• 520d offers best blend of performance and efficiency
• Many fuel-saving measures fitted
• Very strong reliability record

What are the running costs like?

There are too many variables that affect the BMW 5 Series Touring’s fuel economy to give anything other than a broad-brush picture here. Aside from the engine, economy is affected by the car’s age, whether it has all-wheel-drive or a mild-hybrid system, and what size wheels it has. You can find the exact fuel economy figures for any 5 Series Touring you’re interested in buying in our specs pages.

The diesels are inevitably the most efficient choice. The official WLTP figures for the four-cylinder diesels cover a range of 42mpg up to over 60mpg for average fuel economy. In the real world, expect to achieve 45-50mpg in mixed driving. Between 38 and 48mpg WLTP is possible with the six-cylinder diesel – in our experience 40-42mpg on average is a more realistic target. Those numbers are pretty much the same as you’ll from any 5 Series Touring rival.

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The four-cylinder petrol engines can return an average of 35-42mpg on the WLTP cycle, while the six-cylinder version reaches 30-35mpg. Our experience suggests you’ll see the low end of those ranges from your car.

The plug-in hybrid 530e can hit well over 100mpg on the WLTP test, but that’s highly unlikely to happen unless you really maximise battery-powered running. The claimed EV range is around 30 miles, though 20 miles is more likely.

Servicing and warranty

BMW 5 Series servicing is on a variable schedule, the car’s computer calculating when a service is required. Expect intervals of around 18,000 miles. BMW servicing charges aren’t exactly cheap – it’s a premium brand, after all – but you can spread the cost with a fixed-price service plan that covers the first three years or 36,000 miles.

BMW’s standard issues warranty lasts for three years with unlimited mileage. Breakdown cover is included for the entire period. You can also pay to extend it for further peace of mind, although it won’t come close to the 10-year warranty Lexus offers.

Reliability

• BMW scores well in fleet reliability surveys
• A number of recalls issued
• The police have experienced problems

BMW has an excellent reputation for reliability, particularly in the company car fleet world, and that extends to the 5 Series Touring. We haven’t heard of any horror stories afflicting the car and our owner reviews show people love theirs.

However the police have experienced some well-publicised issues with the 530d, which they found had a propensity for destroying its engine. But it seems that was caused by the unique way the police use their cars on motorway patrols. They sit idling for long periods before accelerating very hard to well over 100mph then shortly after idling for a long time again, repeated ad nauseum all day, every day. No engine is tested for that kind of use and BMW’s current 3.0-litre diesel evidently took exception to it. But it’s highly unlikely a civilian owner will experience the same problem.

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A number of recalls have been issued – you can find the details on the government’s vehicle recall check website. Check the service history and/or contact a dealer to find out if any used car you’re interested in buying has necessary rectification work carried out. Outstanding recalls are also listed on a car’s MOT certificate.