Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any BMW 5 Series.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
With 199,294 currently licensed in the UK, the BMW 5 Series is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the 5 Series 5 stars in 2023, with 89% adult occupant and 85% child protection scores.
It has a 77.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, oil leaks.
Annual running costs are estimated at £4,371 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £364/month or 59p/mile.
Theft risk is rated high at 12.4 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2023
MOT Pass Rate
77.2%
190,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£364
est. annual total
New From
£55,395
Euro NCAP tested the 5 Series in 2023 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
89%
Child Occupant
85%
Pedestrian
86%
Safety Assist
78%
There are 119 known DVSA recalls affecting the BMW 5 Series. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/092
The Safety Recall relates to the air-conditioning wiring harness located behind the dashboard. On the affected vehicles the wiring harness was fixed very close to a screw connection on the interior microfilter housing cover. The microfilter of the air conditioning system will be regularly replaced as part of the oil service. It cannot be ruled out that cables may be damaged when replacing the microfilter during a workshop visit. The filter cover has to be removed from the lower part of the instrument panel. After replacing the filter the cover has to be refitted at which point the wires may become damaged or trapped. If the wiring harness is damaged this could lead to malfunctions of the air conditioning system as well as to a short circuit. In case of a short circuit a sensor may overheat while the vehicle is in operation. As a result smoke may develop from the instrument panel and subsequently a fire cannot be ruled out.
Build dates: 2023-06-20 to 2025-04-08
R/2026/092
The Safety Recall relates to the air-conditioning wiring harness located behind the dashboard. On the affected vehicles the wiring harness was fixed very close to a screw connection on the interior microfilter housing cover. The microfilter of the air conditioning system will be regularly replaced as part of the oil service. It cannot be ruled out that cables may be damaged when replacing the microfilter during a workshop visit. The filter cover has to be removed from the lower part of the instrument panel. After replacing the filter the cover has to be refitted at which point the wires may become damaged or trapped. If the wiring harness is damaged this could lead to malfunctions of the air conditioning system as well as to a short circuit. In case of a short circuit a sensor may overheat while the vehicle is in operation. As a result smoke may develop from the instrument panel and subsequently a fire cannot be ruled out.
Build dates: 2024-03-18 to 2025-04-09
R/2026/054
The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits.
Build dates: 2020-10-30 to 2022-04-01
R/2025/327
Affected vehicles may be fitted with a drivers airbag which may deploy with too much explosive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released into the cabin. It has the potential to fatally or seriously injure vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2006-01-07 to 2011-06-30
R/2025/349
Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Build dates: 2000-09-01 to 2003-09-16
+ 114 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 190,000 MOT tests, the 5 Series has a first-time pass rate of 77.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The 5 Series is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old BMW 5 Series are estimated at around £4,371 per year, or £364 per month.
Fuel
£1,208
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£2,238
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The 5 Series achieves a combined fuel economy of around 47.9 mpg (35.3 mpg urban, 60.1 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 SERIES E60/E61 | DIESEL | 47.9 mpg | 2.0L |
| 5 SERIES E60/E61 | DIESEL | 42.2 mpg | 2.5L |
| 5 SERIES E60/E61 | PETROL | 33.2 mpg | 2.5L |
| 5 SERIES E60/E61 | DIESEL | 39.2 mpg | 3.0L |
| 5 SERIES E60/E61 | PETROL | 32.1 mpg | 3.0L |
| 5 SERIES E60/E61 | PETROL | 25.7 mpg | 4.0L |
| 5 SERIES E60/E61 | PETROL | 25.4 mpg | 4.8L |
| 5 SERIES E60/E61 | PETROL | 14.8 mpg | 5.0L |
Starting from £55,395 new, a BMW 5 Series typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £41,550 | −£13,845 |
| 2 years | 64% | £35,300 | −£20,095 |
| 3 years | 56% | £31,100 | −£24,295 |
| 4 years | 50% | £27,950 | −£27,445 |
| 5 years | 46% | £25,750 | −£29,645 |
| 6 years | 43% | £23,950 | −£31,445 |
| 7 years | 41% | £22,500 | −£32,895 |
| 8 years | 39% | £21,350 | −£34,045 |
| 9 years | 37% | £20,300 | −£35,095 |
| 10 years | 35% | £19,300 | −£36,095 |
The 5 Series has a theft rate of 12.4 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Consider additional security measures such as a steering lock or tracking device.
There are currently 199,294 licensed and 41,853 SORN 5 Seriess in the UK (241,147 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The 5 Series has a 77.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 190,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the 5 Series 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2023. It scored 89% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child occupant protection, 86% for vulnerable road users, and 78% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old 5 Series are estimated at around £4,371 per year (£364/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 119 known safety recalls affecting the 5 Series. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The 5 Series has a theft rate of 12.4 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Extra security measures like tracking devices and steering locks are recommended.
A new 5 Series starts from around £55,395. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
BMW 1 Series
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW 2 Series
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW 3 Series
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW 4 Series
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW i4
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW iX
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW X1
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW X3
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW X5
Reliability, safety & running costs
Free MOT History Check
See every test result, advisory and failure since 2005.
Free Car Valuation
Estimate what a vehicle is worth based on age, mileage and condition.
Safety Recall Check
Check if a vehicle has any outstanding safety recalls.
ULEZ Compliance Check
Check if a vehicle meets London ULEZ emission standards.
Your MOT could be due soon — Set a free reminder(up to £1,000 fine for driving without)