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Before you buy a used BMW Serie 5 (G30/G31).

2017–2023 · Petrol / Diesel / Plug-in hybrid · 6 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

BMW Serie 5 (G30/G31), real photo of this generation
Tokumeigakarinoaoshima · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 6 of its engines.

  • ZF 8HP oil level, leaks and harsh shiftsAutomatic gearbox
    Period mentioned
    2009–2026
    Mileage mentioned
    The sheet does not mention a mileage.

    Applies if: Only if fitted with the automatic gearbox described in the record.

520i / 530i (B48) · 520d (B47) · 530d / 540d (B57)

520i / 530i (B48) (Petrol) · 520d (B47) (Diesel) · 530d / 540d (B57) (Diesel)

530e

Plug-in hybrid

M550i (N63, 4.4 V8) · M5 (F90, S63, 4.4 V8)

Petrol

  • N63 / S63 oil consumption and chainEngine (lubrication / timing)
    Period mentioned
    2008–2026 (most cases on 2008–2013 N63)
    Mileage mentioned
    The sheet does not mention a mileage.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the BMW Serie 5 (G30/G31)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
520i / 530i (B48)Petrol21 with conditions2
520d (B47)Diesel21 with conditions2
530d / 540d (B57)Diesel21 with conditions2
530ePlug-in hybrid21 with conditions2
M550i (N63, 4.4 V8)Petrol21 with conditions2
M5 (F90, S63, 4.4 V8)Petrol21 with conditions2

According to the data we have, all its engines have the same number of documented faults.

By fuel type, the ones with the fewest documented faults are: Diesel, Plug-in hybrid.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official BMW dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
RSW22 starter motor that fails to crank or short-circuits (BMW 2020–2026)Electrical and electronic systems

How to check it: Ask a BMW garage to check with the VIN whether any of those campaigns is outstanding, especially if the car has already failed to start.

View full entry
Water in the starter motor: no start or the starter stays engaged (BMW 3, 5 and 7 Series)Electrical and electronic systems

How to check it: Ask a BMW garage to check with the VIN whether either campaign is outstanding; if the starter keeps turning or you smell burning, switch off and do not leave the car next to buildings.

View full entry

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 4 checked

Cooling / EGR

  • Look out for: Coolant loss with a low-level warning, coolant or oil residue at the rear of the engine; on diesels, internal coolant loss with no visible leak (EGR cooler).

    Ask them to check: Check the coolant level, look for leaks under the water pump and at the oil filter housing, and on diesels confirm by VIN whether the EGR cooler campaign was done.

High-voltage battery

  • Look out for: Usually none before failure. In rare cases, a battery short-circuit with a fire risk, especially while charging.

    Ask them to check: Confirm by VIN with BMW that the battery recall has been done; if not, do not charge the car until it is checked.

Engine (lubrication / timing)

  • Look out for: High oil consumption, blue or white smoke on start-up, misfires, chain rattle and a battery that drains.

    Ask them to check: Oil consumption test, confirm by VIN that the Customer Care Package was done and listen for the chain on a cold start.

Automatic gearbox

  • Look out for: Harsh shifts (especially engaging D and 1st to 2nd), slipping or jerking; oil leaks from the pan, the mechatronic connector sleeve or the seals.

    Ask them to check: Check the oil level with the official procedure (correct temperature and engine running), look for leaks at the pan, connector sleeve and seals, inspect the pan for impact damage and review adaptation values with ISTA.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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