BMW 5 Series Review 2024

BMW 5 Series At A Glance

5/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The BMW 5 Series saloon is a barometer for the premium market. Be in no doubt, the BMW 5 Series is a brilliant executive saloon. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class may have a slightly more luxurious feel to its cabin, but the BMW is the more involving to drive.

+Superb refinement and quality, impressive handling, decent equipment levels, automatic as standard.

-Not quite as plush as a Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

New prices start from £42,710
Insurance Groups are between 30–45
On average it achieves 57% of the official MPG figure

The BMW 5 Series is a superb executive saloon, with top notch refinement and quality throughout. Like its predecessor, BMW's trademark driving enjoyment shines through on a challenging road, although some might feel that the interior feels a little flat against the equally excellent Mercedes-Benz E-Class. However, if your heart’s set on the BMW, you’re unlikely to be disappointed. It has a wonderfully finished cabin and is packed with the latest convenience and safety tech. It also provides ample space for a family of four and is an outstanding long-distance motorway cruiser. Read on for our full review of the BMW 5 Series. 

As the sector’s regular best-selling model, when things are good for the 5 Series, they are good for everyone. This is because when the Five is booming, business is booming thanks to the BMW being the desired choice of so many company car drivers.

Launched in 2017 and updated in 2020, this generation of 5 Series refined BMW’s executive saloon to the point where it’s debatable if you need to bother with any of its bigger or more overtly sporting large cars. Like its predecessor, it gave the Audi A6, Jaguar XF and Mercedes E-Class renewed cause for concern.

It’s easy to see why, too. The 5 Series is a superb executive saloon, with top notch refinement and quality throughout. Like its predecessor, BMW's trademark driving enjoyment shines through on a challenging road, although some might feel that the interior feels a little flat against the equally excellent Mercedes-Benz E-Class. However, that’s a very subjective matter.

If your heart’s set on the BMW, you’re unlikely to be disappointed. It has a wonderfully finished cabin and is packed with the latest convenience and safety tech. It also provides ample space for a family of four and is an outstanding long-distance motorway cruiser.  

That’s true even if you go for the basic 520i or 520d models. Despite forming the entry point into the 5 Series range, both come with an automatic transmission as standard, plus they are powerful, torquey and quiet, providing plenty of overtaking punch. Should your budget or company car allowance permit, then the 530e or 545e plug-in hybrid models are even quicker, yet more economical. You also have the choice of the 550i model for superlative performance.

As good as the 5 Series is on a long run, it really stands out on a country road. Compared to rivals from Mercedes-Benz and Audi, the BMW is a touch much more poised and direct, giving a real sense of connection between the driver and the road. If you really enjoy driving, this is the best car in its class and puts even the Jaguar XF in the shade.

The front seats provide plenty of adjustment, while the back row provides ample space. The boot, too, is a decent size but since this is a saloon its practicality is limited if you want to carry bulky stuff. But if space is a big concern you can always go for the Touring version, which is about as practical as cars come.

It means the BMW is very easy to recommend, though you may want to try the Merc just to make sure the 5 Series is perfect for you.

Looking for a second opinion? Check out heycar's review of the BMW 5 Series.

Ask Honest John

Do rear dashcams interfere with DAB signal?

"I have just swapped cars from a BMW 1 series to a 5 series 2022 year model. My 1 series had the Nextbase 622 with front and a rear window camera. Nextbase say they cannot professionally fit the rear window camera as it interferes with the DAB radio? Seems odd. As a rear window camera is just as important as the front facing, can you shed any light on this or offer any alternative makes that are as good as this? I do not want a camera looking in the actual car, I want it looking out of the back window as it needs to. I also want it professionally fitted which Nextbase did really well last time."
We would trust the information provided by Nextbase in this respect, and we have seen owners reporting that rear-facing cameras can interfere with the DAB signal, as the antenna is mounted in the roof. One alternative is to mount the rear camera at the bottom of the windscreen and ensure that the wiring is routed along the floor rather than the roof, avoiding the antenna. If Nextbase are unwilling to carry out this work it may be that other dashcam suppliers would give the same advice, but you could use an independent automotive electrician or in-car entertainment specialist who would carry out this work for you.
Answered by David Ross

BMW 520d G31 turbo failure - what are my rights?

"In June 2021 we bought an approved used BMW 520d G31 with 35,000 miles on the clock for £22,500. About two weeks ago a warning came up with a drivetrain fault and the car wouldn't go more than 15 miles an hour. There had been no odd noises or smoke before this and nothing had seemed out of the ordinary. The car now has 52,000 miles on the clock. Having had it recovered to the main dealer that has serviced it since we brought it, they had diagnosed it as a failure of the turbo which has led to metal swarf passing into the oil pump. We have now been quoted over £6,500 for the parts and labour to replace. The year's warranty from the Approved Used expired in June 2022 so we are facing a huge repair bill. Given the car is four years old and is Approved Used and the dealer can't explain why the turbo fault has occurred we are feeling very frustrated. We have requested BMW look at this for a goodwill gesture but would appreciate any further advice as to how to proceed with any other levers we can pull."
Turbo failure can be linked to a number of reasons. The most common are manufacturing faults or carbon build-up (caused by the car being used for lots short journeys of less than 15 miles). You do have legal rights under the 2015 Consumer Rights Act, but you will need to prove the turbo fault was present or developing at the time of sale - obviously, this is difficult to do after 17 months. It might be prudent to have the car inspected by an independent BMW specialist so you can pinpoint the cause of the failure. Only then (armed with a report that clearly shows the fault was pre-existing) could you argue the dealer that sold you the car is liable for the repair. If the cause of the fault can't be found, the independent BMW specialist may still be your best bet for a repair - the costs will be much lower than the dealer. For your rights, see: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/how-to-reject-a-car-your-consumer-rights/
Answered by Dan Powell

Economical car for £10,000 budget?

"I need an extremely economical and reliable car to last three years whilst I go to university. I have £10,000 to spend. I’ve got about 100 miles a day of motorway mileage most days to commute to uni. I’ve looked at the Honda Civic, Ford Mondeo, Kai Optima, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, I just don’t know what to go for that is the most economical. I will probably spend the extra and get a warranty for three years to give me extra peace of mind but I am so lost as to what to go for."
A diesel Volkswagen Golf would be a good option. It'll be very frugal and you'll get a newer car for your money compared to a 5 Series/E-Class etc. You could also look at the Skoda Octavia - not quite as classy as the Golf but bigger and mechanically very similar. Check out our Real MPG for an idea of real-world running costs: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/real-mpg/
Answered by Andrew Brady

Can you recommend a used car for a £30,000 budget?

"What is the best second hand car for £30,000"
It depends on your requirements, really. A three-year-old BMW 5 Series is hard to beat in terms of value for money but won't be a good option if you have a small driveway or cover a lot of city miles. A Toyota Yaris Cross would be a good choice if you're looking for a cheap-to-run small SUV. Or a Mazda MX-5 if you're in the market for a summer sports car.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a BMW 5 Series cost?