Carsieve All versions
Show all 13 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 | €192 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €189 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €220 |
| Total per month | €601 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €100 |
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
- 2,730
- 25th percentile
- €10,950
- Median price
- €13,880
- 75th percentile
- €16,970
- Median mileage
- 199,600 km
- Median first registration
- 2015
- Dealer share
- 38%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €19,266
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.