Should you buy a 10 year old F10 BMW 5 Series? Lets talk you through why you might, and might not, and review my friend’s 530D.
It’s an impressive, comfortable, and easy to drive. The one have here is an F10 530D, a 3.0 L Diesel. More than enough power for the road, at 245 hp and 540 nm of torque. It’s mated to an 8 speed torque converter transmission, a ZF-8HP no less, and this one is rear wheel drive although you could have optioned it with X-Drive (BMW’s all wheel drive package), so you’ll find a few out there with it.
Inside it’s a comfy cruiser. The seats both front and back are supportive without being firm, yet still supple. You’ve got iDrive as standard, although optional larger display is available, and various tweaks if you have the M Sport pack. The rear seats have plenty of space, even in the saloon version it’s roomy enough for 6ft adults, plus there is a tonne of boot space which can be extended if you have the folding rear seats.
Driving a 530D feels effortless. It’s not an incredibly ‘fun’ car, it definitely has enough power, but the ride feels more wallow-y than sporty. The electric power steering, while still good enough to let you place the car easily, doesn’t have a great deal of feedback. It’s definitely a more insulated driving experience, as it should be. Economy is pretty great too, with 40-50MPG being pretty accessible.
Overall, if you are looking for a larger family car, executive saloon, or you just like the presence it has on the road, it could be for you. It’s not an overly sporty car, but it’s not meant to be. It’s closer to luxury, and it does it pretty well.
