Used 2016 BMW 5 Series Sedan Consumer Reviews

76 year old guy who still likes his BMW 540 IX.

I bought my first BMW in 2014, a 4 cyl diesel. My other two cars are a 2014 Prius Sedan and a 2014 Prius V. I have owned GM's, Fords, Cadillac's, Jeeps, but for some reason I like diesel engines better. The first BMW, I absolutely fell in love with that car. I got 40mpg in town and 45 to 46 mpg on the highway. The car was so good, I wanted bigger, and decided to buy the 2016 BMW 535 diesel with the 6 cylinder engine. BMW did not skimp on quality or luxury with this car. I have never had any maintenance problem with BMW's, I keep my cars properly serviced and inspection clean. I get better mileage then what BMW says on their sticker, because, just like a Prius, you have to learn HOW to properly drive one. Some pro drivers don't like the cut off feature when the vehicle is stopped, and restart, but it never bothered me. It's a fuel saver. BMW diesel engines make very little noise. They are a pleasure to drive, and the car remains tight and noise free. The technical features are numerous but only add to the enjoyment of the vehicle. Just take a test drive in either the gas or diesel and you will see what I'm talking about. Note: I wrote this review last year at age 72. My opinion remains the same. Only the millage has changed. UPDATE April 29, 2017: My review of this car remains unchanged. In fact, I usually trade cars about every three years, but am considering just keeping this one. I keep the car garaged, had opti guard put on it when new, use a leather conditioner that is used on Rolls Royce cars, and keep the car in show room condition. The ride is still great and long drives are relaxing, comfortable and the six cylinder is plenty of power. Plus as I keep saying, a diesel engine will perform under the worst conditions and abuse. My dealership has an outstanding service department that checks on me now and then to see if everything ok or if I need any service. My other BMW is a 2016, 228i coupe 4 cyl turbo that is another great car. UPDATE November 1, 2017: Mr review of this car remains unchanged. I did have the wiper blades changed out, but the performance and ride have been 5 star. I did trade my 2016 228i coupe for a 2017 M240, but for trips out of town, the BMW diesel remains my most favorite car of all. UPDATE: November 2,1018. I did trade m BMW for a 2018 , BMW 540iX drive. I wanted a diesel but the surrounding BMW dealers had none. The 5 remains a strong steady car, though I do miss my diesel, and next trade in I will go so far as to order a 5 Series in a diesel. This car has some added features, luxuary interior, and is a pleasure to drive. 6cylinder turbo..what more do you need. I don't plan on going from 0 to 50 in x number of seconds. The power is there for hills, and sudden acceleration if needed. Very comfortable inside and ambient lighting just adds to the feeling of luxuary. I have just over 2,000 miles on the car and have taken one long trip in it, completly relaxing. I did also get a 2018 328D, which is another favorite and rated as one of the most reliable cars. The only complaint is that they have run flat tires,but I have never had a flat. Changing weather dictates you monitor the air pressure, so my purchase of a portable air pump that you set the lbs on, and it does the rest makes it an easy task. UPDATE: 4/02/2019 I still have the 540I X drive and it still the most comfortable and relaxing car I have ever owned. The car is a beautiful blue with white interior and I hand wash and detail it myself, and keep it garaged with a cover over it. Always kept show room perfect, but then again, I am retired and able to put the time in ....especially just driving around with nice music playing in the background. There is nothing negative I can find with this auto. My local BMW dealer keeps all the updated checks and records on it. I changed the oil due to time owned, and not milage. I also bought a BMW 530e 4 cylinder to drive locally on battery alone. But for long trips the 540 will be my choice. Frankly, the car will probably outlive me. BMW did it right with this one.

Leaves the MB-E350 in the Rear View Mirror

In moving from a Mercedes E-350 Sedan after two years to the BMW 528i (Premium, Luxury, Seating, Driver Assistance Pkg.) I'm now asking 'what took me so long'? From handling to comfort to every bell and whistle, and the turbo engine (who needs the 535i) it's simply a much better automobile.

2016 528 I (The Best in it's Class)

Driving my third 528 I series in the last 7 years , I really Speak from the heart and experiance.This car by far exceeds performance and looks and reliability, I would not even put it in class with the E350 and the Lexus G.S.All I'm telling you is Please drive all three cars .It really is the Ultimate Driving Machine . Good luck .

A Beautiful Classic, But Handling Could be Tighter

I Purchased my new 535I one month ago with most of the bells and whistles and from a technology, beauty, and build perspective this car can not be beat. The interior is amazing and all the electronics work like a charm. The navigation, voice system, and radio interface is awesome and the heads up display system is crazy good. The way the heads up display integrates everything, you really never have to look down. The biggest downside so far is that the car does drive like a large sedan and even in sport mode it does not hold the road as well as I expected. Acceleration in the 535I is excellent, but it feels like it is floating more than i would like when cruising on the highway. The run flat tires make the ride somewhat rough i think and generate extra road noise. I will have to consider changing those out for traditional all season tires and just hope for no flat tire. The Jaguar XF felt like a sportier ride and also has great electronics, but in my case it had some other drawbacks such as the low ground clearance and interior color selection. The BMW is a great car, but as in all things there is some room for improvement in the ride.

If you choose the 528i...

Over the 535 or 550, then you know you're choosing the more economical version. There are reviews on here that complain about the lack of power with this engine, which tells me some people didn't do their homework before choosing this car. I specifically chose the 528i Special Edition because I WANTED BETTER MILEAGE, and I loved the package which included no chrome, 19" rims, and many of the tech features but not all, for a very good price. I drive a Corvette as well, so that's where I get my driving thrills. The 528i is a beautiful car to drive, and to look at. The Limited Editions are unique, and I highly suggest you check one out before deciding which 5 Series to get. If you want bragging rights with the 535 or 550, more power to you. This car is very quick, the twin turbos provide great low RPM torque that reminds me of the low end power I enjoy with my Corvette V8!

I fell like this automobile was built just for me.

This is my 3rd bmw, I have owned a 3 series and an x5. In May of 2019 I bought a cpo 2016 528i xdrive lease return with 44,000 miles on it. This car is amazing, handles well, great looking, and full of technology. I love the different driving modes like sport plus when i'm felling sporty or comfort when i'm not. The dealership experience was great, i left there felling like i was there only customer. It's to early to report anything about reliability but based on passed experience I expect this automobile to be very reliable. Will update as the years pass. It's now almost February of 2020 and I have 57,000 miles with no problems and I'm still getting used to the technology. In May of 2020 with 60,000 miles my waste gate actuator went bad and had to be replaced, this was covered by my cpo warranty. At 64,000 miles I replaced my front and rear brake pads and rotors, they were the originals. I replaced the with the same bmw parts so I expect to 64,000 miles from these as well. Car runs GREAT. Will continue to update.UPDATE; August of 2021 and i have 76,000 miles. I have had no problems, i keep up with regular maintenance, car still rides likes it's brand new. update its now February of 2022 at 81,974 miles the valvetronic actuator with harness went bad, fortunately this expension repair was covered under my extended warranty. I recently test drove a 2020 lexus es 350 there was absolutely no comparison, my 5 series still rides better than most new cars. I think i will be keeping it alittle longer allthough my warranty is up soon...Warranty has expired and bmw dealership near changed their prices from $100 to $170 just to diagnose it. Soon after I sold it and bought a new caddy xt6. I NO LONGER OWN THAT BMW.....

I love this vehicle!

My 2015 Cadillac CTS 2.0T (which I loved) was totaled in a car accident so naturally I went back to the dealership where I bought it. It was New Year's Eve and the sales person just blew me off because he had a party in San Diego so I walked next door to the BMW dealership. They had a team of professionals who took me by the hand, gave me a test drive and gave me the best deal I could have imagined. I am completely blown away with the workmanship of this car and luxurious feel of it which leaves the CTS in the dust. It has classic styling which I know will still look rich after 10 years if I own it that long. I was considering the Cadillac CTS, Audi A6, MBZ E class and couldn't be happier with my decision. This is a solid vehicle I am so happy and proud to own.

550xi - look up Class Action Suit for this engine

You’re saying: What do you mean, Under performer?? It’s a BMW. OK, let’s discuss this. Engine and transmission performance are truly superb. For my tastes, too much HP, but not a complaint, mind you. Suspension components including the steering performance is “ho-hum”. Video game like. And the run- flats that support these systems should replaced with non-run flats immediately. Keep in mind that I’m a social security recipient and have experienced BMWs before they built cars to please the general populace. The Ultimate Driving Machine is somewhere out there - I’ll keep looking, but chances are that they’re been recycled.

Best overall Sports Sedan

This is my third 2012, 2014, and 2016 BMW 550 Xdrive. It ranks tops in more segments against other GS, the Audi A6, the MB E550. It had power to spare with all wheel drive system that manages all conditions well. Previous vehicle was a 2006 Mercedes E-55. I have two kids both on car seats which makes the rear a tight space.

Very impressed with the 528i 2.0 turbo

I was very skeptical of the German luxury cars with 4cyl turbo engines. But after test driving a low milage CPO 528i I was totally impressed with everything about it. I really like this car (even though I still remain concerned about long term reliability). I can't believe how this 2.0L turbo performs in my 528i!

Easy Rider

Very happy with car after one month...quality, ride, performance, features all as expected so far!

BMW best in class

I have owned several BMW's 3 series both sedan and convertible, 1 series convertible, X 1 and my wife drives an X3. Nothing beats the combination of engine and transmission in a BMW, simply superb. I bought a certified pre owned 2016 BMW 528i and love it. Solid driving smooth engine performance and comfortable. The heads up display is awesome, we also have that in the X3 in my mind a very useful option. After now owning the car for 18 months, still the same, terrific car

A Beautiful, Classy Life Saver

My wife and I have been driving BMWs since the 2004. We have had a series of 3 models and driven them with great satisfaction. In 2017 we upgraded to a 2016 528i off CPO and could not have been happier with performance, economy and look. We had initial concerns about the 4 cylinder twin turbo but these concerns were quickly put to rest. Braking was always smooth and efficient. The air conditioned seats were comfortable and worked flawlessly.We found the acceleration and ride to be tremendous. This was to have been our retirement vehicle. Then during a July 4 2018 vacation in Myrtle Beach while sitting at a red light, we were rear ended by a MB 450 SUV going 50 MPH by a young person more concerned about testing. The rear end of our beautiful cal was crushed into the back seat area. To our benefit the headrests both released preventing any whiplash. While we both were taken by ambulance to a local hospital, we were later released with minor back injuries. Our 535i gave it's life to save ours. We have since bought an X3 and are searching for another 535 before retiring. We will be BMW advocates for life!

Still the Ultimate Driving Machine

My mom had a 1982 733i and it was so different from the Fords and Dodges that had recently been in my family. It was sporty, accelerated fast and had great handling along with a nice interior. There was no question this was a car built to drive. I hoped one day I might have a car like that. Fast forward 37 years to my 2016 certified pre-owned 535i (with M-Sport trim.) Sadly, I don't have that 1982 to test drive it against, but so much about the 2016 535i (F10) reminds me of that fondly remembered E23. I am informed that the version of the straight 6 that is in the 2016 vehicle is officially known as the N55B30M0 which produces 300 hp and 295 lb./feet of torque. Although this has less "power" than other versions of the N55, its subjective performance feels more powerful to me that many V-6 and V-8 cars I had test-driven, as well as the 2019 540i, 2020 530e and 2020 330i vehicles I have driven as loaners (yes the last two are 4 cylinder.) The transmission certainly enhances the overall performance, as well.I should also mention that the engine performs best when it is warmed up to about 230-240 degrees. The performance is best between gears 3 and 5, and when the sport display gets to the low to mid 200 HP range. For some reason as the HP approaches 300, it does seem to let down a bit. While I'm not anywhere near pushing the limits of the handling, I feel more secure than I did with my prior Hyundais, Hondas, Acuras and Toyotas as I turn corners and go along the freeway. This is not a "performance" car, but it certainly is more than sufficient as an excellent handling daily drive, that is more fun to drive than anything I've owned before. While the colorful "tech" in the 2019 and 2020 BMWs are nice features, and I do find the display a bit dull in its resolution and color scheme, it's more than adequate, although the navigation could certainly be better. Many find they prefer a touch screen to the turns and clicks of the I-drive system, I'm fine with it. Overall, I prefer a more tactile driving experience, so the buttons, knobs, switches as well as the analog displays and the shift lever enhance my opinion of the 535i. The seats are very comfortable and there's sufficient tech such as the backup camera, parking assist, rain sensing wipers, etc. to help out and still maintain the driver-focused experience. The city gas mileage is honestly awful and while not the largest BMW, I find the 535i about a foot longer than I'd prefer, after sampling the 540i, 530e, 330i, Genesis G80, Genesis G70, Kia Stinger, and Mercedes C-class, I'm still staying with my 2016 535i until BMW produces one I like better.

6000$ headlight

My headlight seal failed and it was a few weeks before I could drive to an out of town dealer for the repair. Condensation formed and it damaged the adaptive headlight unit. BMW of Louisville gave me a $6000 estimate. Yes 6k. No more for me. They are over engineered. Sadly I loved driving the car

Drive the xDrive 550i!

The all new BMW 5 series is equipped with a lot of new features along with a variety of standard features. With a shocking 445 horsepower and a 4.4L V8 engine, this BMW is built for speed. In the previous models the 5 series had the available option for an auto-stop start system, which saves gas while the vehicle is at a complete stop. Standard features on the new 5 series along with the older models starting at 2011 include power trunk lid, satellite radio, navigation, and Harman Kardon sound system. The 5 series comes with a variety of engines such as the 528i, 535i, 535d, and 550i. Some may have "xdrive" applied with their names, indicating it is all-wheel drive. The BMW is a four-door five passenger sedan. It is compatible with the Jaguar XF, Mercedes Benz E-class, Audi A6, Lexus GS 350, Cadillac CTS, and the Maserati Ghibli. Surprisingly, the 550i series remains the better choice over all of those vehicles. For it to be such a large sedan it goes from zero to 60 in 4.5 seconds. If you are looking for a sporty but luxury four-door sedan, the BMW 5 series is definitely a great way to go. It comes in tons of color options inside and out, along with technology package as well. For example, if you are looking for an vehicle for luxury and sport but not too big on the luxury side, the 5 series is perfect. The 5 series can switch from comfort also known as luxury to sport by the push of one button. You will not go wrong if you choose this vehicle. Pros of the 550i includes, Superb engines with impressive fuel economy in most forms; high-quality interior that's packed with high-tech features; comfortable and composed ride. Cons includes, Ho-hum handling; relatively small trunk; intrusive auto stop-start system. Some safety features range from stability and traction control, anti-lock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. The braking system also periodically wipes the brake rotors dry in wet conditions and automatically snugs the brake pads to the rotors in preparation when you abruptly lift off the throttle. Another standard feature is the BMW Assist and Remote Services emergency communications systems, which include automatic crash notification, an SOS button, remote door unlock and stolen vehicle recovery. Parking sensors and a rear-view camera are standard on the 550i and optional on other models. An upgraded side- and top-view parking camera system is optional. The Driver Assistance Plus package includes a blind-spot warning system, a lane-departure warning system and a forward-collision warning system with automatic braking. There is also the Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection system that uses an infrared sensor to detect people and objects outside of headlight range.

The Ultimate Driving Machine

Awesome car to drive. No issues whatsoever!

Love my BMW 528i

My BMW is a pleasure to drive. I feel so secure and confident in my car. When I drive other cars in my house, I don't feel that safety and security I feel in my BMW. It is a solid car and preforms incredibly. I couldn't go back to any other sedan.

The most preeminent, luxury sedan for under 35k!

The 2016 BMW 535i generally has a price that is under $35,000 with 13,000 miles, making it one of the smartest financial decisions, considering the fact that the 535i for the 2016 model was easily close to $70,000 with prestigious options. The sporty, midsize sedan is spacious and practical, with an aggressive front design. It is arguably the best handling vehicle when compared to its competition, with a solid and opulent interior. Also, this year of the 5 series is one of the most reliable, considering that BMW has maintained this body shape and design since 2011, meaning that every year BMW received feedback and worked on the reliability from the time period of 2011-2016. BMW's inline 6 engines are considered one of the best, and it can be seen in this car. With a solid 300 horsepower, its still a quick vehicle reaching a 0-60 time between 5 seconds and 5.3 seconds. BMW, however, designed a very heavy vehicle(close to 4,100 pounds), and by making the 535i slightly lighter, the car had the ability to be quicker and more nimble, which would make the car look impressive on paper.

Great Car costly and smaller than you might think

Love the car drives amazing power is top notch and features are nice as well. I enjoy driving it as my daily driver. Cost for up keep are high however its a luxury car so it should be expected. Reliability has been good and fuel economy is not bad either for a V8

Amazing vehicle

Bought my 2016 BMW 535i XDrive a few months ago and I absolutely love it. You can get one for a decent price. I paid 28k for mine with 50k miles and fully loaded. The vehicle had 2 minor accidents, but they were repaired by a BMW dealer and were done well. The 6-Cylinder, ZF transmission is by far the best in the industry. I will be keeping this till she dies.

I Love my car!

I bought my car at 3 years with almost no miles and it still feels and runs like a brand new car.

The 528I is definitely not a sports sedan

Build quality was fine; but it is sluggish, and has no feel for the road. It lacks the exciting driving feel you'd expect in a BMW. The Turbo 4 is inadequate and leaves the car under-powered and wanting. This is a heavy car; with little power. The navigation is clumsy and quickly became outdated. Original equipment tires were a disappointment. They started cupping in front at 20,000 miles. Unfortunately, the car drives like an under-powered Buick. If I'd wanted a Buick I would have bought one for $30,000 less. Disappointed and I won't likely buy another midsize 4cyl BMW product. I've owned six BMW's and this is Well below their standards for performance and handling. Reliability has been satisfactory.

poor gas milage

bought this car 6 weeks ago gas milage is 15-16 city sticker says 20 called the dealer they said 15-16 is normal well why advertise 20 plus ventilation system is on every time you start the car even if you don't want it on

Awesome Drive Exp Awful Maint

No doubt BMW's are fun to drive but they are very pricey to maintain. I have a 2008 528xi. Have spent over $7000 in last 18 months and my car is worth less than that. It has approx. 122k miles, not much from BMW standards. If you plan to buy a BMW be prepared to pay for maintaining it. End of the day you have to decide what matters more for you - driving fun or money in your pocket which in BMW's case is more than other even German cars.

Distorted rear window images

Handsome car, however potential safety hazard! Images are distorted through the rear window when driving at night. Thought the problem was related to poor tint job from dealership at first. Had tint removed and problem still exists. Sad news is that dealership (Vista Motors) insists they have never encountered this problem. Any advice would be helpful.

Best in its class

Up grade to the 550 from the 28 or 35 you wont regret it

2016 BMW F10

Great car to drive and own. I am pleased with the performance and handling.

528i is the best

This is my third BMW in a row because I love this brand. I know from the salesperson I went to for my new to me 2016 528i that once a BMW person always a BMW person...his words not mine...and it is true. I had a 1995 530i , Black Beauty, then a 2008 328i, Silver Bullet, and now a 2016 528i, White Lightning. There is just something that I cannot explain abour the fact that once you have had a BMW in your life it becomes the only car you will ever want to own.

2016 528i Funzone

Recently (2024) purchased a very well maintained 2016 LCI with the M Sport package and 54k mi from the local BMW dealer. BMWs have a steep depreciation curve and I got a heck of nice car on the cheap. So far (knock wood) the car has been excellent and nearly flawless. My one issue was synching up the Bluetooth on my phone. I ended up resetting the phone back to AVRP 1.3 so it could synch with the car. We took it for a run up to Yosemite and it rolled down the interstate nicely. I do my own basic maintenance so everything is up to date and I will keep the oil changed at 5k or so. The car is a bit bigger than I expected and and has lots of room. The handling doesn't match my old 2007 328i but it is stable and comfortable and I have to watch my speed on the open road. I don't have $60k plus for a new 5 series but I am enjoying the heck out of my budget beauty.

Mr. almost got killed by BMW faulty traction contr

I bought this vehicle not long ago. I drove it on a rainy day with an average speed of 50mph. I hit the traction control to maximize traction control, but the vehicle started to act weird. First, It locked up my control wheel. then it started to roll left. I was driving alone so i assumed that there was more weight on the left and thats why it rolled left. The vehicle was designed to not let you place any control input to fix the left roll. I hit curve so hard that it almost took my life. I will never trust BMW traction control system again. If you own this vehicle and you live in a area where it rains a lot, I suggest you sell your BMW right a way. Its not worth it to risk your life for some beautiful interior designs.

Not worth the price

No back up camera, no blind spot sensors, navigation is outdated. Not worth it.

Beautiful Car

What just flew by ,!!

I give this car a ten , the 550i is a rocket and equipped with the “M” handling package it’s right on , the optional Marino interior is a plus with 18 way adjustable seats . I have had BMWs since 1999 from 4 series all the way up to 7 series and I have to say this is the best in performance and handling

Smokie

The best car to drive for the money I love it

Great car for a 4 CYL.

Like everything about it, but would like to move into the 535xi next.

528i xdrive

Like it has a lot of features and rides very comfortably. Has sport mode with a lot of pep.