We review the BMW 5 Series from price to economy and all its features
LOVE it or loathe it, you’ve never been able to ignore the BMW 5 Series.
With more than five million sales and 20 years at the top of its sector, the 5 has been the motoring king for the businessman.
BMW 5 Series ... still the business king
But this sixth generation divides opinion to whether it still looks the business.
The 5 Series has always oozed character, be it good or bad. The current model was controversial, with a muscular frame and protruding back-end. But it has grown old gracefully and still looks good on the road today.
However with the new 5 you sense that the designers have played it safe. It’s lost all its pin-striped suit bravado — and what’s left is a tad bland.
It’s an incestuous lovechild of its 7 and 3 Series brothers — and this iconic executive heavyweight doesn’t deserve that. The city’s sharp-shooter has suddenly become older overnight and settled down.
What made the 5 desirable is that it stood out from the crowd while main rivals Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6 look very similar to their siblings. Now the 5 certainly lacks the individuality of the Jaguar XF.
But chief designer Adrian van Hooydonk insisted: “It’s definitely not too conservative. The previous generation was designed to be bolder, we don’t need it to make a big statement now.
“This 5 Series is most definitely now more part of the BMW corporate family but it’s still very individual. Unlike our rivals, the 3, 5 and 7 Series still have their own identity even from a distance.”
It might not make such a big impact on the eye, but it certainly does on the road. This is a sensational machine.
more motors
And, judged on its own, it’s far from ugly. The car still proudly displays the brand’s trademark dual-kidney grille with its strangely apt pin-stripe slats. There’s also a softer-looking, concave bonnet to satisfy pedestrian impact regulations.
Side-on, the car now has a coupé-like profile, while the new 17in wheels are standard across the range and add racy appeal.
Inside, it has plush leather armchair-esque seats and a commanding driving position. The materials used are top-notch and the huge multimedia screens are easy to navigate.
The most noticeable improvement is the legroom in the back thanks to the wheelbase being extended by 80mm. For the first time in a 5 Series there is genuinely enough room to comfortably sit four 6ft adults.
There’s plenty of engine choice when UK deliveries begin on March 10, starting with the 525d and 530d turbodiesels. There is also the petrol 523i, 528i turbo, 535i turbo and flagship 550i options.
But the eye-opener will be the entry-level Efficient Dynamics 520d which arrives later this year with a supermini-rivalling CO2 output of 132g/km. Estimates suggest a six-speed manual version will return 56.5mpg. I drove the 530d and 535i petrol in Lisbon this week and they are packed with so much technology it’s like being wafted in a spaceship.
They have all-new aluminium suspension, which provides an excellent ride that is rarely unsettled or uncomfortable. But this 5 really comes alive when it’s slung about on corners, the grip and agility are quite incredible under pressure. The 530 diesel is still untouchable, even though Mercedes and Jaguar have got mighty close — but they simply can’t match BMW’s impressive class in power, economy and emissions of 155mph top speed, 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds and almost 45mpg.
The eight-speed auto, which BMW say 95 per cent of buyers take up as a £1,500 option, is unbelievably slick. They have also upped standard kit to include leather seats, Bluetooth connectivity and Dynamic Stability Control. Prices go from £28,165 for the 520d up to £50,520 for the 550i SE.
Almost 75 per cent of 5 Series sold are company cars while 70 per cent go to the 520 diesel. And the auto transmission on all the diesels fall below the 160g/km emission threshold making it more viable for firms.
You’re certainly not poor if you can afford this car, but ultimately it’s a shame it now has the personality of a poor man’s 7 Series.
However the badge and kudos of a BMW will keep it top of the pile. Love it or loathe it, the new 5 Series will once again be a winner.
What to look out for when buying a used BMW 5 Series (2003 - )
There were several recalls for the 2003-10 model (check outwww.vosa.gov.uk for a full rundown), and the new one has been recalled for possible water pump overheating.
Generally the 5-Series has been solid but not glitch-free; satisfaction surveys haven’t been glowing in their feedback, but most problems have been pretty minor.
One word of advice: watch out for hard-worked former police cars.
On post-2010 models, some owners have also had problems with the reversing camera, so check that works OK. Some have also found their car pulls to the right so take the car on a test drive to check this isn’t the case, and that there are no other unusual cabin noises and signs of wear and tear.
The 5-series with towing ball hitches were recalled in 2013 for an issue with the electronic deployment system, which could result in the ball hitch shaking loose from the end stop whilst driving, and the M5 was recalled in 2012 due to engine failure related to oil pump problems. If you’re going for either models affected, check that the car has been fixed by BMW.