Overview & Reviews

For 2005, the interior of all models receives more extensive wood trim on the center console, and adjustable front lumbar support is now standard on the 530i and 545i. Poplar wood trim is now included on the 525i and 530i. Anthracite Maple wood trim is a no-cost option. The 525i receives 17-inch Star Spoke cast-alloy wheels, and park distance control is now standard on the 545i. Active Steering is now offered as a stand-alone option on all models. The 545i now comes standard with the six-speed manual transmission, with the six-speed steptronic automatic available as a no-cost option. BMW's innovative SMG sequential manual gearbox is available on the 530i and 545i.

• One of the most satisfying midsize sport sedans you can buy, ultrarefined engines, multiple transmissions, tastefully appointed cabin, exceptional build quality, strong resale value.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 142.00

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  Fragile buyer beware - 2005 BMW 5-Series
  By vimba - May 24 - 6:22 pm

  My 2nd 5 series in 7years This car is fun to drive,power and performance cant be matched, but it comes at heavy price. Oil leaks,check engine signs,transmission glitch all expensive repairs occurring before 100k. All repairs average $1200, because of the name BMW.

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  Doesnt age well - 2005 BMW 5-Series
  By spice4 - May 17 - 9:41 pm

  Ive pretty much had problems with this vehicle every since Ive had it, namely cam sensors needing constant replacing, placement of fuels in trunk panel, and my CD player has eaten the CD. Its not worth the money spent.

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  Great Car, but not Cheap to maintain - 2005 BMW 5-Series
  By amg0507 - December 17 - 12:47 am

  Ive had my car for a few years now and put a good bit of miles on it. Ive got 120,000 miles. Ive changed the battery, tires, oil, spark plugs, all the regular maintenance and it drives great. But its a BMW and parts are not cheap. . . its also not cheap to have someone put them in for you. If you want a car that is Cheaper to keep going, drive a Toyota or a Honda. If you want to enjoy driving your car get a BMW. Previously Ive had an Rx-8, MiniCooper Sport, Lexus SC430 and a Honda Accord.

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  Im depressed - 2005 BMW 5-Series
  By wjja47 - November 5 - 12:03 pm

  The Ultimate Driving Machine sucks in terms of reliability. I bought my first and last BMW 3.5 years ago while it was still under their their Warranty/Maintenance plan. However, I have had leak after leak before and after the warranty expired. I think I have replaced the whole cooling system and oil system. Every day before I drive my car, I have to check the undercarriage plate to see if I got another coolant or oil leak. Plus the "engine malfunction, increased emissions" light always come on and the engine start shaking and its always caused by a different part. Do not buy unless you plan to buy several extended warranties and pray the parts are covered.

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  I love my 5 Series but not the major issue - 2005 BMW 5-Series
  By ddsbmw - October 2 - 4:47 pm

  I love to drive my 525i, but it would be a lot more enjoyable with some sort of stereo. CCC module went out and is $1700 to replace. Out of my budget and almost inevitable to go out in this model. This controls navigation and all the service lights so I love my car a lot less than I could have. How I wish BMW would recall their obvious faulty CCC module so this car could be the great car it was meant to be.

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  Fun to drive, not without issues - 2005 BMW 5-Series
  By fango2 - February 6 - 9:27 pm

  I bought mine in 2008 with 28K miles. I sold my 2003 325i to get this car. Just like the 3 series, I LOVE the way this car drives. The power, acceleration and steering are incredible. Its super smooth at high speeds - you just dont know youre speeding! After about 50K miles I was experiencing jerkiness in the transmission. Sometimes at a stop the engine would race and Id have to shove my foot on the brake. I mentioned it several times to my dealer and finally, at 99K miles (I had the extended warranty) I asked to have a mechanic ride with me and I got a new transmission :) Cupholders suck dont like the iDrive and interior is so-so, but I still like the car!

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  Loves it - 2005 BMW 5-Series
  By paulmiceli - March 21 - 9:49 pm

  Owned my 2005 530i for 3 years and never had one problem with it. Drove like a dream and always loved driving it. I put on about 12,000 a year mostly city driving and it performed great. A little tight up front (Im 63) but overall the space inside is good. The interior design is very good the bluetooth always worked great with my phone and IDrive didnt bother me once I got used to it. The cup holders are ok theyre not to bad never had a problem with them. The car is also very safe I got into an accident and the car held up great. Just recently sold it with 57,000 miles I upgraded to a 2008 535xi I hope I have the same luck with it !

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  Buyer Beware!! - 2005 BMW 5-Series
  By musicman9 - January 20 - 10:26 am

  I had 3 cars sitting in my garage, one was a BMW 545i (2005) one is a GMC Envoy (2002) and the other is a Toyota Tacoma Truck (1996) The BMW continued to leak oil all over the garage until I finally sold it. The Envoy and the Tacoma have about 200,000 miles each and I doubt that I have even spent $500 combined on the 2 of these cars since I have owned them. The BMW has been nothing but problems with every maintenance bill being at least $1,000. Just a battery alone for the car is almost $500! The car was the best driving car I have ever owned but reliability was the worst of any of the 20 cars I have owned since I first started driving. I traded it recently for a Toyota!

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  Automatic Transmission Issues - 2005 BMW 5-Series
  By panthersb - January 8 - 10:22 am

  In all, the 545i is a well-balanced rig -- amazingly fast and agile for a car of its size and comfort. My car has been plagued with electrical issues however, and a glitch with the transmission is enough to force me to replace it. When driving under slight power between 35 and 40 mph, the car feels as if there is a disruption in the fuel delivery or ignition. When I first demonstrated this to the dealer, a tech said it was the transmission, it was normal, and by shifting it to sport mode I could eliminate the issue. Unacceptable, in my opinion. This isnt "normal" behavior for any car, and I dont want to drive in sport mode to fix a transmission malfunction. Major buzz kill.

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  CCC Problem - 2005 BMW 5-Series
  By black545 - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Great car but there is a issue with the CCC aka iDrive. I had one go out under warranty at about 40,000 and now again it went out at 79,000 but this time I have to pay and it costs $1600 to replace. I have the certified pre- owned warranty which the dealership that I bought from said was bumper to bumper (the salesman lied) and now I have to suffer the consequences. Also the brakes squeal even though they do not need to be replaced. The rear tires wear fast because in the sports suspension, the wheels are slightly inward on purpose for handling so you will have to change tires frequently. Do not recommend if you dont have a lot of money to pay for service.