of our bankroll so literally that is why we end up losing so much in re-sale value.

Hence if you really want to drive a BMW, be prepared to lose around RM100K when you sell it off 2-3 years down the road. It's a good car to drive though.

Very likely more than that!!!

 

[Hillgosh]

Ming, please take note that 520d is not in the 5 years warranty scheme. I think it is only for the 3, x1, 523 & 528 only. Maybe because the 520d waiting list too long.

 

[JFT63]

If u always go for long distance travel, get a D-powered..otherwise, things are about the same when it comes to BMW...But the driving pleasure is always yours bro...my 2 centos..