BMW 5 Series F11

When talking about buying a BMW car, people’s opinions are divided into 2 categories. The first one talks about prestige, speed and other advantages of the car, others point to the high cost of maintenance and possible breakdowns. Both groups are partly right when it comes to BMW F11. The model is considered a kind of breakthrough in the 5th class of cars. The main competitor was Mercedes Benz, which BMW 5er VI F10/F11/F07 bypassed in 2013. Other equipment will also impress the owner. However, by 5 years of mileage, the complexity of the design of the car leads to an increase in the cost of maintenance. In some cases, difficulties arise after 60-70 thousand mileage. It all depends on the peculiarities of use and driving style.

Appearance

From the photo of BMW F11 it is immediately clear that the body is made qualitatively. The car has bi-xenon headlights. The risk of the formation of corrosion hearth is minimal. Even after road accidents, rust does not often develop. The front part is made of plastic and aluminum, there is simply nothing to rust. The suspension cups are cast aluminum. Most of the non-bearing elements are made of plastic. The doors are also aluminum. The owner will be pleased with a glass sliding sunroof with electric drive. The steel part of the body is protected by high-quality paint coating. In vulnerable places there are plastic panels. Inside protection is provided by special foam. There are almost no dangerous places. This is a drain in the area of the rear doors, where water can stagnate and sealant can be destroyed. The defect was not eliminated even after the recall campaign. For this reason, when driving in humid climates, it is recommended to check this point or apply a layer of sealant to the hole. Water penetrates the drains under the windshield. Corrosion hotspots only occur after an accident or with prolonged use in a humid environment.

The longitudinal members are made of steel, the entire front end will not fall off. However, the number of bearing seams has increased. When buying, it is recommended to check the seam of the mudguard and the spar from the bottom, to make sure that the fastening of the stretchers in the area of the motor is reliable. They are most susceptible to the corrosion process.  After an accident, it is recommended to use gluing and riveting elements. Welding is undesirable. This is explained by boron steels.

Engine

Any motor with less than 100k mileage does not give a hoot. There is no oil consumption. On average, after 3 years of operation of the car, the V8 has an increase in the consumption of oily fluid. BMW 5 Series F11 show better performance with a turbine, which is explained by not too high working temperature. It will be possible to delay the occurrence of appetite for oil in the motor, if you replace it every 7-10 thousand kilometers of mileage. The main disadvantage of motors on BMW 523i F11 is a strained functioning of the cooling system. If the radiators are dirty, its rapid wear begins. If the car is more than 3 years old, it is required to monitor the level of cooling fluid and the integrity of the radiators. Dense layout leads to rapid failure of various sensors. The cooling system begins to fall apart. The motor gaskets also cannot withstand such a high operating temperature.

In urban operation, other operating components suffer from similar problems. Elements for lubrication are required to be changed periodically. If there are failures in the oil level sensor, the internal combustion engine is thrown out. When buying a used BMW F11 520d is required to pay attention to oil control and the presence or absence of knocking.

On gasoline versions of direct injection motors, the main difficulty is the need for frequent replacement of injectors. However, complaints about the quality of service appear only after the warranty period has expired. Until then, the owner does not face serious difficulties. Any engine other than the B8 H63 is considered reliable. Especially worth noting is the BMW F11 Touring on the diesel “six”.

Late year motors have no timing belt difficulties. Engines released in 2014 are characterized by quiet and unobtrusive operation. Gasoline fours came to replace the previously popular six-cylinder ones. The first are characterized by a special design of the CMM, which has displaced axes of rotation and piston pin. Motors are characterized by a twinscroll turbine, the ability to adjust the oil pump. Cylinders are made entirely of aluminum. Quarters provide higher power and torque, compared to atmospheric counterparts. They are characterized by good boost up to 350 horsepower.

Engine designs differ in terms of injection system and different compression ratio. The resource of the piston group is limited to 250 thousand kilometers. Owners of BMW 530d F11 talk about the similar reliability of the timing and oil pump drive. At low mileage, the problems of the car are minimal. The resource of most nodes ends in the same way. To restore the car will have to spend more than 350 thousand rubles. Diesel and gasoline units on four cylinders are distinguished by a lower price. A powerful and reliable motor is the N57. It is characterized by a large range in technical characteristics of F11. In general, the engine lives a long time and will not let you down early.

So-called purists can opt for one of the inline six-cylinder units. They are distinguished by their classic ride and traction character. However, high-mileage motors will have more problems.

Interior

After the restyling of the BMW 5 VI F10 F11 F07, the interior has not undergone any major changes. The owner will also be greeted by a strict laconic style. The manufacturer concentrated on the driver’s seat. The interior is built around it. The owner gets comfortable access to all controls. Multifunctional steering wheel allows you to choose the appropriate position. The driver’s seat is characterized by a high level of comfort. The seat is comfortable, the dashboard has the latest technology, such as comfortable backlighting. The car owner can order a panel with a 10+ inch display. The interior of the car is made according to its monetary value. However, the best varieties of leather wear out quickly in practical conditions. According to reviews, the BMW 5 Series F11 has light-colored Nappa leather that wears out faster than others. There are no other problems in the interior. From time to time locks, darkening of mirrors make themselves known. The dashboard becomes more mobile with mileage, which is explained by weakened fastening bolts.

The main drawback is considered to be the multimedia upgrade to NBT, which is characterized by many glitches. In BMW 5 Series VI F10 F11 F07 owners will meet with problems of closing the trunk through the button of the saloon, disabling the Start/Stop button and making any video recordings from a flash drive. Sometimes the plug-in adapter with USB interface malfunctions. Some people also note problems with the dual-zone climate control, which comes with SE.

A large-bodied driver may initially feel cramped, but this will quickly pass. The owner will also need to adapt to the iDrive system. The front passenger gets a lot of free space, which is not the case with those who ride in the back. No more than 4 people can move comfortably in the car. This is due to the large size of the transmission tunnel.

The two passengers in the rear will enjoy all the benefits of the vehicle. The larger wheelbase gives comfort to the legs. There are also electric seat position controllers. The owner of the car will be pleased with the volume of the trunk. In the station wagon it is 560 liters, in the sedan – 520. When folding the rear row seats, the volume increases 3 times. The large size of the trunk allows you to transport oversized cargo without creating discomfort for rear passengers.

Electronics

The electronics here permeate the entire car, from the suspension to the Professional multimedia system. During the life of the car, it has proved to be quite good. The navigation system Professional works reliably. Failures are rarely noted, but in case of serious problems you will have to spend a good amount of money. As the car ages, it will start to have problems with the electrical part. The owner will be pleased with the BMW EfficientDynamics pointer, marking tracking system, projection display, all-round vision system, Auto Start Stop function.

One of the features is brake energy recovery. This means that voltage is stored when the braking system is used. This results in lower fuel consumption.

Features

The brake system has one disadvantage – short brake pad and disc life. It is explained by their active use for stabilization. There are no complaints about other elements, everything is made qualitatively.

The suspension has little reliability. After 50 thousand km it is necessary to change lower arms in front, shock absorbers serve even less. Pneumatics is characterized by reliability. Disks up to 20 inches are more often installed on the car. The resource of the suspension is limited to a couple of large pits. The main plus is considered comfort during driving. Some people mistakenly believe that the suspension is similar to luxury SUVs, so they do not try to brake in front of the pit. The steering control is kept on electronics. The most problematic place is a cardan of a steering column, which creates a backlash and leads to knocking during movement. The resource of lugs at operation on bad roads is less than 50 thousand kilometers.

The mechanical transmission is generally reliable. Silent blocks fail more often. In case of misalignment, the cardan shaft is damaged. All-wheel drive is characterized by a standard problem with the front axle gearbox. Another disadvantage is the need for frequent oil changes. If the last rule is not observed, the owner will hear unpleasant sounds from the bearings after 100 thousand km.

The motor gears are changed separately from the drive. When buying a car from hand, it is recommended to check these elements. The eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission has a robust design. Depending on the type of automatic transmission, it is possible to support up to 700 Nm of torque. The main feature is the adaptability of gear shifting. The gearbox shifts quickly and smoothly.

Options

The car has 4 configurations for the two-liter engine.

• Basic. The car has rear-wheel drive, the monetary value is 1,899 thousand rubles.  A gasoline engine with a capacity of 184 horsepower is mounted. Up to 100 km accelerates in 7.9 seconds, has active cruise control, front and front airbags, ABS.
• Business, the engine is as on the 2 subsequent completions. Power is 245 horsepower, fuel consumption per 100 km is slightly more, 6.4 liters. Maximum speed is 250 km per hour. The monetary value is 2,479 thousand. Has an all-wheel drive. Characterized by an indication of speed limit.
• M SPORT. Price 2,616 thousand, differs by the air intake control system.
• Luxury. Cash cost of 2,954 thousand rubles, characterized by BMW Night Vision system.

There is a basic configuration for the three-liter internal combustion engine. It has 306 horsepower, fuel consumption of 7.6 liters per 100 kilometers. Acceleration to 100 takes 5.6 seconds. The maximum speed is 250 kilometers per hour.

Also distinguish a set with a 4.4-liter motor. It has a power of 450 horsepower, the consumption per 100 kilometers is 9.2 liters. Acceleration to 100 takes 4.4 seconds. The configuration on a two-liter diesel is characterized by a capacity of 184 horsepower, consumption of 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers, acceleration in 7.9 seconds. The maximum speed is 231 kilometers per hour.

There are 2 configurations on the three-liter diesel. Basic implies 258 horsepower, 5.4 liters of fuel consumption per 100 kilometers.  Luxury has a capacity of 381 horsepower, consumption of 6.2 liters. Acceleration to 100 kilometers takes 4.7 seconds.

Difference between restyling and prerestyling

Comparing the two versions of the car one can notice a number of differences.

• The bumpers have smoother lines.
• The radiator grille has less ribs.
• The front bumper has a chrome insert.
• Changes have been made to the electronic system. Now the car can park without the participation of the car owner. The parking attendant presses the pedals and turns the steering wheel independently.

The interior is practically unchanged. The restyled version has more chrome elements.

Generations and configurations

6 generation – restyled 09.2013 – 12.2016

6 generation 04.2010 – 08.2013

6 generation – restyled 09.2013 – 12.2016

6 generation 04.2010 – 08.2013