Item: Used BMW 5 Series Saloon 2017-present
Rating: 5
Author: Steve Huntingford

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/used-review/n17423">Mercedes E-Class</a> is the BMW’s closest rival. When equipped with the optional air suspension it’s sublimely comfortable, and it has a wonderfully classy interior. However, it’s not quite as quiet or as good to drive, and it’s pricier to buy.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/used-review/n894">Audi A6</a>, by contrast, is cheaper than the 5 Series, but it’s also less efficient and comes with less equipment. It still has a classy interior, but on the whole, the BMW is light years ahead.

Then there’s the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/xf/saloon/used-review/n17415">Jaguar XF</a>, which is also cheaper to buy than the BMW. It can’t match up to the 5 Series as an all-round package – poor infotainment and a slightly cheap interior see to that – but it is more engaging to drive and worth considering as a slightly more left-field used car choice.

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If you're interested in finding a used <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/bmw/5-series?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">5 Series</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

<h3>Page 5 of 5</h3>

What is it like?

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Recalls have been issues for the following. Check that all remedial work has been carried out.&nbsp;

Leaking glycol coolant could create in combination with soot and oil sediments in the EGR module ignitable deposits.

The EGR cooler may leak presenting a fire risk.

The ball head connecting the brake pedal and the master brake cylinder the ball head might not be locked properly into the ball cage. If the driver accidentally pulls up the brake pedal the brake switch would be activated permanently. This will cause: The brake lamps to be illuminated even while driving A Check Control Message would not alert the driver. An engine start or gear selection would be possible without brake actuation. If the driver's door were opened after switching off the engine the gear would not switch automatically to "P" as designed.

Curtain airbags may have propellant which may have a humidity level higher than specification and in the event of a collision may not deploy correctly increasing the risk of injury.

If the retaining ring inside the steering gear has not been fitted correctly the sealing cap would not be fixed axially and might start moving. If the sealing cap has moved the ball return channel would not be fixed anymore and might move out of position possibly resulting in a ball jam accompanied by an extensively increased steering force and possibly lock.

The engine counterbalance shaft bearing bushing into the crankcase may be out of specification

The battery cables on the 48V starter generator may not have been sufficiently secured during the production process.

The rear drive shafts may not fulfil the durability requirements.

In very rare cases welding beads were not always completely removed in the cleaning process during battery production.

A possibility of impurities contained in the HV batteries may cause short circuit.

&nbsp;

Reliability rating&nbsp;95.0%

With a 20% fault rate, petrol 5 Series models are more dependable than diesels (27%). Engine and non-engine electrical gremlins were the most frequently cited issues, but virtually all cars could still be driven and 63% were fixed within a day. Only 63% of repairs were done for free, though, and some bills totalled £300.

Our latest reliability data shows petrol 5 Series models in a good light; they&nbsp;achieved a 95.0% reliability rating. Diesel variants seem to be more troublesome, scoring only 90.4%. The hybrid 530e scored 91.6%.

In the same survey, BMW as a brand ranked 16th out of 32&nbsp;manufacturers, which is respectable.&nbsp;

Page 3 of 5

Saloon

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

5 SERIES

The multi-talented BMW 5 Series is classy, comfortable and efficient. It's one of the best used luxury cars money can buy

Used BMW 5 Series Saloon 2017-present

MPG

The most economical purely petrol or diesel version in the range is the 520d Efficient Dynamics, with its astonishing official average fuel consumption figure of 62.7mpg, according to the older NEDC tests, and 56.5mpg according to the newer and more realistic WLTP tests. This is for the 520d with the mild hybrid technology.&nbsp;

However, the rest of the range is very efficient, too. The standard 520d has consumption figures better those of all its main rivals, and even the more powerful diesels impress in the same regard.

The petrol versions, too, rank above their rivals in terms of their overall average consumption figures. The plug-in hybrid 530e has an electric-only range of up to 29 miles on a full charge, in the earlier versions, and up to 37 miles in the post-2020 cars, and has a spectacular overall fuel consumption figure of 128.4mpg for the earlier car and 166mpg for the latter. You'll need to plug it in regularly and keep your journeys short to achieve figures like that, but if you do it is possible to see some truly impressive&nbsp;fuel economy figures.

Road tax

All 5 Series variants, bar the plug-in hybrid, will currently cost you £165&nbsp;per year to tax, and that goes for all petrol and diesel cars registered after April 2017. The hybrid 530e will cost you £155 per year at the moment. If your car costs over £40,000 from new, you'll have to pay an extra £355 per year for years two to five. To find&nbsp;out more about<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2021-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">&nbsp;car tax costs, click here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Servicing&nbsp;

Servicing costs are slightly cheaper than <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mercedes-benz">Mercedes</a>’ but on a par with most other rivals'. However, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/audi">Audi</a> offers some very competitive servicing deals at its dealers on cars over three years old that BMW can’t match. That's worth keeping in mind if you’re planning to keep your car for a long while.

Page 2 of 5

Classy, comfortable and efficient, the multi-talented BMW 5 Series is one of the best used luxury cars money can buy

The starting price for a used example of this generation of 5 Series is now&nbsp;around £18,000.&nbsp;This will secure a 2017 or 2018 model with an average to high mileage for the year and a full service history, bought from an independent dealer. Most&nbsp;will be the 520d versions, as this model is the biggest seller. Spend between £19,000 and £25,000 on 2018 and 2019 cars, or models&nbsp;with a larger engine, or M Sport trim, or from franchised dealers. Reckon on £25,000 to £29,000 for a good 2019 model, with a low mileage and a full history, and £29,000 to £35,000 on 2020 cars. For a 2021 or early 2022&nbsp;example, budget to spend at least £36,000.&nbsp;

If you want to find out whether the 5 Series you’re considering buying is well-priced, use our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">What Car? Valuations</a> tool.

<h3>Engines and trims</h3>

You coud&nbsp;keep it simple and go for the 520d diesel. It offers a great blend of performance and fuel economy, while the cheapest SE version offers more than enough equipment and the best ride quality. It's also the most common variant, so it’s also the easiest to find. Post-2019 cars feature&nbsp;mild hybrid engine tech.&nbsp;

However, if it fits into your lifestyle, we'd highly recommend seeking out the petrol-electric 530e. It's a great car to drive, being fast, smooth and refined, and if your journeys are primarily short and you can plug it in regularly you could see some spectacular fuel economy figures. It's also great value used, and shouldn't cost you much more than a regular 520d to buy.&nbsp;

If you can find one, an M Sport&nbsp;Pro Pack car with Variable Damper Control (VDC) is worth having, but don’t buy a 5 Series with too many options fitted or it’ll push you into that higher tax threshold.

Our favourite BMW 5 Series: 530e M Sport Pro Pack

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plush ride and the ability to cruise in near-silence </li> <li>Powerful and efficient engine</li> <li>Space for passengers to stretch out in the rear seats</li> <li>Exquisite materials and build quality</li> <li>Endless luxuries on the options list</li> <li>Sensible fuel and tax bills</li></ul>

If you’re in the market for a luxury car, you’ll be after a sumptuous interior, a ride that can soak up the worst of the UK’s pockmarked roads and supreme refinement that allows you to travel at speed in near-silence.

Your cheapest (and smallest) options are the Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class and brilliant BMW 5 Series, the latter of which is so good we voted it our 2017 Car of the Year. Larger options that are definitely worth considering if you plan to travel in the back include the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and the Mercedes S-Class, which is beautifully finished inside and not as expensive to run as you might think.

Or if money really is no object at all, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is hard to overlook – especially in extended-wheelbase form. It’s as opulent as cars get.

Luxury

<h3>Bodywork</h3>

The 5 Series is a big car, and while you get parking sensors as standard, you should still check the alloy wheels for kerb grazes. Smaller ones are less likely to attract damage, but irrespective of wheel size, a sizeable&nbsp;chunk of metal missing from the&nbsp;wheel rim might suggest a high-speed kerb impact that could also have affected the suspension system.

<h3>Electrics</h3>

You’ll also find a great deal of electronic toys inside the 5 Series, so spend some time familiarising yourself with all the buttons’ functions and check that they all do what they’re supposed to.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 5 Series</a> has long been the answer to the question “What’s the most capable luxury car around?” for almost every budget. Indeed, this generation of the model was so good that it beat the&nbsp;more affordable competition to become the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/">What Car? Car of the Year </a>when it was launched in 2017.

You’d be right to have high expectations of a used 5 Series, then. So, should you buy one? Well, first you’ll have to work out which version you want – and there are quite a few.

Start with the various engine types. Petrols range from the cheapest 520i right up to the potent 540i, while diesels start with the best-selling 520d and topping out with the lusty 530d. And if you’re after a hybrid, there’s the plug-in 530e iPerformance. Above that sits the four-wheel drive, six-cylinder 545e, which&nbsp;is sports-car quick&nbsp;but has a shorter official electric range: 34 miles, versus a maximum of 37 for the 530e (about the same as the&nbsp;Mercedes E300e).

In later cars, from 2019 onwards, the four-cylinder diesels gained mild hybrid technology. Then there’s the M5, a 592bhp super-saloon (616bhp in Competition pack mode) that promises astonishing pace, both in a straight line and through corners. The M5 is available as a standalone model or in that even more hardcore Competition form.

The rest of the model range gives you two equipment options: SE, which comes laden with goodies including heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control and LED headlights, and M Sport, which offers all of the above, plus sportier body styling and larger wheels. You can also get Efficient Dynamics versions of the SE, which bring a suite of efficiency tweaks to the 520d model to make it even more economical.

M Sport versions are the more popular but also the more expensive; if you can root one out, the SE is the nicer car to own&nbsp;because its softer suspension and smaller alloy wheels give a smoother ride. That said, if you can find one, a 5 Series equipped with the optional adaptive suspension (Variable Damper Control or VDC in BMW parlance) will offer the smoothest ride of all, although even here you need to watch the wheel size – larger wheel rims result in a niggling shimmy over rougher road surfaces.

Either way, you’ll find the 5 Series an incredibly pleasing car to drive. The 520d&nbsp;is punchy enough for most people; its&nbsp;claimed 0-62mph is&nbsp;just 7.3sec, which is plenty for&nbsp;whisking you up to motorway speeds without any fuss. The four-cylinder 520i and 530i petrols are the least recommendable because they need revving hard to achieve their best.&nbsp;If you want to avoid diesel and desire&nbsp;efficiency, we'd strongly recommend the plug-in hybrid 530e. It's a terrific car and a great used buy.&nbsp;

Out on the open road, the 5 Series&nbsp;isn’t quite as involving to drive as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/xf/saloon/used-review/n17415">Jaguar XF</a>, but its precise steering, well-controlled body lean and beautiful balance make it very satisfying indeed to hustle along a back road. And on the motorway, even the diesel engines settle to a refined background hum, while wind and road noise are equally well suppressed.

The 5 Series is just as impressive inside. It has a beautifully made dashboard that dips toward you, making the interior feel airy and spacious, while all the controls are right where you want them to be. The standard infotainment screen is generously sized, too, helping the system to be&nbsp;very clear and easy to use. Granted, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/used-review/n17423">Mercedes-Benz E-Class</a> feels a bit more special inside, but you aren’t going to feel short-changed with the 5 Series.

Every model has comfortable seats, both in the front and rear, and plenty of room for the driver and passenger. That said, those sitting in the back will want for leg room a touch. At least the boot is big and well-shaped, although do keep in mind that the hybrid version has less room for luggage due to the electrical gubbins it has beneath its boot floor. It’s also worth looking out for a 5 Series fitted with the split-folding rear seats; these were an optional extra and add a useful spot of extra versatility.

Our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-luxury-cars-2020/n17020">favourite luxury saloon</a>&nbsp;was treated to a comprehensive facelift in the latter half of 2020 that gave it LED headlights as standard (with&nbsp;the option of adaptive LED headlights that can shape their beam to avoid blinding other road users when full beam is in use), a larger, more imposing grille, a more aggressive body kit and a smattering of extra standard equipment throughout the range.

If you're interested in finding a used <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/bmw/5-series?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">5 Series</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Page 1 of 5

Used BMW 5 Series Saloon 2017-present review

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Engines and trims,You coud keep it simple and go for the 520d diesel. It offers a great blend of performance and fuel economy, while the cheapest SE version offers more than enough equipment and the best ride quality. It's also the most common variant, so it’s also the easiest to find. Post-2019 cars feature mild hybrid engine tech. ,However, if it fits into your lifestyle, we'd highly recommend seeking out the petrol-electric 530e. It's a great car to drive, being fast, smooth and refined, and if your journeys are primarily short and you can plug it in regularly you could see some spectacular fuel economy figures. It's also great value used, and shouldn't cost you much more than a regular 520d to buy. If you can find one, an M Sport Pro Pack car with Variable Damper Control (VDC) is worth having, but don’t buy a 5 Series with too many options fitted or it’ll push you into that higher tax threshold.Our favourite BMW 5 Series: 530e M Sport Pro PackPage 4 of 5

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Used BMW 5 Series Saloon 2017-present review

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