Maintenance comparison???

[sirLancelot]

Maintenance comparison???

How much does Maintenance between a petrol and diesel differ? Does that extra 1-3km/ p/l rely justify paying more on maintenance? (if it is more)

If one should look at say for eg a E39 – 540/530 compare to a 530d… I would really love to have the 540 but have to really do my homework here.

What you guys think…

 

[Coisman]

I say the price of petrol is still a HELL of a lot cheaper that alcohol, so for me that's not a drinker I really dont worry about how much I pay, and how much Petrol I use. :rollsmile:

If you want to buy a car purely for feul economy, buy a Polo 1.4 diesel, or a Prius, or at least a 320d or something, but you cant compare a 540i or even a 530i with a 530d, it just doesn't compute in my books.

Buy a car for one reason, and one reason only... how it makes you feel when you drive it!!

You didn't marry your wife, or is in love with your girlfriend because she can cook, you did it because of how she makes you feel... :fencelook:

 

[abmi0000]

I say the price of petrol is still a HELL of a lot cheaper that alcohol, so for me that's not a drinker I really dont worry about how much I pay, and how much Petrol I use. :rollsmile:

If you want to buy a car purely for feul economy, buy a Polo 1.4 diesel, or a Prius, or at least a 320d or something, but you cant compare a 540i or even a 530i with a 530d, it just doesn't compute in my books.

Buy a car for one reason, and one reason only... how it makes you feel when you drive it!!

You didn't marry your wife, or is in love with your girlfriend because she can cook, you did it because of how she makes you feel... :fencelook:

Oh yeah - I'm with him on this one :grin:

 

[JENICH]

I say the price of petrol is still a HELL of a lot cheaper that alcohol, so for me that's not a drinker I really dont worry about how much I pay, and how much Petrol I use. :rollsmile:

If you want to buy a car purely for feul economy, buy a Polo 1.4 diesel, or a Prius, or at least a 320d or something, but you cant compare a 540i or even a 530i with a 530d, it just doesn't compute in my books.

Buy a car for one reason, and one reason only... how it makes you feel when you drive it!!

You didn't marry your wife, or is in love with your girlfriend because she can cook, you did it because of how she makes you feel... :fencelook:

For a moment there, I thought you were going to say "you did it because of how she rides"
:fencelook:

 

[Coisman]

For a moment there, I thought you were going to say "you did it because of how she rides"
:fencelook:

imp:
Jerry, I will take "how she rides" ANYTIME over "how she flies" :rollsmile:

 

[abmi0000]

For a moment there, I thought you were going to say "you did it because of how she rides"
:fencelook:

imp:
Jerry, I will take "how she rides" ANYTIME over "how she flies" :rollsmile:

:roflol::roflol::roflol:

 

[moranor@axis]

well 3 guys have popped their turbos in the last few weeks on the forum...

i am convinced a diesel is only really cheaper to run till the turbo/injectors/fuel pump goes... so its a bit like playing lotto you can save money or lose money...

i choose petrol over diesel anyday because a good car like a good woman should make you want to revv her and make all the right noises :rollsmile:

 

[Dhp507]

Turbos just dont blow. Its how you care for them as any other item on the vehicle............one of the fundamental cares that is not even mentioned in the owners manual.....:argh: .

One should idle the car to let the turbo cool, before being switched off. That depends on how it was being driven prior to being switched off. Could be bet 1 to 3 minutes sometimes more if you were driving hard.

Diesel is not meant for short runs like less then 10km commutes as thats when the engine and gearbox only reach the ideal operating temps. It doesnt like multiple short stops. They are meant to do high mileage an you can only offset the cost of diesel if you do more than 20K a year...........

Should you not meet this criteria don't bother

 

[Coisman]

imp:
I still stand by what I always post when it comes to buying a diesel...
If it aint got motorplan, and it aint an auto.... dont buy it... But thats just my oppinion... :rollsmile:

 

[Caddy101]

I do short drives during the week. I do about 10km a day. Even in a petrol car, it feels like the engine never really gets to the optimum operating temperature, the drive is less than pleasurable.

Do these short driving trips have any long term side effects?

I do take precautions; I drive the car slowly and I don't rev past 3000 when its cold

 

[abmi0000]

I do short drives during the week. I do about 10km a day. Even in a petrol car, it feels like the engine never really gets to the optimum operating temperature, the drive is less than pleasurable.

Do these short driving trips have any long term side effects?

I do take precautions; I drive the car slowly and I don't rev past 3000 when its cold

You need to burn out all the excess carbon which builds up over the short trips. If I were you, I would do at least a 100km run once or twice a month. :idea:

 

[AshG108]

I do short drives during the week. I do about 10km a day. Even in a petrol car, it feels like the engine never really gets to the optimum operating temperature, the drive is less than pleasurable.

Do these short driving trips have any long term side effects?

I do take precautions; I drive the car slowly and I don't rev past 3000 when its cold

My recent motorplan invoice will give you your answer, my VVT motor went because i only drive 2km to work and 2km back. i dont drive the car far enough on weekends to let it 'loosen' up, so to say.

and the less pleasurable drive is correct, the car feels so different when i drive it within good distances and it operates at its temp proper.

 

[Dhp507]

I do short drives during the week. I do about 10km a day. Even in a petrol car, it feels like the engine never really gets to the optimum operating temperature, the drive is less than pleasurable.

Do these short driving trips have any long term side effects?

I do take precautions; I drive the car slowly and I don't rev past 3000 when its cold

My recent motorplan invoice will give you your answer, my VVT motor went because i only drive 2km to work and 2km back. i dont drive the car far enough on weekends to let it 'loosen' up, so to say.

and the less pleasurable drive is correct, the car feels so different when i drive it within good distances and it operates at its temp proper.

The fuel consumption is going to be much higher then having a petrol .....and the running costs is going to higher in the long run....You losing out so best have two vehicles a petrol one for the short trips lots of stop and gos and a diesel to take you on those intermediate / long trips.......

 

[P1000]

Meh, lots of opinions here, who of you guys have actually owned any of the cars the OP asked about?

Here is my opinion:
I have an e39 530d 2003 model that has been in the family since 2004. Currently at 290kkm, I can promise you that the savings in fuel FAR outweigh the maintenance cost. The most notable maintenance difference between it and a petrol e39 is the savings in sparkplugs. Currently I am planning on replacing the turbo - simply because it has almost done 300kkm, and IMO, that is enough for it to be retired. Even with that, it is not a drop in the bucket over the amount of fuel saved over its life.

As a side-bar: just don't buy an auto (and if you do, know that it will cost you ~R25k to rebuild, and that has a 90% probability).

My experiences is only valid for 6cyl diesels, and not so much the 4cyl. The turbo works a lot harder in a 4cyl and that can easily be seen by the number of them that needs to be replaced at around 110kkm.

 

[DavidV]

I do short drives during the week. I do about 10km a day. Even in a petrol car, it feels like the engine never really gets to the optimum operating temperature, the drive is less than pleasurable.

Do these short driving trips have any long term side effects?

I do take precautions; I drive the car slowly and I don't rev past 3000 when its cold

My recent motorplan invoice will give you your answer, my VVT motor went because i only drive 2km to work and 2km back. i dont drive the car far enough on weekends to let it 'loosen' up, so to say.

and the less pleasurable drive is correct, the car feels so different when i drive it within good distances and it operates at its temp proper.

If I lived 2Km from my work I would walk.....:biglol:

 

[Dhp507]

I do short drives during the week. I do about 10km a day. Even in a petrol car, it feels like the engine never really gets to the optimum operating temperature, the drive is less than pleasurable.

Do these short driving trips have any long term side effects?

I do take precautions; I drive the car slowly and I don't rev past 3000 when its cold

My recent motorplan invoice will give you your answer, my VVT motor went because i only drive 2km to work and 2km back. i dont drive the car far enough on weekends to let it 'loosen' up, so to say.

and the less pleasurable drive is correct, the car feels so different when i drive it within good distances and it operates at its temp proper.

If I lived 2Km from my work I would walk.....:biglol:

+1 or bike it...well all depends where he lives.might be dangerous or he needs to travel out of the offices

 

[Doomsdaya]

I do short drives during the week. I do about 10km a day. Even in a petrol car, it feels like the engine never really gets to the optimum operating temperature, the drive is less than pleasurable.

Do these short driving trips have any long term side effects?

I do take precautions; I drive the car slowly and I don't rev past 3000 when its cold

You need to burn out all the excess carbon which builds up over the short trips. If I were you, I would do at least a 100km run once or twice a month. :idea:

Or drop the hammer now & then :rollsmile:

 

[sirLancelot]

Meh, lots of opinions here, who of you guys have actually owned any of the cars the OP asked about?

Here is my opinion:
I have an e39 530d 2003 model that has been in the family since 2004. Currently at 290kkm, I can promise you that the savings in fuel FAR outweigh the maintenance cost. The most notable maintenance difference between it and a petrol e39 is the savings in sparkplugs. Currently I am planning on replacing the turbo - simply because it has almost done 300kkm, and IMO, that is enough for it to be retired. Even with that, it is not a drop in the bucket over the amount of fuel saved over its life.

As a side-bar: just don't buy an auto (and if you do, know that it will cost you ~R25k to rebuild, and that has a 90% probability).

My experiences is only valid for 6cyl diesels, and not so much the 4cyl. The turbo works a lot harder in a 4cyl and that can easily be seen by the number of them that needs to be replaced at around 110kkm.

Thank you so much, this is the info I'm after...I have always been a petrolhead,bt I'm thinking about the diesel...o and I love the e39