Used BMW 5 Series Saloon 2017-2023 review

The BMW 5 Series 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 more affordable competition to become the What Car? Car of the Year 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.

Engines & Performance: 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 is sports-car quick but has a shorter official electric range: 34 miles, versus a maximum of 37 for the 530e (about the same as the Mercedes E300e).

In later cars, from 2019 onwards, the four-cylinder diesels gained mild hybrid technology. Then there’s the BMW 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 520d is punchy enough for most people; its claimed 0-62mph is just 7.3sec, which is plenty for 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. If you want to avoid diesel and desire efficiency, we'd strongly recommend the plug-in hybrid 530e. It's a terrific car and a great used buy.

Ride & Handling: Out on the open road, the 5 Series isn’t quite as involving to drive as the Jaguar XF, 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.

Interior & Practicality: The 5 Series 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 very clear and easy to use. Granted, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class 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.

Trims & Equipment: You have 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 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.

The 5 Series was treated to a comprehensive facelift in the latter half of 2020 that gave it LED headlights as standard (with 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.

Interested in buying a used BMW 5 Series? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

The starting price for a used example of this generation of 5 Series is now around £14,000. This will secure a 2017 or 2018 model with around 70,000 miles on it. Most will be the 520d or 520i versions, as those were big sellers. If you'd like a 530e, have a grand or two more.

For a 2020 model, have upwards of £17,000, with 2022 cars going for upwards of £25,000. Nearly new 5 Series cars demand around £40,000.

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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.

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 fuel economy figures.

Road tax: All 5 Series variants, bar the plug-in hybrid (that are £180 per year), will currently cost you £190 per year in road tax, and that goes for all petrol and diesel cars registered after April 2017. If your car costs over £40,000 from new, you'll have to pay an extra £415 per year for years two to five of the car's life.

Insurance and servicing: Insurance groups range from 28 to 46 depending on your chosen variant. Servicing costs are slightly cheaper than Mercedes’ but on a par with most other rivals'. However, Audi 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.

Reliability

The BMW 5 Series has been highlighted for its reliability by owners in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey.

However, while the majority of owners report satisfaction with their vehicles, some have encountered minor issues, particularly with the infotainment system, seats and suspension, and bodywork.

While overall satisfaction with BMW dealers is positive, there is a note of caution regarding the higher-than-expected cost of maintenance and some consumable items.

Our full reliability page has more information on common problems which you may experience with the BMW 5 Series.

You could 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 Pack

The Mercedes E-Class 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 Audi A6, 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 Jaguar XF, 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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Interested in buying a used BMW 5 Series? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.