Used BMW 5 Series cars

Arriving in 1972, the BMW 5 Series quickly became a sought-after saloon. In the 1990s, an estate variant – known as the Touring – was introduced, giving buyers more flexibility when it came to space and practicality. The 5 Series is proving as popular as ever thanks to its sleek styling, premium comfort and generous levels of equipment.

BMW 5 Series updates and facelifts

The Mk6 was available from 2010-2016, with the latest iteration, the Mk7 arriving in 2017. With its superb build quality and efficient engine range, it suits a variety of requirements from sophisticated company car to roomy family vehicle. Direct rivals include the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which provide similar levels of luxury and performance, while the Volvo S90 is of a similar size.

The BMW 5 Series range is a complex one, with a plethora of engine options available to suit your needs and budget. The Mk7 saloon was launched in February 2017 with two diesels, a petrol and a plug-in hybrid, giving motorists more choice than ever; later the same year the Touring arrived alongside an extra diesel engine. In 2020 the model was given a facelift, offering fresh styling features and two further engine options.

Practicality and style of the car

With its saloon and Touring variants, the BMW 5 Series is designed for practicality and space. The cabin will easily seat four adults, plus a youngster in the middle rear seat, and offers generous headroom, making the ride comfortable for tall passengers. Rear passengers in particular benefit from the ample legroom on offer, which exceeds that provided by cars such as the Volvo S90 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

The saloon has a large 530-litre boot, while the Touring offers 570-litres with all seats in place and an impressive 1,700-litres with them folded down. That’s more than enough to accommodate holiday luggage, golf clubs or the family dog. Opt for the 530e plug-in hybrid and you’ll get a more modest 410-litres due to the location of the battery pack, but that’s still enough for a couple of large suitcases. When it comes to towing, the BMW 5 Series Saloon can pull a 750kg unbraked trailer or haul a braked trailer of up to 2,000kg.

Running costs

Running costs vary depending on the engine option you choose, but you can expect to get 50-53mpg from the 530d xDrive Automatic and as much as 72mpg from the 520d EfficientDynamics Automatic.

The various iterations of the BMW 5 Series occupy a range of insurance groups. Choose the 518d SE automatic and the car sits in group 28 (of 50). Opt for the 530d MHT xDrive SE automatic or the 530d MHT xDrive M Sport variant, and you’re looking at group 45. In terms of tax, 5 Series cars registered from April 2017 will incur a tax rate of between £180 to £570 per year. The higher figure is a result of the £390 charge which is added to models with a list price of over £40,000 for a five-year period following the first tax payment.

How a used BMW 5 Series drives

The BMW 5 Series comes with a wide range of engines to choose from, including petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid options. The diesel units have traditionally proved popular, meaning there are plenty to choose from on the used market. The 520d is a 2.0-litre 187bhp unit which produces 400Nm of torque and whisks you to 62mph from a standstill in just 7.5 seconds. It’s also highly efficient, returning as much as 72mpg. If you’re looking for more pace, the 530d 282bhp option shaves almost two seconds off the 0-62mph time, taking just 5.7 seconds. Opt for one of the xDrive variants and that reduces to 5.4 seconds, with combined fuel economy remaining impressive at between 35.8- 62.7mpg.

If you’re looking for the flexibility of a petrol engine, the entry-level 520i 2.0-litre option offers 181bhp and packs a punch, achieving 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds and returning a creditable 48.7mpg, with emissions reaching as low as 124 g/km. Choose the 540i for breathtaking performance. This powerhouse can go from 0-62mph in a mere 4.8 seconds, with only a minimal sacrifice in terms of efficiency, which drops to 36.2-39.2mpg.

Those willing to embrace greener motoring will be rewarded in choosing one of the 5 Series’ plug-in hybrid engines. The 530e combines a 2.0-litre 194bhp petrol engine with a 12kWh battery that powers a 94bhp electric motor. This delivers acceleration that’s almost as impressive as the 530d engine, taking the 5 Series from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. Of course, emissions are vastly reduced, not exceeding 49g/km, and there’s a 37-mile all-electric range on offer. Choose the 545e for more muscle, provided by a 3.0-litre petrol engine and electric motor which together develop 388bhp, propelling you from 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds. The zero-emissions range barely suffers for it, with 34 miles available on electric-only power.

The transmission on all Mk7 BMW 5 Series’ is automatic, with the standard eight-speed gearbox providing seamless shifts and a smooth ride. View the table below for a complete list of engines and their performance figures.

Engines and official MPG

Please refer to the table below for a comprehensive list of engines and their official MPG figures.

2010 - 2017

2017 - onwards

Features you can expect in a BMW 5 Series

As you’d expect from a premium vehicle, the BMW 5 Series offers a luxuriously comfortable experience. The driver’s needs are put at the heart of the Mk7’s design, with the sleek wraparound dashboard featuring logically arranged controls and a digital instrument cluster that offers clear, at-a-glance access to key driving data.

Interior

Passengers are by no means overlooked though; access to the rear is easy thanks to wide-opening doors, and there’s generous space for five, with plenty of head and shoulder room. Legroom is ample too, though the middle rear seat is ideally suited to a teen or smaller adult. A well-sized glovebox and a lidded cubby enable you to keep valuables out of sight, and a couple of cupholders and door pockets provide a place to store coffee cups and water bottles.

Technology

The standard SE trim comes with everything you need for your travels. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes complete with DAB radio, sat nav and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, enabling you to access compatible apps from your smartphone. All passengers can enjoy the comfort of leather upholstered seats, with the front two positions offering part-electric adjustment. Meanwhile, dual-zone climate control ensures everyone can ride at the perfect temperature and an auto-dimming rear view mirror keeps you from getting dazzled at night by the headlights of the vehicle behind. Step up to the M Sport for improved suspension and brakes that deliver enhanced performance, and sporty accents to match.

All Mk7 5 Series come with BMW’s ConnectedDrive Services. This offers up a host of online features, such as real-time traffic information and Emergency Call, which contacts the emergency services in the event of an accident.

Selected variants come with the BMW xDrive system, an intelligent all-wheel drive function that adapts to even the most challenging weather conditions and road services. Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) detects the smallest loss of grip and directs power to the wheels with the most traction, enabling the vehicle to stay sure-footed.

Safety

It will come as no surprise that the BMW 5 Series achieved a full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating when it was tested in 2017. With an adult occupant protection score of 91% and a child occupant protection rating of 85%, you can be sure you and your loved ones are safe on every journey. A minimum of six airbags are fitted as standard, as is Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, which helps to prevent collisions. For tech such as Lane Departure Warning and a driver fatigue detector, you’ll need to look for a used 5 Series with these installed as options.

Trims available on the BMW 5 Series

Mk7 models have a choice of just two trim levels:

BMW 5 Series SE

The baseline SE provides almost everything you could wish for. The exterior boasts 17 or 18-inch alloy wheels depending on the engine type, and LED headlights, as well as driver assistance features such as front and rear parking sensors and Adaptive Cruise Control, which enables you to maintain a constant speed and a preset distance from the vehicle in front. The leather upholstered interior includes a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with DAB radio, sat nav and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, as well as ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control and cruise control.

BMW 5 Series M Sport

M Sport variants come with 19-inch alloy wheels and modified M Sport suspension that offers a more dynamic ride. You’ll also get sports-style front seats, a sports steering wheel and exclusive interior trim inlays.

Search our stock of used BMW 5 Series cars for sale.