Pros
- Loaded with tech, equipment and features
- Incredibly safe
- Wide range of variants to cater for nearly every desire
- Showing excellent reliability, so far
We wouldn't...
We'd be cautious
We would...
Buying this generation of 5 Series has less to do with the 5 Series and more to do with your net worth.
No matter what trim or model or spec, the 5 Series is a truly superb car. If you require a fuel efficient quiet and luxurious cruiser, there’s a...
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque risus nibh, mattis ut venenatis et, feugiat quis ligula. Praesent dignissim sed dui id hendrerit. Duis at commodo ligula. Praesent vel interdum nulla. Vestibulum vehicula accumsan cursus. Sed in dui aliquam, consectetur neque nec, mattis mauris. Maecenas iaculis nisi nulla, et porttitor ipsum consequat a. Donec urna dolor, posuere in auctor a, luctus varius lorem. Praesent pharetra nec odio non hendrerit. Mauris ac dui at arcu lobortis maximus et ut libero. Phasellus eros nisl, vehicula quis velit ut, faucibus posuere libero. Duis eu erat accumsan, varius dolor rutrum, eleifend turpis. Pellentesque ut tellus sit amet justo feugiat lobortis. Pellentesque varius, justo quis ullamcorper gravida, nibh leo ullamcorper ante, faucibus ullamcorper purus elit sed ante. Ut ac felis at mi rhoncus mattis a at erat.
For seven generations BMW’s 5 Series has built a reputation is the quintessential large luxury sedan. Like key nemesis Mercedes-Benz E-Class, there has been purple and not so colourful patches in the 5 Series linage and brand loyalists will forever debate which generation is good and which is better.
But if you want the newest, techiest, most 7 Series-limousine-like experience, the latest version, currently still on sale in facelifted (aka LCI) guise, is your foil.
The latest 5 Series arrived in March 2016 and has been offered in Oz in sedan (G30) and wagon ‘Touring’ (G31) body styles. And while there’s a fairly logical structure to the complete ‘5er’ line-up offered to date, deciding on the right variant for you is large down to personal preferences sympathetic of your available budget. That’s because there are a lot of options and much to unpack.
The range launched with four turbocharged engines. Petrol choices were the 185kW/350Nm 2.0L-four 530i and 250kW/450Nm 3.0L-six 540i. The two diesel options were the 140kW/400 2.0L-four 520d and the 195kW/620Nm 3.0L-six 530d. All eight-speed autos and rear-drive.
Three months after its debut, a (2.0L) petrol-electric hybrid 530e was launched at around $109k, or the same price as the 530i. Initially, at least, the 5 Series range was bookended by the base 520d Luxury Line ($93k) and the tree-topping 540i that could be had in either Luxury Line or M Sport guises ($136k) for the same coin.
In July 2017, a cheapy 520i, with an under-baked 135kW/290Nm low-power
For seven generations BMW’s 5 Series has built a reputation is the quintessential large luxury sedan. Like key nemesis Mercedes-Benz E-Class, there has been purple and not so colourful patches in the 5 Series linage and brand loyalists will forever debate which generation is good and which is better.
But if you want the newest, techiest, most 7 Series-limousine-like experience, the latest version, currently still on sale in facelifted (aka LCI) guise, is your foil.
The latest 5 Series arrived in March 2016 and has been offered in Oz in sedan (G30) and wagon ‘Touring’ (G31) body styles. And while there’s a fairly logical structure to the complete ‘5er’ line-up offered to date, deciding on the right variant for you is large down to personal preferences sympathetic of your available budget. That’s because there are a lot of options and much to unpack.
The range launched with four turbocharged engines. Petrol choices were the 185kW/350Nm 2.0L-four 530i and 250kW/450Nm 3.0L-six 540i. The two diesel options were the 140kW/400 2.0L-four 520d and the 195kW/620Nm 3.0L-six 530d. All eight-speed autos and rear-drive.
Three months after its debut, a (2.0L) petrol-electric hybrid 530e was launched at around $109k, or the same price as the 530i. Initially, at least, the 5 Series range was bookended by the base 520d Luxury Line ($93k) and the tree-topping 540i that could be had in either Luxury Line or M Sport guises ($136k) for the same coin.
In July 2017, a cheapy 520i, with an under-baked 135kW/290Nm low-power 2.0L four, marked a new $90k entry point to the range. Here, the Touring wagons also lobbed, if limited to four-pot 530i and 520d power (from $100k) for the duration of the G31 lifecycle.
Whether you prefer the comfier Luxury Line or more spirited M Sport themes, they could be had up and down the range at different price points. Still, if you wanted fancy features either way, BMW charged extra and handsomely at that. Well-optioned examples are usually good used finds.
Outside of that, the regular 5 Series typical brims with tech, especially as standard on the pricier six-cylinder 540 badged stuff. Of course, the more you spent the more elaborate the spec and equipment. And come 2017 performance and pricing took big leap with the arrival of the M5.
The M5, a proper M-car, is such an animal apart it gets its own F90 model designation. With its hellacious 441kW and 750Nm bi-turbo 4.4L V8 and (switchable) all-wheel drive, the regular M5 Launch Edition ($200k) could dispatch 0-100km/h in 3.4sec. A more potent 460kW M5 Competition was also offered, dropping performance times and raising the entry price ($230-plus).
Something of a sweet spot in range was the 2020 arrival of the (G30) M550 xDrive. In either full-fat ($150k) or stripped-back Pure ($135k) guises, it was the missing link between mainline 5ers and the manic M-cars, fitting a different 390kW/750Nm turbo 4.4L V8 to the M5 if still offering wild, sub-four-second performance via all-paw traction.
The LCI facelift, in July 2020, brought minor styling changes and updates for the 2.0-litre petrol and diesel powertrains. Cabin also got a flashier and more elaborate multimedia system.
To date, the king of heap remains 2021’s “track-focused” 467kW M5 CS, with a 3.0sec 0-100km/h claim and a circa-$306k price tag.
The G30 remains on sale as of June 2022.
For seven generations BMW’s 5 Series has built a reputation is the quintessential large luxury sedan. Like key nemesis Mercedes-Benz E-Class, there has been purple and not so colourful patches in the 5 Series linage and brand loyalists will forever debate which generation is good and which is better.
But if you want the newest, techiest, most 7 Series-limousine-like experience, the latest version, currently still on sale in facelifted (aka LCI) guise, is your foil.
The latest 5 Series arrived in March 2016 and has been offered in Oz in sedan (G30) and wagon ‘Touring’ (G31) body styles. And while there’s a fairly logical structure to the complete ‘5er’ line-up offered to date, deciding on the right variant for you is large down to personal preferences sympathetic of your available budget. That’s because there are a lot of options and much to unpack.
The range launched with four turbocharged engines. Petrol choices were the 185kW/350Nm 2.0L-four 530i and 250kW/450Nm 3.0L-six 540i. The two diesel options were the 140kW/400 2.0L-four 520d and the 195kW/620Nm 3.0L-six 530d. All eight-speed autos and rear-drive.
Three months after its debut, a (2.0L) petrol-electric hybrid 530e was launched at around $109k, or the same price as the 530i. Initially, at least, the 5 Series range was bookended by the base 520d Luxury Line ($93k) and the tree-topping 540i that could be had in either Luxury Line or M Sport guises ($136k) for the same coin.
In July 2017, a cheapy 520i, with an under-baked 135kW/290Nm low-power 2.0L four, marked a new $90k entry point to the range. Here, the Touring wagons also lobbed, if limited to four-pot 530i and 520d power (from $100k) for the duration of the G31 lifecycle.
Whether you prefer the comfier Luxury Line or more spirited M Sport themes, they could be had up and down the range at different price points. Still, if you wanted fancy features either way, BMW charged extra and handsomely at that. Well-optioned examples are usually good used finds.
Outside of that, the regular 5 Series typical brims with tech, especially as standard on the pricier six-cylinder 540 badged stuff. Of course, the more you spent the more elaborate the spec and equipment. And come 2017 performance and pricing took big leap with the arrival of the M5.
The M5, a proper M-car, is such an animal apart it gets its own F90 model designation. With its hellacious 441kW and 750Nm bi-turbo 4.4L V8 and (switchable) all-wheel drive, the regular M5 Launch Edition ($200k) could dispatch 0-100km/h in 3.4sec. A more potent 460kW M5 Competition was also offered, dropping performance times and raising the entry price ($230-plus).
Something of a sweet spot in range was the 2020 arrival of the (G30) M550 xDrive. In either full-fat ($150k) or stripped-back Pure ($135k) guises, it was the missing link between mainline 5ers and the manic M-cars, fitting a different 390kW/750Nm turbo 4.4L V8 to the M5 if still offering wild, sub-four-second performance via all-paw traction.
The LCI facelift, in July 2020, brought minor styling changes and updates for the 2.0-litre petrol and diesel powertrains. Cabin also got a flashier and more elaborate multimedia system.
To date, the king of heap remains 2021’s “track-focused” 467kW M5 CS, with a 3.0sec 0-100km/h claim and a circa-$306k price tag.
The G30 remains on sale as of June 2022.
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Buying this generation of 5 Series has less to do with the 5 Series and more to do with your net worth.
No matter what trim or model or spec, the 5 Series is a truly superb car. If you require a fuel efficient quiet and luxurious cruiser, there’s a 5 Series for you and if you want a car that will rearrange your perception of physics while injecting genuine fear into your passengers while you tear through corners at near impossible speeds, there is also a 5 Series for you.
And if you want all the warm and fuzzy’s that come with feeling like a highway patrol cop yet don’t want to put your life on the line every time you go to work, there are the ex- highway patrol cars.
But the problem is, as we’re already seeing with this generation and as we’ve seen from previous generations of 5 Series, they do have a habit of depreciating in value at near terrifying speeds and unless they’re maintained fastidiously they unfortunately don’t show great longevity.
Therefore while yes the 5 Series is a superb car, unless you have the financial means to deal with not only the depreciation and the maintenance required to keep these going, but you can easily afford to pay for what may be some scary repair bills in the future, no you should not buy a 5 Series.
Overall, if you have money to burn, sure buy a 5 Series they’re awesome, but if
Buying this generation of 5 Series has less to do with the 5 Series and more to do with your net worth.
No matter what trim or model or spec, the 5 Series is a truly superb car. If you require a fuel efficient quiet and luxurious cruiser, there’s a 5 Series for you and if you want a car that will rearrange your perception of physics while injecting genuine fear into your passengers while you tear through corners at near impossible speeds, there is also a 5 Series for you.
And if you want all the warm and fuzzy’s that come with feeling like a highway patrol cop yet don’t want to put your life on the line every time you go to work, there are the ex- highway patrol cars.
But the problem is, as we’re already seeing with this generation and as we’ve seen from previous generations of 5 Series, they do have a habit of depreciating in value at near terrifying speeds and unless they’re maintained fastidiously they unfortunately don’t show great longevity.
Therefore while yes the 5 Series is a superb car, unless you have the financial means to deal with not only the depreciation and the maintenance required to keep these going, but you can easily afford to pay for what may be some scary repair bills in the future, no you should not buy a 5 Series.
Overall, if you have money to burn, sure buy a 5 Series they’re awesome, but if you’re on a tight budget, sorry but no, it’s not worth the risk. A Lexus GS may be a safer bet.
In-terms of if you should buy an ex-Police highway patrol car, while you may save thousands of dollars, it can be nearly impossible to ascertain just how much use (or abuse) an ex-patrol car has been subjected to.
It’s honestly up to you if you want a car with a good service history, or a history of good service.
Buying this generation of 5 Series has less to do with the 5 Series and more to do with your net worth.
No matter what trim or model or spec, the 5 Series is a truly superb car. If you require a fuel efficient quiet and luxurious cruiser, there’s a 5 Series for you and if you want a car that will rearrange your perception of physics while injecting genuine fear into your passengers while you tear through corners at near impossible speeds, there is also a 5 Series for you.
And if you want all the warm and fuzzy’s that come with feeling like a highway patrol cop yet don’t want to put your life on the line every time you go to work, there are the ex- highway patrol cars.
But the problem is, as we’re already seeing with this generation and as we’ve seen from previous generations of 5 Series, they do have a habit of depreciating in value at near terrifying speeds and unless they’re maintained fastidiously they unfortunately don’t show great longevity.
Therefore while yes the 5 Series is a superb car, unless you have the financial means to deal with not only the depreciation and the maintenance required to keep these going, but you can easily afford to pay for what may be some scary repair bills in the future, no you should not buy a 5 Series.
Overall, if you have money to burn, sure buy a 5 Series they’re awesome, but if you’re on a tight budget, sorry but no, it’s not worth the risk. A Lexus GS may be a safer bet.
In-terms of if you should buy an ex-Police highway patrol car, while you may save thousands of dollars, it can be nearly impossible to ascertain just how much use (or abuse) an ex-patrol car has been subjected to.
It’s honestly up to you if you want a car with a good service history, or a history of good service.
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Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of June 3, 2022.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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