A Guide To Buying 2004-2010 BMW 5-Series E60/E61

Remember when the BMW slogan was the Ultimate Driving Machine? While these days they’re more concerned about how big they can make the grilles on the front of their cars, BMWs were once well known for providing everything you’d want in a premium automobile, while being a proper driver’s car with an excellent chassis and powertrain at the same time. Lots of people argue that the one BMW model that combines the best of all these worlds is the 5 Series.

The 5 Series is the spiritual successor of the BMW New Class sedan of the ’60s and ’70s, which in itself was the car that put BMW on the map. The E60 generation debuted in 2004, and while it was quite controversial back then, it’s turning into quite the bargain.

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BMW 5 Series (E60/E61)

8.50

/ 10

Key Features

• Fantastic BMW powertrains
• Advanced tech
• Lots of choice

Specifications

• Model: 5 Series
• Engine/Motor: Various
• Horsepower: 231-362 hp
• Torque: 199-361 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: RWD/AWD
• Transmission: 6-speed manual/6-speed automatic

Pros

• A proper driver’s car
• Practical and daily drivable
• The design has aged somewhat well

Cons

• Reliability concerns
• Tech is outdated by modern standards
• Styling still not for everyone

Overview Of The E60 5 Series

BMW

The E60 and E61 5 Series arrived in October 2003 in the US and Canada markets for the 2004 model year. It’s the fifth-generation of BMW’s mid-size luxury sports sedan, and it was the first one under the direction of BMW design director Chris Bangle, a man with tons of great automotive designs throughout his career. The Bangle era BMWs used to get a lot of flack, due to how radically different they were than other, previous efforts from BMW. A lot of the criticism towards the 5 Series regarded its headlight design, and its rear end, which is also called the Bangle rear end, due to how many of BMW’s products used the same design at the time.

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However, with all of BMW’s recent designs, the 5 Series looks subtle in comparison, and we’d argue that it’s aged quite well. The front-end was a little different depending on which trim level you went for, and it also featured BMW’s iconic Corona rings in the headlights. The E60 5 Series was available as a four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon, and it came in a variety of trim levels. It competed with the Mercedes E-Class, the Audi A6, the latest generation of which has some fantastic features, the Lexus ES and GS, and the (still) underrated Jaguar XF.

E60 5 Series Powertrains And Drivetrains

BMW

The E60 BMW 5 Series hails from a different time, a time when automakers offered models with a huge variety of internal combustion engines. In North America, the range kicked off with the 528i, which misleadingly used a 3.0-liter I6 making 231 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. Next up was the 530i which used three slightly different 3.0-liter I6 engines, depending on the model year, developing anywhere from 228 to 268 hp. The 535i meant a turbocharged I6, the legendary N54, developing 302 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. If you want to modify your 5 Series, this is the engine you want.

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From the 540i onwards, it’s all V8 powertrains. The 540i itself uses a 4.0-liter V8 with 302 hp and 288 lb-ft of torque, the 545i has a 4.4-liter V8 with 329 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, and finally, the full fat (at least before the M5) 550i makes 362 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque. BMW offered xDrive AWD on the E60 5 Series, as well as a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic and a six-speed SMG semi-automatic transmission. When it came to handling and driver involvement, the 5 Series was in a class of its own back in the day, and it still is.

E60 5 Series Comfort And Quality

BMW

On the inside, it’s surprising to see how little things have changed since this BMW first introduced this interior design. It’s all very simple and easily-recognizable. The E60 5 Series was among the first BMWs to include the iDrive infotainment system, and while not everyone was particularly enthusiastic about this system, it was pretty advanced for its time. BMW also debuted a bunch of exciting stuff, a lot of it being a first-time for a 5 Series. This included adaptive cruise control, active anti-roll bars, night vision, brake force display, and active steering.

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In terms of reliability, this is a BMW from the 2000s, so there are definitely things to look out for. If you want to avoid maintenance headaches at all costs, steer clear of the V8s and stick with the naturally aspirated six-cylinder models, i.e the 528i and the 530i. The 535i is generally alright, but there are some issues with the turbochargers, high pressure fuel pumps and so on. Most owners advise a later E60 model, especially considering the early iDrive system, as well as being clumsy, is prone to bugs and glitches. The E60 5 Series seats five passengers in both body styles. The trunk on the sedan boasts 18.4 cubic-feet of space, and the wagon has (somehow) 17.7 cubic-feet of cargo space.

E60 5 Series Prices

BMW

The E60 5 Series is still a pretty good used car bargain. Classic.com estimates the average value of an E60 5 Series is anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000. We’d advise spending more if you can, as the more expensive examples have less miles and proper maintenance. It might be a victim of typical BMW reliability and maintenance concerns, but the E60 5 Series is one of the best sports sedans of its day, and with how low prices have gotten, it’s worth considering as your next used buy.