[Chek]

Hi gents.
I am in the process of deciding whether it's time to change my 328 2013 and thinking of 5 series.
WHat are the key differences except of the size? I am looking at 2015-2016 models.

Also wondering about service $ difference and reliability of these cars.
Thanks!

[johnung]

Originally Posted by Chek

Hi gents.
I am in the process of deciding whether it's time to change my 328 2013 and thinking of 5 series.
WHat are the key differences except of the size? I am looking at 2015-2016 models.

Also wondering about service $ difference and reliability of these cars.
Thanks!

That would be a big upgrade for you. Not only getting a larger more comfortable sedan but moving from the 4 cylinder to the 6 cylinder. More power and reliability. Without price as a consideration this is as big of a no brainer that you can get.

[Chek]

johnung, thanks for the quick reply.
Do you happen to know if there is any significant difference in 2015 and 2016 5 series?

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by johnung

That would be a big upgrade for you. Not only getting a larger more comfortable sedan but moving from the 4 cylinder to the 6 cylinder. More power and reliability. Without price as a consideration this is as big of a no brainer that you can get.

The 5 series also comes with the 4 cylinder. He did not mention going to the 535i or 528i

[IAmATeaf]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

The 5 series also comes with the 4 cylinder. He did not mention going to the 535i or 528i

That’s what I thought too 😀

[eluded]

I I think the five series depreciates even more than the three series. No mt in the five series

[johnung]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

The 5 series also comes with the 4 cylinder. He did not mention going to the 535i or 528i

Shoot! You're right! My mistake! I was looking at a 535 the other day when I stopped by the dealer to pick up a part. I just had that on my brain I guess.

[HFW003]

I went from a 328 to a 528 and the difference in quality of materials, fit and finish and drive is quite huge.

My 3 series had Dakota sports seats and the 5 had Nappa 12 way adjustable and they were magic.

The interior road noise and comfort of drive is also significantly better in the 5.

Whilst the 5 is somewhat bigger I felt it still drove really well, even with the four cylinder motor.

If it were me and I needed a sedan I would get the 5 in a heartbeat over the 3!

[johnung]

Originally Posted by Chek

johnung, thanks for the quick reply.
Do you happen to know if there is any significant difference in 2015 and 2016 5 series?

Sorry. As the other guys pointed out, I jumped the gun assuming that you were talking about a 535 which has the N55 6 cylinder engine. (The 540 has the newer B58 6 cylinder engine and would be desirable also.)

As far as differences between model years, there are several searches that you can do to find information to know whether one year may be more important to you, or not! Search online for the BMW product literature from both years. Read them cover to cover to see what differences you spot. Go through the Bimmerpost forum especially any ordering information to see if the newer model year shows anything different. Search for any car magazine articles on those model years, like Car & Driver, Road & Track, Automobile, Motor Trend, etc. Those always mention new features/opinions for a new model year. Check the various used car search sites. They often have really good information that distinguishes changes between model years.

Once you do those things you should be very educated on the model years and also all of the potential features that were available. The most important thing you can do now is VIN lookups on any car that you are considering. There are many sites out there. I was playing with mdecoder the other day.

Don't just go by whatever is posted online about a car or even what a dealer has listed. It's often generic information about the model and not that particular car. You need to really understand the various packages and options. Otherwise you won't know how to recognize whether you are getting what you want or getting a good price on a used BMW.

When I got close to deciding on which one of three cars to choose I asked the dealers to print out the information that they had on the VINs that they were trying to sell to me. I discovered that one car had a bunch of options that apparently were added at the port or at the dealer prior to new car delivery. They didn't appear to have been factored when the used car offering price had been set by the dealer. So essentially my car unexpectedly came with an MPPK tune, M Performance Intake and Exhaust, and blacked out kidney grilles all for free because they were never factored into the price. Had I not done the above searches I wouldn't have had the knowledge to spot and to understand that one of the cars under consideration was by far a better deal than the others.

It's a bunch of work to search and read all that stuff. It all depends on how much it's worth it to you.

Hope this helps!

[Littlebear]

Originally Posted by johnung

That would be a big upgrade for you. Not only getting a larger more comfortable sedan but moving from the 4 cylinder to the 6 cylinder. More power and reliability. Without price as a consideration this is as big of a no brainer that you can get.

Hello BMW Experts!

I used to think this when I was young. Started with the little ones, got a 5, then a 6 (Euro 635csi)....
Then I got a 2002, hopped it up and had some real fun again! Then an E30 bored & stroked w/ M3 suspension. My E46 seemed like a lux car but OK, and this F30 even more so.

Maybe you like or need a bigger car. But watch out what you wish for (you may end up driving your Aunt's BMW).

Murf

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by eluded

I I think the five series depreciates even more than the three series. No mt in the five series

Gone are the days when the 5 and M5 had a manual.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by HFW003

I went from a 328 to a 528 and the difference in quality of materials, fit and finish and drive is quite huge.

My 3 series had Dakota sports seats and the 5 had Nappa 12 way adjustable and they were magic.

The interior road noise and comfort of drive is also significantly better in the 5.

Whilst the 5 is somewhat bigger I felt it still drove really well, even with the four cylinder motor.

If it were me and I needed a sedan I would get the 5 in a heartbeat over the 3!

It is more refined. No priming sounds when opening the door prior to cold start, must be due to better sound insulation. I think you can still hear that in the G20. Though I like the turbo sound under load on the new 3.

[floridaorange]

There's a 550i that always catches my eye where I work. What a nice looking car.

[zeyad.habeeb]

Originally Posted by Chek

Hi gents.
I am in the process of deciding whether it's time to change my 328 2013 and thinking of 5 series.
WHat are the key differences except of the size? I am looking at 2015-2016 models.

Also wondering about service $ difference and reliability of these cars.
Thanks!

If you want a bigger more comfortable and luxury of course go with 5 series l, it's not sporty in driving like the 3 series though.

One thing i know is the extended warranty for the 5 is way more expensive than the 3 series. This will tell me the 3 series is more reliable than the 5 series.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by zeyad.habeeb

If you want a bigger more comfortable and luxury of course go with 5 series l, it's not sporty in driving like the 3 series though.

One thing i know is the extended warranty for the 5 is way more expensive than the 3 series. This will tell me the 3 series is more reliable than the 5 series.

I would agree with the 3 being sportier. It could be that BMW charges more for maintenance or out of warranty repair in the 5 even though they share many of the same mechanical components simply because the 5 costs more so they figure they can charge more for everything. I would have to research more to see if that's the case.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by zeyad.habeeb

If you want a bigger more comfortable and luxury of course go with 5 series l, it's not sporty in driving like the 3 series though.

One thing i know is the extended warranty for the 5 is way more expensive than the 3 series. This will tell me the 3 series is more reliable than the 5 series.

How the 5-series is optioned, can make a difference to how the car feels to drive. Adaptive Drive helps 'shrink' the car and improves handling while keeping superb ride comfort. Size and weight are the penalty.

I wouldn't read too much into warranty costs with BMW, as indicating a reliability rating. 5-series are at a higher price point, reflected in the warranty costs. Likely to be optioned to a higher level, with more to go wrong. 6-series is even more eye watering.

[zeyad.habeeb]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

How the 5-series is optioned, can make a difference to how the car feels to drive. Adaptive Drive helps 'shrink' the car and improves handling while keeping superb ride comfort. Size and weight are the penalty.

I wouldn't read too much into warranty costs with BMW, as indicating a reliability rating. 5-series are at a higher price point, reflected in the warranty costs. Likely to be optioned to a higher level, with more to go wrong. 6-series is even more eye watering.

Correct.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

How the 5-series is optioned, can make a difference to how the car feels to drive. Adaptive Drive helps 'shrink' the car and improves handling while keeping superb ride comfort. Size and weight are the penalty.

I wouldn't read too much into warranty costs with BMW, as indicating a reliability rating. 5-series are at a higher price point, reflected in the warranty costs. Likely to be optioned to a higher level, with more to go wrong. 6-series is even more eye watering.

That's true the extended warranty is the same price regardless of options and packages on the car. I believe there is more standard equipment than on the three so they factor that in.

[Keyser Soze]

The interior layout and quality is a huge upgrade for most folks, but yep you lose some sportiness. But don't sell the big F10 short, though, she still handles darn well for what it is and is so nice, sturdy and quiet cruising at 80+ mph. In terms of maintenance, the most important bits (the engine) are shared so would be exactly the same as a 335. Parts wise for other F10 specific bits, probably a bit scarcer as time goes on but not impossible.

You also could get Manuals for prior to early 2014 models. There are great deals on 2016 CPO M-sport models right now, and in many cases, they are cheaper than their 3/4 series counterparts (probably due to lower demand).

I recently just sold my 2013 535 MT to a happy new owner.......it had no issues only normal servicing and a differential bushing replacement (prob due to the MT, lol).

[IAmATeaf]

The 5 series warranty is more expensive as BMW can get away with charging more as it’s a category above the 3 size wise. Don’t thing it’s anything to do with it being any less reliable.

[rambleon84]

Odd opinion, have you looked at the 3 GT's? Gets you more room inside than the 5 series but 3 series pricing. Check out a well optioned CPO 2017 or 18. I thought they were a bit strange looking at first but they have since grown on me, love the extra interior space (was initially shopping wagons.)

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by rambleon84

Odd opinion, have you looked at the 3 GT's? Gets you more room inside than the 5 series but 3 series pricing. Check out a well optioned CPO 2017 or 18. I thought they were a bit strange looking at first but they have since grown on me, love the extra interior space (was initially shopping wagons.)

3 GT should be compared to 5 GT which are whales. The 3GT isn't exactly a car with great handling either. Tends to float over bumps.