E60 5 Series Buyer’s Guide

As a buyer, you have the right to know everything there is to know before purchasing a car. BMW already managed to more than 1.4 million units of the fifth-generation 5 series. The large supply in circulation also allows it to be popular in the used-car segment. Check out some excerpts of BMW Blog’s buyer’s guide below before deciding to purchase one:

The buyer’s guide ultimately recommends purchasing the LCI variants of the 535d and the 550i. These face-lifted models have everything better than the ones that were released before them. The interiors, updated iDrive system, improved fuel economy and even a tweaked engine in case of the 535d!

“The 535d has the same M57 engine like most of the other diesel E60s but instead of the variable geometry turbocharger, it got BorgWarner’s KP39 high-pressure and a K26 low-pressure turbocharger after the facelift in 2007. This meant that turbo failures were quite rare, making the E60 a very reliable buy. Not only that, with the twin-turbo inline-6 engine pushing out 282 hp and 580 Nm of torque, you won’t cry out for more power unless you are planning some track time. Do note that the 535d was never sold in the United States, which is a shame as it’s not only the most powerful but arguably the most robust diesel E60 too.”

“The 550i packs a 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine producing over 360 hp and nearly 500 Nm of torque. Being a naturally-aspirated engine, performance upgrades will cost you a fortune but this is a car that has more horses than the 991 Porsche Carrera so you shouldn’t really feel underpowered driving it. A manual gearbox would be ideal to go with the V8 but you will have a hard time finding a 550i with the stick. The V8s of the E60-generation have been reported to give troubles to some owners and many will suggest you to stay away from them. However, most of the 550i owners swear by their car’s reliability and you are unlikely to get any major setback in a model that is non-accidental and has a full service record.”

Check out the complete buyer’s guide, here.