Used BMW 5 Series Saloon 2010-2017 review

The BMW 5 Series has formed the backbone of its maker’s range for many years, and has been so consistently at the top of the executive car tree that it's become almost a default choice for buyers in this class.

The ‘F10’ version, as this generation is often referred to, maintained this trend with a range of punchy yet highly economical engines, suave styling, and a great balance between ride and handling.

That last point, however, depended on the original owner specifying one important option, namely adjustable suspension (or ‘Variable Damper Control’).

It’s worth trying to find a car with this fitted because without it the 5 Series can become a little wallowy on undulating country roads, and it doesn’t handle as sharply as you might expect.

But with the adjustable suspension fitted, the 5 Series becomes one of the finest executive cars around, allowing you to choose between a smooth ride and nimble handling at the flick of a switch. In this form, it’s at least as enjoyable to drive as the Jaguar XF, and more entertaining than the Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6.

For fans of super saloons, meanwhile, the rapid BMW M5 introduced in 2011, has always been the holy grail. This generation feels less pure than its predecessors, but its outright pace can’t be argued with.

And of course, every BMW 5 Series benefits from a fantastic interior with clear instrumentation and slick buttons and switches, and an entertainment and satellite navigation system with clear, easy to understand menus.

£6500 is currently the going rate for the cheapest examples of this generation of 5 Series, but for that sort of cash, you’ll probably only be able to afford an example with mega-mileage, or one that’s previously been written off.

It makes more sense, therefore, to spend more. £9000 gets you a diesel example with mileage that’s reasonable, if still on the high side, while for an early, average mileage example of the same car, expect to pay upwards of £10,000.

A very subtle facelift in 2013 brought updates in technology and efficiency, all of which were slight but added up to a usefully improved whole. A decent example of one of these with average mileage will set you back at least £16,000.

For an M5, of course, you’ll have to pay rather more. Early, high-mileage examples are now going for around £28,000, though we’d advise upping your budget to at least £30,000 to be able to afford a car with more reasonable miles.

Taking your 5 Series to an independent specialist rather than a main dealer will certainly help to keep servicing costs down. It might still cost you more to service than the average family hatchback, but the same goes for any car with a prestigious badge.

Fortunately, you’ll probably save money on fuel with a 5 Series, at least if you choose a diesel version; the official figures for the 520d run as high as 68mpg, depending on the state of tune you choose, while even the more powerful 530d is reportedly capable of 55mpg. On the road, you’ll probably see closer to 58mpg and 48mpg respectively, but even these figures are pretty decent.

Petrol models also look pretty economical; on paper, the 520i works its way up to a maximum of 47mpg. Even the M5 manages 28mpg, according to official figures; that might sound pretty poor, but for a car of its performance, it isn’t bad at all.

SE and Sport versions of the BMW 5 Series offer plenty of toys, and do without the larger wheels that make the M Sport versions ride harshly, so they’re the ones we’d go for. A 520d offers a great blend of performance and fuel efficiency, although if you don’t do that many miles every year, you might find it’s cheaper in the long run to buy a petrol-powered 520i.

As mentioned in our advice for buyers, there are question marks over the reliability of the earlier diesel engine, so if you are going for a 518d or 520d and can afford to buy one with the later twin-turbo engine, introduced in late 2014, it’s worth doing so. You can tell the difference because the later engine has ‘TwinPower Turbo’ written on its top.

If you’d rather have something with a little more power, the 530d is also a fine choice, but for those in search of the ultimate in saloon performance, the M5 is the one to have.

Our favourite BMW 5 Series: 520d SE

If you’re the kind of luxury car buyer who values driving enjoyment, the Jaguar XF should be on your list, too. Its interior isn’t quite as well finished as the BMW’s, and its engines are a good deal thirstier, but it looks the part and drives beautifully.

The Audi A6, by contrast, isn’t as much fun to drive as the 5 Series, but it does have a beautifully-made interior and fabulously comfortable seats, and Ultra models are remarkably efficient.

The classiest rival by far is the Mercedes E-Class, which also has a delightful interior and excels in terms of ride comfort, but its diesel engines are rather noisy, and depending on the model you choose, it can also be quite pricey.

A left-field alternative is the Lexus GS. If you don’t like diesel, this could be a great option, as the hybrid version combines petrol and electric power to reduce fuel consumption. It isn’t very efficient on a motorway run, though, because the petrol engine does most of the work, and only the fire-breathing GS F is any fun to drive.

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