Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 5 Series Saloon review (2003-2010)

Excellent ride and handling, a roomy cabin and great refinement hand the 5-Series victory in the executive car class. It's also economical to run, though the interior is cheap in places.

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Price
£51,310 to £88,240
Find your BMW 5 Series
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

Driving:
The BMW is a serious sports saloon, with most engines proving quick on the open road. Overtaking is a piece of cake, particularly with the maker's excellent diesel engines. The 520d is capable, the 530d a strong performer - and the twin-turbo 535d is staggeringly punchy! It's worth noting that the six-speed manual gearbox has a fairly long throw and a lot of clutch travel though, so the automatic would be the more relaxing option. Saying that, any 5-Series is easygoing, isolating vibration and wind noise really well, and proving super-smooth through the revs. The lack of engine noise is really impressive, as is the stability and lack of noise at speed. It rides well too, though the run-flat tyres firm things up at speed. The pay-off is class-leading handling through the bends. With the best brakes, sharpest steering and most impressive body control in its sector, the BMW communicates brilliantly and is involving to drive. It's still the benchmark for executive car dynamics.

Marketplace:
While some design elements are still open to argument, from certain angles the BMW is very attractive. The swooping nose and twin-lens headlights are stylish and the thin LED side repeater running around the top of the light cluster is a smart touch. It needs big wheels to look cohesive though, and picking the right colour is also vital. Voted Best Executive Car at our New Car Honours 2006, the 5-Series range consists of saloon and Touring estate bodystyles, with a wide range of engines that consists of four-cylinder, straight six and V8 units, including four highly popular diesels. Trim levels are straightforward - SE or sportily-focused M Sport. Stern competition is provided by Audi's A6, Mercedes' E-Class and Volvo's S80.

Owning:
The 5-Series offers healthy rear legroom, while being among the tallest car in its sector yields plentiful head and shoulder room. The driver is equally well catered for, with comfortable seats and a faultless driving position. All controls are perfectly placed, but despite being ergonomically well engineered, the cabin may leave you a little underwhelmed. The design is modern and pleasant enough, but it's a bit sparse compared to rivals. It doesn't make you feel as special as it should. It can't match rivals such as Audi for quality, either - details such as the flimsy cup-holders, cheap-looking heater controls and uncarpeted cubbies are unfortunate niggles. What's more, equipment levels are a bit measly, and options prices are steep. But the diesels are fuel-efficient, retained values are good and BMW's superb all-inclusive servicing deal, for a low one-off initial payment, is an excellent way to slash maintenance costs.

Engines, performance and drive

0

MPG, CO2 and Running Costs

0

Interior, design and technology

0

Practicality, comfort and boot space

0

Reliability and Safety

0
Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    520i MHT SE 4dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £41,455

Most Economical

  • Name
    530e M Sport 4dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £58,550

Fastest

  • Name
    M550i xDrive 4dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £73,905
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024