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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  Fantastic ride and to drive - 2008 BMW 5-Series
  By Kirk - November 23 - 10:21 am

  Repair costs when needed are high, but infrequent.

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  Solid performer - 2003 BMW 5-Series
  By SC owner - November 21 - 4:24 pm

  Wonderful car with a strong luxury feel. Ive owned the car about a year and driven it about 7,000 miles. I did have to replace the thermostat since I kept getting a service engine light. Another problem is missing pixels in my instrument display and radio display. This required replacing the instrument cluster and the MID display. Electronic parts are very expensive ($1600). Since the car was out of warranty, I wrote to BMW to see if they would assist with the repairs and they said they would. Put me in the BMW good will program and agreed to pay for the parts if I paid the labor. Good deal for me, nearly $2000 worth of repairs for less than $175.

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  bmw 5 series - 2003 BMW 5-Series
  By jtbaer5 - November 21 - 10:00 am

  I have driven BMWs since 1985 and this i sby far the best (technology probably is the reason). Handling for a sport sedan remains the best I can imagine. Low end power has always been less then stellar, but I accept that for the high end and sport/comfort/durability/reliability.

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  Poor reliability offsets driving thrills - 1997 BMW 5-Series
  By Peter - November 14 - 1:49 pm

  Fast, solid, highly capable car. I thoroughly enjoyed driving it. The 540i adds power but gives up the 528is nimbleness. The great driving experience was more than offset by poor reliability though - particularly the electronics. I had to take the car in for unexpected repairs about twice a year.

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  2008 BMW 5 Series 535i 4dr Sedan - 2008 BMW 5-Series
  By skippydrvr - November 12 - 1:16 pm

  This is the third BMW 5 series Ive owned, and theyve all been great cars. This is my favorite one, nudging out my 1995 540 6-spd. I got the sport package with automatic on this one to satisfy my wife. The twin turbo 6 cylinder is terrific, and the new 6-spd automatic works very well with quick decisive shifts. Its fast and gets very good mileage, averaging 23.5 mpg on my daily commute. The car handles like a sports car while being comfortable and rattle free. Despite car mag complains about the Bangle looks and the iDrive, I love them both. With the sport package and wheels, the car has a low aggressive look. Oh, and no problems in 8 months! This will be a long term keeper.

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  No issues . . . maybe Im lucky? - 2008 BMW 5-Series
  By nitch - November 12 - 11:31 am

  I seem to have gotten the opposite of lemon. Got the car as a CPO and drive it about 15k miles a year combined city and hwy driving. I have done zero maintenance other than brakes (once), tires (three t8es) and oil changes (every 10k miles). The only caveat is this car will chew through tires - youll get about 30k out of a set no matter what you buy - and because of the AWD, you have to replace all 4 at once. It drives like a dream - especially on the back roads. After a snowstorm once the seal around the rear window got dislodged and water got in the trunk and down into the well under the spare. BMW stupidly put some electronics there and the TPM monitor control until got wet and shorted out. I dug it out of there, dried it off and let it et in a bag of rice of for a day or two. plugged it back in and it worked fine.

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  still a great car - 1995 BMW 5-Series
  By jeepguy - November 5 - 1:13 am

  Bought the car with 140K and drove it home (eBay...1000 miles away) getting 28 MPG all the way. I thought I wanted a 540i till I saw the MPG. Kept it mainly as a road trip vehicle for a year, then started driving it daily. Here we are 2 years and 25000 miles later. My only monetary investment has been tires, brakes, a/c compressor, spark plugs and a radiator. Not bad for a car with 166,000 miles. Still runs very strong, corners like a dream, great curb appeal. My wife tries to trade vehicles with me on an almost daily basis (Grand Cherokee Overland). The valets all ask me to let them know when I may be selling it!

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  E39 best 5 series of all time! - 1998 BMW 5-Series
  By DMO - November 4 - 6:12 pm

  Bought it with 30K on it after trading in my 328i. Still have it with 100K and its been the best drive I ever had. Also own a 03 330 convertible and still like the solid, smooth ride and power curve of the 98. Its as tight as a drum, no rattles. All E39s need an aftermarket water pump at 50K due to the plastic impellar, thermostats every 30k, and a better cupholder which can be retrofitted in the change holder. Im thinking of getting a new 3xi series, but cant bear parting with the 98. Oh yeah, no iDrive!!!

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  What took me so long - 2007 BMW 5-Series
  By Pacific NW Driver - November 2 - 4:46 pm

  Bought my first BMW (530i w/Sport Package and navigation) one month ago to get style plus sporty performance. Had driven Nissan Maximas for prior 12+ years. This car has delivered as Im inventing reasons to take the long way home. Went on a 300+ mile trip and it was extremely comfortable. Interior build quality, mechanical and electronic performance is very solid. The sport package with 18" low profile tires is a must as it really sets off the look and you get added handling.

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  Beautiful and Reliable - 2001 BMW 5-Series
  By SunnySoCal - October 30 - 10:39 pm

  Very few maintenance needs, even up to 130K miles, when it was totaled in an accident. Interior and exterior still looked like new in 2007. In a severe accident, the car was incredible, and protected the front and rear passengers completely. I am going to purchase another one :-)