Used 2006 BMW 5 Series Consumer Reviews
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Fantastic Vehicle
Don of Spring, 03/07/2010
2006 BMW 5 Series 530i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
This 2006 530i is my first BMW, which I purchases Used with 5K miles. The combination of performance, comfort and excellent fuel mileage (32-38 highway and over all after 32,000 miles city and highway is 28+) is great. Interior comfort could be better in the way of softer seats. Highway touring is smooth, quiet and comfortable. Overall, this is the nicest all around vehicle I've ever owned.
Older BMWs are not the best economic proposition
Doobster, 12/01/2017
updated 06/09/2022
2006 BMW 5 Series 530xi 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
15 of 18 people found this review helpful
So in my original review I went on and on about how buying this pristine, well maintained example of the best 5-series ever was the best car buying decision I ever made. The car IS fantastic and runs terrific, but it’s costing me a small fortune to keep it running that way. Read the last update below. UPDATE; 18 MONTHS LATER... I LOVE IT EVEN MORE. This remains the best car I’ve ever owned. I used to say that my 2004 (first gen) Cadillac CTS-V (aka; ‘four door Corvette’) was the most satisfying car I had ever owned but now this car has that crown too. Awesome!! UPDATE; 24 MONTHS LATER... I’ve put the car up for sale. I’ve owned it now for two years and it’s cost me $3,000 already in repairs and maintenance and it wants another $2,000 in preventive maintenance that doesn’t seem to prevent anything. I found an article online on the ‘YourMechanic’ website that absolutely nailed the typical BMW annual maintenance costs at $1,800 per year and escalating as they age. When I bought this ‘needle in a stack of needles’ two years ago I thought I had beaten the system; buying a like new $61k BMW for peanuts. I guess it depends on your expectations; I searched for a 530Xi specifically because it has none of the turbo and piezo injector and HPFP issues that plagued my 335 xi. I thought it would suck less money out of me. It turns out that there’s no such thing as a BMW that won’t suck you dry. $5,000 in three years for M&R is half what I paid for the car two years ago and sadly, only $1,500 less than what it’s currently worth. BMWs that are out of warranty should only be owned by very wealthy people, or DIY mechanics, neither of which I am. That same article also identified all three Toyota brands as the most trouble-free, reliable and least expensive brands to own. So I bought a Lexus ‘needle’ instead. As much as I enjoy driving a well-sorted older BMW, I will never own another one again. As far as used vehicles are concerned, they are way more expensive trouble than they are worth. The 2013 Lexus ES300 hybrid handles as well, rides better, gets 40 mpg, and will need next to nothing to maintain. Sayonara BMW, hello Lexus! 36 MONTHS LATER Wanting to get back into an AWD vehicle I sold the Lexus ES300h hybrid ‘needle’ I found and replaced it with a 2017 Infiniti QX50 compact SUV. BIG SURPRISE!!! This little rig handles and carves corners as well as my 2008 BMW 335xi but rides as well as this 2005 BMW 530xi!! It’s the best possible blend of both. Plus it has an 18 cu ft ‘trunk’ that expands to 50 cu ft with the seats down, way more advanced tech (I found a ‘fully loaded’ model) and it GOES LIKE A ROCKET having 325 HP! Like all SUVs it is easier to get in and out of and has a better seating position. The model was redesigned in 2016 to add more length and inches for back-seat passengers so four people over 6 ft can ride comfortably. Mediocre mpg (18/27) is its only demerit. Of ALL the cars I’ve ever driven, this little jewel combines the absolute best amalgamation of all of their best features and capabilities. And since it also has their advanced tech package (LDW, LDA, BLIS, FCA, FCA, Adaptive Cruise, NAV, BOSE audio) I am wanting for nothing that the newer cars offer. This car will likely be the ‘keeper’ that fits my newly retired status perfectly!! The most important take-away for readers of this review is that it’s possible to buy a far more reliable, and less costly-to-maintain, vehicle that can compare VERY WELL to the BMWs’ vaunted chassis dynamics and performance but without the ownership headaches. It may not have the blue-and-white roundel on the hood, but then again, the Infiniti brand is no slouch either. Lastly, for anyone so intrigued by this particular alternative, know that Infiniti completely changed this model in 2019. The car I now own ended production in the 2017 model year as a RWD chassis platform; the 2019 is now a FWD chassis architecture. For those drivers who can appreciate the superiority of the RWD chassis dynamics you will definitely want the previous model, not the newer one. Furthermore, you’ll want a 2016 or 2017 to get the extra seating room the stretched wheelbase provides. Don’t get me wrong, the 2019s and newer QX50s are excellent vehicles; my wife has one!! They’re even bigger, roomier and have more cargo capacity, and also feature Infiniti’s new VARIABLE COMPRESSION engine which truly is an engineering marvel. We saw 31 highway mpg on a recent trip!! But it’s not the driver’s car the older model is. If driving enjoyment is your preference, hunt down the previous generation car. I think you’ll be amazed at how good these cars are!!! UPDATE JUNE 9, 2022 I’m sticking by my review and decision to never again own a used, out-of-warranty BMW. Our two current cars (2017 and 2019 Infiniti QX50s) prove that you can drive remarkable, satisfying vehicles that won’t bankrupt you maintaining and repairing them like used BMWs will. This is especially true for the newer (post 2011) BMW models which have been ‘dumbed-down’ to levels of dynamic performance now matched by Buicks. Almost every manufacturer has caught up to BMW who should stop using their ‘ultimate driving machine’ slogan. There’s no longer a reason to put up with a used BMW’s cost-of-ownership!
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- Reliability
- Value
2006 BMW 5 Series for sale near you
Showing 3 of 43 listings
- 530xi SedanMSRP: $6,50041 mi away
- 525xi SedanMSRP: $5,99564 mi away
- 530xi WagonMSRP: $12,000123 mi away
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Happy with 530xi wagon
Ross, 12/26/2006
2006 BMW 5 Series 530xi 4dr Wagon AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Great driving car, and very handsome. Gives a lot of confidence when driving in bad weather.
Love the wagon
JimP, 08/01/2005
2006 BMW 5 Series 530xi 4dr Wagon AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
just traded in my 2001 X5 for the new wagon - awesome car (just have to get used to sitting so low) - I agree that having that wagon is a big advantage over the sedan (given that I have two dogs). Was initially concerned about trading down to a V6 from a V8 but so far seems to have more than enough power
Nice Luxury Car (:
carguru12, 02/20/2013
2006 BMW 5 Series 525xi 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
We purchased our 525xi secondhand at a BMW dealership and it was certified used. The interior comfort is great, and road noise is minimal. The only thing I don't like about our 5 Series is the iDrive system. It can't be avoided (option up a standard radio like in the 3 Series), and it has radio presets, but there are no preset buttons (you have to use iDrive to get to them). The car also has an annoying "grab" in the transmission, a software issue. The performance is great. I love this car.