Audi vs. BMW: Which Diesel is Best?

Hello everyone,

A friend of mine is facing a choice:

Audi A6 2.5 TDI, year 2002.

BMW 525 Diesel, year 2002.

BMW 530 Diesel, year 2002.

He test drove the Audi and one of the BMWs and was impressed with both vehicles.
The features of the cars are comparable. If I'm not mistaken, the engine power is roughly on the same level.

What has the better engine? If money were no object, and the engine was the deciding factor (durability, etc.), which one would you buy?

Thank you very much.


RT.

I think I would tend towards the 530d.

They are all susceptible.

Audi deducts points.
Valve cover gaskets always leak (expensive).
LMM.
Timing belt. (The most urgent thing to replace.)

BMW.
Lmm
High-pressure pump (it fails occasionally), and sometimes an expensive injector can break.
Sometimes, I work on common rail systems.

I prefer the BMW engine because, in my opinion, it has better acceleration and a higher top speed than the Audi. It's also more powerful on paper.

Hi,

'The question of which engine is better probably won't be answered definitively, as it's largely subjective. Since I'm not particularly a BMW fan (I've seen too many BMWs break down among my acquaintances), I would choose the Audi. Furthermore, I would feel more comfortable troubleshooting and potentially fixing problems myself with an Audi if something goes wrong.'

EDIT: I have something else to add regarding the 530D.
http://www.nie-wieder-bmw.de/bmw530d/

Marco wrote:

Hi, Furthermore, I would be more likely to be able to help myself with an Audi if the car starts acting up.

I can agree with you on that point. If the BMW engine fails, you'll be 100% reliant on the workshop. You can't do anything without specialized tools, especially without a diagnostic tester.

With my Audi, I can do everything myself. Also, because of VAGcom.

Hi Steffarn,

Without VAG-COM, people like us would probably look much older.
BMW consistently offers very impressive performance figures for its engines, but in my opinion, the durability is not good at all. Both sides have their flaws, of course, but while with VAG, you might be able to get away with a faulty turbocharger, with BMW, you often have to replace the entire engine because, once again, some connecting rod has broken.

Okay, a plus point for the BMW: The inline-six engines offer vibration-free and perfectly smooth operation. I am always impressed by inline-six engines.

I've also driven a 530d (chipped), and I noticed that the car accelerates in a completely unremarkable way. Nevertheless, or perhaps because of that, the car is a lot of fun to drive. It's a good thing my neighbors have one of these. *g*

Best regards, WarLord.

Marco wrote:

... BMW consistently offers very convincing performance figures for its engines, but in my opinion, the durability is not good at all. Of course, both sides have endless flaws, but while with VAG, if you can get away with a faulty turbocharger, with BMW, you often have to replace the entire engine because some connecting rod has broken off again.

Absolutely! / I completely agree! / Couldn't agree more!
"Recently, I've seen too many BMW (diesel) engines that have suffered piston and connecting rod failures. Additionally, I've come across three engines whose timing chains failed to perform their intended function."
Apparently, several BMW models (seemingly only the 320d) also have issues with the VTG turbocharger.
Neither concept is flawless. I would base my decision on the maintenance costs.

For diagnosis:
There's something similar for BMWs as well.
http://www.carsoft.info/bmw.htm
Unfortunately, it's still a bit more expensive than VAGCOM.

Thank you for your responses.

Regards,

RT.

One advantage I can still give to Audi (and it was one of the reasons I bought the Audi instead of the 525d) is that the combination of the 2.5 TDI engine and the Multitronic transmission is simply unmatched if you want an automatic gearbox.

The 530d simply operates in a different league; those extra 500cc of engine displacement are irreplaceable. However, it likely requires more than a 2.5-liter engine to match its performance.

Best regards,

Hannes.

I wouldn't even say that. My neighbors have a 530d, and it uses about 6.7 liters per 100 kilometers on longer trips. In the city, it uses close to 10 liters, but the Audi also uses around 11-12 liters, which is what people are saying here. Both are automatic vehicles, so it's not that bad for the BMW. And let's not forget: the smoothness of the engine. An inline-six is still something different than a V6.

Best regards, WarLord.

WarLord wrote:

I wouldn't even say that. My neighbors have a 530d, and it uses about 6.7 liters on longer trips. In the city, it uses close to 10 liters, but the Audi also uses around 11-12 liters, which is what people are reading here. Both are automatic vehicles, so it's not that bad for the BMW. Not to mention: the smoothness of the engine. An inline-six is still something different than a V6. Greetings, WarLord

.

"It's clear that a V6 engine has better running smoothness than an R6 engine, but I can't confirm the rest. My TDI with Multitronic has never used more than 9 liters, and I usually get between 6.5 and 8 liters depending on my driving style."

Best regards,

Hannes.