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About BMW 5 Series

BMW are one of the leading international car manufacturers, with a history dating back over 100 years. They are a manufacturer that typically sits at the more luxury end of the scale for everyday cars, creating quality cars at affordable prices.

The BMW 5 Series is one of the best examples of this. While its price-tag does make it sit slightly out of some people’s reach, the bang for your buck is excellent. The BMW 5 Series is a great access point to the BMW range and offers you an excellent estate or saloon car without breaking the bank. As the model has been around so long, across different generations, there’s also a great chance to pick up a very fairly priced used BMW 5 series deal.

Why buy a used BMW 5 Series

But what is it that makes the BMW 5 Series such a great option to buy as a used car? Straight up, one of the reasons it’s such a great option to buy is the number of options available, even if you’re buying used. These options start out simple, do you want a saloon or a hatchback? But they quickly open up to offer several different trims and a selection of excellent engines.

There are a number of petrol engines, and hybrid options, but the real star of the show is one of the diesel options, the 520d. The 520d boasts 60+mpg, 0-60mph in less than 8 seconds and offers a wonderfully smooth drive. The other options for the BMW5 Series aren’t bad, they just don’t meet the same sweet spot as the 520d, so if you can find one used you’re onto a winner.

With the three main trims available on the older models there’s a little something for everyone, whether you’re after something sporty, or something that really makes you feel like you’re driving something luxurious. 

Brief History of the BMW 5 Series

The BMW 5 Series dates back all the way to 1972 for the first generation, with the most recent seventh generation launching in 2016.

First generation (1972-1981): The BMW started out life as a purely a sedan car, before it evolved into what it’s known as today.

Second generation (1981-1988): While it’s still only a sedan at this point, it’s the second generation that introduced the diesel engine as an option. The second generation is also where the high performance M5 was born within the 5 Series class.

Third generation (1988-1996): The third generation introduced the estate as an option alongside the sedan. It saw the introduction of V8 engines, traction control, stability control and a number of other things.

Fourth generation (1995-2003): This was the first generation to use aluminium to reduce the weight of the car. It was also the first generation to offer a 4-cylinder diesel engine.

Fifth generation (2003-2010): Again available in saloon or hatchback styles, the fifth generation is where some more of the modern tech started being introduced. It saw the addition of active cruise control, active steering and voice control as options, as well as new safety features like lane departure warnings.

Sixth generation (2010-2016): The sixth generation added a fastback variant to the body types, and remains the only fastback available across all generations of the 5 Series to date. It’s also where a number of new features were added to the 5 Series, including rear wheel steering, dual-clutch transmission, double-wishbone front suspension and parking assist.

Seventh generation (2016-present): The current generation of the BMW 5 Series, it consists of a sedan, hatchback and long-wheelbase saloon. The fastback was removed from the 5 Series after a decision was made to move it over to the 6 Series.

Which BMW 5 Series Should I buy?

Over the different generations there have been a number of different models and trims. We’ll be focusing on those available from the last two generations, and helping you understand which are the best for you to buy. If you’re considering buying your BMW 5 Series used then there may well be differences in older generations, so it’s worth checking the specification sheet of the car, and double checking it against what’s in the car.

What should I look for when financing a BMW 5 Series? 

When buying any car used there are things that are worth watching out for. The very basics include checking for signs of damage, including rust, and taking the car out for a test drive. This is always recommended as it’ll allow you to listen out for any odd noises and spot anything unusual about how it drives.

For the BMW 5 Series in particular though, there’s a couple of things to watch out for:

• Check the alloys on the wheel. While small scuffs aren’t unusual, anything bigger or deeper could be a sign of a bigger collision and that could mean other issues with the car, like the suspension.
• Double check the headlamps are free from chips or damage, they’re expensive to replace on these models
• As the 5 series is quite a large and heavy vehicle, it can add additional strain to some of its parts. The tyres, brake pads and brake discs all take a lot of strain, and they’re all pretty expensive to replace, so it’s worth checking their condition before agreeing to a deal.
• The 5 Series is well known for offering wheels larger than 18inches, and we’d advise not opting for anything over that size. It’s well documented that the wheels over 18inches hamper the driving comfort of the car

Used BMW 5 Series Finance 

Section of copy optimised for BMW 5 Series used car finance. Link through to Car Finance page and apply now page. 

If you’re looking to buy a BMW 5 Series on finance then Choose My Car is here to help. We are experts in everything abut car finance and can help you find the best used BMW 5 Series deal possible.

Opting for car finance can help you spread the cost of buying a used car over a period of time, into more manageable chunks. This can make buying a luxury car like the BMW 5 Series a much more affordable option.

If you want to find out what you can afford, why not try out our car finance calculator, or if you’re ready to apply for car finance you can do that too. For more information on car finance, check out our car finance hub, which includes details on the different types and other things you may need to consider.

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