my 520d review

[dark1234]

here's my mini review, forgive my english, i am not a professional writer, but an I.T company director . so i am wired towards technical and logic. :stupid:my bmw cv : e46 320i , e60 525i ( UK / Japan ) i owned 2 recon version before.book my 520d silver at ab in end of june, collected my car last tueday at AB KL.its been 7 day since collection , millage 850KM from my trip down south to johor.comparison with my other car and previous carmy rant are :CON1. one of led light is faulty on the door , but it be rectified by BMW this week so no biggie, but it kinda let you wonder the QC of BMW SKD.2. no space to put your umbrella ( golf type ) on driver side.3. unable to surf internet via i-drive , maybe my iphone problem.4. havent reach 2000km break-in period but exceeded 150km ~ 160km/h for few time. i blame diesel power !.PRO1. F10 is HUGE , longer and wider than e60 , so have good cabin space but harder to park in tight spot.2. PDC is much more responsive than e60 PDC , 100% confirmed , thus reverse camera is optional not a must, i have reverse camera in e60 before. but after than used to PDC already. so i may be bias.3. New I-DRIVE is much better , faster and better.4. multi option of chasis ( comfort -> ala aunty/old uncle mode , normal , sport and sport+ -> ah beng mode ? ) :wink:5. 3 year BSRI no question ask 6. highway crusing is more comfortable ( review by my wife ) Things that make you smile diesel is cheap at RM 1.8 , you can tekan tekan if you want, but best part is its soo frugal. 1st time i did a johor road trip that i never even refil in johor for 3 day and back to KL. when i pump full my expected millage was 1211 KM on full tank !, performance is MY GAWD !!!!!!, it give me such a rush when you accidently step it down or press sport mode during highway, now i truly understand why e90 forum claim someone crash a test car because its too fast for a 2.0 its a rush., i should get diesel earlier !!! i really wonder how 525D or 530D f10 feel like ?.

 

[docrayboy]

Welcome to the intoxicating world of diesel cars! No turning back now-sorry, you are hooked for life. The 530d is not in Malaysia-grey imports. Then you have to remove the PDF and reprogram the software. Not worth the trouble! I think the gains in HP and torque with the more bigger engines (and more expensive) is only slightly more icing on the cake-you don't need it.

 

[dark1234]

Welcome to the intoxicating world of diesel cars! No turning back now-sorry, you are hooked for life. The 530d is not in Malaysia-grey imports. Then you have to remove the PDF and reprogram the software. Not worth the trouble! I think the gains in HP and torque with the more bigger engines (and more expensive) is only slightly more icing on the cake-you don't need it.

thanks bro docrayboy, i do not think of grey import anymore, prefer official importer from now onwards have bad experience with grey-import you are buying something and HOPE the best with official importer , you have voice and rights .

the 530d or 550d i try when i am in UK next time

you are right Diesel make you hooked . efficient and powerful the rush.....

 

[docrayboy]

thanks bro docrayboy, i do not think of grey import anymore, prefer official importer from now onwards have bad experience with grey-import you are buying something and HOPE the best with official importer , you have voice and rights .

the 530d or 550d i try when i am in UK next time

you are right Diesel make you hooked . efficient and powerful the rush.....

Welcome to the D side! Once you've tasted diesel, you never look back!

 

[willie]

The 2012 525d is actually a 2.0L now... but with twin turbo i think... maybe can 'upgrade' ours to 525d when the warranty ends... haha

 

[Kht]

The 2012 525d is actually a 2.0L now... but with twin turbo i think... maybe can 'upgrade' ours to 525d when the warranty ends... haha

A remap when warranty ends will increase both torque and hp. Remapped both my Korean 2.7 common rail diesel suv and what a transformation! This convinced me to buy change my saloon to the 520d. Now waiting impatiently too.

 

[Jerman]

here's my mini review, forgive my english, i am not a professional writer, but an I.T company director . so i am wired towards technical and logic. :stupid:
my bmw cv : e46 320i , e60 525i ( UK / Japan ) i owned 2 recon version before.
i should get diesel earlier !!! i really wonder how 525D or 530D f10 feel like ?.

dark,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Since this is your first diesel vehicle, how are you coping with the diesel chattering engine and vibrations?
Looks like you got over it ?

 

[Daytona]

dark,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Since this is your first diesel vehicle, how are you coping with the diesel chattering engine and vibrations?
Looks like you got over it ?

I was just thinking that too. Have they refined it? Do you feel the vbrations or hear the noise at standstil?

 

[dark1234]

I was just thinking that too. Have they refined it? Do you feel the vbrations or hear the noise at standstil?

well its my first diesel car, even my wife sub mitsu asx is petro variant , the reason i change in the first place

1. my wife asx drink petrol like sipping compare with my e60 , the asx 2 week pump once , e60 every week same habit of driving, i concluded it must be new technology
2. paul tan diesel 520d
3. my father mitsu triton diesel.

i too was skeptical when i wanted to purchase the 520d. worry 2.0 = under power etc etc, but the test drive prove wrong.

on the experience i did the following test without radio or so.

1. in the cabin , engine running, very low hum of clattering , near silent so NVH is GOOD ! , i can even look for clattering sound of other stuff in my back when driving , the engine is near dead silent.

2. outside car , engine running , mild low hum and clattering , acceptable slightly louder than petrol.

3. outside , engine running , and hood open, mild low hum and catering become louder by 15 ~ 20 % still acceptable.

i think the clattering could be due to 4 cyl instead of the usual 6 cal i am used to.

real con :
when pump diesel your hand tend to get dirty as its the same nozzle use by truck , so i learn to pump and wash my hand before start engine and queue behind lorry and truck , but other driver of other make like proton or perodua will look at you one kind. ( priceless )

long waiting list as the production are based on color not demand , e.g. oct : white , nov : silver , dec : black.


pro : go test drive you understand why i put deposit after 5 min of test drive. performance > e60 525 / 530 pickup ( not top speed ) , but if you want speed get 320d. but i rarely drive above 190km/h so no issue.

save petrol , my dad asked me if my indicator / computer is lying because of my consumption of 5.7/100 km when i was at the highway yesterday.

 

[manjohari]

dark,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Since this is your first diesel vehicle, how are you coping with the diesel chattering engine and vibrations?
Looks like you got over it ?

chattering yes, but not vibration tho

 

[dark1234]

chattering yes, but not vibration tho

agreed , just the sound, bro hows your car new shoe?

 

[wjmg]

Guys

Just to share, I did a review a month back on the new 4 pots turbo 520i/528i vs 523i when I was trying to choose between them.

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It was already raining when I arrived at PML Alexandra. The BMW salesman drove out the 520I and came out of the driver's seat to let me drive it. Immediate I can hear a noticeable clatter from the engine, sounds not unlike a taxi! I was amazed and ask him why. He replied that this is the trait of a Beemer 4 potter

As bro st8800 said in another thread above, even the 2012 520i 2.0 turbo petrol 4-potter has noticeable clatter. So the 520d is not so bad after all in this department.

 

[Kht]

The 520d is very refined in the NVH department compared to other diesels. The latest Actyon II 2 litre diesel though highly praised for it's NVH is miles behind in this aspect. 520d has a solid bass tone to the engine noise and not that of shellfish being stirred fried in a wok as in the case of most other common rail diesel.

 

[dark1234]

As bro st8800 said in another thread above, even the 2012 520i 2.0 turbo petrol 4-potter has noticeable clatter. So the 520d is not so bad after all in this department.

Ok so this is the new 4 potter BMW sound ? , need to find 530 or 6 potter diesel to test

 

[st8800]

I never hear 520D before but yes, the 520i has a clatter soundlike diesel cab.

 

[wobbles]

Ok so this is the new 4 potter BMW sound ? , need to find 530 or 6 potter diesel to test

You can just check out any E65, E66 or F01/02 730i/Li engine - all of them are 6 bangers, using the N52B30 engine

 

[TorqueTuning]

The 520d is very refined in the NVH department compared to other diesels. The latest Actyon II 2 litre diesel though highly praised for it's NVH is miles behind in this aspect. 520d has a solid bass tone to the engine noise and not that of shellfish being stirred fried in a wok as in the case of most other common rail diesel.

hi kht, wow so getting another diesel ride. but you can't compare 520d with Acyton II ler. $$$ more than 2x kaka. but i would say the Acyton II 2.0 performance in terms of output is compartible with with bmw 2.0d, isn't it.

 

[Kht]

hi kht, wow so getting another diesel ride. but you can't compare 520d with Acyton II ler. $$$ more than 2x kaka. but i would say the Acyton II 2.0 performance in terms of output is compartible with with bmw 2.0d, isn't it.

Hi bro so you manage to find me here. Getting one 520d too? Won't regret for sure. Actyon II is very powerful but unrefined. Also gearing in Actyon II is too low for cruising and 50% higher FC than 520d not to mention much noisier engine.

 

[dark1234]

Hi bro so you manage to find me here. Getting one 520d too? Won't regret for sure. Actyon II is very powerful but unrefined. Also gearing in Actyon II is too low for cruising and 50% higher FC than 520d not to mention much noisier engine.

after more than 1 week , i have the diesel syndrome, i was thinking of pumping fuel and drove to petrol station and when i look at my fuel bar i have 3/4 left. smile and left the station .

 

[SeanWoos]

After reading you guys posting really regret getting 530D (04).....!!!
My 530D already with me for 1 week.....!! really enjoying it every moment & wish why the Goverment built the highway longer......???

I have a situation here......prior to buying the old skool E60 530D...!! I paid the booking & waiting for loan to approve..!! after 2 days a Dato fren call me saying that another Dato is selling his E60 520D year 2009 $180K (which i m highly interested bcoz it only 2 years car)....that make me think twice....:stupid::stupid::stupid:
That night didnt sleep well...!! at 1st thinking on forget about my $4k deposit for the 530D & instead go for E60 520D........!!

Tomorrow after the used car dealer call me that the bank approve the loan .......haiz..!!:77::77:

But now although the 530D seem like got some squeeky sound...!! i m very happy with this OIL BURNER......!! :top::top: