BMW 5 Series: strength and reliability

The first BMW 5 Series car rolled off the line back in 1972. It was a mid-size sedan with a four-cylinder engine, and it was the first to use a high-pressure fuel pump. Today's BMW 5 Series includes a full suite of driver-assistance systems: a night vision system with pedestrian detection, an automatic parking assistance system, a lane-change assistant, lane-keeping monitoring, a head-up display and a surround-view system.

Technical specifications of the current BMW 5 Series

Today's sedan has grown larger, but still keeps its classic, elegant lines. Length and width have increased, while height has come down. It's built on a shortened version of the BMW 7 Series platform. The top model is the BMW 550i, with a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 497 hp. In the base trim, the steering is a variable-ratio rack with hydraulic assist, which lets you turn the wheel through small angles while parking.

You can buy a BMW 5 Series with Servotronic hydraulic power steering, which varies steering effort depending on speed. Today's lineup of fixed configurations also includes all-wheel-drive versions. The wagon (F11) is offered with five engine choices: two diesel and three petrol. The engines come paired with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission.

To appreciate the advantages of the new cars, you need to buy a BMW 5 Series from an official dealer.

Why the BMW 5 Series?

There are several reasons your choice might land on buying this car:

• You'll always have a reliable companion, both around town and on trips out of it.
• An innovative engine.
• Lightweight running gear.
• Excellent body proportions.
• Fitted out with modern, high-tech equipment.
• A high level of passenger safety.

It also features Auto Start Stop technology and brake energy recovery. This helps save fuel without any loss of performance. All these advantages can be experienced first-hand from the driver's seat by booking a test drive with a dealer. What matters to a car owner is that the car actually gets driven, not that it sits at the service centre all the time. As happy owners of this car put it, it's flawless from a technical standpoint, and everything about it satisfies them. Its safety has been so thoroughly worked out that it can withstand head-on collisions. Whatever's under the bonnet, the BMW 5 Series has a magnetic pull to it; it's a pleasure just to walk up to it, and even more of a pleasure to get behind the wheel. The most unforgettable feelings for anyone who appreciates a fine car.

Nothing matches this car's comfort. The fact that it isn't affordable to everyone is, if anything, an advantage. It underlines your status and individuality. Driving should be a pleasure.

The convenience of buying a car from a dealer is that you can always arrange to buy it on credit. You'll be offered favourable terms. Buying a car from a private seller requires the full amount in cash. There's no reason to deny yourself a quality car because of that.