Overview & Reviews

It's no exaggeration to say that the BMW 5 Series sets the standard for premium sport sedans. Introduced for the 1972 model year, the midsize 5 Series has long offered a near-perfect blend of performance, luxury and interior room. It's also highly regarded for its refined styling and innovative technology features.

Most BMW 5 Series models you'll come across will be rear-wheel-drive sedans, though you'll stumble upon the occasional 5 Series wagon on the used car market. In addition, all-wheel drive has been optional for some time, and many used sedans in colder climes will be so equipped. Traditionally, the 5 Series has featured an inline six-cylinder gasoline engine, but BMW has also offered V8 engines, turbocharged four-cylinders and even diesel-powered options. When people ask us to recommend luxury cars, the BMW 5 Series is invariably high on the list, new or used.

User Reviews:

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  Fun fun fun til wife takes the bmw away - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By shortyusa - December 5 - 10:00 am

  My 540i drives like its on rail road tracks. Fast, takes curves like no other sedan. Build is great. Sound of the engine can make a grown man cry with joy. Cost is only about 10k too high. But there is no car that comes close for less than 80k. Why could BMW not make a better cup holder?? Come on Herman it just has to hold a darn cup from McDonalds!!

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  Cheetah on the autobahn - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By Jim Reed - December 5 - 10:00 am

  The car is impeccable in quality, fit and finish and a pleasure to drive. She easily accelerates to 125 mph and continues to climb effortlessly from 140. I pushed the accelerate button from 140 and it took off like most cars do from 65. The factory limit is 156 mph. At this speed the car is very stable although imperfections in the roadway, absence of road crowning and non-banked curves on the autobahn become apparent. At 156 mph she turns 4500 rpm, well below the peak hp of 5500 and below the redline of 5750. Theoretically the car could do 190 but you would need a good road. Write me if you have any doubts about the thrill of driving this car.

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  The Dream Wedding of Vehicles... - 2008 BMW 5-Series
  By Blondeinabmw - December 4 - 2:02 am

  Every time you take this car in for service, it costs $1,000...except for when it costs far more than $1,000. Bought my gorgeous 535i (with the sport package and premium sound) as a special order, and it arrived with 3 miles on the odometer. Since I bought it, I have been plagued with problems. Admittedly, the first 4+ years were pretty much covered under free maintenance with the warranty, but since it went off the maintenance agreement, it has more than made up for the savings. My car is 8 years old and has 107K miles. During the time Ive owned it, it has required: - Three complete sets of tires plus two sets of rear tires (roughly every 20-30K miles) - A valve replaced in the engine (towed) - All six fuel injectors (limped in to the shop) - Walnut blasting of the intakes - A water pump (towed) - Computer software reinstalled (twice, took more than a week each time at the dealership for the reinstall to "stick") (towed) - Three fuel pumps (towed) - And now, the CCC is bad. This is a fancy acronym for the iDrive computer system that includes navigation, radio, bluetooth and all the cars controls. It also needs the hydraulics in the hood replaced, the xenon headlight has a malfunction (which requires the entire headlight assembly to be removed from the body of the car to change a LIGHTBULB, and if god forbid the ballast is bad, the bumper must be removed as well). For a change, it is actually driving fairly well, but this repair is gonna cost more than all the others yet! Ive not added it up, but I think this car has cost me at least $1,800 a year in maintenance costs since it went off warranty in 2012, sometimes more. I will say that the cupholders in this car are the stupidest thing ever designed. It also does not hold car seats very well - infant carriers have to go in the middle back seat or the passenger seat will have to be on the dash, and convertible front-facing seats dont leave a ton of room either. It drives beautifully. Handles like a dream. Is so comfortable. Feels like a beast when you want it to. Rides gracefully. Looks pretty. Has an amazing sound system. Gets pretty good gas mileage all things considered. SUCKS THE LIFE OUT OF ME.

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  The way driving was meant to be!!! - 1998 BMW 5-Series
  By SlickRick - December 4 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 528i from a private owner in CA with 88k mi. on it. My drive back home to NM was nothing short of breathtaking! I was between 95 and 125 mph the entire way and it felt as though it wanted to keep going! HP is rated at 190+ but moves as good or better as most V8s, on the open road. Handling is great w/solid ride. Putting mi. on my car used to be something that I worried about because of resale value. Now that I have my 111k mi. e39 I dont worry about miles because I cant think of a better place to be than behind the wheel!

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  Best 5-series = 1989-1995! - 1990 BMW 5-Series
  By TDI_BUFF - December 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car in 2000 with 129k miles. It had obviously been well cared for by previous owners. I have had the car for 3 years and it now has 174k miles. I have NEVER been disappointed by this reliability. I have replaced some normal wear items (clutch, shocks, timing belt, etc.) and I have repaired a few unexpected things (instrument lights, air conditioning, oil pan gasket). Overall, I have been pleased with the superb engineering of this BMW.

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  Not too impressed!!! - 1999 BMW 5-Series
  By RickTurner - December 2 - 2:00 am

  First off, I will say this car has a nice exterior. The parts are of good quality but the maintenance on this car is a joke. Ive owned several high end cars over the years to includes a Mercedes, a Jaguar, two Volvos, and a Lexus. The BMW has been the worst for maintenance! This car needs more get up and go too for the price. Not impressed at all!!! The best cars Ive owned have been the Volvos. My wife has a 1999 Volvo S80 T6. Wow, that car is a rocket! Virtually trouble free and super low cost on maintenance.... not to mention, the most comfortable seats of any car weve owned. A much better choice than this BMW. Im going back to Volvo!

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  Raves - 2000 BMW 5-Series
  By wdc_1 - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Just bought this car, but its everything I thought it would be and more. Its the ultimate performance car. Bravo BMW.

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  I LOVE MY CAR - 1994 BMW 5-Series
  By BMWfan2216 - November 29 - 2:00 am

  Got this car for my 16th birthday and have been driving it ever since the day I got it! I had to get used to the stick~stalled out a few times, but my car is SO forgiving! No problems so far, and I dont think I will have any in the future. I highly recommend any kind of BMW, since I have been in every single model.

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  540i - 2003 BMW 5-Series
  By jamesgallo - November 28 - 2:00 am

  this car is too much fun to drive. power, handling, brakes are all top shelf. powertrain is amazing as it pulls in any gear at any speed: from idle to redline. gas mileage is reasonable on highway (mid 20s), but abismal if pushed hard (which is hard to do without losing ones license). v8 is a little rougher than the i6 i had, but sounds great.

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  Wowww! - 2004 BMW 5-Series
  By Geroge - November 25 - 10:00 am

  I have a 545i with SMG and I wake up every morning wanting to get in the car. Acceleration, braking, suspension, huge balls!!!!! I cant wait for the M5