Used 2012 BMW 5 Series Consumer Reviews
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Run Flat Tires will Fail
ptfive, 03/11/2014
2012 BMW 5 Series 550i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)
14 of 16 people found this review helpful
2012 BMW 550, low miles but already 5 run flat tires have failed on me. Sidewalls splitting - effectively destroying tire. The left front tire has been replaced THREE times. Unfortunately BMW does not stock these tires, so when it falls apart your car will be in shop 5-7 days while they order new tire. Motorwerks in Minneapolis does not have any loaner cars when this happens, so consider your BMW a $70,000 bus pass. YOU WILL BE TAKING THE BUS A LOT. Not a fan of run flats - what are you supposed to do when the sidewall splits and you are 1000 miles from home in the middle-of-nowhere? . Give me a spare BMW!!!
My Second
zct888, 05/18/2015
2012 BMW 5 Series 535i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
My first BMW was a 328i which I got new back in 2007. I really liked that car in many ways. This time around I was looking for something bigger and faster that could handle a mid west winter and the crappy roads that such winters leave behind. I looked at various choices and settled on a CPO 2012 535xi with sport package, tech, premium, cold weather, sound. Although I've only had it a short time, I've been hugely impressed thus far. There's a lot of power on tap, but at the same time it gets great MPG. The ride is also spectacular, absorbing all but the most obnoxious of road imperfections.
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My 3rd BMW in 6 years
luvinmybmw, 05/24/2012
2012 BMW 5 Series 528i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
15 of 18 people found this review helpful
I had a 2007 BMW 530i, a 2009 BMW 328i and now a 2012 BMW 528i. My favorite was the 2007. My second favorite is the 2012 528i. The 3 Series, which was a 2 door coupe, was nice, but way too small. I'm not a big guy...not over weight and i'm only 5-9. The 2007 was really sporty and in my opinion drove like it was a train on rails! The 328i drove the same, but again...too small. The 2012 528i is absolutely beautiful. It looks like a small 7 series. Only problem, is it just doesn't "feel" like a BMW to me. It is not the "ultimate driving machine" I'm used to. However, in sport mode, it feels much better and sportier, but it is bulky like a Lexus (which i have owned). Interior is nice.
528i X Drive at 135,000 Miles
bob in bethany, 02/24/2021
2012 BMW 5 Series 528i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Purchased used with 35,000 miles. The 2.0 Turbo is a big disappointment. Noisy and rough. Very annoying turbo lag. I learned to live with it. Turbo went out at 40,000, covered by extended warranty, but troubling since it would have been a $4,000 repair. Later issues included odd warning lights for active headlight option that came and went. Other issues were failed fuel pump at night on Rte. 95. That turned into an all night trip to the closest dealer 50 mi. away. $1,400 bill for that. Failed thermostat at 125K which is apparently a big deal - $700. My mechanic told me to watch for oil leaks and sure enough it has a small leak at rear seal and at head gasket. This is a very comfortable car to drive and the fit and finish is excellent. Mileage averaged 29 MPG in mixed driving. The X Drive worked flawlessly. I probably should have gotten the 6 cyl. engine, but the price was higher and the residual value would be just as bad. It's time for this one to go before it eats me alive. The value on this car is under $10K at this point and expensive repairs could easily exceed the value.
The car is impressive, but the technology is not
PG from NJ, 12/12/2018
updated 12/17/2020
2012 BMW 5 Series 535i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
What you should know is this car is economical to drive - but a bear on the wallet to maintain. It's good on gas, but the oil changes and regular maint. are a killer. The car itself is a pleasure to drive - love the feel and the handling. The pick up is terrific - and the power is there when you need it - and it is a powerful car. the 535 x-drive is also quiet and responsive. All that said, there are some improvements which I hope have been made since 2012. The voice recognition is probably the worst I've ever used. Even my cell phone is better at recognizing simple commands. The most challenging thing is the visibility. My old BMW had excellent vision around all sides. That's important because I'm only 5'3" - and, unlike my old BMW, seeing over the front of the car - and front sides in this 2012 BMW is an issue for me. Also, the view from the rear window is partially blocked by, what I can only determine, is a non-functional decorative feature on the rear interior of the car. It doesn't help that the mirrors are so small that I am never really certain I'm seeing all there is to see -- thus I need to turn my head to ensure I'm clear to pass or change lanes. Now, about the technology....specifically, the Bluetooth. My old droid had no problem with Bluetooth connectivity but when i upgraded to a Galaxy S9, all that ended. Suddenly, I no longer have the ability to stream music via Pandora through the car's audio system --- but worse than that, I can no longer make or receive a hands-free phone call. In spite of their claims, BMW has not upgraded their bluetooth software to allow their older model cars to accommodate newer phones, including S9 and higher, and Apple 10 models. This lack of a simple software modification presents many owners with significant challenges while driving. The most vexing thing is BMW engineers are well aware of the problem, yet they have not offered a solution. I would urge any reader with a similar problem to contact BMW directly to register your complaint. Perhaps if enough of us complain, they might just DO something to fix this safety issue. UPDATE: 12/2020 - still no fix on the phone - though I have tried suggestions on the BMW forum - but nothing has worked. My Husband's new i- phone pairs very well. My Samsung Galaxy 9 is obviously the issue. SO, my take-away from this is - try your cell phone in the car before you buy it.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value