What is the real-world MPG of a BMW 5 series?
Owners report an average of 41.0 mpg across all BMW 5 series engines with data, about 74% of the official combined figure. The engine tables on this page give the figure for each engine and generation.
BMW 5 series Real MPG: what owners actually get
The official figure is what a BMW 5 series managed in a laboratory. These are the figures owners report from the road, engine by engine, for every generation we hold. Add your own at the bottom and the averages get better for the next buyer.
41.0mpg
Real-world average, all engines
74%
of the official combined figure
17–66
Range reported by owners (mpg)
4,494
Owner submissions
BMW 5 Series
| Engine | Official (NEDC) | Official (WLTP) | Real MPG | % of official | Owners report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 520d | 47.9–57.6 | – | 44.5 | 84% | 33.4–55.0 |
| 520d Automatic | 57.6–62.8 | – | 45.4 | 75% | 34.9–54.6 |
| 523i | 37.2–37.7 | – | 26.9 | 72% | – |
| 523i Automatic | 37.2 | – | 30.6 | 82% | 28.9–32.3 |
| 525d | 45.6 | – | 38.0 | 83% | 28.0–46.0 |
| 525d Automatic | 46.3 | – | 33.3 | 72% | 26.0–40.5 |
| 525i | 37.2 | – | 27.5 | 74% | 21.1–34.0 |
| 528i | 36.2 | – | – | – | – |
| 528i Automatic | 37.2 | – | 24.5 | 66% | 20.0–29.4 |
| 530d | 44.1–44.8 | – | 35.6 | 80% | – |
| 530d Automatic | 46.3 | – | 34.6 | 75% | 25.9–40.8 |
| 530i | 35.8 | – | 28.3 | 79% | 21.0–32.8 |
| 535d Automatic | 46.3 | – | 33.7 | 73% | – |
| 535i | 34.0 | – | 26.8 | 79% | 22.0–31.5 |
| 535i Automatic | 37.2 | – | – | – | – |
| 540i | 26.9 | – | 21.7 | 81% | – |
| 550i | 25.9 | – | 23.8 | 92% | 19.7–26.8 |
BMW 5 Series Touring
| Engine | Official (NEDC) | Official (WLTP) | Real MPG | % of official | Owners report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 520d | 46.3–53.3 | – | 43.1 | 87% | 34.0–50.2 |
| 523i | 35.8 | – | – | – | – |
| 525d | 42.8–44.1 | – | 33.6 | 77% | 25.6–40.0 |
| 525i | 35.8 | – | 26.4 | 74% | – |
| 530i | 34.9–35.8 | – | 31.6 | 89% | 30.3–32.8 |
| 535d | 40.9 | – | 35.6 | 87% | 30.5–43.2 |
| 550i | 25.2–26.4 | – | – | – | – |
BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo
| Engine | Official (NEDC) | Official (WLTP) | Real MPG | % of official | Owners report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 520d | 50.4–51.4 | – | 41.6 | 82% | 32.1–47.5 |
| 530d | 48.7 | – | 38.5 | 79% | 32.0–44.1 |
| 530d Automatic | 43.5–47.1 | – | 36.1 | 80% | – |
| 535d | 47.9 | – | 38.9 | 81% | 37.0–41.9 |
| 535d Automatic | 42.2–47.9 | – | 32.8 | 73% | 26.0–38.0 |
| 535i | 34.4 | – | – | – | – |
| 535i Automatic | 31.7–34.4 | – | 28.0 | 85% | – |
| 550i | 30.7 | – | – | – | – |
| 550i Automatic | 25.2–30.7 | – | – | – | – |
BMW 5 Series GT
| Engine | Official (NEDC) | Official (WLTP) | Real MPG | % of official | Owners report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 520d | 50.4–51.4 | – | 41.1 | 81% | – |
| 530d | 48.7 | – | 38.8 | 80% | – |
| 530d Automatic | 43.5–47.1 | – | 35.9 | 79% | – |
| 535d | 47.9 | – | 38.9 | 81% | – |
| 535d Automatic | 42.2–47.9 | – | 32.8 | 73% | – |
| 535i | 34.4 | – | – | – | – |
| 535i Automatic | 31.7–34.4 | – | 28.0 | 85% | – |
| 550i | 30.7 | – | – | – | – |
| 550i Automatic | 25.2–30.7 | – | – | – | – |
BMW 5 Series
| Engine | Official (NEDC) | Official (WLTP) | Real MPG | % of official | Owners report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 518d 143 | 57.6–62.8 | – | 43.0 | 71% | 36.0–50.6 |
| 518d 143 Automatic | 57.6–62.8 | – | 35.2 | 58% | 29.4–44.0 |
| 518d 150 | 60.1–65.7 | – | 47.8 | 76% | 45.6–50.0 |
| 518d 150 Automatic | 61.4–67.3 | – | 44.5 | 69% | 38.0–52.0 |
| 520d 184 Automatic | 60.1 | – | 41.0 | 68% | 32.4–50.3 |
| 520d 190 | 60.1–65.7 | – | 43.4 | 69% | – |
| 520d 190 Automatic | 62.8–68.9 | – | 45.0 | 68% | 34.0–55.0 |
| 520d EfficientDynamics | 62.8 | – | 48.3 | 77% | 37.0–60.2 |
| 520i 184 | 41.5–44.1 | – | 34.7 | 81% | 27.0–42.0 |
| 520i 184 Automatic | 44.1–47.1 | – | 29.6 | 65% | 24.0–37.0 |
| 523i 204 | 37.2 | – | 33.3 | 89% | 29.7–36.0 |
| 525d 204 | 55.4 | – | 31.3 | 56% | 29.0–33.5 |
| 525d 204 Automatic | 57.6 | – | 36.0 | 62% | 33.0–42.1 |
| 525d 218 | 53.3–57.6 | – | 42.6 | 77% | – |
| 525d 218 Automatic | 56.5–60.1 | – | 39.6 | 68% | 29.9–49.0 |
| 528i 245 Automatic | 43.5–46.3 | – | 33.6 | 75% | 26.0–40.0 |
| 528i 258 | 40.4–42.8 | – | 28.4 | 68% | 21.4–33.0 |
| 528i 258 Automatic | 44.8 | – | – | – | – |
| 530d 245 | 47.9–49.6 | – | 38.0 | 78% | 28.0–45.7 |
| 530d 258 Automatic | 51.4–55.4 | – | 39.3 | 74% | 29.0–48.0 |
| 530i 272 | 36.2–37.2 | – | 31.2 | 85% | – |
| 530i 272 Automatic | 37.2–38.2 | – | 29.1 | 77% | 25.0–32.2 |
| 535d 299 Automatic | 52.3 | – | 35.9 | 69% | – |
| 535d 313 Automatic | 50.4–52.3 | – | 38.0 | 74% | 30.0–46.0 |
| 535i 306 | 34.9 | – | 33.4 | 96% | 30.7–36.0 |
| 535i 306 Automatic | 36.7–37.7 | – | 30.6 | 82% | – |
| 550i 450 | 32.1–32.8 | – | – | – | – |
BMW 5 series touring f11 (2010 - on)
| Engine | Official (NEDC) | Official (WLTP) | Real MPG | % of official | Owners report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 518d | 56.5 | – | – | – | – |
| 518d 150 | 58.9–60.1 | – | – | – | – |
| 518d 150 Automatic | 60.1–62.8 | – | 41.0 | 67% | – |
| 518d Automatic | 55.4 | – | 40.0 | 72% | – |
| 520d | 55.4–62.8 | – | 44.0 | 75% | – |
| 520d 190 | 58.9–61.4 | – | 45.2 | 75% | – |
| 520d 190 Automatic | 60.1–62.8 | – | 41.6 | 68% | – |
| 520d Automatic | 55.4–57.6 | – | 43.6 | 77% | – |
| 520i | 40.4–42.2 | – | – | – | – |
| 520i Automatic | 43.5–44.8 | – | 32.3 | 73% | – |
| 523i | 60.1 | – | – | – | – |
| 523i Automatic | 40.4–43.5 | – | 27.8 | 66% | – |
| 525d | 52.3–60.1 | – | 38.0 | 68% | – |
| 525d Automatic | 55.4–57.6 | – | 40.7 | 72% | – |
| 528i | 39.2–55.4 | – | 33.8 | 71% | – |
| 528i Automatic | 40.4–44.1 | – | 33.5 | 79% | – |
| 530d | 47.1–60.1 | – | 39.3 | 73% | – |
| 530d Automatic | 51.4–58.9 | – | 38.4 | 70% | – |
| 530i | 35.3–35.8 | – | – | – | – |
| 530i Automatic | 36.2–37.2 | – | – | – | – |
| 535d | 49.6–50.4 | – | 33.6 | 67% | – |
| 535d Automatic | 53.3–60.1 | – | 36.8 | 65% | – |
| 535i | 34.0–60.1 | – | – | – | – |
| 535i Automatic | 36.7–42.8 | – | 30.3 | 76% | – |
| 5501 | 32.1 | – | – | – | – |
| 550i | 26.4–32.1 | – | – | – | – |
BMW 5 Series
| Engine | Official (NEDC) | Official (WLTP) | Real MPG | % of official | Owners report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 518d Automatic | 60.1–62.7 | – | – | – | – |
| 520d Automatic | 62.7–68.8 | – | 47.1 | 72% | – |
| 520d EfficientDynamics Automatic | 72.4 | – | 51.0 | 70% | 42.0–64.0 |
| 520d MHEV Automatic | – | 53.3–58.9 | 53.5 | 95%* | 46.0–66.0 |
| 520d MHEV xDrive Automatic | – | 49.6–55.4 | 50.2 | 96%* | – |
| 520d xDrive Automatic | 58.8–62.7 | – | 44.0 | 72% | 35.0–54.0 |
| 520i Automatic | 48.7 | – | 35.3 | 73% | 27.0–44.6 |
| 520i MHEV Automatic | – | 42.2–44.8 | 47.8 | 110%* | 46.0–51.3 |
| 530d Automatic | 54.3–60.1 | – | 42.6 | 74% | 34.0–53.0 |
| 530d MHEV xDrive Automatic | – | 47.9–51.4 | 47.8 | 96%* | 42.9–51.0 |
| 530d xDrive Automatic | 50.4–53.2 | – | 41.5 | 80% | 31.5–51.0 |
| 530e | – | 176.6–201.8 | 47.1 | 25%* | 38.3–63.6 |
| 530e xDrive | – | 166.2–176.6 | 33.0 | 19%* | 32.0–34.0 |
| 530i Automatic | 47.8–48.7 | – | 36.3 | 75% | 27.9–41.0 |
| 540i MHEV xDrive Automatic | – | 35.8 | – | – | – |
| 540i xDrive Automatic | 36.2–39.2 | – | 27.9 | 74% | – |
| 545e xDrive | – | 156.9–166.2 | 35.9 | 22%* | – |
| 550e xDrive | – | 282.5–353.1 | – | – | – |
| M550i xDrive | – | 36.6 | – | – | – |
BMW 5 Series
| Engine | Official (NEDC) | Official (WLTP) | Real MPG | % of official | Owners report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 518d Automatic | 60.1–62.7 | – | – | – | – |
| 520d Automatic | 62.7–68.8 | – | 47.1 | 72% | – |
| 520d EfficientDynamics Automatic | 72.4 | – | 52.0 | 72% | – |
| 520d xDrive Automatic | 58.8–62.7 | – | 43.3 | 71% | – |
| 520i Automatic | 47.8–48.7 | – | 34.2 | 71% | – |
| 525d Automatic | 56.4–57.6 | – | 46.9 | 82% | – |
| 530d Automatic | 54.3–60.1 | – | 43.6 | 76% | – |
| 530d xDrive Automatic | 50.4–53.2 | – | 41.0 | 79% | – |
| 530e | 141.2 | – | 47.8 | 34% | – |
| 530i Automatic | 47.8–48.7 | – | 35.0 | 73% | – |
| 540i xDrive Automatic | 36.2–39.2 | – | 28.3 | 75% | – |
BMW 5 Series Touring
| Engine | Official (NEDC) | Official (WLTP) | Real MPG | % of official | Owners report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 520d Automatic | 58.8–60.1 | – | 46.2 | 78% | 36.0–57.7 |
| 520d MHEV Automatic | – | 53.3 | 51.0 | 96%* | 46.0–49.0 |
| 520d MHEV xDrive Automatic | – | 49.6–50.4 | – | – | – |
| 520d xDrive Automatic | 55.3–56.4 | – | 40.9 | 73% | 32.6–49.0 |
| 525d Automatic | 54.3–60.1 | – | 41.2 | 72% | 40.3–42.0 |
| 530d Automatic | 51.4 | – | 42.9 | 83% | 33.0–48.0 |
| 530d xDrive Automatic | 47.9 | – | 42.0 | 88% | 32.1–51.4 |
| 530e | – | 176.6–188.3 | 65.0 | 36%* | – |
| 530e xDrive | – | 156.9 | – | – | – |
| 530i Automatic | 45.5 | – | 35.7 | 78% | 31.2–39.0 |
| 540i xDrive Automatic | 35.7 | – | 28.1 | 79% | 22.0–33.5 |
All figures in miles per gallon (UK). “Owners report” is the spread of individual submissions for that engine. * Measured against the WLTP figure rather than NEDC.
Add your BMW 5 series Real MPG
What does yours actually do? Read it off the trip computer over a full tank or work it out from litres and miles. No postcode, no sign-up. The more people add, the better the averages get, and this page stays free.
BMW 5 series fuel economy questions
Why is the BMW 5 series real MPG lower than the official figure?
Official figures come from a laboratory test cycle, not the road. Cold starts, short trips, hills, load, tyres and driving style all cost fuel the test does not see. A gap of 10 to 30 per cent is normal; a much bigger gap on one engine usually points at a fault, a heavy right foot, or a diesel that never gets warm.
Where did the Honest John BMW 5 series Real MPG page go?
Honest John closed in August 2026 and its Real MPG section went with it. This page is where the BMW 5 series figures now live: rebuilt from the archived Honest John dataset, with the official figures kept alongside, and reopened for new submissions. CarAdCheck is not affiliated with Honest John or Volkswagen Financial Services.
Where the BMW 5 series figures come from
If you used the Honest John Real MPG section before the site closed in 2026, this is where the BMW 5 series figures now live. The owner-reported averages above were rebuilt from the archived Honest John dataset (archived page, 2026-08) alongside the official NEDC and WLTP figures and new submissions from CarAdCheck readers, and the section is open so they keep improving. Real-world figures also feed the running-cost estimate in our free advert check.
CarAdCheck is not affiliated with Honest John or Volkswagen Financial Services. How we rebuilt Real MPG.
Other BMW models
Before you go and see it
Fuel economy is one line on the BMW 5 series running-cost sheet. These guides cover the checks that stop you buying the wrong one.
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