XSeries-forum

I've got an e53 3.0 facelift diesel at the moment, my mrs probably does about 7k a year, mainly short journeys, school runs etc. I need some advice is it really worth me going for another diesel?

Petrol buddy.

[quote="Reusch"]
Petrol buddy.
[/quote]

Care to share some advantages? 500quid a year for tax is really eye watering  :hypo:

I've got a diesel and we do short journeys which isn't really good for a diesel I'm now looking for a petrol X5 as for the tax it's only money you can't take it with you bud  )

[quote="Reusch"]
I've got a diesel and we do short journeys which isn't really good for a diesel I'm now looking for a petrol X5 as for the tax it's only money you can't take it with you bud  )
[/quote]

Fair answer

I am looking for an X5 (see my thread), op asking made me itch my head now Petrol vs Diesel. I can tell you I don't commute (work from home) and car will be used for grocery pickup (wife), and a one off trip to london (120 miles a week). Was reading about LPG conversion too, sounds tempting if u need the mileage + v8 power

I would go diesel, what kind of budget are you looking at? any specifics?


Sent from my iPhone

I have a 40d - took me ages to find one with the right spec and colour. I love the car but if I had the choice again I'd have gone for petrol. I spent nearly £5k more for my diesel than an identical petrol version because generally diesels are more in demand. I argued that road tax and economy would make up the difference. Turned out to be rubbish.

I do 20k miles a year, so would use about 5,000l of petrol at 18mpg vs 3,600l of diesel at 25mpg - as petrol costs less than diesel at the pump, I would pay £1,000 more a year approx for petrol than diesel. And I do 20k miles - at your stated 7k miles the difference is negligible.

What's more many of the people who bought petrols did so for themselves, diesels are often fleet cars. This means petrols tend to be specced them up big time, compared to lots of quite basic diesels. So for less money you get more performance, more spec, and yes more road tax but that and fuel is offset by the lower purchase price.

[quote="Ash1971"]
I have a 40d - took me ages to find one with the right spec and colour. I love the car but if I had the choice again I'd have gone for petrol. I spent nearly £5k more for my diesel than an identical petrol version because generally diesels are more in demand. I argued that road tax and economy would make up the difference. Turned out to be rubbish.

I do 20k miles a year, so would use about 5,000l of petrol at 18mpg vs 3,600l of diesel at 25mpg - as petrol costs less than diesel at the pump, I would pay £1,000 more a year approx for petrol than diesel. And I do 20k miles - at your stated 7k miles the difference is negligible.

What's more many of the people who bought petrols did so for themselves, diesels are often fleet cars. This means petrols tend to be specced them up big time, compared to lots of quite basic diesels. So for less money you get more performance, more spec, and yes more road tax but that and fuel is offset by the lower purchase price.
[/quote]

Interesting points.

The thing with Petrol is that there are not many around to be honest. On my price range, there are no more than 10 petrols and some asking prices are very similar to Diesel.

There are people that swear by the diesel ones, faster, etc etc, what are your views? Did u ever buy a petrol?

Wow you're right. I haven't done this search in about 2 years but yes the diesels appear around the same price as the petrols. But my comment about spec remains (by the way I was referring to the 4.4l V8 - the 3.0l doesn't have the torque you need in such a big car). It's clear to see the V8s have big spec, nice wheels, sunroofs, etc, many of the 30d SE cars are very basic.

This also means my car has depreciated a lot. Bugger.

My E53 was the first diesel car I ever owned and when the warranty was out I chipped it. The E70 was a natural successor and it's not chipped as to me it's fast enough. For day to day driving I love the torque of the diesel, which is why only a V8 petrol would do me. But I prefer the sounds and silky smoothness of the petrol. Were I in your boots today I can see why it's a hard choice... especially given the negligible price diff.

My 4.0D returns 24 MPG.

I must admit I do find this a little disappointing - but given the size and weight of it, it was never going to be super efficient.  Not sure on the MPG for a petrol - the X5M do look good value for money -  no idea what they would be like to run..

Cheers

Steve

[quote="Ash1971"]
Wow you're right. I haven't done this search in about 2 years but yes the diesels appear around the same price as the petrols. But my comment about spec remains (by the way I was referring to the 4.4l V8 - the 3.0l doesn't have the torque you need in such a big car). It's clear to see the V8s have big spec, nice wheels, sunroofs, etc, many of the 30d SE cars are very basic.

This also means my car has depreciated a lot. Bugger.

My E53 was the first diesel car I ever owned and when the warranty was out I chipped it. The E70 was a natural successor and it's not chipped as to me it's fast enough. For day to day driving I love the torque of the diesel, which is why only a V8 petrol would do me. But I prefer the sounds and silky smoothness of the petrol. Were I in your boots today I can see why it's a hard choice... especially given the negligible price diff.
[/quote]

Tell me about it....seems like every other day I change my mind, not sure if I go with diesel of petrol. Reliability wise, my thinking is, with diesels there are more things to go wrong than Petrol, and under my circumstances (this car will only see real motorway once a week, weekly doing supermarket errands, although the nearest supermarket is stone throw from my house  ) when it comes to mpg, it won't matter much to me.

I haven't tried getting a quote yet, but Im guessing insurance wise, a same year model would go for the same price? I know tax would be double

[quote="hertfordshire1"]
My 4.0D returns 24 MPG.

I must admit I do find this a little disappointing - but given the size and weight of it, it was never going to be super efficient.  Not sure on the MPG for a petrol - the X5M do look good value for money -  no idea what they would be like to run..

Cheers

Steve
[/quote]

X5M is a nice car  But I don't think a 7 seater exists! and if it does, the owner must have to carry a Petrol station with it  :'(

I have had both a petrol V8 and a 40d diesel, I averaged 32 - 34 in the 40d but only 14 in the V8.

The 40d was faster, almost 20mpg better and half the road tax. The cost of a petrol X5 has to be significantly cheaper to make any sense. It’s all down to what you want and the price you want to pay. If they are the same price, I know which one I would have.

Its a tough one I think, I loved my old X5 4.8is but I always thought it slightly missed the point in that it had a pretty powerful engine yet it was wasted in some ways because it had to drag 2.2 tonnes around with it which ruined economy and its not a sports car either but more of a "halo model" of the range.

So for me a powerful diesel suits that type of car better I think, don't get me wrong I loved the V8 noise big time!  but arguably the diesel is the better match for a big heavy 4x4 type of vehicle I think.

I'm sure I already replied to this or are you another person asking the same question !!!???

V8 no question.

Low miles don't suit diesel
Economy with those sort of journeys wont make much diff
Cheaper to buy I suspect with better spec like for like because of the people likely to have bought them
No turbos to blow up
Diesels are going out of fashion
Diesel sounds like a tractor

Do I need to go on.....?