BMW 5 Series: common problems, best years and what to check
Superb long-distance exec; check engine generation. Covers 2008–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the BMW 5 Series a good used buy?
Best buy
2017+ G30 520d
Avoid
2010–2015 N47 520d without chain history
Who it suits: High-mileage drivers who want a refined, sporty executive car.
What's good
- Superb motorway refinement
- Excellent diesels
- Rear-drive handling
- Touring is practical
What's not
- N47 timing chain on 520d (2010–2014)
- Expensive repairs
- Run-flat tyres
- Many high-mileage ex-fleet cars
By the numbers
- #43 most common model on UK roads, with about 170k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2018: 17.1k cars still licensed.
- 2011 cars survive 22% worse than comparable cars — check those harder.
- The most expensive common fault: N47 timing chain (up to £3,500).
BMW 5 Series common problems by generation and engine
BMW 5 Series F10/F11 (2010–2017) · saloon, Touring
How to spot it: 10 plate to 17 plate. Long bonnet; headlights joined to the kidney grille.
520d (N47 → B47 (2015+), diesel, 2010–2017)
N47 chain risk
- N47 timing chain£1,500–£3,50070k+
530d / 535d (N57, diesel, 2010–2017)
Strong six
- Swirl flaps / EGR cooler recall£400–£1,20070k+
Faults on any F10/F11 (2010–2017) engine
- Rear air suspension (Touring)£400–£1,20070k+
- Steering rack£500–£1,20080k+
BMW 5 Series G30/G31 (2017–2023) · saloon, Touring; 530e
How to spot it: 17 plate to 23 plate. Wider grille and headlights that cut into it.
520d / 530d / 530e (B47 / B57 / B48, diesel / PHEV, 2017–2023)
Reliable
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst BMW 5 Series years
How many BMW 5 Seriess from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
No year clearly outlasts similar cars. Years that fall off the road faster: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 — check these harder.
BMW 5 Series MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2008+ cars)
BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT first time 9 points more often than the average UK car of the same age (82% vs 73%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 72% | 57% | 151k miles |
| 2009 | 71% | 58% | 145k miles |
| 2010 | 74% | 59% | 135k miles |
| 2011 | 75% | 61% | 135k miles |
| 2012 | 74% | 63% | 127k miles |
| 2013 | 76% | 66% | 119k miles |
| 2014 | 81% | 69% | 112k miles |
| 2015 | 84% | 72% | 100k miles |
| 2016 | 85% | 75% | 88k miles |
| 2017 | 85% | 78% | 78k miles |
| 2018 | 86% | 81% | 67k miles |
| 2019 | 88% | 84% | 57k miles |
| 2020 | 88% | 86% | 47k miles |
| 2021 | 88% | 87% | 41k miles |
| 2022 | 87% | 89% | 32k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Diesel
Petrol
Hybrid
Diesel hybrid
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.93 per 100
- Coil spring: fractured or broken2.37 per 100
- Tyres: has ply or cords exposed2.22 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut1.85 per 100
- Position lamp: not working1.51 per 100
- Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.51 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn1.22 per 100
- Headlamp aim: too low1.14 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm25.26 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.12 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.95 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.21 per 100
- Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine6.12 per 100
- Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak5.94 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear4.92 per 100
- Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm3.78 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the BMW 5 Series have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| N47 | chain | check from 70k | £1,500–£3,500 |
| B47/B57 | chain | durable | £1,000–£2,000 |
BMW 5 Series running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the BMW 5 Series ULEZ compliant?
- Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
BMW 5 Series vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 5 Series | 170k | 30–44 | 530 l | 2017+ G30 520d |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 192k | 29–43 | 540 l | 2016–2023 W213 E220d |
| Audi A6 | 116k | 29–43 | 530 l | 2015–2018 C7 2.0 TDI Ultra |
| Volvo S90 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| Jaguar XF | 88k | 29–43 | 540 l | 2017+ X260 2.0d 180 with history |
| Skoda Superb | 71k | 15–30 | 625 l | 2016+ B8 2.0 TDI 150 estate |
What to check when buying a used BMW 5 Series
- N47 520d (2010–2015): chain history
- G30 520d is a great high-mile buy
BMW 5 Series FAQ
›Is the BMW 5 Series reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2017+ G30 520d. Avoid: 2010–2015 N47 520d without chain history.
›What is the BMW 5 Series MOT pass rate?
82% of BMW 5 Seriess passed their MOT first time in 2025 (160,811 tests), better than the 73% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.
›What are the most common BMW 5 Series problems?
The costliest known faults are N47 timing chain; Swirl flaps / EGR cooler recall. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the BMW 5 Series have a timing belt or chain?
N47: chain; B47/B57: chain.
›What is the best year BMW 5 Series to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2008, 2009, 2015 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a BMW 5 Series cost to run?
Real-world economy: 520d 48–56 mpg; 530d 40–46 mpg; 530e 40–100 depending on charging. Insurance groups 30–44. A minor service is about £260–£360 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a BMW 5 Series?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the BMW 5 Series ULEZ compliant?
Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.