Used BMW 5 Series Touring 2004 - 2010 reliability
Category: Estate car
The BMW 5 Series Touring is as practical as it is enjoyable - it's a classy estate, but dear to buy used.
What should I look for in a used BMW 5 Series estate?
This generation of BMW 5 Series hasn't performed as well as its predecessor in customer satisfaction surveys, with disappointing results in the annual JD Power survey. Owners criticised the car's interior quality and reckoned mechanical reliability was merely average.
This version of the 5 Series is too new to appear on Warranty Direct's records, so we have no hard data on the car's mechanical reliability. However, we have heard of problems relating to the iDrive system – the rotary switch that allows the driver to control various in-car functions - and of run-flat tyres that lose pressure, so check both on any car you're interested in.
Given the complexity of the 5 Series' electrics, particularly the iDrive infotainment system, it's worth checking that the used car you're considering has been maintained and repaired by a BMW dealer - check the service history carefully. High-mileage cars can be a sound buy if they were on a company fleet, as they are likely to have been looked after carefully.
