BMW 5 Series Faults
Common problems, known issues, and reliability guide.
Pre-Purchase Buyer's Guide
Expert VerdictThe BMW 5 Series is a hugely popular choice on the UK used market. While it has some well-documented common faults, regular servicing and preventative maintenance mitigate the worst of the issues. Its repairability score of 56/100 reflects the general availability of parts and ease of access for independent mechanics.
What to Look For
- Full service history (crucial for timing chains/belts)
- Smooth gear changes on automatic variants
- Evidence of water ingress in the boot or footwells
- Dashboard warning lights on cold startup
What to Avoid
- Ex-rental or heavily abused examples
- Cars with 'lifetime' gearbox oil that has never been changed
- Specific early-year diesel engines without DPF/EGR history
Variants
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Top Faults Across All 5 Series Variants
N47 Rear Timing Chain Failure
CriticalThe E60 5 Series with the N47 diesel engine carries the same catastrophic rear-mounted timing chain risk as the E90 3 Series. Engine removal is required for repair — making this one of the most expensive known faults in the BMW range.
Swirl Flap Failure and Engine Ingestion
CriticalThe N47 in the E60 5 Series shares the swirl flap failure risk of all N47-engined BMWs. The flap breaks off the corroded actuator rod and is ingested into the engine.
EGR Failure and Coolant Loss
ModerateEGR cooler failure on the E60 520d N47 causes internal coolant leaks into the intake manifold. Combined with EGR valve carbonising, both components typically need replacing together.
Turbocharger Failure
SevereTurbo failure on the E60 520d N47 is common from 100,000 miles. The 5 Series tends to be driven harder than the 3 Series, increasing turbo stress.
Cooling System Thermostat Housing Failure
ModerateThe plastic thermostat housing on the N47 is notorious for cracking and causing coolant loss. BMW used plastic for this component in a bid to save weight — it fails prematurely.