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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  Brake Booster failure with 53K miles - 2005 BMW 5-Series
  By Steffi - April 2 - 6:12 pm

  I am very disappointed to drive with a supposedly quality build car just to figure out it started to fail breaking while waiting in the car line to pick up my children. Unbelievable, I needed a full replacement of the brake booster and the brake Master cylinder after only 52K miles. Good luck to all of you driving this car which almost became a liability for me. That will be my first and last BMW ever.

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  SAAAAAADDDD BMW owner - 2008 BMW 5-Series
  By Annie - December 27 - 9:43 pm

  I bought this car used with a clean car fax in 2010 with less than 15000 miles. I bought an extended warranty just in case. I spent 8 month researching vehicles i would like to own and keep for 10 years. I have made a very poor decision. The maintenance cost on this vehicle will exceed its worth. Its been fun to drive, a very comfortable car with decent gas mileage. However, when Ive taken it in for service, its like sleeping with the devil. Goodbye emergency fund and hello credit card debt. Its the most disappointing feeling to love a car so much and be saddled with such repair bills. Fuel injectors replaced, water pump, thermostat, numerous hoses and vacuum hoses, and now replacing turbos and catalytic converters all before 90,000 miles. Not good resale either!!!

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  going to MB - 2004 BMW 5-Series
  By MrBreadToast - October 17 - 10:00 am

  trading it in because of all the electronic problems. Nothing but a hassle

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  Luxury headache - 2010 BMW 5-Series
  By BMW Maven - September 2 - 7:41 pm

  Very overrated in terms of mechanical reliability. Numerous problems along the way that we never experienced with less expensive cars. yes, there is good road handling: acceleration and road handling is high quality. But the car has been embarrassingly unreliable (the 2010 model) and the dealership even seems wearied by this years inconsistencies. Furthermore, the interior design, as one grows accustomed to it, is simply dumb. Audi and Mercedes are far advanced compared to BMWs lack of imagination.

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  n63 Engine is nothing but trouble. - 2011 BMW 5-Series
  By Telp Snowbeard - August 15 - 7:38 pm

  This is a bad engine. Google it. Constant engine light issues of "Crankcase Failure". These messages are related to bad engine parts like fuel injectors and sensors. I had to replace head cover gaskets, turbo pan gaskets and other gaskets. Car is a repair nightmare. Only 41K miles and way too many problems. Unreliable.

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  Dissapointing 524i - 2006 BMW 5-Series
  By Ben Bimmer - July 2 - 9:57 pm

  This car first and foremost is weak. It is a big car with no wow factor. Do not purchase premium package because youll get bored quickly. There is no exhilaration factor, nothing that stands out except good steering. The weird curves on this car make it somewhat confusing when backing up as it is very bloated. Electronic throttle makes the car seem not connected with the driver, there seems to be a delay. The looks are not impressive, I thought this was a car and not a spaceship. This car is a huge disappointment as I have compared it to my brothers 2001 BMW 525i which looks better and somehow feels more reliable and nicer to drive, has some more oomph to it. Do not be fooled.

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  BMWs Worst - 2006 BMW 5-Series
  By Bill Richter - February 13 - 12:31 am

  Ill start with the positive: the car is fun to drive. Now the negatives: There are several fatal design flaws that make ownership a real pain. For example, the six disk changers cartridge is at the back of the glove box and only accessible from the passenger seat (with all the glove box contents emptied). The center consoles is hard to access, provides limited space and lacks a power outlet or ipod connection. Unexplainably, there are two power outlets for the back seat passengers. idrive is useless. For a simply function, like shifting the air vent from the dash to the feet, it takes a dozen clicks. The 3 series is a classic and the 7 is luxury, but the 5 is downright useless.

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  BUYER BEWARE!!! - 2011 BMW 5-Series
  By Disappointed - August 30 - 9:40 pm

  Purchased my 550xi 8 months ago. Thinking I bought a newer reliable car. I Love Bimmers and dont wanna drive anything else but this car is a PIECE OF CRAP!!! 2 months after buying it the turbos went and the car engine started smoking. Car had extended warranty and dealer took care of the problem and also replaced the water pump and timing chain. They had it for a month. Read up on the internet from different owners that this is a Major problem. Now 5 months later the new set of problems is happening. Sitting in the middle of traffic the car starts sputtering and shaking then finally shuts off. All kinds of Drivetrain Malfunction, fuel sensor warnings start going off on the dash. Called the dealer and they took care of the problem. Said it needed to be reprogrammed. A week and 1/2 later "Same Problem". Dealer said bring it back (reprogram issue) all takin care of for free. Picked it up and 30 minutes later the SAME PROBLEM! Now dealer has my car for 5 days. Doing more reading up on this and this is another Major problem with this car. The engines in these cars and every other car it was used in were faulty. Finding that once car is outta warranty this could cost up to $6000 a pop for these problems. Plus occasionally the oil indicator comes on saying it was low. Another problem with this car. Now i see why this car was "discontinued". Dealer service reps have been Great but I have a lemon and you will to if you buy this car. Please Beware of this cars engine 2010-2012 &13. For someone who has only owned Bimmers this is sad that they put this product on the market in their name.

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  This is not what you want to buy - 2004 BMW 5-Series
  By Ray Vega - December 9 - 12:30 am

  I dont know whats going on with this cars. The noise inside my car is never ending. We brought it to the dealer several times to replace the seals on the four doors. Acceleration is very, very, extremely poor in the 525i. You can not pass a car in the city and mine is standard transm. My a/c always smells so bad that I always prefer driving with my windows down... for the price you pay? No way! This is a 40K car! I drive very poor.

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  Shame on BMW - 1998 BMW 5-Series
  By No More BMW - July 8 - 9:10 pm

  What an expensive piece of junk! At 55000 miles, this garbage had nothing but problem after problem. The catalytic converters went (luckily covered under warranty), the engine had multiple oil leaks at different times, the power steering hoses leaked, the front control arms had to be replaced. On the inside, the power tilt stopped working, the drivers power seat stopped working, the electronic dash lights burned out to the point of being of the messages being illegible and the back cup holders wouldnt open. All of this happened while I pampered the car. I am somewhat of a fanantic about caring for my cars. I gave poor performance and fun to drive scores because I was afraid to drive it!