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BMW 530d Touring
In the past, estate cars had a reputation for heavy fuel consumption, poor
refinement and barge-like handling, so you bought one only if you had to.
But over the past decade manufacturers have worked hard at making their
estate derivatives as refined as their saloons and among the most
accomplished is the BMW 5-series Touring.
Launched in April 1997, the Touring has been produced with a huge range of
engines, from a 150bhp 2 litre straight six to a mighty 286bhp 4.4 litre V8,
providing buyers with a car and engine combination to suit virtually all
requirements.
Today, an early 1997 520i Touring with 80,000 miles can be bought for less
than £7,000 and higher mileage cars are dipping below £5,000. If the budget
runs to £10,000 then a similarly aged 525d with the 2.5 litre diesel unit
producing 163bhp is an excellent choice — it gives good performance and true
40mpg economy. You’ll find BMW makes the case for buying diesel even more
compelling with the performance of the 530d. With 193bhp, it propels a
manual gearbox car to 62mph in just 8.1sec and on to a top speed of 141mph.
You’ll also have a choice of transmission, with five-speed manual or
five-speed steptronic automatic gearboxes on most models. Despite being a
£1,220 option when new, second-hand the automatic commands a premium of only
about £600. The extra is worth it as the steptronic gearbox produces silky
smooth changes, and acceleration on a par with the manual derivatives.
While the Touring may not be the biggest load lugger money can buy it does
have a completely flat loading area offering 690 litres of space. Folding
the rear seats is easy and boosts the available space to a generous 1,525
litres.
A retractable tonneau cover protects the luggage from prying eyes and the
luggage net stops the smaller objects from sliding around on the move. The
tailgate also allows the driver to access the boot space by opening just the
glass section, useful on a wet day or if you’ve parked close to a wall.
When buying second-hand it’s important to check the car’s list of options as
BMW equipment specifications can vary enormously. Standard kit on all
Touring models will include alloy wheels, electric windows, split-fold rear
seat, remote central locking with deadlocks and front and side airbags.
The SE models add roof rails, air-conditioning and 16in alloys. But buyers
should tread carefully when looking at high-spec second-hand cars; options
such as satellite navigation (£3,500) and various leather trims can add
thousands to the original cost of the car but should command a premium of
less than 25% of their original invoice price to a used vehicle.
On the road, the Touring feels indistinguishable from the saloon. The
dashboard and dials are beautifully made and simple to read, providing a
digital readout that informs the driver of when the next service is due.
Unfortunately, this system can be reset by unscrupulous sellers so insist on
seeing the service book and invoices before buying.
VITAL STATISTICS
Model: BMW 530d SE Touring
Engine: Six-cylinder, 2926cc
Power: 193bhp
Transmission: Five-speed auto
Fuel: 33.2mpg (combined)
Acceleration: 0 to 62mph: 8.3sec
Top speed: 141mph
Headlining: Sport models have anthracite-colour headlining
Seats: Driver's seat prone to wear on the outside of seat squab
Build date: Check label on top of front nearside wheel arch to confirm
build date of cars since 2001
Indicator lens: Post-June 2000 cars have clear lens but beware of
earlier cars upgraded to look newer
Options: Few cars leave the factory with standard specifications; check
the original sales invoice to confirm factory additions
Headlamp lens: With the September 2000 facelift the lenses became clear
Wheels: 16in alloys are standard on SE, Sport models get 17in
Dashboard: Service indicator lights are easily reset by the
unscrupulous so ask to see invoices to confirm maintenance history
Warranty: Three-year/unlimited mileage warranty on new cars since
November 2001
Traction control system: Automatic Stability Control and traction
control on all cars. Post-September 2000 cars also gain Dynamic Stability
Control
Airbags: Cars since September 97 also have ITS head airbags system
Leather: A desirable option but don't pay more than £500 extra
Air-conditioning: Digital climate control as standard
THE ONE TO BUY
BMW 530d SE Touring auto, 2001 Y-reg with 30,000 miles. Pay £20,750 at a
dealer with a 12-month warranty, or £18,750 privately.
OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY...
2001 X-reg Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI
2003 52-reg Saab 9-5 3.0 V6 TiD
2002 51-reg Audi A6 2.5 TDI quattro
2003 03-reg Alfa Romeo 156 GTA
2002 02-reg Volvo V70 2.4D5 SE
VALUES: BMW 530d SE Touring
Manual worth £600 less than equivalent auto. Source: estimates based on
confidential CAP black book prices. 'Trade' is what a dealer would pay to
buy your car; 'retail' is what you would pay a dealer