jonny69 Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I'm thinking of chopping in my Inshite. Bear with me, it's awesome, but I have my reasons. I'm doing 120 miles a day commuting, which is why the Insight makes sense. However, I'm looking for something a bit bigger and more comfy for sitting on the motorway every day. Something that needs a little less input, less road noise, which I won't feel quite so fried after sitting in for an hour and quarter. Got to be 55-60mpg or the fuel bill will be too high, auto, comfy, stable on motorway, quiet, reliable i.e. (impending doom won't be acceptable). I'm thinking of an older BMW 5 Series, diesel, early 00s, high mileage that won't matter if I rack up a lot more miles on. Will this fit the bill or have I made a major oversight here e.g. wildly out with the mpg, parts prices, actually going to die, £1Million+ for tyres, £550 road tax bracket? Tell me about these. What engine etc, what do they even have? Or what else I should be looking at... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernaut Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Got to be 55-60mpg . I'm thinking of an older BMW 5 Series Good luck with that one. flat4alfa, Lacquer Peel, Junkman and 9 others 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreepingJesus Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 The only things I'm aware of that will actually turn in that sort of economy in real life, are VAG TDs. I know of a few examples of people genuinely putting in well over 50mpg. Mostly Golfs and Octavias, but I know a guy with an Audi Q3 who swears his will on cruise control on the motorway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 A friend used to run a E39 530d Auto Sport and that returned mid 30s mpg. lovely car and quick. Add - this car also used to get though quite a lot of expensive tyres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket88 Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Octavia............... Beemers of this era are shite on juice The Moog and twosmoke300 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny69 Posted November 23, 2017 Author Share Posted November 23, 2017 Noooooo! Dream status: shattered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binbag Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 If your going down the madness route why not go cuckoo and get an x350 diesel Jag ? Probably will cost the same as the BMW with all the parts you have to replace. The Reverend Bluejeans 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Mk2 insight The Reverend Bluejeans, The Moog and beko1987 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 The 530d Auto sport was replaced with a 57 reg 520d business edition 6 speed manual that was a lot more economical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny69 Posted November 23, 2017 Author Share Posted November 23, 2017 ^ Got to be auto, really. I get caught in shitty motorway pile-up traffic too regularly and it's way easier to deal with in an auto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I don't think you'll see 50-60MPG from anything older, automatic, big and diesel.Xantia 1.9D automatic on veg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liggle Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I had a 2003 E46 320d Touring a few years back, motorway MPG when sat at 70mph was ~50MPG if you were careful. That was a manual too. First turbo went at 130k but when the company got rid it was on ~230k without any further issues other than a rattly DMF. E46 are very comfortable in SE spec with leather, an E39 would be much better but keeping one on the road cheaply now is impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 530ds and 525ds aren’t that great on fuel.How about an e220 dci. Same size but with 4 cylinder engines , most come with auto boxes .They’re nice to drive and quite comfy and would probably do mid 40’s https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-E220-cdi-2-1-Elegance-Auto-Excellent-Condition/152791715575?hash=item2393188ef7:g:jSoAAOSwIVhaDzO5 NorfolkNWeigh, The Reverend Bluejeans and 0ldCh0d 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nacho man Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I think the man to ask about bmw's is thereverendbluejeans. Vince70 and stephen01 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Six pot diesels do not give anywhere near 50mpg. Our vectra does 40 mpg - but at 40 mph in top. alcyonecorporation 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny69 Posted November 23, 2017 Author Share Posted November 23, 2017 I had a 2003 E46 320d Touring a few years back, motorway MPG when sat at 70mph was ~50MPG if you were careful. That was a manual too. First turbo went at 130k but when the company got rid it was on ~230k without any further issues other than a rattly DMF. E46 are very comfortable in SE spec with leather, an E39 would be much better but keeping one on the road cheaply now is impossible.Right, so it might have to be 3 series if I go Bimmer. I should probably add that most of my route is managed motorway, so spent mainly at 60mph. Bit faster on the way home, but even then most of it is no more than 65mph with the traffic and only a few minutes really at 70mph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I know of an e46 320d for sale with a fully rebuilt engine, new turbo etc . It’s a manual though . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNWeigh Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I spend most of my life on what I think is close to your commute, MK to Heathrow..As already said , unlikely to get 50+ mpg from a six pot dizzler BMW ( no UK 520ds in e39).I have a bit of a lead foot ,but that is countered by 95% of mu mileage happening on motorways.Here's what the OBC s have said over the last 10 years or so.2011 Volvo V70 D3 ( 2.0 5pot 163bhp) 44 mpg2016 Merc e220 ( 2.1 170 bhp) 47 mpg 2012 Merc e250. ( 2.1 4 pot 200bhp). 42 mpg2008 Merc e280. (3.0 V6 190 bhp). 40 mpg2012 Merc C220 51mpg2010 BMW 530d. 43mpg2010 Chrysler 300 C. (3.0 V6 Merc). 36 mpg2010 Merc CLS " 38 mpg2003 BMW 525d man. 48 mpg2002 BMW 530 auto. 37 mpg In my experience it doesn't matter how or where you drive a 4 cylinder Merc diesel they'll never do less than 40 mpg and if they're yours( both of the above were long term hire , 10,000 miles plus by me) probably considerably more. Whereas 6 cylinder diesels Merc or BMW will soon come down to petrol levels if you're not always cruising on the motorway. Liggle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dome Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 How about a D5 equipped Volvo? I've heard good things about them scdan4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dome Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Or an LPG equipped V8 for maximum waftage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrel2 Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 How about a D5 equipped Volvo? I've heard good things about themOn a regular 200 mile round-trip commute I get about 52 mpg (calculated, not from dashboard display) out of my D5-powered XC70 auto. This is despite a crawl through the Port Talbot M4 section in the evening. Open road speed 60-70 mph.My previous D5, a manual V70, was not as economical, but it had a later DPF-equipped engine. Squirrel2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flat4alfa Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 They didn't better 40mpg when new! spike60 and The Reverend Bluejeans 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny69 Posted November 23, 2017 Author Share Posted November 23, 2017 I spend most of my life on what I think is close to your commute, MK to Heathrow..Yeah it's shit isn't it! Here's what the OBC s have said over the last 10 years or so. 2011 Volvo V70 D3 ( 2.0 5pot 163bhp) 44 mpg 2016 Merc e220 ( 2.1 170 bhp) 47 mpg 2012 Merc e250. ( 2.1 4 pot 200bhp). 42 mpg 2008 Merc e280. (3.0 V6 190 bhp). 40 mpg 2012 Merc C220 51mpg 2010 BMW 530d. 43mpg 2010 Chrysler 300 C. (3.0 V6 Merc). 36 mpg 2010 Merc CLS " 38 mpg 2003 BMW 525d man. 48 mpg 2002 BMW 530 auto. 37 mpgThat's quite interesting, thanks for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Longbridge Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 My M47 engined 320d does 50mpg on a run, and not beating the shit out of it. A 130 PD VAG TDI lump does 50+mpg even when driving like a knob. BMWs are infinitely nicer to drive though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asimo Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Prius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike60 Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I used to have a 1994 manual 525 tds e34, the same engine they fitted in the 1996-8 tds 525. shite power off boost,fuel 32-39 mpg. It saw 253k miles and I sold it as a runner.I now have a 530d touring manual and engine is revelation, do not confuse the two. Bag of go from about 1300 rpm, goes like a (smokey) rocket on boost. Dash Lie-O-Meter claims 47mpg overall but the truth is 38ish local, 45.5mpg on a 300 mile cross country run this spring. Still very quiet and comfy at 260k, I be sorry to see the scruffy old bugger go when the tin worm gets it.We also have a 530d manual saloon in the family that has gone from 120-210k with us, the only time the engine has flickered was when a moron filled it with red out of a dirty can. Not as strong as the touring but it doesn't smoke and has slightly better mpg.You won't get 55-60 mpg out of an auto 5 series, my 1.4 Tdi Polo did but I wouldn't drive 120 miles a day commute in one.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_Q Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 How about an Audi A6? With the 1.9tdi that's got to be capable of 50mpg on a motorway run, hopefully bargey enough for you? https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F132393283074 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LessThanEqual Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I used to do my 90 mile daily commute in a 2005 Ibiza 1.9 TDI. That got 65 MPG without trying, with 68 being my absolute best tank-to-tank. Though at 142k it was getting quite rusty and I got sick of constant random limp mode. I now have a 2010 Mazda 2 1.5 petrol which only gets 45 MPG, though I did manage 50 with a very light foot without overtaking all week, but there's almost nothing to worry about. 8 valve PD and older TDI engines really are just about the best thing for MPG at a lower price bracket, shame they are VAG. Seat and Skoda cars are usually in better shape and cheaper than Aldi or VW equivalents. How about an FN/FK diesel Civic? Those get 60 MPG easy, are mega comfy, and pre-facelift models do not have a DPF to worry about. Quite lively too with 140 bhp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Furious Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 A brand new 6 pot BMW diesel isn't going to get anywhere near 55-60mpg, never mind an old E39/60. I'm afraid you're going to have to trade off either your power or mpg requirements. Just definitely avoid the 525d, all the power of the 4 pot with all the fuel economy of the 6 pot. (unless it's 2012 onwards twin turbo 4 pot, which From what you've said I doubt it's going to be) TBH I doubt there is going to be anything from Munich that fits your criteria (the mpg part of it mainly) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosmoke300 Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Another vote for an a6 . I had a customer with a 200k plus 1.9tdi that still went well and always had 50plus mpg on the display Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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