BMW Buyer's Guide

Comprehensive Used Car Analysis
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5 Series G30 / G31

5 Series G30 / G31

G30 • 2017–2023 • Sedan, Touring
Engines: 4 Issues: 11 Reliability: 73%
4
Engine Options
11
Known Issues
0
Critical Issues
73%
Reliability Score

Facelift (LCI) – 2020

  • Larger kidney grilles
  • Revised headlights and tail lights
  • Updated iDrive 7 with larger touchscreen
  • New mild-hybrid 48V options
73% – Good

Engines

B48B20 – 2.0L Turbo Petrol

530i • 252 hp • 350 Nm
Displacement 2.0L
Layout I4
Fuel Petrol
Transmission 8-Speed Automatic (ZF 8HP)
Modular engine architectureTwinPower Turbo (twin-scroll)Valvetronic IVDirect injectionDouble-VANOS
Known Issues1 issue
medium Coolant System Weakness Occasional (~15%)
Electric water pump or thermostat may fail prematurely, particularly on early production units.
Typical Mileage
60,000–100,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€400–€800
DIY Friendly
✗ Specialist
Overheating warningCoolant lossReduced power

B58B30 – 3.0L Turbo Petrol

540i • 340 hp • 450 Nm
Displacement 3.0L
Layout I6
Fuel Petrol
Transmission 8-Speed Automatic (ZF 8HP)
Modular engine architectureTwinPower Turbo (twin-scroll)Valvetronic IVDirect injection + port injection (gen2)Closed-deck block
Known Issues1 issue
medium Valve Cover Leak (Early Production) Occasional (~15%)
Early B58 engines can develop a valve cover gasket leak. Generally well-sorted on later production.
Typical Mileage
60,000–100,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€300–€500
DIY Friendly
✓ Yes
Oil smellSeepage around valve cover

B47D20 – 2.0L Diesel

520d • 190 hp • 400 Nm
Displacement 2.0L
Layout I4
Fuel Diesel
Transmission 8-Speed Automatic (ZF 8HP)
Modular engine architectureCommon-rail solenoid injectionVariable geometry turboAluminium blockFront-mounted timing chain
Known Issues3 issues
high EGR Cooler Leak Moderate (~20%)
EGR cooler can develop internal leaks, mixing coolant into the exhaust system.
Typical Mileage
80,000–150,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€500–€1,000
DIY Friendly
✗ Specialist
Coolant lossWhite exhaust smokeOverheating
medium Injector Seal Leak Moderate (~25%)
Copper injector seals deteriorate, causing a black tar-like residue around injectors and diesel smell.
Typical Mileage
80,000–130,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€200–€400
DIY Friendly
✓ Yes
Diesel smellBlack residue around injectorsRough idle
medium EGR Valve Clogging Common (~30%)
EGR valve clogs with carbon, especially on cars doing mostly short trips.
Typical Mileage
80,000–130,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€300–€600
DIY Friendly
✓ Yes
Reduced powerRough idleEML light

N57D30 – 3.0L Diesel

530d, 540d • 265–340 hp • 620–680 Nm
Displacement 3.0L
Layout I6
Fuel Diesel
Transmission 8-Speed Automatic (ZF 8HP)
Common-rail piezo injectionSingle/bi-turbo/tri-turbo variantsAluminium blockVariable geometry turbo
Known Issues4 issues
medium Turbo Boost Pipe Leak Common (~25%)
Aluminium boost pipes develop cracks at crimp joints, causing loss of boost pressure.
Typical Mileage
80,000–150,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€200–€500
DIY Friendly
✓ Yes
Loss of boostWhistling noiseReduced power
medium Oil Leak from Oil Pan Gasket Moderate (~20%)
Oil pan gasket seeps over time, causing oil drips.
Typical Mileage
100,000–180,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€300–€600
DIY Friendly
✗ Specialist
Oil dripsOil stains under car
high Injector Failure Moderate (~20%)
Fuel injectors develop faults causing misfires and rough running.
Typical Mileage
100,000–180,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€500–€1,200
DIY Friendly
✗ Specialist
Rough runningMisfiresBlack smoke
high EGR Cooler Failure Moderate (~20%)
EGR cooler can crack, leaking coolant into the exhaust system.
Typical Mileage
100,000–180,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€600–€1,200
DIY Friendly
✗ Specialist
Coolant lossWhite smokeEGR codes

Common Issues (G30-specific)

Electrical 2

medium 48V Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator Issues Moderate (~20%)
The integrated starter-generator on 48V mild-hybrid models can fail, causing start-stop malfunction and warning lights.
Typical Mileage
60,000–120,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€500–€1,200
Category
Electrical
Start-stop failureBattery warningRough restarts
low Display Key Battery Drain Moderate (~15%)
The optional touchscreen display key drains its internal battery quickly.
Typical Mileage
N/A – age related
Est. Repair Cost
€0–€300
Category
Electrical
Key not respondingFrequent charging neededRemote functions unavailable

Wear Items

B48B20 – Wear Items

530i

Spark Plugs Every 60,000 km
NewReplace
Replacement Cost€80–€150
Wear Factor50%
Brake Pads (Front) 30,000–50,000 km
NewReplace
Replacement Cost€150–€400
Wear Factor55%

B58B30 – Wear Items

540i

Spark Plugs Every 60,000 km
NewReplace
Replacement Cost€120–€200
Wear Factor50%

B47D20 – Wear Items

520d

DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) 150,000–250,000 km
NewReplace
Replacement Cost€800–€2,000
Wear Factor40%
Glow Plugs 80,000–120,000 km
NewReplace
Replacement Cost€100–€250
Wear Factor45%

N57D30 – Wear Items

530d, 540d

DPF 150,000–200,000 km
NewReplace
Replacement Cost€800–€2,500
Wear Factor40%
Glow Plugs 80,000–120,000 km
NewReplace
Replacement Cost€100–€250
Wear Factor50%
AdBlue System Refill every 15,000 km; pump at ~150,000 km
NewReplace
Replacement Cost€200–€800
Wear Factor40%

All Variants

All Variants

Complete list of model variants for G30 / G31

ModelEngineDisplacementLayoutPowerTorqueTransmission
530i B48B20 2.0LI4252 hp350 Nm Automatic
540i B58B30 3.0LI6340 hp450 Nm Automatic
520d B47D20 2.0LI4190 hp400 Nm Automatic
530d N57D30 3.0LI6265–340 hp620–680 Nm Automatic
540d N57D30 3.0LI6265–340 hp620–680 Nm Automatic