Is the BMW 520d as reliable as Honda's Accord?

Hello I want to change my car next year for a 2012 diesel and have narrowed the choice down to a BMW 520d or a Honda Accord 2.2-litre. I would love to go with the BMW but am a bit worried about owning it after the three-year warranty is over. I know the Honda is rock solid but I have had three Hondas in a row and would love a change. Could you give me some advice please?

Linda Murphy (Cork)

Nov 2011 Filed under: choosing new car

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Expert answer

Hi Linda,

Honda undoubtedly has an enviable reputation for reliability, but the 5 Series BMW is one of the company's most reliable models. The current generation has only been in production since 2010 so it isn't old enough for us to have a lot of reliability data as yet, but its predecessor fared very well with only a few minor issues and electrical faults early in the model's life. It has since proven to be very robust. In terms of the engine, the BMW's 2.0-litre diesel has been around for a while and is made in large numbers, so there's nothing to worry about there either.

With my own money there's no doubt I'd go for the BMW.

Let us know what you end up doing.

Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Adviser
@Shane_O_D