520i v 523i v 525i

I'm looking for a little advice.

I am thinking of replacing my 1999 523i SE Touring Auto with either a 520(2.2) or 525 facelifted model with similiar spec.

Can anyone tell me from experience if there is a very noticable difference in performance with either of these models compared to the 523. I intend to stay with the steptronic gearbox.

Many thanks.

Dec.

I have a 525i and have drive the 2.2 520 as well. I went for the 525 as it suits the car better. Its a heavy car and benifits greatly from the extra power. The 2.2 is ok but needs the 2.5 in my opionion. Stick with Petrol power dont believe all that DIEsel stuff about M3 performance. Yes you get a kick in the back when you boot it, but it only lasts for 2 seconds before you need another gear...... .

Mick

Thanks guys for your imput.

I did buy a 530d Touring Steptronic a few months ago, a '99 car with only 46,000 miles, but sold it again after two thousand miles when I got an offer I could'nt refuse !!

I'm with Mick on this as regards diesel. I loved the torque but really could'nt get used to the narrow power band. At times the hooligan comes out in me and I like to see (an hear) 6,000 rpm. I know the diesel makes the most economic sense, especially as I do about 40K miles a year, but after 35 years I really am a petrolhead.

Prior to the budget I would have considered a 540, particularly as they often have all the goodies and are not hugely expensive compared to a 525 or 530. However, the way things are going I'm not sure if there would be any used market for one of these in a year or so when petrol could well be 25% up on today's price. Then there is the thought of 22mpg and I am a little intimadated by the thought of that V8 as I like to do all my own servicing and repairs where possible.

A 530i does appeal, but I'm not sure if it justifies the extra 500 or so in road tax. I am also put off by this engine's reputation for having a serious drinking problem when it comes to oil !

I will probably go for a 525 as the one area I find dissapointing in the 523 is the mid range pulling power and I can't imagine that this can be anything other than poorer in the 520 despite the fact that the 2.2 has the same 170BHP. Interestingly, the VRT on the 525 is a few hundred less than the 520, though this may change when they reset the values at the start of January.

Anyhow, thanks again for the comments. May I say, as a relatively new BMW owner (just over a year now), and as a longtime member of another German marque owners' club, how vastly impressed I am with the quality, performance and pleasure of ownership that my 1999 523 SE Touring has given me.

Dec.