BMW 5 Series – A Perfect Blend of Performance and Luxury

It’s not an overstatement to say the BMW 5 Series has set the standard for premium sport sedans — and wagons, too, when they’re available — since it was introduced to the United States market in 1972. Since then, the midsize 5 Series has offered a near-perfect blend of performance, luxury and interior room.

BMW 5 Series cars you’ll come across have rear-wheel drive; however, all-wheel drive (BMW’s xDrive) has been optional in recent years. Traditionally, the 5 Series featured an inline six-cylinder gasoline engine, but BMW has offered four-cylinder and V8 variants in the recent past. Turbocharging has played a big part in the 5 Series engine lineup in newer cars, and the current generation is solely powered by turbocharged engines that offer both fuel efficiency and zippy acceleration.

Current BMW 5 Series
Redesigned for the 2017 model year, the latest 5 Series continues to distance itself from its sport sedan roots in favor of boosting its comfort credentials. The overall cabin design hasn’t changed much, but you’ll notice improvements that include a reshaped steering wheel, glossy black trim surrounding the center stack and an inch of additional legroom in the back. The floating touchscreen is bigger than before and supports motion controls, so you can alter some settings by simply gesturing with your hands. The iDrive infotainment system has been upgraded and features a tile-based interface and available Apple CarPlay integration.

The base 530i features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The 540i is driven by a twin-turbocharged inline-six that develops a robust 335 hp and 332 lb-ft. Despite the extra power, the 540i isn’t much thirstier than the 530i; both achieve good fuel economy for this class. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and AWD is available for both models. All engines and drivetrains utilize an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 5 Series has the ability to deliver sublime passenger comfort.

Used BMW 5 Series Models
The sixth-generation 5 Series was produced from 2011 to ’16. Compared to its predecessor, it marked a return to a more conservative appearance, with a stronger familial resemblance to other BMW sedans. It was also bigger and heavier since it shared many mechanical components with the larger 7 Series. Interior controls and electronics were upgraded to the latest BMW norm, but the dashboard design returned to a classic driver-centric layout. Overall, this 5 Series represented a visual return to the past while embracing the technological advancements of the present and future.

Standard features on the most recent years of the last-generation 5 Series included adaptive xenon headlights, a sunroof, power seats, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, a 10-speaker sound system and the iDrive electronics interface with navigation. The lengthy options list included parking sensors, a night-vision camera, adaptive cruise control, an automatic parallel parking system, a dual-screen rear entertainment system, premium audio and heavenly 20-way multicontour front seats.

In reviews of the time, we found that the this 5 Series didn’t have the same level of sport sedan zest as its predecessors. Instead, the car was more comfortable, spacious, efficient and luxurious. Although some may scoff at a four-cylinder midsize luxury sedan, the 528i’s engine was superb, providing both strong acceleration and frugal fuel consumption. Still, the added oomph of the 535i and especially the 550i is breathtaking, while the 535d’s torque-rich engine offered a unique combination of thrust and fuel economy. Downsides were few, and really only the lofty price and stiff competition prevented the 5 Series from being an easy choice.

Shoppers considering the first model year should note that every 5 Series engine suffered from significant throttle lag — i.e., delayed response from the gas pedal — that could make the car difficult and irritating to drive. Complaints from consumers and critics alike were common, though this issue is reportedly resolvable via a software update. In 2012, new throttle programming corrected the lag issue from the previous year. Split rear seats that fold became standard equipment for 2013. In 2014, the 5 Series enjoyed mild exterior styling revisions, a revised iDrive controller and standard navigation. Sadly for stick-shift enthusiasts, the 535i and 550i lost their previously available six-speed manual transmissions for 2014.

The previous, fifth-generation 5 Series was produced from 2004 to ’10. On the surface, this 5 Series incorporated bold styling cues that departed from BMW’s traditional styling language established over the preceding four generations. Inside, the 5 boasted one of the most spacious and comfortable cabins in its class, particularly when optioned with the fantastic multicontour front seats.

A significant new feature for the fifth-generation 5 Series was the iDrive electronics interface, which corralled audio, climate, navigation and communication functions using a central LCD screen and console-mounted control dial. Originally, this system was rather cumbersome to use and could make seemingly simple tasks a confusing, multistep affair. For 2009, the 5 Series received an updated iDrive control knob and menu buttons, but the old cumbersome menu structure remained the same. For 2010, the entire iDrive system was updated with the menu structure of newer BMWs as long as you ordered the navigation system.

In reviews, this BMW 5 Series was an exceptionally well-balanced machine, handling aggressive driving on winding back roads just as easily as it dispatched weekday commutes on crumbling expressways. Its blend of comfort and control bordered on the amazing. The steering was equally sublime, with perfect weighting and a near-telepathic feel; however, it could be rather stiff in parking lots. If you like the styling and aren’t irritated by its electronics interface, this 5 Series is an excellent choice for a used luxury car.

 

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