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

The BMW 5 Series Touring is the estate-car version of BMW’s hugely capable and popular executive car. It blends sharp styling with immense practicality and a luxurious interior. It’s a great choice for long journeys or everyday use and comes with a range of engine and trim choices.

The latest version of the BMW 5 Series, known by the codename G60, was introduced in 2023, and the Touring version (G61) is due on sale in mid-2024. The previous generation Touring, codenamed G31, was on sale new from 2017 until 2024, which means there are loads of used examples available for different needs and budgets. As a premium estate car, it’s a rival for cars like the Audi A6 Avant, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate, and the Volvo V90.

Should you buy a BMW 5 Series Touring?

The BMW 5 Series Touring’s appeal lies in its all-round capability – there’s very little that it’s not very good at. The boot is very large at 560 litres, and with its ability to fold down the rear seats in a 40/20/40 split, it’s flexible with its space too. Fold down all the seats and you’ll get a massive 1,700 litres of space. Note that in the plug-in hybrid 530e, boot space drops to 430 litres because of battery storage.

The interior quality is up with the best of this type of car, with fantastic build quality and a classy design. The infotainment system is excellent too, with cutting-edge-for-the-time tech that still feels very modern now.

The driving experience is a wonderful balance of comfort and performance, with a ride that massages away the worst road surfaces, and a level of engagement and fun behind the wheel that rivals can’t match. This is especially true in the more powerful models, although the ride gets firmer the sportier you go.

When it comes to power, there’s loads of choice. The entry-level petrol and diesel engines are easily powerful enough for most customers, but there are also brawnier versions that add effortless mile-munching capability for diesel drivers and serious performance on the petrol side. Versions from 2020 have mild-hybrid technology to improve fuel economy, and there’s a plug-in hybrid option, too. You can also choose between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, which is badged xDrive.

We’ve yet to try the latest 2024-onwards 5 Series Touring at the time of writing, but our hopes are high that it’ll continue the excellent work of its predecessor. We have driven the latest saloon version, though, and it’s excellent – as you can read about in our review.

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What’s the best used BMW 5 Series Touring model to buy?

While the more powerful BMW 5 Series Touring models superbly mix driving fun with practicality, the entry-level petrol and diesel engines will be everything that most customers need. The 520i petrol model has 185PS, which is more than enough for perky progress, while those doing lots of long journeys might prefer the enhanced fuel economy of the diesel-powered 520d.

The SE trim has just about everything you need – alloy wheels, leather upholstery, parking sensors and cruise control – although the sportier-looking M Sport trim is also very popular, and comes with larger alloy wheels and revised suspension for enhanced agility through corners.

Used BMW 5 Series Touring fuel economy and performance

• BMW 5 Series Touring 520i petrol: The entry-level 5 Series Touring has 184PS and 290Nm, giving it a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds. It promised a fuel economy of up to 39.2mpg according to official figures. From 2020, a mild-hybrid system was added that improved fuel economy up to 42.2mpg.
• BMW 5 Series Touring 520d diesel: The base diesel engine has 190PS and 400Nm, which means a 0+62mph time of 7.4 seconds and a claimed fuel economy of up to 48.7mpg. The mild-hybrid version from 2020 improves fuel economy to up to 55.4mpg.
• BMW 5 Series Touring 530d diesel: The more powerful diesel model has 265PS and 620Nm, which gives it a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds, or 5.4 seconds with xDrive four-wheel drive. The fuel economy is up to 46.3mpg before 2020, and the mild-hybrid cars will give you up to 47.9mpg.
• BMW 5 Series Touring 530e plug-in hybrid: With 292PS and 420Nm, the plug-in hybrid 5 Series Touring is quick with a 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds. It can also manage up to 31 miles on electric power alone. The official fuel economy is largely irrelevant, as the real-world return will depend on whether you use the battery to its fullest extent. 
• BMW 5 Series Touring 540i petrol: Available only with xDrive four-wheel drive, the 540i engine is 3.0 litres in size and makes 340PS with 450Nm. The 0-62mph time is 5.0 seconds. Fuel economy is predictably lower than the less powerful engines, but it’s still up to 33.2mpg pre-2020 and up to 35.8mpg with the mild-hybrid system.

What used BMW 5 Series Touring trim levels are available?

• SE: Even the entry-level BMW 5 Series Touring is well equipped, with 17-inch alloys as standard along with LED headlights, leather upholstery, cruise control and front and rear parking sensors.
• M Sport: The second-tier trim level adds a sporty vibe by way of 18-inch alloy wheels and a more aggressive body kit, with lowered, stiffened suspension for enhanced handling.,
• M Sport Edition: A limited-edition model sold from 2020, the M Sport Edition features Donington Grey or Tanzanite Blue metallic paint, with 20-inch wheels and red brake callipers. Sports seats are included inside with black leather upholstery and blue contrast stitching.

Used BMW 5 Series Touring dimensions and boot size 

The BMW 5 Series Touring’s exterior dimensions are: 

• Length: 4963mm
• Width: 1868mm
• Height: 1498mm

The BMW 5 Series Touring’s boot size is:

• 560 litres
• 1700 litres with the rear seats folded

Used BMW 5 Series Touring road tax

The last generation of BMW 5 Series Touring was released after the change in Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) rules in April 2017, which means all models are subject to the flat rate of annual tax, which is currently £190 per year. However, most 5 Series Tourings cost more than £40,000 when new, which means they’re subject to the luxury car surcharge, which takes the annual tax bill to £600 until six years after the first registration. After that, they drop to the standard flat rate.

How much is it to insure a BMW 5 Series Touring? 

Insurance for the 5 Series Touring depends on what model you get, but it sits between insurance groups 30 of 50 for the lower-powered versions and 45 for the more powerful models of 50. This reflects its premium and performance nature and means that costs are likely to be higher than for less impressive cars of a similar size.

Read our full BMW 5 Series Touring review