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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  Teutonic engineering at its best! - 1995 BMW 5-Series
  By Matt - June 4 - 9:46 am

  I never intended to buy a BMW but thank goodness I did! the 530 is an awesome car, it is comfortable yet still has a sporty feel. The engine response is slightly delayed due to the automatic gear box (it takes half a second longer than a manual shift to kick in) but after that first pause, it flies. I have only owned this car for 3 weeks but it has stolen my heart. I would recommend a 95 BMW 5 series to anyone. P.S. If you are getting a very weak airflow through the dashboard vents, make sure you check the pollen filters (found buried under the dash, you can access them from the drivers foot well on right hand drive models). They clog up with dirt quite quickly and reduce air flow.

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  Truly, the Ultimate Driving Machine.... - 2006 BMW 5-Series
  By Dave - June 3 - 4:43 pm

  Bought the xi AWD version a few months ago and it drives like a dream. Incredible machine. Test drove Audi and Lexus but BMW still leads the pack. You must drive to believe. Full 4 year/50K mile maintenance was the kicker for me.

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  One of the Best BMWs ever made - 1990 BMW 5-Series
  By MilosD - June 3 - 1:34 am

  This car has served me very well in the past 3 years. I used to commute 100 miles every day and it didnt miss a beat. I put in a rebuilt head, which it didnt really need, but other than that I have 50K on it since I bought it and it hasnt taken any money to maintain since the cylinder head rebuild which cost me 3K. Other things to go bad are the thrust arms, remedied by installing urethane busings at a cost of $200.

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  Remarkable Car - 2007 BMW 5-Series
  By Peter - May 22 - 5:34 am

  This is my 9th BMW and I am pleased that BMWs have not lost their edge. Great handling, adequate power (I miss the torque from the MB E500 I had), very good build quality. The car is a roomy 4 door sports car. The 255 BHP 6 is good but torque is a little low and you tend to be aware that the 6 speed auto is being used rather a lot. I get a little hesitation when I make a sudden demand for acceleration which can be a little disconcerting. Sports package worth the money for the contour seats alone. They are the most comfortable seats in the business. Fuel economy is excellent. Superb car worthy of the BMW name. Just annoyed that BMW introduced the 300 BHP engine just after I purchased my car.

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  Love my rst BMW - 2004 BMW 5-Series
  By Formermercedes owner - May 16 - 2:00 am

  Last two cars were Mercedes SLK and CLK. While the Mercedes are nice, the performance of the BMW is much more than the Mercedes. My new favorite

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  Not a good experience - 2007 BMW 5-Series
  By Disappointed - May 14 - 9:27 pm

  One of best purchase experiences of many cars over 40 years of driving. Car has its problems, mostly electrical. Especially iDrive is a bad idea. Poor execution. Drivers seat adjusts forward and up on its own. Screen display blanks, iDrive inoperable, no GPS, no radio, no access to system functions or warnings. Reprogrammed multiple times, reverts to same problems in short time. Electronic key replaced 3 times in attempts to cure Comfort Access issue. Nothing.

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  Excellent buy - 1999 BMW 5-Series
  By James - May 12 - 3:18 pm

  Bought a 4 year lease return from a used car dealer with slightly over 40,000 miles. Have driven it to 80,000 miles after 3 years and had no problems except some minor cosmetic details (e.g. cup holders, door sill trim, door rubber moldings). From a mechanical point of view, had to just do my yearly synthetic oil change at the BMW dealer and put in gas. Ive driven slightly over a couple parking stops and pulled away the front valences slightly. If you want a reliable, fun to drive car (not truck) with capacity for five and rear cargo for Home Depot, Costco or Ikea runs, this is a great car to consider. From my recollection, it is top of class (E39) for many years running.

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  Fun to Drive - 2004 BMW 5-Series
  By Randy N - May 11 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my 7 series (also currently have a 528 and a X-5)for the new new 525. It does have considerable more room than old 5s and I really like the new design. I chose the smaller engine because of the $5,000 upcharge and do not really miss the extra horses. I have been getting over 37 mpg on the 2 long road trips to date (much higher than expected)and around 23 around town. The bottom line is it is very comfortable, has great lines and is fun to drive.

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  540i cannot be beat - 2002 BMW 5-Series
  By raj - May 7 - 12:51 am

  Best car I have ever driven. Also own a CL500 and I prefer the 540 over the Merz. Great car and the only reason I would replace is if I get a 545i. Performance cannot be beat, great ergonomics. BMW really builds a car around driving. Dont get this car if you like eating or drinking in the car, thats what American cars are for.

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  1995 BMW 5 Series - 1995 BMW 5-Series
  By Dream Master - May 5 - 1:06 am

  This car is a mixed bag. It is extremely comfortable in front but cramped in back. It gets fairly poor gas mileage, about 19 mpg in mixed driving. OTOH it is fast even by todays standards the engine is a joy, and it handles amazingly well for such a big car. The steering is perfect, the brakes are excellent, and the controls are generally within easy reach. One exception is the window controls, which inexplicably take up most of the area between the front seats, where a console should be instead.