PHEV
The 530e had a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and a 9.2 or 12kWh battery pack. The 545e had a 3.0 six-cylinder unit and an 11.2kWh battery.
Spare wheel
The M Sport had run-flat tyres, but the SE had conventional tyres and a mobility kit. On all except the 530e, a space-saver spare was an option.
Engines
The 518d, 520d and 525d had a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. The 530i had a 2.0 four-cylinder petrol, and the 530d had a 3.0 six-cylinder.
Common faults
Some owners have noticed rattles from the back seat, which can be caused by the seatbelt buckles or the seat-folding mechanism (if fitted). The problem seems to be worse when the car is cold. Having six recalls isn’t ideal, but it’s not bad, either.
Interior
Just about every aspect of the BMW 5 Series’ luxurious cabin impresses: the clear dash design, the supportive seats, the quality of the materials, the ample space for five people, and the infotainment systems, which are class-leading in terms of both their ease of use and their responsiveness.
Boot space is excellent, at 530 litres in the saloon; a folding rear seat was an optional extra, so if you find a car with this fitted, versatility is improved significantly. As you would expect, the Touring’s carrying capacity is even better, at 570 litres with the rear seats up, or 1,700 litres with them folded.
Running costs
Like all BMWs, the 5 Series comes with Condition-Based Servicing, which tells the driver when maintenance is required, based on oil levels, wear rates of individual components and how the vehicle is driven. With normal driving, an oil service is due every 16,000 miles or so.
