BMW 5 Series Sedan F10 2011-2016 (6th Gen) Review

The 6th-gen BMW 5 Series was given its only facelift for the 2014 model year and it was so subtle, it would go unnoticed by some. The F10's general appearance is a lot less out there and far more reserved than its more controversial E60 predecessor, which was designed under the creative leadership of Chris Bangle.

The front light clusters retain their shape but are new, with flat-bottomed corona-ring daytime running lights and less fussy turn signals¹。The front bumper is new too², with the V motive blending into the lower bumper a lot more smoothly and the lower valance being completely redesigned with new round fog lights³。正常的修剪,新的位于chrome贴花applied to the outer thirds of the lower valance⁴, with the lower air dam narrowing in the center.

The rear is tweaked only slightly and looks virtually identical to the 2013 model, save for a new bumper¹with a horizontal chrome strip running between the two bumper-mounted red reflectors²- which are themselves slightly retouched. The backup lights³are slightly smaller and are centered in the trunk-lid-mounted portions of the taillights instead of sitting right next to the number-plate cutout.

Essentially, the only changes that are visible in profile are some new wheel designs¹and the restyled bumpers²and headlights³。

Save for new steering-wheel designs¹and subtle vertical chrome strips²on either side of the infotainment screen, the interior is essentially unchanged on the 2014 model.

The F10 sixth-gen BMW 5 Series launched with three engines as a 2011 model. The base engine was the 528i with the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter N52 inline-six with 240 hp and 230 lb-ft of torque. Next up is the 535i with the turbocharged 3.0-liter N55 inline-six with 300 hp and 300 lb-ft. At the top of the pile sits the 550i with the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter N63 V8 developing 400 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to the rear wheels and, to the delight of enthusiasts, they can opt for a six-speed manual transmission if they don't want the eight-speed automatic. xDrive AWD versions are available on all these engines but without the manual option.

BMWs tend to score near the top of their respective classes for fuel economy and the BMW 5 Series F10 is no exception, with EPA estimates of over 30 mpg on the highway possible for the gas cars and nearly 40 mpg for the diesel. The EPA's user-submitted figures of real-world economy achieved by actual owners tend to closely follow the EPA's estimates.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

Being a premium German sedan, safety is of a high order and even the base 2011 528i comes standard with ABS, brake assist, tire-pressure monitoring, rain-sensing wipers, automatic halogen headlights, stability control, active headrests, six airbags, and BMW Assist emergency communications. The 535i also adds adaptive xenon headlights and the 550i, front and rear parking sensors and a backup camera. On the options list you'll find adaptive cruise control, a pre-collision system with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot assist, and a night-vision system, so any of these might be fitted to a used F10.

The base car gains adaptive xenon headlights for 2012. Navigation is a standard feature on all facelifted 2014 5 Series trims. The optional Driver Assistance Plus package could also be optioned at the time, adding the optional driver-assistance features mentioned earlier, as well as pedestrian detection. Standard on 2015 5ers are LED fog lights, while a head-up display and upgraded gauge cluster are added to the Driver Assistance Plus package.

第六-generation BMW 5 Series achieved a solid five-star overall NHTSA crash rating in its final 2016 model year, comprising five-star scores for both the side crash and rollover test and four stars for the frontal impact.

The 2011 model year is the only model year making use of a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six for the base 528i trim before it was replaced by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four in the 2012 528i. The 2011 528i is RWD automatic only, but the 2012 528i is also available in xDrive AWD, although it is still only automatic and was never offered in manual. The mid-range 535i trim uses the same engine for all model years and the most drivetrain configurations - manual RWD (2011-2014), automatic RWD (all model years), and automatic AWD (all model years). The 550i has the V8 engine but mirrors the drivetrain options of the 535i save for one difference - the manual model was discontinued one year earlier. The ActiveHybrid 5 joined the lineup for 2013 and the 535d diesel model was added for 2014, so it was never offered in the pre-facelift car.

The Sport package was optional and might have been fitted; you'll recognize it by the 19-inch alloys, Sport exterior trim, and 14-way electrically adjustable front seats. The M Sport package adds special wheels, a body kit, and an M Sport steering wheel. Cars already optioned with the Sport package were eligible for the Dynamic Handling package, which additionally adds adaptive suspension. Lots of options were offered and might have been fitted to used 5s, such as automatic high beams, a night-vision camera, automatic parking, surround-view cameras, satellite radio, premium audio systems, ventilated seats, climate control and entertainment for the rear seat, smartphone integration, a head-up display, and a heated steering wheel. For 2014, the optional Premium package adds near-550i levels of luxury to the other trims with items such as leather upholstery on the 528i and upgraded leather on the 535s, a gesture-controlled power trunk lid, satellite radio, and keyless access via all the doors. Cold Weather and Lighting packages are available too, as well as a rear-seat entertainment system, rear-window sunshades, and four-zone climate control (already standard on the hybrid).

All trims have a standard split/folding rear seat for the 2013 model year, as well as a universal garage-door opener. All facelifted 2014 trims get navigation as a standard feature and the iDrive controller gains freehand text-entry support. The 2014 facelift comes in any of three equipment lines: Modern, Luxury, and M Sport. Modern lives up to its name with turbine-style alloys and dark-pearl and aluminum interior trim, Luxury has a more traditional luxury-car approach, and M Sport adds a body kit, staggered-width alloys with 245/45-18 front and 275/40-18 rear summer tires and other M Sport highlights. For 2015, all models have LED fog lights and a sports steering wheel, and the Modern Line package is discontinued. For the final 2016 model year, all F10s get enhanced Bluetooth and USB functionality and black carpeting and interior panels now accompany beige interiors.

The F10's exterior exudes quality and class and there isn't a cheap surface or switch in sight. Everything is plushly finished, pleasing to the touch, and solidly constructed, leaving you in no doubt what you're paying for, even in the base car. It's a modern interior that's easy to use, even today, with plenty of technology on offer, although many items were on the options roster and you'd have to check what has been fitted. It's not hugely spacious inside, with the Audi A6 offering noticeably more rear legroom and the trunk is only average, but normal-sized adults will be perfectly comfortable and content, regardless of where they are seated, even if the ride quality is not as plush as that of some of the competition.

BMW reduced the lubrication service interval from 15,000 to 10,000 miles in 2014 and we wouldn't recommend going a mile over this lower limit. Considering how cheap oil is compared to the many troubles you can run into for neglecting maintenance, it's a cheap price to pay for reliability, especially on oil-consuming engines like the V8 in the 550i. Severe use in lots of stop-start traffic or freezing/dusty conditions calls for an even lower interval of 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Modern, turbocharged engines tend to consume some oil, so check your oil level weekly, because low oil levels can lead to many problems and prohibitive expenses. Spark plugs are due every 60,000 miles, along with the engine's air filter. We would replace the automatic transmission fluid every 60,000 miles at least to maintain long-term reliability.

我们cannot overstate the importance of regular maintenance on these cars. Deferring oil changes will lead to cam-chain problems and huge potential expenses, especially on the V8. Check oil levels weekly and never allow the oil level to drop to the minimum mark. Keep in mind that you might have to top up the oil between lubrication services. Flush the cooling system and replace the coolant with the correct coolant type every few years as well and keep an eye on leaky water pumps and sticking thermostats.

Keep in mind that there is no spare tire and that the F10 5 Series runs on run-flat tires.

Technical Service Bulletins according to the NHTSA. Check service book for:

J.D. Power rated the 6th-gen BMW 5 Series for 2016 and it achieved 84 out of a possible 100 overall and an excellent 88/100 for quality and reliability. It seems as if there are very few problems to report in terms of the electrical system, HVAC system, starter, fuel system, or suspension. However, engines can be sensitive to a lack of maintenance and oil levels, especially, must be checked frequently. The manual transmission is mostly trouble-free and there are few 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, or 2016 BMW 5 Series transmission problems so far on the eight-speed ZF unit as well; it has a good reputation and should last well if it gets new oil every 60,000 miles or so. That said, the 2011 F10 is by far the most problematic.

也有几个2011 - 2016宝马5系列s Sedan recall campaigns and the 2011 model was the subject of a disproportionate number of these. 2011 F10s were recalled for problems including a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system heater that may short-circuit, the inadequate activation of belt tensioners, active headrests, and airbags, camshaft retention bolts that may loosen and cause a stall, an auxiliary water-pump circuit that may overheat, a faulty fuel-level sensor that can result in drivers running out of fuel, and rear CV joints that may fail. 2011 and 2012 F10s were recalled for loose fuel pump wiring, 2012 and 2013 cars were recalled for a brake-assist vacuum pump that may fail, 2013 and 2014 F10s were recalled for rear reflectors that don't conform to federal regulations. 2014-2016 535d diesel cars were also recalled for coolant leaking into the EGR module and for high-pressure fuel-pump failures. There were quite a few problems with the safety systems on 2015 5 Series models and the cars were recalled for side airbags that may fail to deploy, seatbelts that may fail to lock, and bent rear-seat anchors that may fail to properly restrain a child seat.

As is the case with some other German cars, the interior trim can deteriorate, especially buttons and switches. Frequent contact with fingernails can scrape the paint off switches and owners of BMWs and Audis should be familiar with this. The odd steering-mounted clock-spring failure may occur too and will disable the driver's airbag, triggering the airbag warning light. A few F10s have also been known to simply switch to Park when stationary, even if the driver has not moved the shift lever. Keep in mind that the N20, N55, and N63 engines all feature direct fuel injection and that carbon buildup on the backs of the intake valves becomes an increasing likelihood when these engines rack up a lot of miles. With enough carbon built up, poor running, misfiring, and a loss of power will follow and there is no other remedy than to have the head serviced at several hundred dollars and remove the carbon with walnut-shell blasting.

In terms of problems per model year, 2011 is easily the worst and should be avoided. Problems were still relatively commonplace in the 2012 model, but things improved thereafter. The N20 engine can suffer various timing-chain problems that were only really sorted out by 2015, so ensure repairs have been done with the redesigned parts or you might be in for a big expense down the road. The N63 V8 engine is a peach but it is also very troublesome in its early versions - but, avoid it at all costs if the $15,000 Customer Support Package has not been applied and if it is anything less than sweet-running. The oil should be full and clear and maintenance meticulously done, or you could be in for a rude surprise.

For the purist who remembers BMW's heritage of sonorous, naturally aspirated inline-six engines, there is only one - the 2011 528i with the naturally aspirated N52 engine. It's not fast, but it is fun to use and a joy to extract maximum performance from the free-revving engine. For most people, though, the 535i is the sweet spot in the range with a sub-six-second sprint to 60 mph, decent fuel economy, and sound value for money. The N55 engine is reliable if cared for and its issues are well-known. It is a lot lighter on fuel than the V8, offers far more performance than the 528i, and is the best all-rounder in the range - with the signature BMW inline-six to boot.

The sophisticated engines on German cars can be a source of trouble if neglected, so you'd do well to consider only an F10 with a flawless maintenance record and that runs sweetly and quietly. Do that and you have a refined, solidly built executive express with all the brand image that comes with the BMW badge. It has lost a bit of the brand's traditional sporty edge, but the shortfall can usually be addressed by speccing the M Sport package and the adaptive suspension - many used ones will be so equipped. Avoid the fixer-uppers and you should be good to go.