I am considering a new 530i SE with Sports Automatic transmission.

Under UK tax laws for company funded vehicles, over 90% of BMW drivers (myself included) have moved over to diesels in recent years.

With the advent of the new 'direct injection' engines, I am now considering a move back to petrol, as the new 530i auto does 37.7mpg and with it's much improved CO2 emissions, will now cost less in tax than a 530d.

However, here's the problem. Having spoken to around 6 UK BMW dealers, none are running a petrol 5 Series as a demonstrator, yet all have several diesels! They also seem pretty clueless on these new engines and the new sport auto (see separate thread)

Seems to me like BMW UK have scored an own goal here. They now have a new series of engines that could revert many drivers back to petrol cars, but the dealers haven't bought into this and are sticking with diesels (due also to the higher retained values at disposal - petrol models drop in value much quicker than diesels).

I'd be interested to hear the opinions of any drivers with a new (direct injection) 530i or 525i on performance, refinement, economy etc particularly anyone with the sport auto transmission.

I am considering a new 530i SE with Sports Automatic transmission.

Under UK tax laws for company funded vehicles, over 90% of BMW drivers (myself included) have moved over to diesels in recent years.

With the advent of the new 'direct injection' engines, I am now considering a move back to petrol, as the new 530i auto does 37.7mpg and with it's much improved CO2 emissions, will now cost less in tax than a 530d.

However, here's the problem. Having spoken to around 6 UK BMW dealers, none are running a petrol 5 Series as a demonstrator, yet all have several diesels! They also seem pretty clueless on these new engines and the new sport auto (see separate thread)

Seems to me like BMW UK have scored an own goal here. They now have a new series of engines that could revert many drivers back to petrol cars, but the dealers haven't bought into this and are sticking with diesels (due also to the higher retained values at disposal - petrol models drop in value much quicker than diesels).

I'd be interested to hear the opinions of any drivers with a new (direct injection) 530i or 525i on performance, refinement, economy etc particularly anyone with the sport auto transmission.


2 months later, and BMW UK still have NO petrol 5 series models available for test drives!

BMW UK really are asleep at the wheel. They have a new range of petrol engines that are now cheaper to run (tax wise) than diesels, yet potential customers (like me) are unable to drive them. They have a new range of products that they clearly don't want to sell.

Consequently, I'd love to hear the views of any UK drivers with a new (2007/8 model) 530i or 525i