Ranked #93 car in the UK · Saloon · 4,116 units sold last year

BMW 5 Series

The BMW 5 Series here covers the polished G30 (2017-2023) and the larger G60 (2024 on, which added the all-electric i5). The executive-saloon benchmark for driving feel, it blends a composed rear-drive chassis with smooth petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid power. The G30 is the value used buy; the G60 brings a far bigger screen-led cabin and more space, if less of the old car's lightness.

BMW 5 Series
Photo: Alexander-93 via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Body
Saloon
Years
2018–2026
Fuel
Petrol / Diesel / Mild Hybrid / Plug-in Hybrid
Range
57 mi

WLTP

Insurance
Group 32

The short version

25/100

Forecourt score

Value 32 · Reliability 23 · Insurance 16

The BMW 5 Series loses value faster than most cars and is dearer to run than most. Its MOT-based reliability is average, 66 out of 100, ahead of 23% of the cars we track. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 32% of models.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20). Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Pick your version

Fuel

Diesel · 1995cc

Power

190 ps

Drivetrain

RWD

Cam drive

Chain

Quoted MPG

53 mpg

The fleet workhorse. 2.0L diesel with mHEV (from 2020). 190 PS, 400 Nm, easy 50+ mpg. The 5 Series most lease drivers ordered. RWD only; 520d xDrive AWD was a popular option.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

2023
20182026
35,109 mi
0Expected: 35,109180k
good
PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

How we got this number — click for the breakdown, or to challenge it.

£26,000

Range £22,000 – £30,250

medium confidence

When new (2023)£59,000Age-based value£33,040Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region+£7Market calibration-£5,447Forecourt price£27,600Private sale£24,350Part-exchange£21,450
Holdthis 3-year-old

Fair value — the 4-year mark is the sweet spot.

At 35,109 miles it’s below the ~44,884 typical for a 3-year-old — a well-kept reading.

Seen one for sale?

£

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration BMW 5 Series loses value over time.

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 35,109 miles you entered above — worth about £26,000 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 11,703 miles a year.

5-year total

£26,178

Per year

£5,236

All-in per mile

£0.45

Fuel per mile

16.6p

If a company carAround £765/mo Benefit-in-Kind tax at the 40% rate (£382/mo at 20%) — 33% band

Depreciation£5,766
Fuel / energy£9,707
Servicing£2,570
Road tax£975
Insurance£7,160

If you're a company-car driver

At 33% BIK, a 40% taxpayer would pay about £765/month in company-car tax (£382/month at 20%) — on top of the running costs above. Full BIK table below for context.

Best age to buy — around 3 years

A 3-year-old example loses roughly £6,450 a year — under half the £14,150 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 32%
Reliabilitybetter than 23%
Fuel economybetter than 43%
Cheap to insurebetter than 16%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

520d / 520i (volume)

Default executive saloon for most. The 520d still makes the strongest fleet case despite diesel demand softening. Newer G60 generation drops the 530i, leaving 520i as the entry petrol — used G30 530i offers more power for less money.

New price
£51,000
Annual fuel / energy
£2,000
3-yr depreciation
49%

Watch for

  • ·G30 B47 diesel timing chain stretch on pre-2020 cars (campaign fix)
  • ·iDrive 7 freezes — improved on G60's iDrive 8/OS 8.5
  • ·Run-flat tyre harshness on potholed UK roads

530d / 540i straight-six

The 5 Series straight-six experience that BMW UK no longer sells. 540i is the better engine; 530d the better long-distance choice. Both look like quietly clever used picks as the new G60 range simplifies.

New price
£58,000
Annual fuel / energy
£2,300
3-yr depreciation
51%

Watch for

  • ·B57/B58 cooling system pumps fail at 60k+ miles
  • ·Air suspension compressor failures on cars with the option
  • ·Both dropped from the G60 UK lineup — used market only

530e / 550e PHEV

Fleet driver default. 530e covers the volume; 550e is the new range-topper with straight-six PHEV power. Both lose more to depreciation than the diesels — fleet-only buyers should stay in 530e territory.

New price
£65,000
Annual fuel / energy
£1,500
3-yr depreciation
53%

Watch for

  • ·Pre-facelift 530e (252 PS) electric range disappointing real-world (~25 mi)
  • ·Battery cooling on early cars (some campaign-fixed)
  • ·G60 550e charging caps at 7.4kW — slower than rivals

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 22/06/2026) · Petrol 153.3p/L, Diesel 172.5p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 32 of 50 (upper-mid — pricier to insure) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

3 years
0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+
Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£1,432/ year

Roughly £119 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.
Age bandLower riskTypicalHigher risk
Age 17-25£3,265£4,081£5,306
Age 26-32£1,704£2,005£2,446
Age 33-39Selected£1,260£1,432£1,690
Age 40-49£1,070£1,189£1,379
Age 50+£954£1,060£1,250

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

11,703 mi/yr
2,000UK avg for this model: 11,70330,000

Routine service

£290

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£280

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£195

Standard rate, post year-one

Electricity

£1,129

2.8 mi/kWh, 27p blended

Insurance

£1,432

Age 33-39, group 32

Clean-air zones

✓ ULEZ compliant
  • Plug-in Hybrid, Mild Hybrid variants are compliant with London ULEZ and all UK clean-air zones.
  • All petrol variants meet Euro 4 standards and are ULEZ compliant.
  • All diesel variants meet Euro 6 standards and are ULEZ compliant.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£3,326 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£120

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£360

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£780

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£1,350

per year · high risk

Tyres

205/60 R16 · 225/50 R17 · 245/40 R18

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 24,000 miles.

Budget

£300

set of 4, fitted · £60 per tyre

Mid-range

£440

set of 4, fitted · £95 per tyre

Premium

£620

set of 4, fitted · £140 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

OptionNew costAdded used valueReturn

Tow bar (factory-fit)

Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.

£650£45069%

Parking sensors & reversing camera

Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.

£500£30060%

Heated seats / cold-weather pack

£450£20044%

Adaptive / matrix LED headlights

£900£40044%

Metallic or premium paint

Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.

£600£20033%

Panoramic / opening roof

£1,100£35032%

Advanced driver-assistance pack

£1,500£45030%

Larger alloy wheels

£700£20029%

Premium sound system

£800£20025%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 35,109 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

Tyres & wheelsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 7.4% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 5,120,191 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£450medium severityParts high

Recorded in 10.7% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 5,120,191 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

BrakesUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 9.0% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 5,120,191 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Lighting & signallingUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £15-£120medium severityParts high

Recorded in 6.4% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 5,120,191 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 3.4% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 5,120,191 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

EmissionsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£800medium severityParts high

Recorded in 2.6% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 5,120,191 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

Safety rating

Euro NCAP's independent crash-test rating for the BMW 5 Series, from its 2017 assessment.

5/5
TEST YEAR2017
Rating expired (test protocol superseded)

The passenger compartment of the 5 Series remained stable in the offset frontal impact.

Independent crash-test data from Euro NCAP. Star ratings reflect the test protocol of the year shown — newer protocols are stricter, so a 5-star from 2024 represents a higher bar than a 5-star from 2014.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 5,171,691 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

A 3-year-old 5 Series passes its MOT 85.6% of the time; by 25 years that has slipped to 70.7%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

0%of 53-year-old examples are still taxed and on the road — a useful read on how well the model lasts.

From 668 vehicles registered in 1973.

Survival by registration year

25%50%75%100%19732026

Each point is one registration cohort. Older cars on the left, newer on the right. A flatter line means the model holds up over time; a steep drop means cohorts disappear from UK roads faster.

What’s on the road

The fuel-type split of every 5 Series currently MOT’d in the UK. From 632,745 vehicles.

  • Diesel 46.4%
  • Petrol 46.2%
  • Hybrid 4.9%
  • Electric 2.3%

Common MOT failures by mileage

The defect categories this 5 Series fails on most often, and how the failure rate climbs as the miles add up — from the same DVSA test records.

Category0-30k30-60k60-100k100k+
Tyres & wheels6%6%7%7%
Suspension1%2%6%11%
Brakes1%2%5%9%
Lighting & signalling1%1%3%6%
Driver's view1%1%2%3%
Emissions——1%3%

Share of MOT tests in each mileage band with at least one defect in that category. The peak band for each is highlighted.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a 5 Series at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

  • 0 yr23,295
  • 1 yr30,129
  • 2 yr37,331
  • 3 yr44,884
  • 4 yr56,285
  • 5 yr67,275
  • 6 yr78,087
  • 7 yr88,527
  • 8 yr98,250
  • 9 yr107,210
  • 10 yr115,237
  • 11 yr122,245

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records (ages with at least 10 tests shown).

Reliability

66/ 100

Average

Composite of MOT pass rate, defect prevalence and cohort survival from 5,120,191 tests — high confidence.

MOT outlook · age 5 years

84%first-time pass rate

41th percentile — Below catalogue average

Based on 370,743 MOT tests · ranked against 248 catalogue models with comparable data

Where this car sits in the catalogue

0%50%90%

Pass-rate distribution across 248 catalogue models

Things owners say

  • 01The 520d diesel remains the all-rounder for high miles; the 530e PHEV cuts BIK if charged regularly.
  • 02G30 timing-chain and EGR health is worth checking on early high-mileage diesels.
  • 03The G60 is noticeably bigger inside and out - good for space, less so if you valued the G30's agility.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the BMW 5 Series, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Higher

Higher-value cars like this are relay-theft targets — keyless entry can be exploited from the driveway in under a minute.

Parts theft

Higher

Hybrid versions are a catalytic-converter target — a hybrid cat is rich in precious metals and can be cut out in about a minute.

Worth doing

  • Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
  • A catalytic-converter guard or forensic marking makes a hybrid far less appealing to cut.
  • A visible steering lock is a cheap, strong deterrent on a frequently-targeted car.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a BMW 5 Series into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

CityAreaDaily chargeLikely outcome
LondonAll of Greater London (within the M25)£12.50
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
BirminghamInside the A4540 Middleway£8.00
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
BristolCity centre and part of the Portway£9.00
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
GlasgowCity centre—
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
EdinburghCity centre—
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
AberdeenCity centre—
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
DundeeCity centre—
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.

Zones that don't charge private cars

  • Bath — City centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
  • Bradford — Outer ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
  • Sheffield — Inside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
  • Newcastle & Gateshead — City centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
  • Portsmouth — Part of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

UK charging network

119,080 public chargers across the UK

As of 2026-04-01, the UK has 119,080 publicly available EV chargers, up 12.6% on the prior year (13,281 added in 2025). 23% of those are rapid (50 kW+) or ultra-rapid (150 kW+), so the network can support both home and on-route charging.

3-8 kW

50%

Standard

8-50 kW

27%

Standard plus

50-150 kW

12%

Rapid

150 kW+

11%

Ultra-rapid

Source: Department for Transport / Zapmap · Released 2026-05-21 · DfT statistics

Company car tax

What HMRC's Benefit-in-Kind charge looks like if you ran this BMW 5 Series as a company car, by tax year and income-tax band. Calculated from a CO₂ of 140 g/km and a WLTP electric range of 57 miles, using £69,500 as the P11D value.

Tax yearBIK %Tax @ 20%Tax @ 40%Monthly @ 20%Monthly @ 40%
2025-2633%£4,587£9,174£382£765
2026-2734%£4,726£9,452£394£788
2027-2835%£4,865£9,730£405£811
2028-2935%£4,865£9,730£405£811
2029-3035%£4,865£9,730£405£811

P11D value is approximated from the latest new price; the exact figure on your tax code will depend on options fitted. The 4% diesel surcharge applies only to non-RDE2 (pre-2021) diesels — we assume RDE2 compliance for current models. Bands and rates from HMRC's Autumn Budget 2024 confirmation through 2029/30.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported BMW is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~145

Large network

Premium mainstream

Network size relative to the UK's largest (BMW is 3.2% of all franchised outlets)

Servicing, parts and warranty work are easy to find UK-wide, and most independent garages know the brand well — which keeps maintenance competitive.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

Length

4,700 mm

Width

1,840 mm

Height

1,450 mm

Kerb weight

1,550 kg

Boot

460–480 L

Fuel tank

48 L

How many are still out there

Of every BMW 5 Series ever registered in the UK, this is what's actively on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, or gone for good.

Total ever registered

273,429

Currently taxed & on road

199,294

73% of all registered

SORN (off road)

41,853

15% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

32,282

UK fleet trend — 2014 to 2025

-4.2% vs 2024
224,166199,294

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 1 Jul 2026

Common questions

BMW 5 Series, answered

Is the BMW 5 Series ULEZ compliant?
Most petrol BMW 5 Seriess from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.
What insurance group is the BMW 5 Series in?
The BMW 5 Series sits in insurance group 32 of 50. Your actual premium still depends on age, postcode, annual mileage and no-claims history.
Is the BMW 5 Series reliable?
Our reliability score for the BMW 5 Series is 66 out of 100 (about average), derived from DVSA MOT records, with a first-time MOT pass rate of about 84% at the reference age.
What economy does the BMW 5 Series get?
Expect roughly around 2.8 miles per kWh for a typical BMW 5 Series, based on official figures and our running-cost model. Real-world figures vary with driving style, load and conditions.
What are the common problems on the BMW 5 Series?
On the BMW 5 Series, the issues that come up most by mileage include Tyres & wheels, Suspension and Brakes. The section above breaks down each one with its typical mileage, repair cost and severity.
How many BMW 5 Seriess are on UK roads?
About 199,294 BMW 5 Seriess are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

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Same underpinnings

Built on the BMW CLAR platform

Rear/all-wheel-drive longitudinal platform for BMW's 3-Series and above. Steel-aluminium hybrid construction. Different badges, often substantially different residuals, but broadly the same mechanicals and repair cost profile.

BMW Cluster Architecture · BMW

Common questions

BMW 5 Series, answered from the data

Is the BMW 5 Series reliable?
The BMW 5 Series scores 66/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 41% of the cars we track. That is computed from 5,171,691 real DVSA MOT test results.
How much does a used BMW 5 Series cost?
A 2023 BMW 5 Series with around 35,109 miles is worth roughly £26,000 today (typical range £23,450–£28,500). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the BMW 5 Series depreciate?
A new BMW 5 Series typically loses about 44% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the BMW 5 Series?
The BMW 5 Series sits in insurance group 32 of 50 — the more expensive end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used BMW 5 Series?
The most common age-related issues we track for the BMW 5 Series are: tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right); suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right); brakes (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£500 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the BMW 5 Series cost to run?
Expect around 42 mpg combined, £195 a year in road tax, about £290 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.

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