BMW 5 Series 1989–2026
On an E34 or E39 V8, ask for a compression test or proof of its bores, and renew the cooling system on any older car. Pass on an E60 with the SMG gearbox, and be wary of the F10's early four-cylinder and any V8 550i without records.
Generations 6
- E34 1989–1996The third 5 Series, a sedan and from 1992 a Touring wagon, with straight-six engines at first and V8s from 1994, rear-wheel drive only in the US.Came as sedan, Touring
- E39 1997–2003The fourth 5 Series, a sedan and from 1999 a sport wagon, as the six-cylinder 528i, 525i and 530i and the V8 540i, with rear-wheel drive and a manual or automatic.Came as sedan, Sport Wagon
- E60 2004–2010The fifth 5 Series, the first with iDrive, a sedan and from 2006 an all-wheel-drive wagon, with sixes, V8s and from 2008 a twin-turbo six, and a manual, automatic or SMG gearbox.Came as sedan, Sport Wagon
- F10 2011–2016The sixth 5 Series, a sedan only in the US, with a four-cylinder 528i from 2012, the turbo six 535i, the twin-turbo V8 550i, a hybrid and from 2014 a diesel, and xDrive on most.Came as sedan
- G30 2017–2023The seventh 5 Series, a sedan on BMW's CLAR platform, as the four-cylinder 530i, the six-cylinder 540i, the 530e plug-in hybrid and the V8 M550i xDrive, with an automatic only.Came as sedan
- G60 2024–2026The eighth 5 Series, the biggest yet, as the mild hybrid 530i and 540i xDrive and from 2025 the 550e xDrive plug-in hybrid, with an electric twin, the i5, covered on its own.Came as sedan