Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

[marle]

Hi Guys,

Looking to purchase either of the above car. Am considering between a 2011 523i vs 2012 520i.

I am not that familiar with cars so will really appreciate your comments on the above two options.

What should i look out for before buying as well?

Thank you for your expertise opinion!

 

[Jason8822]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

I would vote for 523 cos inline 6 is supper smooth and ..... its now or never.
Plus the engine is much more reliable than those newer ones though the newer ones are more efficient.

 

[Slow_poke_driver]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

2011 528i...the 6 cylinder 3.0...

 

[MW]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

One OT question I wanna ask is, those who drive the Diesel models, when you drive into the petrol kiosk, does the attendant give you funny looks? I mean, in Sg's image conscious society, people look at diesel vehicles as taxis, vans, lorries buses etc and not conti cars like BMW or Mercs

 

[Jason8822]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

2011 528i...the 6 cylinder 3.0...

523 = M size strawberry
528 = L size strawberry
Note that there are N52 and N53 versions.
Try to get the N52 cos N53 Direct Injection which might not work so well with SGP petrol

 

[bimmernic]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

Hi Guys,

Looking to purchase either of the above car. Am considering between a 2011 523i vs 2012 520i.

I am not that familiar with cars so will really appreciate your comments on the above two options.

What should i look out for before buying as well?

Thank you for your expertise opinion!

I have the 2010 523 and have had the 520 (pre-LCI) on loan for more than a week.

520 has slightly better low end torque esp below 2k rpm. Pretty driveable due to low boost TC. But rough and less refined since it is a 4 cylinder engine. It has that infamous has diesel like clatter; obvious from outside the car.

OTH, the 523 needs a bit of revs to come alive. At least 1.5k rpm but the real kick comes at about 2.5k rpm. The engine loves to rev and the turbine-like "wail" is quite intoxicating. Had my spark plugs replaced at R2D with his modified Volker ones - low end torque has improved and so has the high end power.

Being a BMW classic inline 6 engine, the 523 is truly buttery smooth - step on the accelerator and there is no drag or stickiness from idle to redline.

The 523 is also more refined - better perceived NVH from inside the cabin. Sometimes I wonder if BMW deliberately placed less insulation in the 520, as the entry level model.

 

[Slow_poke_driver]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

523 = M size strawberry
528 = L size strawberry
Note that there are N52 and N53 versions.
Try to get the N52 cos N53 Direct Injection which might not work so well with SGP petrol

Don't think there is 528i with N53.

The 3.0L N53 is what some PI brought in as 523i.

 

[Jason8822]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

Don't think there is 528i with N53.

The 3.0L N53 is what some PI brought in as 523i.

Have, i came across few units while searching for my used F10 2-3 yrs ago
There are both 2.5L and 3.0L versions of N53, labelled as 523 and 528

 

[Ah yang]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

Tis jason will tel u get 535i....

 

[Jason8822]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

Oh ya, if budget permits, 535 will be better.
And if you have some more budget, M5 will be even better

 

[harizbbjt]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

turbo fan here so 520i or 528i gets my vote!

 

[alvinado]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

523 = M size strawberry
528 = L size strawberry
Note that there are N52 and N53 versions.
Try to get the N52 cos N53 Direct Injection which might not work so well with SGP petrol

Jason, not true. Singapore petrol is now 50ppm sulphur and is suitable for direct injection engines. So n53 is not an issue.

Diesel is now 10ppm sulphur

Diesel is euro6 compliant and petrol is euro5

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE87N08J20120824

 

[alvinado]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

Malaysia is a different story as it is 500ppm sulphur

 

[Jason8822]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

Jason, not true. Singapore petrol is now 50ppm sulphur and is suitable for direct injection engines. So n53 is not an issue.

Diesel is now 10ppm sulphur

Diesel is euro6 compliant and petrol is euro5

Singapore to move to cleaner fuels by 2014

Oh, sulphur content reduced to 50ppm by Oct 13.
I am so outdated.

 

[alvinado]

Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

Just sharing some info. Hope never offend any bros here. We are all bimmer brothers

 

[adagio]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

Why not consider 525 over 523

 

[MW]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

Just sharing some info. Hope never offend any bros here. We are all bimmer brothers

dun worry about jason8822, if u see him, just smack his face. We all do that and he loves it

 

[JuzMe]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

As the saying goes "There's no replacement for displacement"

 

[Jason8822]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

Why not consider 525 over 523

Cos f10 never had 525

dun worry about jason8822, if u see him, just smack his face. We all do that and he loves it

At this rate my face gonna get swollen

 

[adagio]

Re: Should i buy a preloved F10 523i or 520i?

Cos f10 never had 525



At this rate my face gonna get swollen

Ah ok. Hope u get your choice ride soon!