Carsieve All versions
Show all 18 variants
At a glance
- Years: 2010 to 2017, saloon and Touring. The facelift came in 2013 with minor changes.
- Reliability: 3/5. The good diesels and a sound body help; rear air suspension, xDrive and front suspension pull it down.
- DIY: 2/5. Air bellows and door seals are doable at home; engines, the transfer case and the gearbox need a workshop.
- Biggest risks: rear air suspension leaks on F11, xDrive transfer case wear, worn front arms and high oil use on the V8.
- Prefer: a 520d or 530d with the B47 or N57 diesel and full service records. Avoid: the 550i V8 with oil use, and an F11 with rear air suspension that has no leak check.
Engines and gearboxes
- 2.0 N47 diesel (518d, 520d, 525d): timing chain and EGR (exhaust gas recirculation valve) faults. See the N47 2.0 diesel guide.
- 2.0 B47 diesel (2014 on): more reliable timing; intake and EGR fouling remain. Prefer this. See the B47 guide.
- 3.0 N57 diesel (525d, 530d, 535d): a durable choice if oil changes were on time. Con-rod bearings (the bearings that hold the piston rods) fail after late oil changes or short trips.
- 2.0 N20 petrol (520i, 528i): the oil pump drive wears and the timing chain stretches. Sostav.ru gives first signs after about 80,000-120,000 km. Gebrauchtwagenberater gives 1,800-2,800 EUR for a timing chain job (Germany, year not stated).
- 3.0 six-cylinder petrol (523i, 528i, 530i, 535i): the high-pressure fuel pump and injectors fail on the N53. The N55 (535i) leaks oil from its crankcase ventilation.
- V8 (550i): avoid. Worn valve stem seals cause high oil use, and the heat from the twin turbos damages wiring. Gebrauchtwagenberater gives 3,000-4,500 EUR for the seal repair (Germany, year not stated).
- 8-speed ZF automatic: shifting, valve body, clutch, torque converter and oil pan faults are in the ZF 8HP guide.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear air suspension leaks (F11) | F11 with rear air suspension | Not stated | 500-900 EUR for a pair of rear bellows (Germany, year not stated) |
| xDrive transfer case wear | xDrive (AWD) cars | 100,000-150,000 km | 1,500-2,500 EUR (Germany, year not stated) |
| Front suspension wear and knocks | All cars | 50,000-60,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Rear door water leaks and drain corrosion | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Parking brake drains the battery | Early cars | Not stated | Software update, no price stated |
Before you buy
- Drive the car at medium speed on a rough road and listen for judder. Check the transfer-case oil record and the tyres: four matching tyres. Bad result: judder, bearing noise or mixed tyre sizes. Gebrauchtwagenberater gives 1,500-2,500 EUR for a transfer-case repair (Germany).
- Ask whether the car sags overnight, then check the ride height at both rear corners. A scanner running BMW's workshop software (ISTA) reads sensor heights and compressor run time. Bad result: the rear drops after standing or the compressor runs a long time. Gebrauchtwagenberater gives 500-900 EUR for a pair of rear bellows (Germany).
- Lift the car and check the front lower arms, joints and shocks for play. Test the steering column for knocks. Bad result: play in the joints or knocking over bumps. The arms are the main cost; no price is confirmed.
- Open the rear doors and check the footwell and carpet for damp. Look at the door bottoms and drain holes. Bad result: a damp footwell or corrosion near the door drains. The sources give no fix and no price.
- Ask for proof of the parking-brake software update. A scanner reads the software version. Bad result: a flat starter battery after the car stands, and no update on record. The update itself is cheap.
Running costs
| Operational | €206 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €167 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €218 |
| Total per month | €591 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €104 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 2,590
- 25th percentile
- €7,750
- Median price
- €9,500
- 75th percentile
- €12,000
- Median mileage
- 235,600 km
- Median first registration
- 2011
- Dealer share
- 29.6%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €14,387
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
Rear air suspension leaks (F11)
Symptoms: the rear end sags after the car stands, often overnight. The compressor may run for a long time, or a warning shows on the dashboard.
Cause: leaking rear air bellows (the rubber air springs). A leak makes the compressor run on until it wears out. Other parts in the system are the compressor, the valve block, the level sensors and the air lines.
Which cars: F11 with rear air suspension. The air system is on the rear axle only.
Fix: Kfz-Dietrich says to replace the leaking bellows first, since a new compressor fails too while a leak remains. Diagnosis with ISTA reads sensor heights, compressor run time and the rate of pressure loss.
Cost: Gebrauchtwagenberater gives 500-900 EUR for a pair of rear bellows (Germany, year not stated).
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er F10/F11 problems, Kfz-Dietrich: BMW F10/F11 air suspension, CarWiki: BMW 5 Series problems, Bimmer Owners Club: F11 Tourer rear air suspension
xDrive transfer case wear
Symptoms: judder at medium rpm, bearing noise, and gear oil that needs frequent changes.
Cause: wear in the transfer case, the part that splits drive to the front axle. Mixed tyre sizes wear it fast. A difference in rolling circumference above 2 mm is the problem.
Which cars: xDrive (all-wheel drive). auto.ru says the electric actuator that engages drive often fails before 100,000 km.
Fix: auto.ru says the actuator can often be repaired rather than replaced as a whole module. Use four matching tyres and change the gear oil regularly.
Cost: Gebrauchtwagenberater gives 1,500-2,500 EUR for the transfer case (Germany, year not stated).
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er F10/F11 problems, CarWiki: BMW 5 Series problems, auto.ru: used F10 reliability and prices, Za Rulem: BMW 5 F10 2010-2017
Front suspension wear and knocks
Symptoms: knocks over bumps, play in the steering column, and worn front arms and joints.
Cause: rough roads and potholes wear the joints fast. Rear multilink and shock wear follow.
Which cars: all cars. The front lower arms are the first parts to need work.
Fix: replace the worn arms and joints. The arms are aluminium and cannot be repaired. The steering column joints also wear and knock.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: auto.ru: 7 problems of the F10, Kolesa.ru: buying a used F10, CarWiki: BMW 5 Series problems, Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er F10/F11 problems
Rear door water leaks and drain corrosion
Symptoms: a damp footwell and carpet. Water enters through the rear door trims.
Cause: the drains at the bottom of the rear doors block. Kolesa.ru adds that seals at the low point break down, the reinforcement beam corrodes, and recalls do not cover it.
Which cars: all cars. Kolesa.ru names the drain problem on sedans.
Fix: the sources give no fix and no price.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er F10/F11 problems, CarWiki: BMW 5 Series problems, Kolesa.ru: buying a used F10, auto.ru: 7 problems of the F10
Parking brake drains the battery
Symptoms: the starter battery goes flat after the car stands.
Cause: the parking-brake control unit draws power. Early cars had this fault.
Which cars: early cars; the build years are not stated.
Fix: a software update from the dealer fixes it.
Cost: software update, no price stated.
Sources: CarWiki: BMW 5 Series problems, Autoplenum: used-car check BMW 5 F10
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | Fault |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | not given | 2010-2011 | Six-cylinder camshaft timing defect that can damage the engine. |
| Not stated | not given | Built Dec 2010-Jun 2011 | Driveshaft joint disc can break and strand the car. |
| Not stated | not given | Built Jun 2012-Aug 2013 | N20 vacuum pump lubrication; the brake booster can fail. |
| Not stated | not given | Built Mar 2011-Nov 2016 | Four-cylinder diesel EGR module, fire risk. |
Check open campaigns for your VIN with a BMW dealer.
Maintenance
- Rear air suspension (F11): fix leaks before replacing the compressor. A compressor that runs on is a sign of a leak.
- xDrive: use four matching tyres and change the transfer-case oil regularly.
- Parking brake unit: check that the software update has been done.
- Front suspension: plan a check of the arms and joints from about 50,000 km.
Sources
English
German
- Gebrauchtwagenberater: BMW 5er F10/F11 problems
- Kfz-Dietrich: BMW F10/F11 air suspension
- CarWiki: BMW 5 Series problems
- Autoplenum: used-car check BMW 5 F10