Carsieve BMW 5er-Reihe E60/E61 520i, 170 PS, 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive (2003–2005)
- Power
- 170 PS (125 kW)
- Engine codes
- M54B22
- Gearbox
- 6-speed manual
- Production years
- 2003–2005
- Running cost per month
- €572
- Fuel
- Petrol (98)
- Median price
- €3,599
- Reliability
- 2/5
- DIY
- 2/5
Research for this car
- Generation guide BMW 5 Series E60/E61 (2003-2010): known problems and buying guide
A family car with sound petrol sixes; check the diesel swirl flaps, Touring air springs and water ingress before you buy.
Known issues for this car
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touring air suspension fails | Touring (E61) with rear air suspension | Not stated | Parts only: rear air bellows about 79-84 EUR; compressor about 388 EUR (German parts shops, year not stated) | Generation guide |
| Dynamic Drive and Active Steering faults | Cars with Dynamic Drive or Active Steering | Not stated | Dynamic Drive from 1,300 EUR; Active Steering control unit just under 1,000 EUR (Germany, year not stated) | Generation guide |
| Rust at aluminium joints and wheel arches | All cars, worst in road-salt regions | Not stated | No confirmed price | Generation guide |
| Water in the boot and footwell | All cars, most often with a sunroof | Any age, when drains block | No confirmed price | Generation guide |
Before you buy this car
From the generation guide
- Touring: check the rear air suspension. Ask for records of the air bags and compressor. Bad result: no records of the bags or compressor on a high-mileage car.
- Dynamic Drive and Active Steering: look under the car for hydraulic oil at the stabilisers and the steering rack. Test the steering on a straight road. Bad result: oil, a warning light, or a wheel that sits off centre. Recalibration is a workshop job.
- Body: check the sills, spare-wheel well, rear wheel-arch flanges, boot lid seams and the front where aluminium meets steel. Use a paint thickness gauge. Bad result: filler under the paint, or rust through a sill.
- Water: lift the boot carpet and footwell carpet. Clear the sunroof and scuttle drains. Bad result: damp, water marks or corrosion near the battery and control units.
- Front end: lift the car and check the front arms, ball joints, bushings and steering joints for play. Bad result: knocks over bumps or in the steering.
- Petrol sixes and V8: look for blue smoke after idling and oil stains under the engine. Ask how often oil was topped up. Bad result: smoke or frequent top-ups.
Running costs
| Operational | €285 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €144 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €143 |
| Total per month | €572 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €38 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de in this generation with this fuel, gearbox and power.
- Listings
- 102
- 25th percentile
- €2,800
- Median price
- €3,599
- 75th percentile
- €4,990
- Median mileage
- 245,000 km
- Median first registration
- 2004
- Dealer share
- 11.8%
Check a listing
Prices by first registration
| First registration | Listings | Median price | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 | – | – |
| 2005 | 21 | €3,000 | 240,000 km |
| 2004 | 58 | €3,700 | 246,766 km |
| 2003 | 22 | €3,999 | 243,560 km |
Medians only for years with at least 5 listings. Many cars are first registered after production ends, so years can run past the build years.
Price history
| Month | Listings | Median price | Middle half | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | 102 | €3,599 | €2,800 – €4,990 | 245,000 km |
| Oct 2026 | 102 | €3,599 | €2,800 – €4,990 | 245,000 km |
Median asking price at the last snapshot of each month.
ADAC versions
All 1 ADAC versions
| Version | Power | Production years | Running cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 520i | 170 PS | 2003–2005 | €572 |