Around about April/May next year my Octavia will be going back to the lease company and I am opting out of the company car scheme.

I need a big estate and it has to be diesel (50k per annum) but I want a premium motor with a decent amount of diesel grunt straight out of the box. Don't want an Audi and I don't fancy the E class at all, the 335d is too small for my requirements.

With a bit of luck I should have around £28-32k available when I come to change vehicles.

I should be able to get a 12-18 month old car with plenty of toys for that price.

Any serious issues with that model and specifically that sequential twin turbo 6 pot lurking under the bonnet :confused:

I dout it, speak to a BMW dealer or look for a forum of some sort. I'd have one any day

I'd be quite happy with a a new version of mine and have 10-12k in my back pocket for half a dozen cruises TBH

My Dad has a 525d Touring (07) on sports suspension. Firsstly dont get sports suspension, coupled with a rigid chasis unless the road is perfectly flat it is constantly scrappling for grip.

Gearbox is ok but a bit of a clunky manual, climate control is about the worst encountered. Cruising is very comfortable, extremly quiet and effortless and the xenon cornering ligts are superb.

In terms of reliability it seems to have been ok, only one minor niggle (dodgy boot switch), however for wahtever reason it is constantly killing brake discs, possibly down to driving style butt no previous car he had has done it. On its 4th set after 50000 miles.

My current Octavia has been less than trouble free and the backup has been appalling so I won't be opting for another Skoda next time round but that is another story for another day :thumbdwn:

I have always driven relatively slow/crappy company cars and vans and I want to knock about in something nice and quick for a few years. The 535d seems to tick most (if not all) of the boxes

I will be getting a good contribution from my boss for running a car so the cost isn't really that much of an issue.

Just a thought and I know it would be a bit slower but what about an a6 3.0tdi quattro.

Not keen on an Audi if i'm honest. I have looked at an A6 a few times now but it just doesn't do it for me.

The new A4 with the 3.0 TDI is very tempting but I am drawn to that engine in the beemer

i would have a 535 any day of the week a little remap and you will be cooking on gas a very very fast car

dont think about it go get one and the remap you wont regret it

Hmmm, not tempted at all by the forthcoming Superb combi? I certainly am – especially if they put a V6 diesel in it

http://briskoda.net/superb-ii/new-real-world-pictures-skoda-superb-combi/156857/

And how do you know you won't get crap back up with any other main dealer?

I had this discussion earlier in the year, see this thread http://briskoda.net/general-car-chat/bmw-535d/134866/

In the end I decided to plump for a 335i M Sport Touring, as I didn't need the space of the 5. I would thoroughly recommend the BMW ownership experience. Nicely sorted car out of the box, with plenty of grunt and very well screwed together.

True, the MSport suspension is a bit on the harsh side, but then so are the runflats. Mine are due for replacement soon and I'll be switching to normal Conti's (and saving some cash) It's the runflat tyres that make the car skittish on uneven roads, not the suspension.

If you've got the cash and you need the space, I can't think of a better car to go for TBH. They use a 535D at work to lug some pretty heavy duty kit around almost 24Hrs a day, and the car never misses a beat. You just need to choose whether you're having an M Sport M5-a-like, or a lesser model!

Hmmm, not tempted at all by the forthcoming Superb combi? I certainly am – especially if they put a V6 diesel in it

http://briskoda.net/superb-ii/new-real-world-pictures-skoda-superb-combi/156857/

And how do you know you won't get crap back up with any other main dealer?

You have a very strong argument with the Superb Combi and there is always the risk of getting shafted by ANY dealer.

By the time I build the Superb Combi I would want which would be the Elegance V6 TDI (if fitted) with Columbus and that will most likely be in the mid-upper 20k price range which puts it close to a decent 535d.

I had this discussion earlier in the year, see this thread http://briskoda.net/general-car-chat/bmw-535d/134866/

In the end I decided to plump for a 335i M Sport Touring, as I didn't need the space of the 5. I would thoroughly recommend the BMW ownership experience. Nicely sorted car out of the box, with plenty of grunt and very well screwed together.

True, the MSport suspension is a bit on the harsh side, but then so are the runflats. Mine are due for replacement soon and I'll be switching to normal Conti's (and saving some cash) It's the runflat tyres that make the car skittish on uneven roads, not the suspension.

If you've got the cash and you need the space, I can't think of a better car to go for TBH. They use a 535D at work to lug some pretty heavy duty kit around almost 24Hrs a day, and the car never misses a beat. You just need to choose whether you're having an M Sport M5-a-like, or a lesser model!

It will be a 535d M-sport tourer with the visibility pack, professional nav system and media package and any other toys I can find on a decent second hand model (HUD/night vision anyone??). It has to be an 07 onwards as the E60/E61 was tweaked around about that time.

I lug loads of heavy gear around the country and I also want a decent quick car for the weekends and such like.

I have also reached that point in my life where I want something 'nice' for myself and to hell with the cost

It will be a 535d M-sport tourer with the visibility pack, professional nav system and media package and any other toys I can find on a decent second hand model (HUD/night vision anyone??). It has to be an 07 onwards as the E60/E61 was tweaked around about that time.

I lug loads of heavy gear around the country and I also want a decent quick car for the weekends and such like.

I have also reached that point in my life where I want something 'nice' for myself and to hell with the cost

Good for you and quite right

I know it's not hugely relevant, but my dad had an 02 530d M E39 in Sterling Grey for a couple of years there, I though it was a stonking car. So I'd have a 535d like a shot

No, no I wouldn't

HTH

Try both 530 (especially the newer ones) and the 535 before you decide.

The 530 has become better, stronger, faster so the difference between the 2 isnt that big anymore.

The 530 is a wider spread modell so you might save some cash or can get a newer one with better (=more) extras.

I had this discussion earlier in the year, see this thread http://briskoda.net/general-car-chat/bmw-535d/134866/

In the end I decided to plump for a 335i M Sport Touring, as I didn't need the space of the 5. I would thoroughly recommend the BMW ownership experience. Nicely sorted car out of the box, with plenty of grunt and very well screwed together.

True, the MSport suspension is a bit on the harsh side, but then so are the runflats. Mine are due for replacement soon and I'll be switching to normal Conti's (and saving some cash) It's the runflat tyres that make the car skittish on uneven roads, not the suspension.

If you've got the cash and you need the space, I can't think of a better car to go for TBH. They use a 535D at work to lug some pretty heavy duty kit around almost 24Hrs a day, and the car never misses a beat. You just need to choose whether you're having an M Sport M5-a-like, or a lesser model!

Both my Dad and I thought the 3 series was a nice car that we test dove just the boot was too small. In my view the 5 series is not a patch on it. Yes its a big heavy car but they have made it feel big and heavy. Perhaps normal tyres would help the hnadlind but at the moment it aint that great, the gerabox is poor, and the offset pedals give me a slight pain when driving it.

The 3.0l twin turbo diesel is however a cracking enngine and hugely tuneable just with a remap.

How about a Jaguar S-Type 2.7 v6 Diesel?? Very nice looking car, and plenty of poke.

It needs to be an estate car for all of my tools and equipment. Most of my miles are spent on the motorway so lots of straight line poke is a necessity.

I will do a back to back test of the 530d and 535d just to be sure the extra power justifies the extra few grand.

The 535d is pointless. May aswell get the 530 and remap it. Other option is why not just buy a Van, and buy the last shape M3 if you want poke!!

Yep it's all in the test drive really. Check up on the equipment that the car comes with as well as I know that the 335i models come with more standard kit than the rest of the range. I would have thought that the *35d models would be the same as well kitwise.

Bloody nice car, go for it!

The simple answer is YES! I would. I have the twin turbo 1 series and it is a superb engine. The car really does pick up from low revs very quickly and just puls hardl right round to the red line. Astonishing achievement and it is way better than any other diesel I have owned (VW 110, SEAT 130 and Skoda 140) or driven (with the possible exception of some very expensive V6 and V8 jobbies). In fact it is better than most engines I have driven, regardless of their fuel type.

The new 3.0D (245bhp) is a terrific engine too, very quick and like my diesel, an all alloy one, so handling may be improved with the lower weight. It won’t have quite the low down pull of the twin turbo, but the critics adore this engine and I have to say if I could get a 4x4 330D I’d be saving for it now.

I spend around 6 hours a day driving from job to job and I don't really fancy doing it in a van. AFAIK the 535d comes with lane departure warning and other goodies as standard over models such as the 530d.

The sequential/twin turbo setup is very appealing as is the extra 500rpm at the top of the dial.

And I want an auto box as I am getting totally jacked off with the stop start nightmare that is Central London, the clutch pedal is taking its toll on my dodgy knee these days.

The latest x30d is probably very very good but the x35d is still 282BHP (286PS IIRC). 580Nm isn't to be sniffed at either. A gentle remap would see 300BHP and something liek 630-650Nm.

I looked at the X3 and found there are some huge discounts available on new models. This is down to 2 things as far as I can tell. Firstly the model is being replaced soon and secondly it is not that great. The interior is inferior to my 1 series and looks very clunky, plus the ride is horrendous (well the X3.0 with sports suspension I went in, was pathetic). It helps the handling but I couldn’t live with it for long. I too do highish mileage (20-30K per annum) so comfort as well as handling is important to me. Mind you it’s a lot of car for the money.

Personally I would like the new X1. It’s basically a 4x4 3 series that has been jacked up a little. Top engine is only the 204bhp twin turbo diesel, but the drives in the prototypes have the press raving (the press are usually raving as we know). It’s claimed to handle like a 3 series touring (with similar space) but has the slightly higher driving position of a SAV (nowhere near as high as a X3). Standard gearbox in this model is 6 speed auto with paddle shift. Top speed is limited to something like 127, but derestricted it’s supposed to be around 138 and 0-62 in around 7.3 secs.

I know what i would be buying for those miles...

Its petrol. Its not a VAG. Its not an estate. However 0-60 in 7 seconds and 48mpg 56k new, 08 plate for about 29k.

Lexus RX450h, been in one and well, they are simply awesome. Another reason I would suggest this car is the great customer service they are known for since all the times you will be visiting with services.

I spend around 6 hours a day driving from job to job and I don't really fancy doing it in a van. AFAIK the 535d comes with lane departure warning and other goodies as standard over models such as the 530d.

The sequential/twin turbo setup is very appealing as is the extra 500rpm at the top of the dial.

And I want an auto box as I am getting totally jacked off with the stop start nightmare that is Central London, the clutch pedal is taking its toll on my dodgy knee these days.

The latest x30d is probably very very good but the x35d is still 282BHP (286PS IIRC). 580Nm isn't to be sniffed at either. A gentle remap would see 300BHP and something liek 630-650Nm.

A couple of years ago I would have sneered at an auto box as Ive always preferred the dynamics of a slick manual shift. I hunted for ages for a 335i with the right spec, but all the good ones had auto and all the poverty spec had manual. The salesman convinced me that the auto box was actually quite good and would fetch a higher resale value so I swallowed me pride and went for the auto box. I didn't realise the car had also been specced with paddle shift as well.

I have been converted by this car. In sport mode it shifts cogs quicker than I ever could and if I want quite a lot of control back, the paddle shifters are excellent. even if you don't like flappy paddles, the sequential stick shift works just as well. I'd thoroughly recommend

the auto option, especially if you're doing a lot of miles.