Overview & Reviews

This year a standard CD player, climate control and power seats. The 4.4-liter V8 of the 540 now makes 290 horsepower, up 8 from last year. Rear side-impact airbags are now a no-charge option, rather than standard.

• Thrilling to drive, luxurious ride quality, clean exterior styling.

• Confusing interior markings, demanding manual transmission, high-end models are pricey.

User Reviews:

Showing 21 through 30 of 147.00

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  A Dream - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By tlffxhouston - January 23 - 2:00 am

  This car is a joy to drive and has an exterior design that is plainly beautiful. The interiors design is average and the comfort is average. However, the driving the 530 is pure fun and comfort, with a stronge feeling of safety.

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  My 5-Speed Wagon - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By Sharkey - January 13 - 2:00 am

  Apparently a stick-shift BMW 5-series is a tough sell in Los Angeles. So, I landed a good deal on the car. It is equipped with both the Sport and Premium package, Xenon headlights, and Park Distance Control. After owning Japanese luxury cars, you notice the lack of amenities like a center console, extra sunvisors with extensions (the 5-series sunvisors cant really be utilized to shade the drivers side window), an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and an in-dash CD changer. The sport seats can be tough on your left thigh when clutching. All that aside, its the best-handling, highest quality wagon Ive ever owned.

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  Id buy it again - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By sezme2 - October 1 - 2:00 am

  My next automobile will be the M5 vs. S500, until then, this machine is more than adequate. Id love a roadster type, but theyre too impractical for a family-man. I chose this car for its stellar passive safety ratings (checkout hywsafety. org) and its ability to handle precisely to actively avoid a collision. My wife had not been an auto-phile, but this car has made her passionate about driving.

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  happy camper - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By ted davis - September 8 - 2:00 am

  we finally put to rest our 1982 MB deisel wagon,a slowpoke,but good driver,and solidly built..Looked at Volvos,Saabs,and BMWs. All in high 30s or more.. Took a test drive in a 5 series wagon,checked out storage space and found no strut towers blocking rear space,as in others. The basic 6 is best engine I have ever driven Imagine what a 530 with 225 HP would be like.. The car feels solid and safe. My wife drives it to Houston evry month ( 400 mi. RT),and just loves it. Faults: too much plastic in the interior,and the power seat controls can get broken easily as they are housed in cheap plastic..have had to fix these twice.

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  BMW 5 series - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By Dirtbag - August 28 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive, sporty, yet smooth ride. Plenty of power for most situations. Interior design functionality lacking - i.e. flimsy pop-out drink holders obscure heat/air controls, poor location for phone unless you buy the outrageous built-in phone. Optional design features, such as fold-down rear seats improve functionality.

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  Nice Machine - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By J Lynch - July 27 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is tight, quiet and a pleasure to drive.

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  FANTASTIC VEHICLE !!!!!!!! - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By DANIEL - July 14 - 2:00 am

  THE 540IA BASICALLY DRIVES ITSELF. IT JUST FLOWS FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT AND THE BRAKES CAN STOP YOU ON A DIME. I WAS A BIT APPREHENSIVE ABOUT PAYING SO MUCH FOR A CAR, BUT WHEN I DROVE THE CAR AND READ THE MANUAL AND SAW HOW MANY FEATURES ARE ON THE CAR, I KNEW THE MONEY WAS WELL INVESTED. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY QUIET AND SOLIDLY BUILT. I GUESS THE ONLY DOWNSIDE, IN MY OPINION, IS THE GAS MILEAGE. BE PREPARED TO MAKE FREQUENT STOPS AT THE PUMP, ESPECIALLY IF YOU USE THE SPORT OR MANUAL MODES A LOT.

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  BMW 530i - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By middle age - October 19 - 6:43 pm

  Excellent sports sedan. Handles well and seats the whole family. One the few sports sedans in this class with manual transmission.

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  BEWARE!! - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By Dan Phillips - June 21 - 10:00 am

  Got my 540--at first overjoyed, then probs began. Clutch issues, then a REPLACED trans. at 18K mi.!! For a loaner, I repeatedly got a Hundai!! Astounding!! It happened to my brother, too. BMW never showed me any appreciation of my investment or expectation. Insulting! a Ive heard it before, now I know. Be careful. New clutch for 2 grand??? And still the trans. never worked right. It became pathetic. Ended lease early.