BMW’s 5 Series epitomizes the description of the mid sized sports sedan and is every bit of their marketing slogan “the ultimate driving machine”. If you were to picture the definition of sports sedan in the dictionary could be it.
BMW is a luxury performance brand and it lives up to luxury expectations as the interior is rather nice and the standard offerings match expectations. Some of the features listed are certainly options but people buying this particular model weren’t likely skimping on options as this car had an MSRP of about $60,000.00 nicely equipped when it was new. Leather, wood, aluminum, navigation, climate controls, heated front and rear seats, ambient lighting, driver memory functions, HD radio, Blue Tooth, and hands free features are some of the many interior luxuries available for your driving pleasure. Xenon headlights, which are those bright, near blinding lights that appear to be white light at night are one of the many standards you’ll notice and there are many more exterior luxuries. Larger nineteen-inch wheels and visual enhancement packages courtesy of their performance “M” Division add to the sporting character of this car. If you are a driving enthusiast you must drive this car to have a greater appreciation for the package. I think the saying goes something like the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
MSRP New: $62,000.00
PMPR (Poor Man Price Range) $19,000-$31,000
Current Max Savings Against MSRP New: 69%
Current Body Style: No this body style debuted as a 2011 and went through the 2016 model year.
National Inventory: 35
For: This car is not lacking in performance and delivers it in spades as it has an eight-cylinder engine delivering 443 hp. This kind of horsepower only a few years ago would be associated with sports cars having names like Porsche and Ferrari. I think that reference opens and closes the door on the performance component aspect of this sedan. This will age well due to its handsome lines and subtle elegance therefore keeping it appealing for years to come.
Against: These cars are very common and while the 550 is only one level under the vaunted M5 there is little differentiation between it and the entry level 528. In other words most people will think it’s just another 5 Series. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. These cars were mostly used as daily drivers so you will have to be patient if you want to find one with less than average miles and many of the lower priced ones will have mileage approaching 100,000 miles on the odometer
Single Poor Man POV: If you must do a sedan this is an excellent car that will out perform many sports cars and coupes. It won’t enhance your single guy image but it’s got a two-door brother called the 6 Series if you want something sportier with the same DNA.
Married Poor Man POV: Four doors, automatic transmission, fits a child car seat, large number of vehicles with affordable pricing and even all wheel drive as an option make it an easy sell to the Mrs. and she could also drive it if that means she will sign off on the purchase.
Divorced Poor Man POV: One of the most affordable performance sedans when bought pre-owned. It should allow you to meet your financial commitments and if you have kids the back seat is accommodating. Your bank account will be pleased with the added value of near sports car like performance.
Curb Appeal: 8 out of 10…if you get the sport or M package…add a point if you get some tasteful aftermarket wheels and subtract a point if they are not.
Bottom Line: Great car the money and there are plenty littered across dealer lots that should allow you to find great deals. These cars are fairly reliable and capable of delivering odometer readings well over 100,000 miles. Sports car performance and luxury cache for the same price of a new base model Camry! What’s not to like? Consider going down a model to the 535 as they were produced in greater numbers and might be easier to find while still delivering good performance.
BMW 5 Series Online Forum:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=141
BMW Certified Pre-Owned Program Details:
Covers you for 2 years/50,000 miles whichever comes first, after the expiration of the 4-year/50,000-mile New Vehicle/SAV Limited Warranty for a total of 6 years/100,000 miles.
Includes up to 6 years of 24/7 Roadside Assistance and BMW Assist™ Emergency Call, which includes automatic collision notification, and TeleService.
BMW Certified Pre-Owned Elite: These are newer model year, lower mileage (more than 300 miles but less than 15,001 miles) vehicles. This warranty covers you for 1 year/25,000 miles* after the expiration of the 4-year/50,000-mile New Vehicle/SAV Limited Warranty or for a total of 5 years/75,000 miles.* This includes up to 5 years of 24/7 Roadside Assistance and BMW Assist™ Emergency Call, which includes automatic collision notification, and TeleService.
Did You Know?
This BMW 5 Series started with model year 2011 and ran through 2016 that amounts to six model years.
The 2012 is the sixth-generation of the 5 Series and known to the BMW geeks as the F10.
The 550 Sedan was available in both rear wheel drive and all wheel drive versions. The all wheel drive versions are identified with BMW language called xDrive.
Other Poor Man Options In Same Price Range:
Audi: 2012 A6 3.0 Premium Sedan
Audi: 2012 A5 2.0 Convertible
BMW: 2013 535i Sedan
Poor Man Options Slightly Outside Price Range:
Chevrolet: 2012 Corvette Coupe