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new ride: saab 9-3 vs BMW 520 E60

  • 23-07-2014 11:37am
    #1
    FobleAsNuck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 798 ✭✭✭


    hi all,
    thinking about buying mself a new barge, and the current choice is saab 9-3 vs BMW 520 E60, both with 2.0 petrol engine, 04/05 year. I don't do much mileage but looking for comfortable ride that wont ruin my budget when something goes wrong. am I mad looking at E60?
    thanks!


Comments

  • #2
    draiochtanois
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,655 ✭✭✭draiochtanois


    This post has been deleted.


  • #3
    FobleAsNuck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 798 ✭✭✭FobleAsNuck


    ah yes, overlooked that. still qualifies tho :P


  • #4
    Foxhole Norman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,875 ✭✭✭Foxhole Norman


    Is the 9-3 a Petrol? They tend to require a bit more care due to potential sludging issues, this can be solved though with regular oil changes/maintenance, I'm sure someone who properly knows their Saabs will be along with proper info :pac:. It's a tough choice, I'd personally go for the E60 as I just prefer BMW's. I'd be looking for a 525 at the least in that car or even better, the 530i.


  • #5
    FobleAsNuck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 798 ✭✭✭FobleAsNuck


    I think the sludge issue was sorted after 2005, correct me if I'm wrong


  • #6
    Idbatterim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,854 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    go for a 525 if you can, better value motor tax than the 2.2L IMO and decent bit more ooomph... If as bazz says the 9-3 is more a competitor to the 3 series, and you were looking at 2L cars an E90 320 might be worth looking at...


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  • #7
    bazz26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,297 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    These cars are light years apart in terms of comparability. The 9-3 is more a competitor to the 3 Series than the 5 Series. If you are a keen driver then the E60 is the obvious choice. 520i is a bit sluggish though, might be worth looking at a 525i if you are ok with the higher motor tax.


  • #8
    toyotaavensis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,331 ✭✭✭toyotaavensis


    Foxhole Norman wrote: »
    Is the 9-3 a Petrol? They tend to require a bit more care due to potential sludging issues, this can be solved though with regular oil changes/maintenance, I'm sure someone who properly knows their Saabs will be along with proper info :pac:. It's a tough choice, I'd personally go for the E60 as I just prefer BMW's. I'd be looking for a 525 at the least in that car or even better, the 530i.

    If you go for the old SAAB engine which was in the 9-3 until 2003 then sludging happens if the crankcase breather hasnt been upgraded and oil changes werent done on time with the correct oil. If you go to the projects thread you can see a saab 9-5 with the old engine being desludged.

    FobleAsNuck wrote: »
    I think the sludge issue was sorted after 2005, correct me if I'm wrong

    The 9-3 from 2003 on uses a GM engine so the sludge issue didnt apply
    bazz26 wrote: »
    These cars are light years apart in terms of comparability. The 9-3 is more a competitor to the 3 Series than the 5 Series. If you are a keen driver then the E60 is the obvious choice. 520i is a bit sluggish though, might be worth looking at a 525i if you are ok with the higher motor tax.

    The SAAB doesnt drive as well as a BMW but they are more comfortable (in my opinion). Bazz is right here. If you want to compare like with like you are looking at a SAAB 9-5 and a 5-series BMW


  • #9
    toastedpickles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,607 ✭✭✭toastedpickles


    toyotaavensis wrote: »
    If you go for the old SAAB engine which was in the 9-3 until 2003 then sludging happens if the crankcase breather hasnt been upgraded and oil changes werent done on time with the correct oil. If you go to the projects thread you can see a saab 9-5 with the old engine being desludged.




    The 9-3 from 2003 on uses a GM engine so the sludge issue didnt apply



    The SAAB doesnt drive as well as a BMW but they are more comfortable (in my opinion). Bazz is right here. If you want to compare like with like you are looking at a SAAB 9-5 and a 5-series BMW

    No promotion like self promotion :pac:
    Heres the 9-5 in question,
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057156160

    Take a look through the thread if you like, most of the common faults have/are being dealt with so you'l see just what you're getting into, I can't say anything about the 9-3's but I've heard the dash rattles like mad, the plastic/rubber coating on the buttons wears off, stuff like that, I was after a 9-3 for ages, at one stage i think i looked at every 9-3 advert on done deal, any of them i looked at were fecked from various things, then a friend said look at the 9-5s as they'd tend to be more well looked after, so i did and here we are!
    tldr? Don't rule out a 9-5, A more fun place to be, but more preventative maintenance is needed


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