BMW 5 Series Touring (2010-2017) Review

In terms of practicality, the 5 Series Touring has plenty of appeal. It is a big car anyway, which means the load bay is long and broad. Also, we love the added practicality of a separately-opening glass tailgate window – ideal for quickly chucking in a holdall or backpack.

There’s a very tempting range of excellent engines – even the entry-level 520d motor that dominated sales when new still has plenty going for it. BMW’s diesel engines were that bit more powerful than rival alternatives, which means a welcome extra bit of performance, despite fuel economy that also betters the competition.

It might be right for you in another way, too: the fact it still looks so upmarket and premium. This is a smart-looking car, and one that is ageing well, with a refined air that will still impress the neighbours. They need never know how much of a bargain the 5 Series has become.

The BMW 5 Series you’ll see most frequently is the 520d. More than eight in 10 new 5 Series Tourings sold used this engine, because of its extremely tax-friendly nature. It saved company car drivers – and the businesses that employed them – thousands in fleet car liabilities. The benefit today is low-rate VED (road tax) and, of course, very impressive economy.

BMW 5 Series Touring SE trim is entry-level, yet still comes with a very good level of standard equipment, including BMW’s excellent iDrive infotainment with, on post-facelift cars, standard sat-nav. These are the best bargains on the second-hand market and still look sporty enough.

M Sport models are sportier still, and very desirable. These versions have bigger wheels, more muscular styling and a nicely enhanced interior with bespoke BMW M details. They are the most appealing trim level for the 5 Series Touring, although prices do carry a premium that reflects this.

Just as it did when new, the BMW 5 Series Touring today goes head-to-head with the Audi A6 Avant and Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate. The Jaguar XF Sportbrake is another premium contender, and the Volvo V90 is a nicely modern take on the classic Volvo estate (the earlier V70 is looking a bit old these days, but offsets that with lower prices).

By now, many in this sector were looking at SUVs – models such as the BMW X3 and larger BMW X5, plus the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60. The success of the SUV is part of the reason why estate cars such as this aren’t so popular today.

BMW build quality is highly regarded and the effort it puts into the 5 Series line, a long-running core car in the range, is second to none. The interior oozes quality, with high-end plastics throughout – even the harder finishes lower down the dashboard somehow feel more upmarket than in lesser machines.

All the controls are tactile and robust, with a nice action to the buttons and an iDrive controller that feels well-engineered and accurate – important when you’re navigating the media screen on the move. Even in SE versions, the seats are well finished in leather, while the quality trim in M Sport cars gives the cabin an extra lift.

Thick paint quality is a given, too. The BMW 5 Series Touring can still be cleaned up to an as-new look. It is built for the long run, and that quality shines through both outside and in.

The dashboard of the BMW 5 Series Touring is built around the iDrive infotainment screen, which is mounted high up and in clear view. All cars have the same logical menu structure, the differences come in the size of the screen and whether sat-nav is standard or not. Base models get a narrower but still clear display, and no nav. All versions have the iDrive controller on the centre console.

BMW Business Advanced Media adds sat-nav, and the BMW Professional Multimedia system has the wide-format screen that’s even better looking than regular versions. When navigation is fitted, BMW ConnectedDrive is also bundled in – this comprises online functionality that, for example, allows you to locate your 5 Series Touring from a smartphone app (and check how much fuel is in the tank, and whether it’s locked or not). ConnectedDrive also includes real-time traffic information and Google local search.

When the 5 Series was facelifted in 2013, sat-nav became standard on all models, with the BMW Business Navigation system. Optional BMW Professional Media included a new iDrive Touch controller that allowed data entry via handwriting recognition on the face of the device.

The BMW 5 Series Touring is a big car; its dimensions are 4907mm long, 2102mm wide and 1475mm tall. Even the wheelbase stretches to almost three metres. BMW didn’t waste this space, however, serving up a driving position that is very roomy and multi-adjustable. There is a long range of fore-aft seat travel, and the steering wheel is fully adjustable.  

In terms of comfort, automatic models are best - the pedals in manual cars are slightly offset to the right. Otherwise, the 5 Series Touring is very comfortable, particularly with the bolstered and fully adjustable sports seats in M Sport versions. These are quite wonderful seats and do a convincing impression of genuine BMW M performance car chairs.

Rear legroom is generous, aided by the long wheelbase. No matter how lanky the driver, those sitting behind them should find decent space, and the rear seat itself is comfortable and supportive. It’s really best reserved for two people rather than three, though, due to the bulky transmission tunnel in the middle that eats into space for feet. Otherwise, room for feet and knees is decent, and there is a bit more headroom than in the saloon, thanks to the longer roofline.

Boot space measures a practical 560 litres with the seats up. That’s not quite as big as something like a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate, but it’s still a good size. The space is well shaped as well, with flat, vertical sides helping squeeze out as much usable width as possible. There are straps and nets in the side panels for storing odds and ends (lift the boot floor and there’s an extra stowage area there, too), plus a rail system in the boot floor with movable lashing hooks. BMW sold stowage kits to make fuller use of these rails, so look out for them.

The rear seats split 40/20/40, and fold flat to create a total load area of 1670 litres. Standard self-levelling rear suspension helps you make the most of it.

The BMW 5 Series Touring comes as standard with ISOFIX mounts for the outer two rear seats, but doesn’t have one for the front passenger seat. Nor is there a standard airbag cut-off switch.

Best-selling BMW 5 Series models used a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel. Most were in 520d spec, which produced 184PS from launch and, even today, delivers excellent performance. Zero to 62mph takes 8.3 seconds with the six-speed manual gearbox, which is actually something of a rare sight on 5 Series. No fear, though: the eight-speed automatic is outstanding, and certainly preferable – and it cuts the 0-62mph dash further, down to 8.2 seconds.

There was a cheaper BMW 518d alternative, but this only produces 143PS and 0-62mph is a much less impressive 10.0 seconds.

Other engine choices include the six-cylinder BMW 530d diesel and BMW 530i petrol. Again, the diesel is so good, the 530d actually accelerates 0.5 seconds faster than the petrol, hitting 62mph in a scant 6.2 seconds. Perhaps a more preferable petrol choice is the BMW 528i, which used a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder motor producing 245PS.

The facelifted 2.0-litre diesel engine from 2013 is even better. Producing 190PS, it sprints from 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds in auto guise. The BMW 518d is a bit quicker too, while an added entry-level choice came in the form of the 520i, with a 184PS 2.0-litre petrol turbo. It’ll do 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds and, today, is a good choice for those seeking an affordable 5 Series Touring that isn’t a diesel.

BMW didn’t sell the range-topping M5 in Touring guise, but it perhaps didn’t need to, given the power and performance of the turbocharged six-cylinder BMW 535i – or, better still, the more efficient BMW 535d, which will reach 62mph in just 5.4 seconds. Not bad, seeing as it will also average nearly 50mpg. Either is a more cost-effective choice than the 545i V8 (which became the 550i post-facelift), which is smooth, but not as well-rounded and expensive to run.

Refinement is very impressive, befitting the BMW 5 Series Touring’s luxury car feel inside. It’s executive-level in terms of how it isolates passengers from the world outside. Indeed, it feels almost like BMW’s 7 Series flagship, so peaceful and refined is it.

Suspension noise is all but absent and it’s only a bit of tyre roar from M Sport models with larger 18-inch alloys that you hear at speed. There’s impressively little wind noise and the engines are quiet – don’t worry about choosing a four-cylinder diesel, as the upmarket feel isn’t spoiled by excessive engine clatter. BMW’s diesels are among the smoothest and quietest around, particularly the facelifted 2013-on motors. The smooth hum of six-cylinder versions is even more refined.

We like the automatic models as they are designed to keep engine revs low in everyday use. This further reduces the noise from the petrol and diesel motors, while gearchanges are also smooth and barely perceptible, further adding to the feeling of refinement.

This generation of BMW 5 Series was rated very highly indeed when crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2010. A full five-star score was granted, with 95% for adult occupant protection, 83% for child occupant protection, 78% for pedestrian safety and a brilliant 100% for safety assist features.

What led to Euro NCAP giving such a high score for safety assist? The standard inclusion of stability control and a speed limiter helped, but it was BMW’s comprehensive eCall that really impressed the safety organisation. This was one of the first systems to automatically dial the emergency services in the event of an accident, using the onboard navigation to exactly pinpoint the car’s location. A genuine life-saver.

Front and side airbags are standard, and head airbags extend from front to rear. There are also seatbelt load limiters front and rear, plus a seatbelt-on reminder for all five passengers, although the pretensioners only stretch to front-seat occupants. There are no knee airbags either.

Following the 2013 facelift, BMW launched a new driving assistant pack that used a camera-based autonomous emergency braking system, plus lane-departure warning and pedestrian recognition in the city. BMW Night Vision was also available, using a thermal imaging camera to ‘see in the dark’.

The BMW 5 Series scored a rather disappointing 8.66 out of 10 for reliability in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Survey, much lower than other BMW models, which suggests reliability isn't necessarily a strong point.

Similarly BMW as a brand came 20th out of 30 manufacturers for overall satisfaction, one above Audi but well behind another key rival in Mercedes-Benz in 13th.

The BMW 5 Series Touring is an executive-grade car and this comes with more expensive insurance. Even the cheapest version is in insurance group 30 (out of 50) and the powerful models move up to group 46. 

It’s 518d models that drop into group 30, with the 520d in group 32 or 33. Do note, though, that more powerful facelift versions went up to group 34. A 520i is group 36 and the 530d starts from group 39: assume most will be in the 40s. A 535i is group 40 and the priciest is the 550i in group 46. 

The choice diesel versions are cost-effective in terms of VED (road tax). Most later BMW 520d and BMW 518d models should only cost £30 a year to tax, which is remarkably little given what a big car this is (and their impressive performance). Earlier cars may be a little pricier as their CO2 emissions were higher, but still not more than £125 a year. You might even find some automatic versions enjoy a £30 rate, while the direct manual equivalent is £125. Check the small print carefully.

The fuel-efficient nature of other, more powerful, versions means they’ll still be competitive in terms of VED despite the acceleration they offer.

You don’t have to worry about missing out on any expected features when buying a used BMW 5 Series. Even the entry-level BMW 5 Series Touring SE is well equipped, featuring 17-inch alloy wheels, ‘Dakota’ leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, four electric windows, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control and climate control. The iDrive media system is standard, too, so all versions feature a colour infotainment screen. The days of the poverty-spec basic BMW are no more…

BMW 5 Series Touring M Sport models are more appealing still. They have wonderful-looking 18-inch M double-spoke alloys, an M body styling kit and dark chrome exhaust finishers. Inside, there are those wonderful M sports seats (with part-electric adjustment), an M leather steering wheel and dark Anthracite roof lining. Aluminium interior trim gives a jewel-like appearance inside and M Sport models also had lower sports suspension – which was a no-cost delete option for those who preferred the more comfortable standard set-up.

BMW also sold the 5 Series in Modern and Luxury trim lines, which have alternative styling features, but these weren’t too popular when new. See them as an SE and M Sport in-betweener.