The sixth generation of the BMW 5 Series consists of the BMW F10 (saloon version), F18 (long-wheelbase saloon), BMW F11 (estate, marketed as Touring) and BMW F07 (fastback/hatchback, marketed as Gran Turismo) executive cars, and was produced by BMW from January 2010 (for the 2011 model year) to 2017. The F10 was launched on 20 March 2010 to domestic market and the F11 in summer 2010. The F07 Gran Turismo was produced from early September 2009 to 2017, being launched in the domestic German market in late October 2009.
The F10 5 Series shares a platform with the F01 7 Series full-size luxury saloon, and the F12 6 Series executive-sized grand tourer. The F10 generation is the first 5 Series to offer a hybrid drivetrain, a turbocharged V8 engine, an 8-speed automatic transmission, a dual-clutch transmission (in the M5), active rear-wheel steering (called "Integral Active Steering"), electric power steering, double-wishbone front suspension, an LCD instrument cluster (called "Black Panel Display"), and automatic parking (called "Parking Assistant"). A long-wheelbase saloon version (model code F18) was sold in China, Mexico, Turkey and the Middle East. Introduced in 2011, the M5 model is powered by the BMW S63 twin-turbocharged V8 engine coupled to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. The Gran Turismo (F07) is the first and only 5 Series to be produced in a fastback body style with a hatchback boot opening.
In February 2017, the G30 5 Series was released as the successor to the F10. Based on the G30 platform, the G32 6 Series Gran Turismo succeeded the F07.
Development From November 2005 to December 2006, the exterior was designed by Jacek Fröhlich under the leadership of BMW Group Design Director Adrian van Hooydonk. The Touring version was designed by Jean-Francois Alexandre Huet. The Gran Turismo version was designed by Christopher Weil.
The F10 was unveiled in Munich on 23 November 2009.
Body styles
Saloon (F10) The Saloon was the second body style to be launched. It was unveiled at the Munich Olympic Stadium on November 23, 2009 and production began in January 2010. The Saloon models have a length of .
Touring (F11) The Touring model was unveiled at the 2010 Leipzig Auto Show and production began in January 2010.
Gran Turismo (F07) The 5 Series Gran Turismo is a 5-door fastback body style which began production in September 2009. It has a length of and is longer and taller than the 5 Series Saloon/Touring models and has a hatchback rear door. The tailgate has a unique two-way opening mechanism, which may be opened in a traditional car-like fashion, or the entire hatch may be open in a traditional SUV fashion for larger objects. The 5 Series GT features frameless doors, which is a first for a four-door BMW model.
Although sold as part of the 5 Series range, the Gran Turismo chassis shares the same wheelbase and track widths as the F01 7 Series. Due to its tall proportions the F07 has been described as a "7 Series hatchback". It has a wheelbase of , a front track width of and a rear track width of . When combined with the raised roofline, this results in more passenger and luggage space than the E61 5 Series wagon/estate and similar headroom to the E70 X5 and F01 7 Series. The cargo capacity is with the seats raised, or with the rear seats flat and the partition stowed. All F07 models use an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The 5 Series GT was introduced as the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show and the production version was unveiled at the 2009 International Motor Show Germany in Frankfurt and sales began in the fourth quarter of 2009. In most countries, the 5 Series GT was sold along with previous generation E60/E61 5 Series Saloon and wagon/estate models, therefore the 5 Series GT was the first model of the F10/F11/F07 generation to be launched. The F07 535i GT was the first model to use the N55 turbocharged straight-six engine, which replaced the N54. Sales of all-wheel drive ("xDrive") models began in June 2010.
For the following G30 generation, the Gran Turismo models were moved to the 6 Series model range and renamed the G32 6 Series Gran Turismo.
Long wheelbase saloon (F18) A long wheelbase (LWB) version of the BMW 5 Series Saloon was developed for the Chinese market, as a lower cost alternative to the 7 Series. The wheelbase of the F18 is extended by over the standard 5 Series Saloon, resulting in an overall length of .
The F18 was assembled at BMW Plant Shenyang in Shenyang.
Styling The F10 uses a more traditional BMW exterior styling approach compared with the controversial styling of its E60 5 Series predecessor. The "Bangle butt" is removed, a Hofmeister kink is present, a traditional kidney grille is used and crease lines are used on the bonnet (similar to the E39 5 Series and earlier generations). Reviews of the styling have ranged from slightly bland, to handsome and muscular.
Equipment
The interior features an updated iDrive system and a increase in rear knee-room for rear passengers. The F10 saw the return of the centre console being angled towards the driver, as used on the 5 Series from 1981 to 2003.
The equipment available on the F10 includes regenerative braking, a driving mode selector ("Dynamic Drive Control" with Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes, an 80 GB hard disk for navigation data and music storage, Head-Up Display, radar cruise control which can completely stop the car and accelerate from a standstill ("Active Cruise Control with Stop and Go"), blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning system, night vision rear-wheel steering ("Integral Active Steering"), side-facing cameras in the front bumper ("Sideview"), a virtual overhead graphic of the car to assist with parking ("Topview") and speed limit display, which uses a camera to recognise street signs and display the speed limit.
The full set of M Performance parts can be fitted to all Models with the M sport trim. These include blacked out grilles, a carbon fibre splitter, spoiler for Touring models, carbon fibre mirrors, side skirts only for M Sport models and an M Performance silencer for 535i models.
Engines Petrol The factory ratings are as follows:
ModelYearsEngine Power Torque Notes 520i 2011–2016 N20B20 turbo I4 at 5,200–6,250 rpm at 1,250–4,500 rpm 523i 2010–2011 N52B25 N.A. I6 at 6,400 rpm at 2,750 rpm Asia only N53B30 N.A. I6 at 6,100 rpm at 1,500–4,250 rpm Europe only 528i 2010–2011 N53B30 N.A. I6 at 6,600 rpm at 2,600–5,000 rpm Europe onlyN52B30 N.A. I6 180 KW (243 PS; 240hp) at 6,600 rpm 310 N •m (229 lb •ft) at 2,750 rpm || 2012–2016 N20B20 turbo I4 at 5,000–6,500 rpm at 1,250–4,800 rpm 530i 2011–2013 N53B30 N.A. I6 at 6,100 rpm at 1,600–4,250 rpm Europe only 535i 2009–2017 N55B30 turbo I6 at 5,800 rpm at 1,200–5,000 rpm 550i 2009–2013 N63B44 turbo V8 at 5,500–6,400 rpm at 1,750–4,500 rpm 2014–2017 at 5,500–6,400 rpm F07 version began in 2012 M5 2012–2016 S63B44TU turbo V8 at 6,000–7,000 rpm at 1,500–5,700 rpm ActiveHybrid 52011–2016 N55B30 turbo I6 at 5,800 rpm at 1,200–5,000 rpm electric combined
In Europe, the naturally aspirated six-cylinder models used the direct-injection BMW N53 engine, however many countries outside Europe continued to use the older BMW N52 engine instead, due to high sulfur levels in the locally available petrol. In Greece and Turkey, the 520i model used the 1.6 litre version of the BMW N20 four-cylinder engine, which produced at 5,000 rpm and at 1,500–4,700 rpm.
Diesel The factory ratings are as follows:
ModelYearsEngine Power Torque518d 2013–2014N47D20 turbo I4 at 4,000 rpm at 1,750 rpm 2014–2016 B47D20 turbo I4 at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2,500 rpm520d 2010–2014 N47D20 turbo I4 at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2,750 rpm 2014–2017 B47D20 turbo I4 at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2,750 rpm525d 2010–2011 N57D30 turbo I6 at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2,500 rpm 2011–2016 N47D20 turbo I4 at 4,400 rpm at 1,500–2,500 rpm 530d 2009–2011 N57D30O0 single-turbo I6 at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–3,000 rpm 2011–2017 N57D30O1 single-turbo I6 at 4,000 rpm at 1,500–3,000 rpm 535d 2010–2011 N57D30T0 twin-turbo I6 at 4,400 rpm at 1,500–2,500 rpm 2011–2017 N57D30T1 twin-turbo I6 at 4,400 rpm at 1,500–2,500 rpmM550d 2012–2016 N57S tri-turbo I6 at 4,000–4,400 rpm at 2,000–3,000 rpm
For the 530d model, an M Performance Kit was offered in some markets, which increased power to and torque to .
North American 535d models used the engine from the European-specification 530d models.
Drivetrain Transmission options for the model range (excluding the M5) were a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed ZF 8HP automatic. The M5 uses a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (with a 6-speed manual also being available in the United States and Canada).
Chassis and suspension The F10 uses the same platform as the F01 7 Series. Front suspension is double wishbone with double-pivot lower arms (previous 5 Series generations used Macpherson struts). Rear suspension is a multi-link design with 5 links called "Integral V".
Most suspension components are made from aluminium. The chassis is constructed from various grades of steel and the body is 55% stiffer than its E60 predecessor. Compared with the aluminium front structure used by the E60, the F10's steel components are heavier but cheaper to produce and repair. To reduce weight, the bonnet, front fenders and doors are made from aluminium.
The rear-wheel drive version of the 2011 535i has a rollover risk of 9.3% and a 5 of 5 stars overall safety rating.
M5 model
The M5 model of the F10 generation was initially powered by a version of the BMW S63 twin-turbocharged V8 engine rated at at 6,000 – 7,000 rpm and a maximum torque of from 1,500 – 5,750 rpm. The official time is 4.4 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to , which could be increased to if the M Driver's Package was purchased.
A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission ("M-DCT") is used, along with a limited slip differential that can provide torque vectoring between the rear wheels. In North America, the M5 was available with a 6-speed manual transmission, the only market to be offered this option.
In 2014, BMW introduced a "Competition Package" version, with power output raised to and of torque.
Alpina models
Alpina produced two variants of the F10/F11 5 Series, the petrol-engined B5 and diesel-engined D5.
B5 Bi-Turbo
The B5 is based on the 550i and is powered by an Alpina-modified version of the BMW N63 twin-turbo V8 engine. The original B5, which was unveiled at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed, produced and . The transmission is an 8-speed automatic.
Alpina unveiled an updated B5 at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Power had been uprated to and torque to . During 2015, Alpina sold the B5 Bi-Turbo Edition 50, which marked the company's 50th year in operation. The Edition 50 uses an upgraded engine which produces and . The standard B5 received this same engine for the B5's last year of production, 2016.
D5 Bi-Turbo The D5 Bi-Turbo is based on the 535d. It is powered by Alpina-modified version of the BMW N57 turbo straight-6 engine, which produces and .
Special models 530Le (China only)
The 530Le is a plug-in hybrid version F18 long-wheelbase saloon, which was produced solely for the Chinese market.
It was unveiled at the 2014 Guangzhou Shaniry Auto Show. It was powered by BMW's N20 working in conjunction with an electric motor with a maximum output of . In pure-electric mode the 530Le can reach a maximum speed of and has a maximum range of . Combined fuel consumption is .
ActiveHybrid 5
The ActiveHybrid is a hybrid version of the 5 Series based on the 535i Saloon. It was previewed by the Concept 5 Series ActiveHybrid at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and produced from 2011 to 2016.