BMW - 05 2.5 Diesel vs Petrol - long life or big repair

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Mon 17 Aug 2009 20:29
05 2.5 Diesel vs Petrol - long life or big repair - malc_smith
I currently have a E39 523 touring in Petrol...

Every garage I have spoken to has said Diesel great to 50K then expect big repair bills - you'll be lucky to get away with less than £5K before 120K+. They then contrast with the 2.5-3.0 straight 6 petrols ("which are bomb proof"). On those numbers any saving in mpg will be completely wiped out by repair bills.

On my sample of 1 I've had no major problems with my E39 - the worst being a water pump (and the only time it has left me by the roadside in 70K of driving it). most years it just goes in for the annual service, with no additional costs!


What are people's experiences of long term realiability of Diesel and petrol engines? Which would you buy?

I'd like and E61 530i or 530d - which is better on a 3 year old 50K as a buy?
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Mon 17 Aug 2009 22:48
05 2.5 Diesel vs Petrol - long life or big repair - piston power
With proper servicing done regular using genuine filters and top quality oil both engines should do 300k, but it also depends on how they have been driven from new and you expect service history with a 3yr old car.

Id say if you do 18k + miles a year go for the diesel me i only do 9k so it's petrol for me, but servicing is the key especially oil changes with a diesel these 20,000mls seem too far & 12k seems a much better option if you want it to last.

But thats my opinion, i work on the railway our engines are guarateed to 400k but they only last that with regular oil changes & filters etc.
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