BMW 520d..... 2009 to buy or not to buy

Sulphur content will be identical in both white and green diesel where the importer is taking delivery from one boat. An example here in Limerick would be where the Shell boat unloads at the docks in Limerick and Topaz and Tara oil to name 2 companies, draw from the depot. The green diesel is marked on site at the depot. A customs official is obliged to be present to view the die being added. Not a nice job for a lady on a miserable day standing on top of a fuel storage tank witnessing the addition of the die. Some smaller private importers of fuel here in Ireland are availing of the oppertunity to supply high sulphur green diesel that complies with the leglisation allowing high sulphur diesel to be sold as green or red diesel. These importers are complying with the leglisation and it is up to the end user to decide whether or not to save a couple of cents per liter or stick with the bigger fuel distributors. I would urge plant and agricultural contractors that run modern common rail high pressure fuel injection diesels to steer clear of smaller importers to avoid the use of high sulphur fuels.

I believe that the reduction of sulphur content in white diesel within the EU in 2006 is causing difficulties for high pressure fuel injection systems. Sulphur content is now a tiny fraction of what it was. Sulphur is a lubricant and as fuel injection pressures have risen considerably, injector needle to nozzle clearances have reduced and the reduction of sulphur can contribute to needles sticking in the closed position. This results in the head of the injector nozzle blowing off. Engines running on rebated diesel whether red diesel or green diesel since 2006 have little or no problems with their high pressure fuel injection systems. The sulphur content in rebated diesel since 2006 is at least 20 times greater than in white diesel. However premature failure of engine valves and turbochargers and ring wear are been reported by agricultural engine manufacturers. Variable geomtery turbochargers are failing due to acidic attack from excessive sulphur. Owners of plant that run on rebated diesel are advised to change engine oil more frequently. Oil companies remove the sulphur from white diesel to comply with EU leglisation which is causing fuel injection problems for high pressure fuel injection systems. The oil companies then add this removed sulphur to red and green diesel to dispose of it, causing engine component wear to high performance multi valve diesel engines in plant and agricultural machines. So the overall reduction in sulphur emissions from diesel engines has not being reduced by a whole lot within the EU. So much for the attempt to reduce acid rain. However the reduction of sulphur in white diesel and the increase of sulphur in red or green diesel is creating expensive repair bills for us all.

Welcome to the forum.

The subject of buying an E60 520d has been discussed before here.

If it were me, I wouldn't touch a 520d with a barge pole.

BUT as you are in Ireland there is the heafty and rather unfair road tax system which makes gawd awful cars like the 520d attractive.

Personally I would buy a much cheaper bigger engined E60 and spend the difference on the road tax hike.

Make sure the 520d has the uprated air con controls as the basic one is like and I quote Mr Clarkson "it's like having an asthmatic cough through a straw" and as many optional extra toys as possible for re-sale value. Although in Ireland the fact that it has the low tax braket will always make it attractive to someone.  Leather, auto, etc always help re-sale.  MSports too is always a bonus.  Avoid anything that has cloth, manual and is base spec if you are after good re-sale.

Andrew