2005 BMW 5 Series Review and Specs

Summary

What Edmunds.com says

Controversial styling and BMW's continued use of the confounding iDrive system are the only blemishes on this otherwise outstanding luxury sport sedan.

Pros

One of the most satisfying midsize sport sedans you can buy, ultrarefined engines, multiple transmissions, tastefully appointed cabin, exceptional build quality, strong resale value.

Cons

Styling may not appeal to 5 Series loyalists, iDrive system still more hassle than it's worth, costs more than most competitors.

What's New for 2005

For 2005, the interior of all models receives more extensive wood trim on the center console, and adjustable front lumbar support is now standard on the 530i and 545i. Poplar wood trim is now included on the 525i and 530i. Anthracite Maple wood trim is a no-cost option. The 525i receives 17-inch Star Spoke cast-alloy wheels, and park distance control is now standard on the 545i. Active Steering is now offered as a stand-alone option on all models. The 545i now comes standard with the six-speed manual transmission, with the six-speed steptronic automatic available as a no-cost option. BMW's innovative SMG sequential manual gearbox is available on the 530i and 545i.

Consumer Ratings & Reviews

Great car... very fun to drive.

Written by: Balsar on 07/13/2009

Detailed Ratings

Overall Rating


Performance:	10	Fun-to-Drive:	10	Build Quality:	8
Comfort:	8	Interior Design:	7	Reliability:	8
Fuel Economy:	9	Exterior Design:	8

Vehicle

2005 BMW 5 Series 545i 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl 6M)

Review

I purchased this vehicle with 9,500 miles on the Odometer. It has been an incredible car. Fast, reliable, comfortable and economical. I drive very aggressive yet still average 23mpg overall in LA's bumper to bumper traffic...amazing mileage! We also own a 06 330xi...also a great car - a lot more nimble than the 5 series when driving twisty roads...but the 545I can easily keep just using the extra power.

Favorite Features

Six speed sport transmission...active steering...it's truly a drivers car.

Suggested Improvements

Take the run flat tires and throw them in the trash. Once the car is equipped with regular radials...(it has a spare) it is a new car. Inside noise was reduced by almost 10 decibel pts. from 74 to 63 at 80mph by replace the Bridgestone Potenza RFT. Oh and now my Idrive works using voice command.

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I Love Going Fast

Written by: Slicrazy06 on 03/26/2009


Performance:	9	Fun-to-Drive:	10	Build Quality:	10
Comfort:	8	Interior Design:	8	Reliability:	9
Fuel Economy:	8	Exterior Design:	8

The 2005 BMW styling is great. All avid 5 series owners fall in love with it sooner or later. My favorite aspect of the car is its reliability, I've had to fix nothing! Pretty fast with the V8, does 0-60 in 5.5 sec and is wonderfully smooth through the transitions. Great fuel economy for a V8 at 18 city and 26 hwy The sports suspension with active steering does wonders and the interior is really well done. BMW continues to be a leader in the auto industry.

Engine, suspension, and overall handling

iDrive is a little irritating, but that was fixed after 2005 models.

Growing on me

Written by: Mac M on 01/02/2009


Performance:	10	Fun-to-Drive:	8	Build Quality:	8
Comfort:	8	Interior Design:	7	Reliability:	10
Fuel Economy:	10	Exterior Design:	9

The dominant item of this car is the V-8 engine. It is nothing but superlatives: extremely powerful, very fuel efficient, wonderful sounding, impossible to operate smoothly in stop and go traffic, incredibly complicated (I hope valvetronic is reliable). The car itself is very modern. Most of it is made of aluminum. The interior (standard seats) is comfortable, though storage space is limited. Brakes, transmission, electronics such as Logic 7 radio and nav are first rate. The latter, of course, is already outdated by today's hard drive systems, but the basic car still remains leading edge. I cannot overemphasize how good the engine is. Don't even consider the 6 cylinder.

The engine. It even burns regular gas with no complaint! The numerous details of the Bangle styling. It grows on you. Now everyone else is copying it.

The sunroof is very noisy when closed if maladjusted off center by as little as a credit card thickness. Needs better seals, I guess. The transmission/engine software needs to be tweaked to allow smoother operation during the 10 feet before a stop/after a start. Very, very jerky now.

545i; a great performer

Written by: Joe on 12/10/2008


Performance:	8	Fun-to-Drive:	9	Build Quality:	10
Comfort:	9	Interior Design:	8	Reliability:	9
Fuel Economy:	8	Exterior Design:	8

I recently purchased a pre-owned 545i, with about 55k on the clock. The car is tight, without creaks and rattles, and the interior still looks largely new. My previous vehicle was an 06 Lotus Elise, and even so, I would say this car drives impeccably. Everything from the engine, to the weight distribution, to the suspension (sport package) to the transmission (6sp MT) is perfect. My only complaint with the whole car is the iDrive system; it's too cumbersome. Simple tasks like changing the radio station or ventilation settings should be easy to do with individual knobs without resorting to a series of menus.

Performance and style. Excellent ergonomics.

More knobs, less iDrive.

Sheer Driving Pleasure All Right!

Written by: Dinan S1 Tuned 545!! on 07/18/2008


Performance:	10	Fun-to-Drive:	10	Build Quality:	9
Comfort:	10	Interior Design:	9	Reliability:	8
Fuel Economy:	7	Exterior Design:	10

We thoroughly enjoy our fully loaded BMW 545 sports sedan. We have driven ALL the competitors, including many bona fide sports cars, but none is better overall than this ride. From the awesome power, razor sharp handling, luxury appointments, everything is very refined and simply world class. And because we also have a Dinan-S1 tuned 545er, the premier BMW tuner in North America, our car is a truly one-of-a- kind special ride. The Dinan suite of high performance upgrades, which includes such goodies as advanced engine management software, high flow air intake systems, free flow exhaust, suspension systems, ultra lightweight wheelsets and huge Brembo brakes, has made our ride TRULY sublime.

Sadly, better and stronger cup holders, almost universally complained about it seems. ventilated seats would be a nice add-on feature also, particularly on those hot, muggy and humid days!

2005 BMW 5 Series Consumer Ratings & Reviews