Future Classics

BMW 5 SERIES

Description

BMW's big selling executive saloon, the 5 series has been around since 1972 and is in its 6th incarnation. Engines are mostly straight 6s or V8s and the car has a reputation for being a great drivers car as well as BMW's most reliable car which is no mean feat.
Early generations are rarer now but the E34(1988-95) and E39(1996-2003) still appear to be plentiful and good value.
Our favourite generation is the early E60's (2003-2007) and a V8 550i example would make an impressive grand tourer, if you could afford the fuel bills of course. But if you are worried about fuel economy then there is always the impressive diesels to choose from.
We have below provided some power figures for the E60 range which includes the M5 though we aren't covering that model here.
See how many are left using our chart below.

540i 2005-2010 4,000 cc (240 cu in) V8 306 PS (225 kW; 302 hp)@6300, 390 N·m (288 lb·ft)@3500
545i 2003-2005 4,395 cc (268.2 cu in) V8 333 PS (245 kW; 328 hp)@6100, 450 N·m (332 lb·ft)@3600
550i 2005-2010 4,799 cc (292.9 cu in) V8 367 PS (270 kW; 362 hp)@6300, 490 N·m (361 lb·ft)@3400
M5 2005-2010 4,999 cc (305.1 cu in) V10 507 PS (373 kW; 500 hp)@7750, 520 N·m (384 lb·ft)@6100

530d 2003-2005 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) I6 turbo 218 PS (160 kW; 215 hp)@4000, 500 N·m (369 lb·ft)@2000
530d 2007-2010 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) I6 turbo 235 PS (173 kW; 232 hp)@4000, 500 N·m (369 lb·ft)@1750-3000
535d 2007-2010 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) I6 turbo twin turbo 286 PS (210 kW; 282 hp)@4400, 580 N·m (428 lb·ft)@1750-2250

Headline stats

Maximum # of Registrations = 228093
Latest # of Registrations = 228093

Links

[Buyers Guide] 523 E39 review 

Our Verdict

The BMW 535d, one of the first true diesel classics in my humble opinion. Of course everyone thinks of the M5 when talking about the classic status of any 5 series generation and obviously the E60 M5 is going to be a classic car, its the birth right of all M series BMW's after all!
But I decided to look at the rest of the range and immediately the 535d stands out, in fact its my favourite future classic and I'm not even sure if the future part of that tittle is correct (more on that in a minute), of course the 550i is an impressive bit of kit but somehow is slightly over shadowed by the M5, where as the 535d has a niche of its own.
Just take a look at the power figures opposite and you will see what I mean, you have to get into V8 petrol country before the BHP figures better that of the diesel and even the mighty M5 would lose out in the top trump stakes when it comes to torque. As for the 0-60 dash, well the M5 does it in 4.6 seconds and the 535d takes 6.3 though the measured 0-60 always favours revvy engines and in the real world I would expect the diesel to feel nearly as fast as the M5.

I am not going to more than touch on what these cars are like to drive as i'm sure anyone with a passing interest in cars will be aware of the high regard that all BMW's are held in for handling and general dynamics. All i would say is that the softer suspension of the 535d over the M5 would make it an easier car to live with.

Other reasons why the 535d should be a classic is it has the pedigree, motor sport heritage and general high status of the marquee. It also has innovation of design and styling with the introduce of things like the iDrive system that was the cause of bafflement for some many owners, and the flame surfacing styling that proved to be so controversial at the time but which I think most would agree, has aged very well. Also there is the technological innovation of the variable vain turbos giving it impressive power and torque.

On a last note and as I hinted at early, the 535d is actually quite rare and prices are reflecting that fact, so if finding a good one is proving to difficult or costly then the 530d is a much more achievable buy and only loses out to its bigger brother in its torque figures, so is well worth a look and I am sure will also be a collectable car before too long.

Future Classics Rating

87%
Source: Allfotocars.com

Details of Derivatives

Total 413 items.
NameCalculated RatingMax RegLatest Reg
M535I AUTO9546721
M535I9181167
M 535 I8512818
550I SE TOURING AUTO18119
550I SE TOURING A066
550I SE TOURING033
550I SE GRAN TURISMO TURBO A011
550I SE AUTO86156
550I SE A81211
550I SE055
550I M SPORT TOURING AUTO203528
550I M SPORT TOURING A01111
550I M SPORT TOURING91110
550I M SPORT GRAN TURISMO T A033
550I M SPORT GRAN TURISMO AUTO011
550I M SPORT AUTO0137136
550I M SPORT A242922
550I M SPORT211915
550I LUXURY AUTO088
550I EXECUTIVE AUTO53136
545I SPORT TOURING AUTO161815
545I SPORT TOURING011
545I SPORT AUTO255642
545I SPORT1287
545I SE TOURING AUTO208064
545I SE TOURING4274
545I SE AUTO31466320
545I SE373723
545I011
540I TOURING AUTO70458137
540I TOURING655820
540I SPORT AUTO47420219
540I SPORT432313
540I SE AUTO281410
540I SE A2586
540I SE1665
540I M SPORT AUTO214233
540I M SPORT A261511
540I M SPORT30107
540I AUTO731746467
540I6628295
540 I TOURING AUTO8420131
540 I TOURING837212
540 I SPORT TOURING AUTO456435
540 I SPORT TOURING33128
540 I SPORT AUTO706218
540 I SPORT8051
540 I AUTO9080576
540 I7623154
535I SPORT AUTO84936148
535I SPORT9383051
535I SE TURBO AUTO232116
535I SE TURBO022
535I SE GRAN TURISMO TURBO A011
535I SE GRAN TURISMO AUTO2297
535I SE AUTO43240135
535I SE739024
535I M SPORT TURBO AUTO124741
535I M SPORT TURBO011
535I M SPORT GRAN TURISMO T A5021
535I M SPORT GRAN TURISMO AUTO6662
535I M SPORT AUTO0262262
535I M SPORT01111
535I LUXURY AUTO0150150
535I LHD AUTO011
535I EXECUTIVE AUTO68258
535I AUTO762754641
535I SPORT AUTO47328173
535I7226272
535D TOURING AUTO3332
535D SPORT TOURING AUTO13425369
535D SPORT AUTO2313591035
535D SE TOURING AUTO12232204
535D SE TOURING A8148136
535D SE GRAN TURISMO AUTO71413
535D SE AUTO4844807
535D SE A69084
535D M SPORT TOURING AUTO8441402
535D M SPORT TOURING A10738660
535D M SPORT GRAN TURISMO AUTO69084
535D M SPORT AUTO052845284
535D M SPORT A15794671
535D LUXURY AUTO0266266
535D EXECUTIVE AUTO42524
535 I SE AUTO98245847
535 I SE97165238
535 I AUTO9225820
535 I9035634
535 D TOURING AUTO2543
530I TOURING AUTO4053
530I TOURING64176
530I SPORT TOURING AUTO123934
530I SPORT TOURING044
530I SPORT AUTO4626881430
530I SPORT AEGEAN EDIT A25142106
530I SPORT48524271
530I SP CHAMPAGNE ED II A3614592
530I SE TOURING AUTO37584366
530I SE TOURING A56965
530I SE TOURING25145108
530I SE AUTO3338082549
530I SE A20228182
530I SE34756496
530I M SPORT TOURING AUTO46663
530I M SPORT TOURING A198972
530I M SPORT TOURING82422
530I M SPORT AUTO16348290
530I M SPORT A33342228
530I M SPORT11118105
530I AUTO46137
530I A/C SMG000
530I A011
530I265641
530D TOURING AUTO43215122
530D TOURING4814273
530D SPT AEGEAN EDITION A3414393
530D SPORT TOURING AUTO13474410
530D SPORT TOURING53836
530D SPORT AUTO2215081166
530D SPORT26226167
530D SE TOURING AUTO2928001963
530D SE TOURING A2270263
530D SE TOURING311063727
530D SE GRAN TURISMO AUTO27068
530D SE BUSINESS EDITION71413
530D SE BUS EDITION AUTO29896
530D SE AUTO998468925
530D SE A6573534
530D SE3432632130
530D M TOURING AUTO12412360
530D M TOURING117768
530D M SPORT TOURING A6680635
530D M SPORT TOURING145648
530D M SPORT GRAN TURISMO AUTO3791762
530D M SPORT BUSINESS EDN01414
530D M SPORT BUS EDIT A10497443
530D M SPORT AUTO086368636
530D M SPORT A1123172047
530D M SPORT8501457
530D LUXURY AUTO0728728
530D EXECUTIVE AUTO4149143
530D AUTO58437182
530D AC AUTO0453453
530D AC117869
530D A/C TOURING AUTO22279215
530D A/C TOURING22154119
530D A/C AUTO395332
530D A/C238666
530D41737434
530 SE AUTO2621501572
530 I TOURING A9135330
530 I TOURING8917719
530 I SPORT TOURING AUTO28435311
530 I SPORT TOURING384226
530 I SPORT EDITION AUTO4014486
530 I SE EDTION AUTO399658
530 I SE AUTO97183944
530 I SE94124969
530 I AUTO94107057
530 I8357997
530 D TOURING AUTO452413
530 D TOURING20108
530 D SPORT TOURING AUTO25574425
530 D SPORT TOURING3510165
530 D SPORT AUTO411322772
530 D SPORT45460251
528I TOURING AUTO502814
528I TOURING617629
528I SPORT AUTO64642227
528I SPORT5622396
528I SE TURBO AUTO24142107
528I SE TURBO32827
528I SE TOURING AUTO711681473
528I SE TOURING72572158
528I SE AUTO7181832324
528I SE752975720
528I MODERN033
528I M SPORT TURBO AUTO4211466
528I M SPORT TURBO077
528I M SPORT AUTO0293293
528I M SPORT121614
528I LUXURY AUTO0151151
528I LUXURY011
528I LHD AUTO011
528I AUTO952509112
528I6719262
528 I SE AUTO97146640
528 I SE8975277
528 I952655130
528 AUTO993662
526 TDS AUTO89475
525I X SE TOURING A9221917
525I X SE TOURING952079
525I X SE AUTO89738
525I X SE951015
525I TOURING AUTO60208
525I TOURING441810
525I SPORT TOURING AUTO2212295
525I SPORT TOURING40106
525I SPORT AUTO49273138
525I SPORT227054
525I SE TOURING AUTO221276983
525I SE TOURING A871198151
525I SE TOURING711095310
525I SE AUTO63150445558
525I SE A34483316
525I SE3518761205
525I M SPORT TOURING AUTO105751
525I M SPORT TOURING A107466
525I M SPORT TOURING132925
525I M SPORT AUTO55293129
525I M SPORT A41319186
525I M SPORT6203190
525I ES TOURING AUTO011
525I ES SE TOURING AUTO3364
525I ES SE TOURING011
525I ES SE AUTO2054
525I AUTO97208143
525I95245299
525D TOURING AUTO333322
525D TOURING474423
525D SPORT TOURING AUTO13380328
525D SPORT TOURING206048
525D SPORT AUTO221018788
525D SPORT36473299
525D SE TOURING AUTO2420661566
525D SE TOURING A10203181
525D SE TOURING1512121028
525D SE BUSINESS EDITION115145
525D SE BUS EDITION AUTO5180171
525D SE AUTO957215186
525D SE A615611453
525D SE2343383319
525D MODERN AUTO099
525D MODERN033
525D M SPORT TOURING AUTO8174159
525D M SPORT TOURING A9661597
525D M SPORT TOURING12567498
525D M SPORT BUSINESS EDN124035
525D M SPORT BUS EDIT A9440398
525D M SPORT AUTO029222922
525D M SPORT A1329252529
525D M SPORT7866797
525D LUXURY AUTO0217217
525D LUXURY01414
525D ES TOURING AUTO43169
525D ES TOURING311913
525D ES SE TOURING AUTO255843
525D ES SE TOURING242922
525D ES SE AUTO5116178
525D ES SE4810253
525D ES AUTO524823
525D ES437341
525D AUTO357951
525D AC AUTO0107107
525D AC099
525D46289154
525 TDS TOURING AUTO8571
525 TDS TOURING A96532
525 TDS TOURING9010510
525 TDS SE TOURING AUTO8225445
525 TDS SE TOURING A9360542
525 TDS SE TOURING86764100
525 TDS SE AUTO901908189
525 TDS SE892143232
525 TDS AUTO941578
525 TDS8541058
525 TD AUTO9462835
525 TD94109562
525 I X TOURING A8891
525 I X TOURING8781
525 I X AUTO8571
525 I X85213
525 I TOURING A971123
525 I TOURING9418010
525 I SPORT TOURING AUTO29345244
525 I SPORT TOURING483116
525 I SPORT AUTO571658709
525 I SPORT811009187
525 I SE EDITION AUTO459552
525 I SE AUTO958615417
525 I SE957182344
525 I AUTO97141934
525 I92129296
525 E LUX AUTO95137957
525 E AUTO98469291
525 E941116
525 D SPORT TOURING AUTO3014399
525 D SPORT TOURING283827
525 D SPORT EDITION AUTO527234
525 D SPORT EDITION4916583
525 D SPORT AUTO43263148
525 D SPORT3511474
525 AUTO962869
5258228950
523I TOURING AUTO597731
523I TOURING658830
523I SPORT TOURING AUTO125447
523I SPORT TOURING33128
523I SPORT AUTO42178103
523I SPORT254836
523I SE TOURING AUTO631380501
523I SE TOURING A75147
523I SE TOURING65885304
523I SE AUTO19798642
523I SE A42367211
523I SE7382052156
523I M SPORT TOURING AUTO222721
523I M SPORT TOURING A42524
523I M SPORT TOURING25129
523I M SPORT AUTO19210170
523I M SPORT A6212848
523I M SPORT7168156
523I AUTO72708198
523I731144303
520I TOURING AUTO525124
520I TOURING6713744
520I SPORT AUTO546228
520I SPORT266044
520I SE TURBO AUTO88174
520I SE TURBO52019
520I SE TOURING AUTO61886341
520I SE TOURING A9481541
520I SE TOURING852289324
520I SE AUTO7386282291
520I SE82118692133
520I MODERN AUTO011
520I M SPORT TURBO AUTO274029
520I M SPORT TURBO01515
520I M SPORT AUTO0126126
520I M SPORT01919
520I LUXURY AUTO04949
520I LUXURY044
520I ES TOURING AUTO6631
520I ES TOURING2297
520I ES SE TOURING4274
520I ES SE AUTO40622371
520I ES SE46355191
520I ES AUTO504221
520I ES4711963
520I AUTO954122189
520I ES SE TOURING AUTO32625
520I791687343
520D TOURING AUTO20108
520D TOURING30139
520D SE TOURING AUTO913491220
520D SE TOURING A10227203
520D SE TOURING413491292
520D SE GRAN TURISMO AUTO5220208
520D SE BUSINESS EDITION1515361300
520D SE BUS EDITION AUTO915391394
520D SE AUTO02964729647
520D SE A161092910
520D SE TOURING1415651339
520D SE01782417689
520D MODERN AUTO2170165
520D MODERN02929
520D M TOURING A10148132
520D M TOURING8176161
520D M SPORT TOURING AUTO11898797
520D M SPORT TOURING A13138119
520D M SPORT TOURING141010866
520D M SPORT GRAN TURISMO AUTO5549519
520D M SPORT BUSINESS EDN17938772
520D M SPORT BUS EDIT A1317231484
520D M SPORT AUTO03496334963
520D M SPORT A20797633
520D M SPORT071847184
520D LUXURY AUTO035553555
520D LUXURY0815815
520D EFFICIENTDYNAMICS1044503986
520D AUTO231713
520D AC AUTO011
520D AC066
520D68983
520 SE AUTO794451901
520 SE8265921172
520 I TOURING A9119717
520 I TOURING9546523
520 I SPORT TOURING AUTO286949
520 I SPORT TOURING262619
520 I SPORT EDITION379358
520 I SPORT AUTO4011066
520 I SPORT467540
520 I LUX AUTO9788718
520 I LUX97193340
520 I AUTO98383771
520 I9815637236
520 AUTO984586
5209249638
518I98344437
518D SE AUTO013231323
518D SE0704704
518D MODERN AUTO044
518D MODERN2054
518D M SPORT AUTO0229229
518D M SPORT05858
518D LUXURY AUTO09494
518D LUXURY04949
518 I TOURING931238
518 I SE TOURING9245736
518 I SE AUTO92564
518 I SE965668192
518 I LUX98159229
518 I AUTO94181
518 I98504195
518 AUTO92131
51898119514
5 ACTIVEHYBRID SE AUTO131513
5 ACTIVEHYBRID MODERN AUTO011
5 ACTIVEHYBRID M SPORT AUTO0112112
5 ACTIVEHYBRID LUXURY AUTO077
5 ACTIVEHYBRID AUTO167159