Upcoming redesign notwithstanding, the 5 Series is an excellent midsize luxury car, whether you choose the high-performance 540i or a comparatively basic 525i wagon. If you can afford one, we'd highly recommend it.

2003 Highlights

This is your last chance to get a traditionally styled 5 Series -- next year, its styling becomes more closely aligned with the controversial 7 Series. For now, BMW will offer a DVD-based navigation system for the existing 5 Series -- but alas, you must still give up an in-dash CD player if you opt for the nav system. Besides that, rear head protection airbags (optional last year) are now standard across the line. Additionally, all six-cylinder models get a standard moonroof. Standard on the manual-shift 540i (and optional with the automatic) is a new sport package that includes 18-inch wheels, a revised sport suspension, front and rear spoilers, visible exhaust outlets, black side molding, a black headliner, titanium-ringed gauges and an M footrest for the driver. Finally, the 525i gets a new alloy wheel design, and its premium package now includes rain-sensing wipers.

Top consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2003 BMW 5 Series.

225 reviews

They Don't Make Them Like This Anymore

DMan,08/20/2010

Purchased from a private party with 25K on the odometer. Currently have about 99.4K miles on it. This has been far the most reliable car we've ever owned - Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Mazda. When you do basic maintenance yourself, ownership costs are somewhat comparable to many other brands. Just have to keep an eye out on the cooling system, heard that this was/is the weakest part of the

Das Auto!!

T Embich,03/15/2016

Purchased our 2003 530i a little over a year ago. Got it for $5K and at 130K miles. I do most of my own repairs and I've never seen such awesome engineering on a car. It's a pleasure to work on if you are into car repair. Driving it is a real thrill that never gets old. We've taken it on several long trips and it just loves the open road. Seats are amazingly comfortable. Usually

168K and still going strong!

papatago,06/27/2014

This car is amazing! Bought it in '05 with 7K on it and now I have 168K and still solid, well built and reliable! If you can DIY some things, you can save a grip of $$$ and still have one of best cars built, period! Heavy car and going through tires is going to be an issue but nothing beats this car on the open road! I drive from northern CA to southern CA twice a month 700+ miles and

164K and still a true road car!

Corey Stark,03/04/2016

I just bought my 525i a couple of weeks ago. I have owned a couple in the past---328xi and an X5. Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical about buying a car with so many miles on it but I was really up against the wall. WIth 4 kids in college, my funds were limited. But I just loved the ride. I am 6'2" and 240lbs and an ex football player. Needless to say, I need my comfort. This car

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Features & Specs

MPG

18 city / 27 hwy

Seats 5

5-speed manual

Gas

225 hp @ 5900 rpm

MPG

18 city / 27 hwy

Seats 5

5-speed manual

Gas

184 hp @ 6000 rpm

MPG

16 city / 22 hwy

Seats 5

5-speed automatic

Gas

290 hp @ 5400 rpm

MPG

14 city / 21 hwy

Seats 5

6-speed manual

Gas

290 hp @ 5400 rpm

See all Used 2003 BMW 5 Series features & specs

Safety

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Side Impact Test
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good
IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Good

More about the 2003 BMW 5 Series

Used 2003 BMW 5 Series Overview

The Used 2003 BMW 5 Series is offered in the following submodels: 5 Series Sedan, 5 Series Wagon. Available styles include 530i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 5M), 525i 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 5M), 540i 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl 5A), 525i 4dr Sport Wagon (2.5L 6cyl 5M), 540i 4dr Sedan (4.4L 8cyl 6M), and 540i 4dr Sport Wagon (4.4L 8cyl 5A).

What's a good price on a Used 2003 BMW 5 Series?

Price comparisons for Used 2003 BMW 5 Series trim styles:

The Used 2003 BMW 5 Series 530i is priced between $6,995 and$6,995 with odometer readings between 85150 and85150 miles.
The Used 2003 BMW 5 Series 540i is priced between $4,999 and$4,999 with odometer readings between 127831 and127831 miles.

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Which used 2003 BMW 5 Serieses are available in my area?

Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2003 BMW 5 Series for sale near. There are currently 2 used and CPO 2003 5 Serieses listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $4,999 and mileage as low as 85150 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2003 BMW 5 Series.

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Find a used BMW 5 Series for sale - 11 great deals out of 16 listings starting at $11,586.

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Find a used certified pre-owned BMW for sale - 3 great deals out of 23 listings starting at $7,693.

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Should I lease or buy a 2003 BMW 5 Series?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

Used 2003 BMW 5 Series

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