Used BMW 5 Series Touring 2017-2023 review

There’s a question that’s often asked of us here at What Car? – which one used car would you recommend that fulfils all needs?

Well, of course, that very much depends on your individual needs, but although in each category and each price point we could name many good contenders, somehow our thoughts always come back to this BMW 5 Series Touring. You see it takes all that's wonderful about the hugely impressive BMW 5 Series saloon and adds in a healthy and desirable dose of extra practicality.

Hugely impressive? There's the superb refinement, generous amounts of high-tech kit, economical engines, excellent driving manners and the classy image, so this Touring version really could be 'all the car you’ll ever need'. The BMW 5 Series Touring can also be found with the added attraction of four-wheel drive (xDrive) on most models, too, so is even as versatile as some of the more modern 4x4s.

Not that it has it all its own way even in this class. Being a premium estate car, the 5 Series Touring has to compete with some very accomplished rivals, such as the stylish Volvo V90, gargantuan Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate and classy Audi A6 Avant.

There were initially three petrol and three diesel engines to choose from; the petrols range from a sprightly 182bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder (badged 520i) to a lusty 335bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder (540i), and the diesel lineup includes 2.0-litre four-cylinder units with 187bhp and 228bhp, plus a 261bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder.

In later cars, from 2019 onwards, the engines gained mild hybrid technology, or MHT. The range eventually settled on the 520i MHT, the 540i xDrive MHT, 530e hybrid xDrive, 520d xDrive MHT and the 530d xDrive MHT.

Equipment levels compared with BMWs of old are actually very generous, and you'd never call the standard SE version 'entry-level'. Every 5 Series has 17in alloy wheels, leather trim, cruise control, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate, and a 10.2in infotainment system with DAB radio and sat-nav. M Sport has bigger 18in alloys, firmer suspension and sportier exterior and interior touches.

While the 5 Series Touring shares the same rear-wheel-drive chassis as the 5 Series saloon, its additional weight means it isn’t as sharp to drive. The steering is surprisingly vague off-centre, and the car doesn’t find as much front-end grip as some of its rivals. However, if you’re after comfort, the 5 Series excels. In examples fitted with adaptive dampers, the ride is particularly good at isolating you from the very worst expansion joints and road scars. The interior is also supremely well isolated from wind and road noise, and the engine’s hum fades away into the background at speed.

If you’re buying an estate you'll want to know how much stuff you can carry, and the 5 Series Touring has one of the biggest boots in its class. The standard 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats and absence of a loading lip mean even oddly shaped items are a doddle to fit. The luggage area is nice and wide, so a buggy should go in there sideways.

All passengers should find the 5 Series Touring to be most accommodating. There’s plenty of adjustment up front for the driver and front passenger, while those in the rear get plenty of head and leg room. The middle seat passenger in the rear will have to clamber over a tall central tunnel, but three adults across the bench is a possibility, even if there will be some rubbing of shoulders.

The BMW 5 Series Touring was treated to a comprehensive facelift in the latter half of 2020 that gave it LED headlights as standard (with super bright adaptive LED headlights as an option), a larger, more imposing grille, a more aggressive body kit and a smattering of extra standard equipment throughout the range.

If you're interested in finding a used 5 Series Touring, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices start at £16,000 for a 2017 model with a higher than average mileage. Increase your spend to £18,000 to £21,000 or more for a car with a below average mileage from 2018 or 2019, while £22,000 to £25,000 should find you a nice post-facelift 2019 example. Spend between £25,000 and £30,000 on 2021 cars, a little more in the higher specs. The starting price for 2022 models is around £37,000.

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Find a used BMW 5 Series Touring for sale here

MPG

The most sensible choice is the 520d, with its official (NEDC) fuel economy figure of 60.1mpg. The other diesel models are still impressive, at 54.3mpg for the 525d and 52.3mpg for the 530d (although this drops to 49.5mpg if you choose one with four-wheel drive).

Petrol models aren’t quite so economical, but at least the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines in the 520i and 530i are reasonable, with official figures of 46.3mpg and 45.5mpg. The four-wheel drive 540i xDrive is rather thirsty, at 35.7mpg.

In later post-facelift cars, and under the more realistic WLTP tests, the 520i averages 42.2mpg, the 540i 35.8mpg, the 530e 176.6mpg, the 520d 54.3mpg and the 530d 47.9mpg. The plug-in hybrid 530e's figure looks hugely impressive, but it's unlikely you'd see those sorts of figures in everyday use, unless it fitted into your lifestyle extremely well.

Road tax (VED)

You’ll need to be mindful of the original retail price of the car, because most 5 Series Touring would have cost more than £40,000 when new, therefore breaching the luxury car tax bracket. This means you'll have to pay the standard flat rate fee, plus an additional surcharge until the car is more than six years old. Current costs for cars registered after April 2017 are £190 a year and £180 a year for hybrids, while the luxury tax is £410 a year.

Servicing costs

BMW's servicing is marginally cheaper than Mercedes’s and generally on a par with other rivals'. However, your car's previous owner might have bought a service pack when the car was new; this covers all the routine maintenance of the car for the first three years or 36,000 miles. You can check BMW’s website to see if your BMW 5 Series Touring is covered by one of these.

Reliability

The BMW 5 Series has been highlighted for its reliability by owners in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey.

However, while the majority of owners report satisfaction with their vehicles, some have encountered minor issues, particularly with the infotainment system, seats and suspension, and bodywork.

While overall satisfaction with BMW dealers is positive, there is a note of caution regarding the higher-than-expected cost of maintenance and some consumable items.

Our full reliability page has more information on common problems which you may experience with the BMW 5 Series.

Engine

Unless you need a petrol engine because you only do short commutes, you're better off choosing the refined 520d for its blend of usable power and fine fuel economy. There are loads of examples on the used market, too.

Specification

SE gets you all the equipment you need, including climate control, cruise control, sat-nav, front and rear parking sensors and bright LED headlights. M Sport adds plenty of sporty styling touches, but its sports suspension is too hard. If you must have an M Sport, though, make sure you find a car fitted with adaptive dampers, because Comfort mode on these transforms the ride. Alas not many cars were fitted with this option, but if you can find one it'll be worth it.

Our favourite 5 Series Touring: 520d SE

There are many rivals to the BMW 5 Series Touring, but few manage to blend its depth of talents quite so well.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate gets close, mind you, and thanks to steeper depreciation, it works out to be slightly cheaper to buy. It may not be quite as accommodating in the rear for tall passengers, but its boot is massive and you can even add extra fold-up seats in there, turning this posh estate into a genuine seven-seater.

If you want a slick-looking estate with a well-finished interior, the Audi A6 Avant is a fine choice. It’s been around a while, so there are loads of them available, from a sensible 2.0-litre diesel all the way up to the rampant RS6 Performance model with its 596bhp 4.0 V8 petrol engine.

There’s also the Volvo V90, which looks great both inside and out and comes with bags of safety technology that not only helps to prevent accidents but also keeps you safe if they do happen.

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If you're interested in finding a used 5 Series Touring, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.