What options help a BMW 5 Series retain its value?

I am thinking of buying a BMW 520d second-hand. What are the best optional extras to look for that will help hold second-hand value in a few years? I understand that an automatic gearbox is almost essential for executive cars and that leather can also be worthwhile.

William Neale (Dublin)

May 2010 Filed under: optional extras

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Expert answer

Hi William,

When it comes to a mid-sized luxury car it must have leather upholstery and an automatic transmission. Air conditioning would also be a must, but most cars in this class have it as standard nowadays. 

The thing with the 520d is that more recently there have been a lot bought with manual transmission because it brought down the price of the road tax, so it might not be that easy to find automatic versions.

Having said that, I would still look for these two items because the buyer in this segment tends to favour these essential items so it should be easier to sell or trade at a later stage.

After that I wouldn't be overly worried about what it has, although unusual colours can be a problem later on. Stick with black, silver or grey and you should be ok.

Hope this helps.

Complete Car Adviser