[surreybmwdriver]

One of the downsides of having to wait for your production slot is the constant thinking about the car spec and whether you have made the right choice!

Having a comfortable ride is one of my key priorities and that is why I wasn't sure if M Sport was worth the extra money so I have gone for F10 525d SE (N47 4-cyl engine) with the following options (not an exhaustive list!):

• 18" wheels
• Sport seats
• Sport steering wheel
• High gloss shadowline

Given that the options above (plus Anthracite headlining) are standard on M Sport, my alternative option is to go for M Sport (and delete M suspension) but the problem is if I do that, I will need to go back to 520d to stay within my budget limit

For reference, here is what I need to pay on top of the 520d with other packages/options I need:

• M Sport: +£3.3K
• 525d with above options: +£4.4K (taking into account additional £2K incentive from BMW)

I know that it is down to personal taste but it was your order, which one would you go for? 520d M Sport (184hp) or 525d SE (218hp) with above options?

[EdM5]

If the 525d still is a 6 pot, no brainer => 525d.
However, why drop goodies to upgrade to another 4 pot diesel?
The x20d is a great engine.

Just my 2 cents.

[kave]

The 525D or 520D is more or less the same engine. Go for the 520D sans M-sport suspension. I have a regular 520D and I wouldn't like a bumpier ride that that.

[surreybmwdriver]

Thanks for the replies.

I currently own an E60 530d (218hp) so I was surprised when I saw the modified N47 engine also producing 218hp with much less consumption and CO2 emmissions, hence my decision to go for 525d. I know it is still a 4-pot diesel but based on what I heard from the dealer and on the net this is the same engine Alpina use in their D3 Bi-Turbo, which has positive reviews.

It is a tough decision to make. Now looking for a coin in my pocket

[Bond5M5]

Originally Posted by kave

The 525D or 520D is more or less the same engine. Go for the 520D sans M-sport suspension. I have a regular 520D and I wouldn't like a bumpier ride that that.

525D and 520D are absolutely not the same engine. 525D has 2 turbos (smaller one and larger one) while 520D has a single turbo. The difference between 525D vs 520D is like the difference between 535D vs 530D. 525D engine is further improved engine from legendary 123D which has won many awards being the best 2.0 liter diesel engine in the world. You'll have much more fun with 525D than with 520D.

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by surreybmwdriver

Thanks for the replies.

I currently own an E60 530d (218hp) so I was surprised when I saw the modified N47 engine also producing 218hp with much less consumption and CO2 emmissions, hence my decision to go for 525d. I know it is still a 4-pot diesel but based on what I heard from the dealer and on the net this is the same engine Alpina use in their D3 Bi-Turbo, which has positive reviews.

It is a tough decision to make. Now looking for a coin in my pocket

You should give both cars a try and than decide.
Let your dealer arrange it.

[surreybmwdriver]

I test drove the 520d but unfortunately none of the dealers in my region (Southeast England) had the 525d except one and it was the 6-cyl version so not much use. They said they are going to have the 525d 4-cyl version by the end of Feb. My car will be in the same shipment I believe though

[kave]

Bond: Ok, the 520D and 525D feels like they have the same engine, more or less.
In my book it is not worth the extra cost at all. The 525D doesn't provide more grunt from low rpms. The 525D goes a little better in higher rpms.
The 530D or 535D is something completely different.
But the 525D is a second faster to 100km/h and takes more fuel.

[Bond5M5]

Originally Posted by kave

Bond: Ok, the 520D and 525D feels like they have the same engine, more or less.
In my book it is not worth the extra cost at all. The 525D doesn't provide more grunt from low rpms. The 525D goes a little better in higher rpms.
The 530D or 535D is something completely different.
But the 525D is a second faster to 100km/h and takes more fuel.

All the benefits 2 turbos add to the 535D also add to the 525D except in 525D there are 2 cylinders less but the technology is the same. 525D is more sporty engine having max output at 4400 rpm like 535D also. Just look at acceleration figures: 0-100 km/h - 1.1 sec faster and 80-120 km/h - 1.2 sec faster is 525D compared to 520D. That's a lot, for example 0-100 km/h difference between 530D and 535D is "only" 0.5 sec.

[jedpause]

I had the identical dilemma, in the end I went for the 520d M Sport auto with paddles, and deleted sports suspension..... would have liked the 525d, but to be honest, as per other posts... the 520d in sport and sport+ modes has incredible grunt for a 2l engine, and does all the zooming I need... matter of taste, but that's my experience...... M sport is nice to look at too.... but would say if comfort is your need too, get the SE and add Variable Damper Control, my 2cents too!

[kave]

Originally Posted by Bond5M5

525D is more sporty engine having max output at 4400 rpm like 535D also.

Well, when you drive a diesel engine the idea is to not rev it, a 4 cylinder diesel is not very charming at 4400rpms I can tell you. It is vibrating a lot and sounds very bad.
Normal driving I am never over 2500rpm with my 520D, most of the time a cruise along under 2000rpm.
But, everyone is different.

[Bond5M5]

Originally Posted by kave

Well, when you drive a diesel engine the idea is to not rev it, a 4 cylinder diesel is not very charming at 4400rpms I can tell you. It is vibrating a lot and sounds very bad.
Normal driving I am never over 2500rpm with my 520D, most of the time a cruise along under 2000rpm.
But, everyone is different.

525D is simply better that 520D in every respect except in slightly worse fuel consumption. That 525D engine (from 123D) has won very prestigeous award as being the best 2.0 liter diesel engine in the world for the last few years. This is simply amazing knowing that just about every car manufacturer has a 2.0 L diesel engine including Audi, Merc, VW, Opel... including BMW's own engines from 520D and 520D ED. So in such competition it would be impossible for 525D to vibrate and sound very bad. There are lot's of videos of 123D on YouTube and even that older version of the engine sounds excellent for a diesel plus you can find videos of professional race drivers testing 123D and being impressed with the engine and the car. Autocar did a review of the new 525D (http://www.autocar.co.uk/www.autocar...25d-SE/259340/) and among other things they said: "...An extra 35bhp over the 182bhp 520d may not sound so much, but it's enough to noticeably enliven this 5-series, turning it into a pretty decent sports saloon...The 2.0 litre diesel delivers it too, and with impressive smoothness and a stout low-rev surge that the eight-speed auto slickly capitalises on. It's sharp enough to make fingering the paddle shifts a worthwhile exercise too... The extra performance makes this a more satisfying driver's car than the 520d ED. If the temptation and the budget are there, this is an engine upgrade that's hard to resist.".

[surreybmwdriver]

Thank you all for sharing your opinions and special thanks to Bond5M5 for sharing the link to the Autocar article - not sure how I managed to miss it!!

I have decided to stay with my original decision (525d) and add some of the sports elements I like. I am not going to get the M Sport body styling, which is a shame. However, I cannot ignore the option to upgrade to 525d by paying £2.5K extra (instead of the advertised £5K because of the additional BMW incentives plus a couple of options that are standard or cheaper for the 525d model).

Another 6 weeks to go

[Bond5M5]

Originally Posted by surreybmwdriver

Thank you all for sharing your opinions and special thanks to Bond5M5 for sharing the link to the Autocar article - not sure how I managed to miss it!!

I have decided to stay with my original decision (525d) and add some of the sports elements I like. I am not going to get the M Sport body styling, which is a shame. However, I cannot ignore the option to upgrade to 525d by paying £2.5K extra (instead of the advertised £5K because of the additional BMW incentives plus a couple of options that are standard or cheaper for the 525d model).

Another 6 weeks to go

Thanks and enjoy your wait!

[martin mustang]

Hi just thought from reading your response to Bond to let you know that the Autocar comparison was on the ED version of the 520 not the normal auto option 520d, different feel to the power between the two, i.e. 520d normal and the ED option, I believe Auto express compared the 2 versions.

[surreybmwdriver]

Thanks Martin. Yes I noticed that the article is talking about ED, there are some slight changes in the figures between ED and the normal one.

[Bimmernerd]

I think you have made the right choice with 525d!

I was not particularly impressed with the 520d when I test drove it (both with manual and auto transmission). Enjoy, nice color combo Imperial Blue and Oyster/Black!

[kave]

Bummernerd: Have you tried the new 525D then?

[kave]

Originally Posted by surreybmwdriver

However, I cannot ignore the option to upgrade to 525d by paying £2.5K extra (instead of the advertised £5K because of the additional BMW incentives plus a couple of options that are standard or cheaper for the 525d model).

Another 6 weeks to go

Great and congrats. Of course the more HP the better
Here a 525D is 5000€ more than the 520D and gives you nothing extra at all.
The 530D is 9000€ more than a 520D, and gives no extras at all.
Can't you stretch it to a 530D if you skip some extras? Then you have one of the best engines at all in my book. Same mpg figures as a 525D and much much quicker in the real world.

[Bimmernerd]

Originally Posted by kave

Bummernerd: Have you tried the new 525D then?

Thanks for the misspelling of my login name Kave...

Yes, I have tested 525d just recently and thought there was a surprisingly big difference vs 520d when it comes to performance, smoothness especially in low revs etc.

However, I think that if money is no object 530d is like you say an even better choice. At least in Sweden the big price difference 520d/525d is a bit strange. As you mention you do not get any extras when you choose 525d besides a better engine! But that is usually the case with BMW, if you look at the standard equipment list for 550i vs 520i you do not find so much extra "goodies" as you might expect from the price tag...

[Shake n Bake]

Originally Posted by Bond5M5

All the benefits 2 turbos add to the 535D also add to the 525D except in 525D there are 2 cylinders less but the technology is the same. 525D is more sporty engine having max output at 4400 rpm like 535D also. Just look at acceleration figures: 0-100 km/h - 1.1 sec faster and 80-120 km/h - 1.2 sec faster is 525D compared to 520D. That's a lot, for example 0-100 km/h difference between 530D and 535D is "only" 0.5 sec.

I don't think that benefit is worth an extra £5000. The 520 is a great engine.

[remmib]

Originally Posted by kave

Great and congrats. Of course the more HP the better
Here a 525D is 5000€ more than the 520D and gives you nothing extra at all.
The 530D is 9000€ more than a 520D, and gives no extras at all.
Can't you stretch it to a 530D if you skip some extras? Then you have one of the best engines at all in my book. Same mpg figures as a 525D and much much quicker in the real world.

You mean the mpg is the same in real world, because it's not in the official figures.

And in Norway the F10 525d is about 13000€ more than the 520d