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By KBB Editors
Updated December 23, 2019
The BMW 5 Series earned its deserved reputation as the supreme mid-size sport sedan almost on driving dynamics alone. Combined with standout styling, a well-appointed cabin and some of the most sophisticated technologies available in an automobile, the 5 Series offers something for everyone.
If you aren’t overly swayed by the BMW badge, the bold styling or the renowned driving feel, you might find it harder to live with the driver’s awkward cupholder, the improving (but still complex) iDrive central control system or the significant price premium when compared to competitors like the Infiniti M.
The 5 Series gains two significant changes for 2010. First is the addition of the newest iDrive system on cars equipped with the available navigation system, and second is the creation of a new M Sport Package that adds an Anthracite headliner, an exterior aerodynamic package with Shadowline trim, and M-specific wheels, door sills, footrest, gearshift lever, and steering wheel.
While the 2010 BMW 5 Series is the most technologically advanced entry in the luxo-sport sedan category, the fact that it’s the only one to offer a manual transmission more accurately captures the basis of its appeal. As it’s quietly grown into a living legend, the continuing success of the performance-oriented 5 Series has helped to invigorate the entire category in which it competes. The softer Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6 are still sportier than ever, while the latest Infiniti M is the stiffest competition the 5 Series has faced yet – from a performance standpoint, anyway. Anchored by the 528i, 535i and 550i sedans, the lineup also includes the all-wheel-drive 528xi and 535xi sedans plus a 535xi wagon and 550 Grand Turismo Wagon.
Used 2010 BMW 5 Series pricing starts at $6,291 for the 5 Series 528i Sedan 4D, which had a starting MSRP of $47,420 when new. The range-topping 2010 5 Series 550i Gran Turismo xDrive Sedan 4D starts at $7,653 today, originally priced from $67,975.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$47,420 | $6,291 | |||
$49,720 | $6,895 | |||
$52,720 | $6,502 | |||
$55,020 | $6,669 | |||
$57,420 | $9,557 | |||
$59,625 | $7,188 | |||
$62,070 | $7,184 | |||
$65,275 | $7,436 | |||
$67,975 | $7,653 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for used 2010 BMW 5 Series models in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly.
Sandwiched between a positively turbine-like V8 and a base six-cylinder that’s strong enough for more drivers than will buy it is the bread and butter of the model’s powertrain lineup, the twin-turbo six-cylinder. Along with virtually lag-free response, this excellent engine combines zero-to-60-mph sprints just a couple ticks slower than the V8, according to BMW, with fuel economy very close to the base engine’s. Feel free to pick whichever engine you like, as there isn’t a bad choice among them. Whichever powerplant you might choose, response, feel and feedback from all the systems – steering, suspension, brakes – are exceptional as expected. We especially like the sport version of the new faster-shifting automatic, which includes paddle shifters and rev matching for smooth downshifts.
The 2010 BMW 5 Series’ 10-way and available 20-way adjustable seats are some of the most comfortable and supportive in the class, excelling on twisty roads and long highways alike. Some of the more notable changes made last year include a revised center console with a new electronic shifter, more intuitively positioned window switches and a mostly subtle increase in overall refinement. The overall air of firm luxury remains, although there’s a vague starkness not found in Audi or Lexus brands. Rear-seat room and trunk space are on par for the segment.
The bustle-back trunk, sharp-creased edges and cat’s-eye headlights that caused such a stir when the model was introduced for the 2004 model year have helped the current-generation 5 Series become the best-selling iteration yet. A mild makeover in 2008 smoothed out some of the more controversial elements, adding a revised front and rear fascias and reworked headlights and taillights. For 2010, a new M Sport Package adds even more aggressive styling components creating the look deserving of a true high-performance luxury sedan.
Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go
The 5 Series’ available radar-based cruise control will detect a slower-moving vehicle ahead and reduce speed accordingly. The system can even slow the car to a complete stop, enabling use in stop-and-go traffic.
Sport Package
For an even sportier sport sedan, the available "sport pack" fortifies the 5 Series with a more aggressive suspension and Active Roll Stabilization, which further minimizes body lean in corners. Other highlights include unique wheels and 20-way adjustable seats.
Standard equipment on a 2010 BMW 528i includes a moonroof, 10-speaker AM/FM/CD sound system, iDrive central control (with six programmable memory buttons), 10-way power seats, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and no-charge maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles. Safety equipment includes electronic stability control plus front, front-side and two-row curtain airbags. Unique to the 535xi Sport Wagon are a dual-panel panoramic sunroof and a power liftgate.
In addition to a long list of modern features that have become commonplace in the category, the 5 Series lineup offers such desirable extras as Active Steering (everyday benefits include reduced steering wheel movement in parking lots), a head-up display, night vision system, lane departure warning system, active cruise control with new "Stop & Go" feature, navigation system with real-time traffic information and HD radio. The 2010 BMW 5 Series is one of the most tech-savvy vehicles on the road.
Although it shares the same 3.0-liter displacement as the base engine, the strong but silky twin-turbocharged in-line six from the 535i and 535xi produces 70 more horsepower and 100 pound-feet more torque. The V8 remains the quintessential power fiend’s engine of choice, but it comes with such a heavy price tag that the twin turbo begins to look like the better pick. A six-speed manual transmission is standard across the line, but a quick-shifting six-speed automatic is a no-charge option. The 535i and 550i models offer a Sport version of the automatic transmission with paddle shifters and rev-matching downshifts.
3.0-liter in-line 6
230 horsepower @ 6500 rpm
200 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/28 (manual), 18/27 (automatic), 17/25 (AWD)
3.0-liter twin-turbocharged in-line 6
300 horsepower @ 5800 rpm
300 lb.-ft. of torque @1400-5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/26 (RWD), 17/25 (automatic, AWD), 16/25 (manual, AWD), 16/24 (automatic, AWD wagon), 16/23 (manual, AWD wagon)
4.8-liter V8
360 horsepower @ 6300 rpm
360 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 (manual), 15/23 (automatic), 15/21 (Wagon)
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
The BMW Certified Program is designed to take all the guesswork out of buying a pre-owned BMW – which means we are very selective about which BMW’s get approved by our experts.
Curb Weight | 3660 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 99.0 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 18.5 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 39.1 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 41.5 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 5 | ||
Overall Length | 191.1 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 57.3 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 14.0 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 37.4 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 113.7 inches |
Adaptive Headlights | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
Fog Lights | Available | ||
HID Headlights | Available | ||
Moon Roof/Sun Roof | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 4 doors | ||
Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | Available |
City | 17 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 26 mpg | ||
Combined | 20 mpg |
Drivetrain | RWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
6 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Premium |
Horsepower | 300 @ 5800 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 300 @ 1400 rpm | ||
Engine | 6-Cyl, Twin Turbo, 3.0L | ||
0 to 60 | 5.6 seconds | ||
Top Speed | 150 mph |
Basic | 4 years / 50000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 4 years / 50000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 12 years / Unlimited miles |
Used 2010 BMW 5 Series | Used 2012 Lincoln MKZ | Used 2012 Volkswagen Passat | Used 2012 Dodge Avenger | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $7,171 | $6,533 | $6,463 | $6,536 | |
KBB.com Rating | N/A | 3.4 | 4.1 | 2.8 | |
Consumer Rating | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.2 | |
Fuel Economy | City 17/Hwy 26/Comb 20 MPG | City 41/Hwy 36/Comb 39 MPG | City 22/Hwy 31/Comb 25 MPG | City 20/Hwy 31/Comb 24 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | Hybrid | Gas | Gas | |
Safety Rating | N/A | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 4 years or 50000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | |
Horsepower | 300 @ 5800 RPM | 156 @ 6000 RPM | N/A | 173 @ 6000 RPM | |
Engine | 6-Cyl, Twin Turbo, 3.0L | 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 2.5 Liter | 5-Cyl, PZEV, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | |
Drivetrain | RWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
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