BMW 5 Series common problems & fixes (F10/F11 2010–2017, G30/G31 2017–2023)
Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-04.
30-second verdict
A used 5 Series is a lot of car for the money, and the later G30 is the safer bet. On the older F10, the engine you pick matters more than the trim: the four-cylinder 520d (N47 diesel) has a well-documented timing-chain weakness, and the N20 petrol in the 520i/528i has its own chain-guide issue. Six-cylinder cars are generally tougher but cost more to keep. Whatever you buy, a full history with regular oil changes matters more than mileage or trim.
Generations at a glance
| Generation | UK years | Body | Key engines | Our quick take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F10 / F11 (Touring) | 2010–2017 | Saloon, Touring | 520d/525d (N47, B47 from 2014), 530d/535d (N57), 520i/528i (N20), 535i (N55) | Good value; check chain history on four-cylinders |
| G30 / G31 (Touring) | 2017–2023 | Saloon, Touring | 520d/530d (B47/B57), 520i/530i (B48), 540i (B58), 530e PHEV | Better engines; more electronics |
| G60 / G61 | 2023 on | Saloon, Touring, i5 | Mild-hybrid petrol/diesel, i5 electric | Too new for a pattern of faults |
Known issues
1. Timing chain stretch, N47 diesel (F10 520d/525d) — Reported by owners, widely documented by specialists
- What you notice: a rattle or whine from the back of the engine (by the bulkhead), most obvious on a cold start; in later stages rough running or fault codes.
- Which cars: F10/F11 520d and 525d with the N47 four-cylinder, roughly 2010–2014. Cars switched to the B47 engine around 2014, which has a better record.
- Why: the chain sits at the gearbox end of the engine and its guides wear, letting the chain stretch. Long oil-change intervals are widely blamed for making it worse.
- Fix: replace chain, guides and tensioner as a kit. On this engine it is a gearbox-out job. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £1,200–£2,000 as a planned repair; £4,000–£7,000+ if the chain fails and the engine is damaged.
- DIY difficulty: 5/5, specialist only.
- Check when buying: listen to a genuinely cold start, ask for an invoice showing chain work, and walk away or price it in if there is no evidence.
2. EGR cooler leak, diesels — Confirmed recalls R/2018/258 and R/2018/341
- What you notice: coolant level dropping with no visible leak, a burning smell, or an engine warning light. Many cars show nothing at all.
- Which cars: a broad range of BMW diesels from roughly 2010–2017, including many 5 Series. Early G30 diesels have also been reported with EGR cooler leaks.
- Why: the cooler can leak glycol internally, which mixes with soot in the hot inlet and, in rare cases, can smoulder.
- Fix: free replacement cooler under the recall at a BMW dealer. Outside the recall, typical UK independent garage, 2026: £600–£1,200.
- Check when buying: confirm the recall has been done with a BMW dealer or the GOV.UK recall checker.
3. Timing chain guides, N20 petrol (F10 520i/528i) — Reported by owners
- What you notice: a whine that rises with revs, or a rattle on start-up.
- Which cars: 2011–2016 cars with the 2.0 N20 four-cylinder petrol.
- Why: plastic chain guides wear and can break up.
- Fix: chain, guides and tensioner. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £1,000–£1,800.
- Check when buying: ask whether the work has been done, and listen with the bonnet open.
4. Electric water pump and thermostat, N20/N55 petrols — Reported by owners
- What you notice: overheat warning, a reduced-power message, or the cooling fan running hard.
- Why: these engines use an electrically driven pump that can fail with age, often without warning.
- Fix: replace pump and thermostat together. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £500–£900.
5. Swirl flaps / inlet manifold wear, N57 six-cylinder diesel — Reported by owners
- What you notice: limp mode and an engine warning light.
- Which cars: 530d/535d (F10) and related N57 cars.
- Why: the electrically actuated flaps wear and develop play over time.
- Fix: inlet manifold replacement. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £500–£1,000.
6. Rear air suspension, F11 Touring — Reported by owners
- What you notice: the rear sitting low after being parked, hissing, or a chassis warning.
- Why: the self-levelling rear air springs perish and the compressor works harder until it fails.
- Fix: air springs and possibly compressor. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £300–£800 for springs, more if the compressor has gone.
- Check when buying: look at the Touring's rear ride height when it has stood overnight.
7. G30 electronics and software — Reported by owners
Parking sensors, driver-assistance cameras and iDrive glitches crop up on G30s. Many are cured with a software update at a dealer. Test every camera, sensor and screen function on the drive.
8. Oil leaks — Reported by owners
Rocker cover gaskets and oil filter housing gaskets weep with age on most engines in this range, including the B58. It is rarely urgent, but leaks onto hot exhausts should be fixed. Typical UK independent garage, 2026: £250–£700 depending on the gasket.
Recalls (DVSA data)
These are listed against "5 Series" in DVSA recall data. Not every recall applies to every car, and build dates vary, so always check the car's own registration at gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall.
- R/2018/258 (Nov 2018) and R/2018/341 (Dec 2018) — EGR cooler may leak; risk of fire (diesels). Between them they cover 5 Series diesels built from 2011 to 2017. Remedy: inspection and replacement cooler. A further campaign, R/2021/037, followed in 2021.
- R/2024/191 — VANOS (variable valve timing) bolts on N51/N52/N55 petrol engines; relevant to F10 535i (N55). Remedy: bolt replacement.
- R/2024/409 — steering double universal joint replacement.
- R/2024/383 and R/2024/414 — integrated braking system / hydraulic brake unit concerns on later cars.
- R/2025/349 and R/2024/403 — Takata driver and/or passenger airbag campaigns (mostly older models).
- R/2025/405 and R/2026/054 — starter motor replacement.
- R/2026/092 — air-conditioning wiring harness behind the dashboard, 5 Series saloons built June 2023 to April 2025 (G60).
MOT watch-points
What the 2024 DVSA figures say
- First-time pass rate: 79.2% from 211,277 normal Class 4 and 7 BMW 5 Series tests.
- National comparison: 71.5% across the same 2024 dataset, so this model was 7.7 percentage points above the national first-time pass rate.
- Typical tested mileage: median 97,285 miles; mean 103,092 miles.
Most common recorded failure reasons
| DVSA failure reason | Tests | Share of this model's tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 4,951 | 2.3% |
| Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed | 4,185 | 2.0% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | 4,014 | 1.9% |
| Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 3,249 | 1.5% |
| Position lamp: not working | 3,120 | 1.5% |
One test can record more than one defect, so the shares must not be added together.
Common advisories to check before buying
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge — recorded on 19.2% of tests.
- Brake pads: wearing thin — recorded on 6.2% of tests.
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened — recorded on 5.8% of tests.
Method and limits: C4R calculated these figures from DVSA's anonymised 2024 MOT results. Pass rate is P / (P + F + PRS) for normal Class 4 and 7 tests. Results are de-duplicated by test, low-volume rows are suppressed, and DVSA model labels are standardised into a model family. These figures describe tested cars as a group; they do not predict the condition of one vehicle or prove that every trim and generation performs the same way.
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results · Open Government Licence v3.0
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024.
Until then, what testers commonly pick up on large, heavy executive saloons: front suspension arm bushes and ball joints, tyre wear (big wheels and run-flats), brake discs and pads, number plate and other bulb failures, and diesel smoke tests where the DPF has been tampered with.
Buying one? Our checklist
- [ ] Cold-start the engine yourself and listen at the back of the engine (N47/N20 chains).
- [ ] Ask for invoices for chain work, oil changes at sensible intervals (we suggest 10,000 miles or yearly) and the EGR recall.
- [ ] Check coolant level and look for oil weeps around the rocker cover and filter housing.
- [ ] On a Touring, check rear ride height after the car has stood.
- [ ] On automatics, check for smooth, prompt shifts from cold and hot.
- [ ] Test every camera, sensor, the iDrive screen and the parking assistance.
- [ ] Run a full recall check and an MOT history check by reg.
- [ ] Check for a full-size or run-flat tyre mismatch and uneven wear (alignment).
Sources & further reading
- Wikipedia: BMW N47 and BMW N20 (engine facts)
- Autocar: BMW recalls 268,000 diesel models in UK over fire risk
- Which?: BMW extends UK recall over fire risk
- Vehicle Recall UK: R/2018/258 and R/2018/341 (BMW EGR cooler, mirror of DVSA data)
- PistonHeads: F10 520d timing chain discussion
- Car Checker: BMW 520d G30 and 530d F10
- ReDriven: used BMW 5 Series (G30) review
- RecallClear: BMW 5 Series recall list (mirror of DVSA data)
- GOV.UK: Check if a vehicle has been recalled
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.