BMW 5-Series Touring running costs and reliability

2017 onwards (change model)

Running costs rating: 4 out of 54.0

BMW 2017 5-Series Touring exterior detail

BMW 2017 5-Series Touring interior detail

BMW 5 Series Touring infotainment screen

BMW 5 Series Touring rear seat with Isofix child seat

BMW 5 Series Touring gear lever and infotainment control

Written by Alan Taylor-Jones Published: 13 April 2023 Updated: 17 April 2023

Miles per pound (mpp) ⓘ

Low figures relate to the least economical version; high to the most economical. Based on WLTP combined fuel economy for versions of this car made since September 2017 only, and typical current fuel or electricity costs.

Petrol engines	4.5 - 6.2 mpp
Diesel engines	4.9 - 7.1 mpp
Plug-in hybrid petrol engines *	5.2 - 5.7 mpp

* Fuel economy of the engine when operating without assistance from the electric motor and battery.

What is miles per pound?

Fuel economy ⓘ

Low figures relate to the least economical version; high to the most economical. Based on WLTP combined fuel economy for versions of this car made since September 2017 only.

Petrol engines	30.7 - 42.2 mpg
Diesel engines	38.7 - 55.4 mpg
Plug-in hybrid petrol engines *	35.8 - 39.2 mpg

* Fuel economy of the engine when operating without assistance from the electric motor and battery.

View mpg & specs for any version

The 520d offers best blend of performance and efficiency
Standard cars have plenty of fuel-saving measures as standard
Service packages good value

The biggest update to the 5 Series engine range was in July 2020, when mild hybrid technology was fitted to 520i petrol, 520d and 530d diesel engines. Prior to this, the 520d was the only engine to have this technology fitted from late-2019.

With even the high-performance 540i returning 33.6-35.8mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, even the least fuel-efficient 5-series Touring should prove relatively inexpensive to run. The entry-level 520i petrol engine claims between 38.2-42.2mpg, but we suspect the lack of torque means you’ll have to work this engine harder to get it up to speed, making these figures difficult to achieve.

With the 520d returning 49.6-55.4mpg and xDrive all-wheel drive versions claiming 47.9-52.3mpg, owners should easily see well over 40mpg in typical use. The six-cylinder 530d sees these figures dip to 44.1-47.9mpg.

BMW 5 Series Touring xDrive rear badge 2020 — Four-wheel drive in the world of BMW is labelled xDrive.

The plug-in hybrid 530e has a 34 mile electric-only range, which creeps down to 31-32 miles on xDrive models. Combined fuel consumption ranges between 166.2-188.3mpg, which, again, drops to 141.2-156.9mpg for xDrive. You’ll have to keep the hybrid battery topped up and cover a lot of short journeys to reach anywhere near these figures.

Servicing and warranty

BMW 5 Series servicing is based on a variable schedule, with the car calculating when a service is required. Expect intervals of around 18,000 miles. BMW offers an affordable fixed-price service package that covers the first three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

As for the warranty itself, BMW gives a standard three years although that’s for unlimited mileage and includes breakdown cover for the entire period. You can also pay to extend it for further peace of mind, although it won’t get close to the 10-year warranty Lexus offers.

Reliability

BMW scores well in fleet reliability surveys
Five recalls since its introduction
Familiar engines shared with other BMWs

BMW has an excellent reputation for reliability in the fleet world, so the 5 Series is unlikely to cause any major headaches. That said, it has been subject to five recalls since it was introduced, so if you’re buying used make sure all work has been carried out.