BMW 530e 20000 mile Review - Best or Worst of Both Worlds

[@inzls2004]

So sorry for your loss mate deepest condolences 🎉

[@nickblunden3557]

After having a Kia Sorento PHEV (needed 7 seats) for 3 years, swapped for a 530e. Absolutely love it. The biggest change for me is that now take the long way home to enjoy the drive. I also find it interesting the way the electric drive comes on first thing: with the Sorento it always started in petrol and then at some point chose to go to electric. With my usage, this means that I get better mpg from the BMW compared with the Kia (about 68 mpg combined). Used to carry a can of WD40 silicone in the Sorento as the plastics on the door and frame used to rub and squeak… not with the BMW. Prior to that had a LR discovery, Jag XF Sand XE, so assumed all cars had rattles 😂. Love it and thanks for the vid.

[@HighlandRider]

Certainly reflects my experience. I bought an old Volvo V70 to use for dump trips and other dirty jobs, and reduce the amount of usage of the Beemer after doing 25000 miles in year one. Driving that shows the BMW is a superb driving machine

[@Ohdearyme-x3d]

My colleague has the 530e M Sport, it’s an 68 plate, now done 130k miles and he says it drives the same as when he first got it. Loves it.

[@HighlandRider]

@@Ohdearyme-x3d great car. Sold mine now due to needing to cut my outgoings, but I loved it

[@LeytonC]

Sorry for your loss :( Just had a conversation with someone who is handing back an electric car because of infrastructure issues.

[@HighlandRider]

Thank you Leyton. Handing back electric cars seems very common

[@boost420]

Have a 530e Touring as well on a 24 plate. Best car I've ever driven.

[@HighlandRider]

I understand that the battery is better in the newer cars

[@boost420]

@@HighlandRider still only get like 15 miles on full

[@doorrob]

Got rid of my Etron today , I bought it 100 days ago, it was 15 months old. So I bought a 10 month old 530e Touring. I liked the EV but not prepared to get shafted on depreciation

[@Wolves260ldn]

Thanks for the video , helpful. How do you find the suspension? I’m looking at the m sport which has 19 inch alloys and not sure whether it’s going to be too firm a ride. Do these cars have an upgrade suspension available? Have you got 18s there? Cheers

[@HighlandRider]

I never had any isue with the suspension. This is the first BMW I have had without Active Suspension and now I kick myself at what a waste of money that was. It is super smooth on long journeys and for a car of this size, held the road very well down twisty roads, which we have a lot of up here.

[@crappy60]

If only the USA could get the 530e in a wagon form. “Shut up and take my money.”

[@CL4SSiCS]

These hybrid bmws are known for some electrical faliures. Its only a very small handfull so it might be a defect with wome of them

[@HighlandRider]

I haven't experienced any problems but no doubt I will at some point.

[@mickmolloy6594]

Has the battery range reduced since you got it due to the cold weather or is the battery starting to deteriorate? Would be surprised if they are deteriorating that quickly.

[@HighlandRider]

Between Winter and Summer the range has about 10 miles of difference. Max range in warm weather was 32 miles, mand in Winter, and very cold it could easily drop to 22. This summer it was very cold and the bext range I saw was 28. I do believe that the newer cars have better range but this car is heavy. best combined range was 425 miles.

[@mickmolloy6594]

@@HighlandRider Thanks for your reply, that's a big difference due to temperature

[@HighlandRider]

@@mickmolloy6594 It is cold up here but I found it doesn't like the very cold weather, and I found the same with my i4

[@HighlandRider]

I have now sold the car and replaced it with a 12 year old Volvo V70 diesel, which lacks the refinement but is more fuel efficient, gives me an 800 mile range on a run (80 litre tank) and has all the toys I need, all for less than 10% of the cost of the 530e, a car I loved.

[@paulmckenzie1288]

Picked mine up last week and were looking at taking it to Spain next year 1500 ish miles what speed on your long journeys are you doing for that mpg

[@HighlandRider]

I drive steady at 70 on motorways, or less if the traffic is heavier. I use pure electric if I am in roadworks and traffic jams, hybrid for the main driving and charge on the go when the battery is empty. Range shows 435 miles with this pattern and I can go 350 between fuel fills.I drove from berkhampstead to Inverness in December, strated full and filled up after 300 miles, got here with half a tank left

[@paulmckenzie1288]

@HighlandRider cheers pal got a 3000 mile round trip from Liverpool to South Spain and back and this has eased my mind as so far iv only driven about 300 miles in total 250 elec and 50 petrol sp not realu given it a good test yet

[@HighlandRider]

@@paulmckenzie1288 It is a brilliant car and I have done 20k in the 12 months I have had it, mainly 1200 mile round trips to England and back. very comfortable. In winter the range drops but because you can charge on the go you are always ready for those gas guzzling crawling miles and town trips. I only use electric round town and that saves a lot on fuel for local trips.

[@paulmckenzie1288]

@HighlandRider as my work is 12 miles away 5050 away and town roads I can make it un and out in 1 charge even in the cold I'm getting 24 miles of just electrick then chep rates at night 80 pence to charge compared to 4.07 in petrol plus side for me being a long distance trucker I only normally go in and out once a week aswell

[@stepheno2462]

What year is this. Looking for a 530e 2020. Thanks. Looks quality

[@HighlandRider]

it is a 2021 model. If you are looking, check for battery deterioration. If it isn't doing 25 miles of range in good weather, chances are the battery is losing capacity

[@stepheno2462]

Thanks

[@peterdane9138]

Funny how all the maps etc work in the cars but not the bikes.

[@HighlandRider]

I know, although to be fair they work ok on my wing which seems modelled on a Honda Civic

[@horspiste]

maps working fine on my RT now that I've switched from an iPhone to a Pixel 5 "bike phone"

[@HighlandRider]

@@horspiste good to hear

[@beer50]

Is it me or did I hear him say... It weighs 300 tons! 😮 1:37

[@HighlandRider]

a joke, just feels like that

[@aaron___6014]

The boot space on bmw wagons is shockingly small. Bring back the old wagons. So much length is wasted in front of the cabin.

[@HighlandRider]

The battery takes up space but I find it enough for our needs,

[@Brego66]

Don't believe your mpg. Your car shows nearly full but only 290 mile range. That works out about 30 mpg😮😮

[@HighlandRider]

@@Brego66 on a run with steady driving the range went up. Then by adding electricity through the charge point and driving round town on pure electric that kept the mpg higher. On pure petrol you are correct that I would get 30mpg. That said this year the battery range has gone down, so the car is now sold and I drive a 12 year old diesel Volvo.

[@Teqnyq]

For your information, your seats are down. Just thought you should know. - 530e

[@HighlandRider]

You must be German

[@Teqnyq]

​@@HighlandRider😂

[@Teqnyq]

I've been on the fence wondering whether a 530e would suit me. I worry about performance when the battery is depleted - does it affect how fast it accelerates?

[@HighlandRider]

@@Teqnyq The acceleration is not affected by the battery, slightly quicker when charged, loses a bit when empty but you will only notice if you are driving hard. The newer cars I believe have a better battery with more range, but if you are looking at a similar age to mine, you are looking at 20-25 miles on pure electric, which is great for short round town journeys, but less good on longer trips. I sold the car in July, life changed and I had to move it on, and I bought a 12 year old Volvo V70 with 130k miles on the clock, and I prefer it to the BMW, just as comfortable, fewer gadgets and up to 800 miles from a tank of diesel.

[@IgorsStadniks]

I have bmw 530e 2018. Worst car in my life. Never ever bmw anymore. Real fuel consumption when battery is flat 19mpg. 19!!!! Not 50. Not 60. 19 mpg. Just on engine. Full battery last 15 miles. That is real. Don't tell people fairytales about economy.

[@HighlandRider]

What annoys me about this comment is that you have overlaid your experience onto everyone else and decided we are wrong and you are right. I have reported what I achieved. With a flat battery I was getting 28 miles urban, and 35 on a run. I am sorry the figures don't match yours, but this is what I achieved and not a fairy tale.

[@Guzior02]

@IgorsStadniks Your battery is smaller than LCI models.

[@HighlandRider]

@@Guzior02 The car is nearly three years old now and batteries have got larger

[@Guzior02]

@@HighlandRider Exactly 530e 2018 = 9.2 kWh 530e 2021 = 12 kWh