Used BMW 5 Series for sale: everything you need to know

The BMW 5 Series is one of the best executive saloons you can buy. Over multiple generations it has become a leader in this market, offering a compelling option to a wide selection of drivers. 

The BMW 5 Series has a long list of rivals, including the highly respected Mercedes-Benz E-Class. There is also the spacious Audi A6, the Jaguar XF, the hybrid only Lexus ES and the impressive Volvo S90. To stand out among such tough competition is a credit to how good the BMW 5 Series is.

BMW has also had to ensure it differentiates the BMW 5 Series from the smaller, but still very impressive, BMW 3 Series. 

If you are thinking of buying a used BMW 5 Series, read on for all the information you need. Why not check out the BMW 5 Series for sale on heycar, too?

Should you buy a BMW 5 Series? 

The BMW 5 Series is an excellent executive saloon. Whether on your driveway or in the office car park, a BMW 5 Series will be respected as a good decision. It is easy to see why it has become such a best-seller.

Two things that have made the BMW 5 Series such a consistent success are the quality of its interior and the level of technology on offer. This model that was sold between 2017 and 2023 does nothing to change this, with a cabin that feels worth the premium price. Features like standard leather seats and a digital instrument panel ensure it feels like an executive express.

The BMW 5 Series is spacious, too, with this generation boasting impressive room for rear-seat passengers. It manages to feel light and airy inside, while the boot is able to accommodate enough luggage for a family trip away. Those needing more space can always look at the BMW 5 Series Touring estate.  

Many rivals can offer a similar level of luxury and technology, with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class highly respected. However, where the BMW 5 Series stands out is how it feels on the open road. It’s genuinely engaging, with sharp steering and the ability to reward keen drivers.

Aiding this is a strong selection of engines, including a pair of impressive plug-in hybrid options. These can achieve low running costs, but still deliver the same performance as the rest of the BMW 5 Series range.

The BMW 5 Series has become the benchmark for the executive saloon market, notching up huge sales figures around the world. Such universal appeal reaffirms just how good it is.

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What the best used BMW 5 Series model to buy?

With the BMW 5 Series we’d recommend the 520d in a heartbeat as it offers excellent fuel economy fuel economy and emissions for a car of this size while also delivering massively on refinement, comfort and performance. We’d also say the all-wheel drive xDrive model makes sense for anyone concerned about winter driving.

The 530e in rear-drive M Sport trim offers an electric-only range of up to 37 miles, along with official combined fuel consumption of up to 201.8mpg.

As for the decision between BMW 5 Series SE and BMW 5 Series M Sport trims, the racier M Sport wins on looks, but we’d take the no-cost option of the SE suspension for a more soothing ride.

Used BMW 5 Series fuel economy and performance

The BMW 5 Series has a wide range of engines. These comprise two petrols, two diesels and two plug-in hybrid options. All make use of an excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox, with xDrive all-wheel drive available on many versions.

• BMW 5 Series 520i: The entry-level engine in the BMW 5 Series range is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol. With 184hp, it offers more than enough performance, with 0-62mph taking just under eight seconds. It is also capable of up to 45.6mpg if driven carefully. The 530i used the same engine in 252Ps form, delivering 48.7mph and 132g/km.
• BMW 5 Series 530i: A 3.0-litre six-cylinder has been a mainstay of this range and this one is a cracker. It has 252bhp, sounds great and delivers 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds, along with 132g/km emissions and 48.7mpg. A more powerful 540i version upped power to 340bhp for 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds with a trade-off of 39.2mpg and 164g/km.
• BMW 5 Series M550i xDrive: The other purely petrol engine in the BMW 5 Series line-up is the range-topping M550i. It uses an impressive twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 to deliver 530hp. With xDrive all-wheel drive as standard, it can accelerate from 0-62mph in less than four seconds. Only the M5 is quicker.
• BMW 5 Series 520d: Diesel engines were previously the core of the BMW 5 Series range, but now take a back seat. The 520d is available as the starting point, with 190hp and the potential for up to 58.9mpg. BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive can be specified as an option. 
• BMW 5 Series 530d: For those who want more diesel power, the 530d uses a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. With xDrive fitted as standard, along with an output of 286hp, it can sprint to 62mph in just over five seconds. Average fuel economy is up to 51.4mpg.
• BMW 5 Series 530e: The cheapest BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. The resulting 292hp is substantial, plus the 530e can cover more than 30 miles on electric power alone. Buyers can specify xDrive all-wheel drive as an option.
• BMW 5 Series 545e: Launched in 2021, the 545e was the top plug-in hybrid BMW 5 Series model. It mates a 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine to an electric motor, for a mighty 394hp. Along with being able to drive for more than 29 miles on battery power only, it can accelerate to 62mph in less than five seconds. BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive is standard.

If you are thinking of buying or leasing a used BMW 5 Series, you will have plenty of choice. As a popular executive saloon, there are plenty of cars to choose from. Diesel-powered models tend to be the most popular, although plug-in hybrids are becoming more common on used forecourts. M Sport trim accounts for the majority of the second-hand BMW 5 Series models on sale.

What used BMW 5 Series trim levels are available?

The BMW 5 Series comes in three different trim levels, plus a standalone performance model. A range of engines can be combined with the three core trim choices, with BMW offering an extensive options list as well.

• BMW 5 Series SE: Choosing an entry-level BMW used to mean skimping on equipment. However, that is not true of this BMW 5 Series SE. With LED headlights, climate control air-con and leather seats, it has all the features you would expect of an executive saloon.
• BMW 5 Series M Sport: BMW’s M Sport trim is hugely popular, combining more aggressive exterior styling with a wide choice of engines. All come with sports seats and black interior headlining, while certain versions gained performance suspension and brakes. 
• BMW 5 Series M Sport Edition: Bringing more equipment is the M Sport Edition. Along with a rear spoiler, it gains adaptive LED headlights and M Sport brakes with red callipers.
• BMW 5 Series M550i xDrive: As the range-topping model in the regular BMW 5 Series range (i.e. excluding the M5), the M550i is fitted with exclusive luxuries as standard. These include four-zone climate control, a Harman Kardon sound system, adaptive M sports suspension and an M Sport differential.

Used BMW 5 Series dimensions and boot size

The BMW 5 Series Saloon’s exterior dimensions are: 

• Length: 4,963mm
• Width: 1,868mm
• Height: 1,479mm
• Ground clearance: 144mm

The BMW 5 Series Saloon’s boot space is:

• 530 litres (410 litres for 530e and 545e)

Used BMW 5 Series road tax

Launched in 2017, all BMW 5 Series will pay road tax at the standard rate of £180 per year. Cars up to five-years old will also pay the £370 surcharge added to cars that cost more than £40,000 when new, though there might be a handful of 520d SE models out there that sneak under this threshold if they did without a single optional extra when new.

How much is it to insure a BMW 5 Series? 

With a broad range of engine and trim options, insurance groups for the BMW 5 Series vary significantly. The entry-level 520i SE and 520d SE should be the cheapest to insure, with both falling into group 30 (out of 50). Moving up to M Sport trim adds an extra group rating, while M Sport Edition models are higher again. The range-topping M550i xDrive is in insurance group 46.

Read our full BMW 5 Series review