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[Del Boy]

Guy at work just took delivery of 61 plate 530d GT, must say that 3.0 diesel is a peach of an engine, smooth, can't tell its a diesel. It shifted as well with 5 people in 

My neighbour reckons his Jag is quicker than the A7 3.0tdi he had when the Jag was being straightened. Though up to 125, I reckon the Omega is quicker.  The Omega certainly doesn't go sideways as easily either...

There's more than one 3.0 TDI for the A7, a 204 BHP model or a 242 BHP model, I suspect he had the lower powered one, dependant on which XF diesel he has.

[Del Boy]

Oh and a lovely E39 by the way  . Still I believe the best shape 5 Series made, and better than my F10 .

[henryd]

Oh and a lovely E39 by the way  . Still I believe the best shape 5 Series made, and better than my F10 .

+1,lovely cars

[Broomies Mate]

Excellent choice Duggs.

I have a V8 model, but in the lesser SE spec which means it looks a little dated in comparison to your lovely Sport.

To be honest, the increase in performance of the 535i over the 530i is not worth the extra running costs, so you have the best engine in the best spec'd body.  Due to it being a BMW, even the V8 'growl' is missing - It is far too civilised! 

I guess the ONLY advantage I have over you is that when I lift the bonnet, people really do stare - It's a very nice engine bay, almost pretty.

To answer an above query, the e39 engine bay is massive, swallows the M62 V8 with ease and with the plastic engine cover removed, pretty much everything is accessible..... even better, the Oil Filter on mine is housed just behind the N/S headlamp.  If it weren't for draining the old oil, you wouldn't even need a jack.

Compared to the Omega, the thing I found the MOST surprising was just how much better the '5er handles.  I'm no road-warrior, but I feel so much more confident pushing into bends and knowing the car will have no issues.  The traction control system is infinitely better too.

I do consider the Omega more comfortable, BUT I have the most basic of leather option on mine and as I understand, the 'Comfort' package available on these is in another class.

Oh, Black Headlining and Posts - Very rare! 

[duggs]

Well after nearly 3 months of ownership I'd concur completely. The sport has everything that the M5 has apart from the 5 litre engine. Setup, suspension wise, is the same and the handling is amazing, although as mentioned, not as comfortable as the Omega. Build quality though, they are worlds apart in favour of the BMW.

Also, the adaptive gearbox/engine performance ability is a lot quicker to work out your driving requirements.....a sedate cruiser one min and completely and utterly bonkers the next although at a price..fuel wise. Currently averaging 23mpg for a combo of sedate and bonkers, just can't help myself on occasions as she's so incredibly quick...running with VX oil as well !

The black Headlining and Posts are a nice touch also, goes well with black leather.

BMW's DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) is pretty incredible also. I've "tested" it out on a few occasions and it seems impossible to go out of control with it. Switch it off and that's a whole new suicidal story !

[Broomies Mate]

16.7MPG here, but that is mainly short journeys (sub 5 miles) and all in town.

[duggs]

It DOES seem strange that the "extra" 500cc and another couple of cylinders on the 535 only produced an extra 14 BHP over the 3 litre. Ho Hum !

[Del Boy]

It DOES seem strange that the "extra" 500cc and another couple of cylinders on the 535 only produced an extra 14 BHP over the 3 litre. Ho Hum !

At the time the 535i came out though, the biggest 6 Cylinder they had was the 528i, with 193 BHP, the 530i was an updated engine for the facelift in 2000  . The 3.5 V8 and 4.4 V8 were old engines by the time production finished. The E65 7 Series for example which came out in 2001 had a newer 3.6 engine with 272 BHP, and a 4.4 with 333 BHP  .

[duggs]

Gotcha.  And the modern 3.0 is way more than my 231bhp now. Seems that they might know what they're doing with their engines.

[fastandy36]

think them beemers were built more for handling and less for comfort.. I reckon you'd be stiffer after a long drive in that bad boy, than you would in the Omega, (which my wife thinks cruises like a stena liner ...!)

[duggs]

So far so good.  The sports seats rather mould around the driver. Although mine are fully electric, including the leg extensions and even the head rest, I have no adjustment to tighten or soften the back support but so far all is well. As you mention though, haven't been on a long journey as yet...time will tell.

[OmegaAnglesey]

Very nice, would consider one my self my neighbour has a "X" 535i Sport in black and does look good but does have a drug dealer / mafia type look to it which I'm not too fond of  apart from that nice and looks much better in silver

[duggs]

6 months in, still performing brilliantly on Vauxhall Oil !

Got the yearly insurance and break down cover for less than £300, which I consider a victory and amazingly for me, stumped up a full years TAX in one go, £280.

Apart from the radiator, which was changed under warrantee, AMAZINGLY EVERYTHING still works the way it did when the car left Bavaria in 2001.

During a 120 mile round trip she returned 37.8 mpg, incredible for a 3 litre petrol but the journey WAS rather "slow paced".

[duggs]

Well that's a first for me.  Passed the MOT first time with NO advisories.  I feel almost disappointed.

MPG on average, town and dual carriageway driving is pretty constant at 28 MPG BUT I do doodle around town.

Journey to Cardiff and back, over 550 miles came out at 36 mpg....not bad for a petrol.

STILL the best car I've ever owned and tis a privilege to drive her every day...Heck...even work becomes exciting.

[ZacVegas]

I'm looking at a 51 reg 530 today, I think they're great looking cars