2021 BMW 5 Series

BMW 5 Series

BMW’s 5 Series has always been the business-class ticket for execs who want to make the right impression without shouting about it. It’s the sedan you spot gliding up the M1, all understated muscle, giving the E-Class a knowing nod and making the Volvo S90 look like a left-field art project. There’s not a new one in sight on the local market right now—every single listing is used, which says a lot about value retention and demand in this segment. Prices? You’re looking at anything from R149,500 for an older, well-lived example, up to R1,199,900 for something nearly showroom-fresh, but expect most options to cluster near the R367,500 mark. SA buyers can pick between petrol and diesel, and even hunt down a manual if they’re so inclined, though most prefer the ease of a semi-auto for traffic-heavy commutes. On paper at least, the 520d M Sport is where the smart money goes. Three out of seven listings wear that badge, with the price swing reflecting everything from F10s with stories to tell, up to G30s that still smell new. There’s a G30 520d M Sport at R367,500 with about 110,000 km, and that’s actually typical mileage for cars spanning 2006 to 2025. The 520d’s popularity isn’t just about badge snobbery—diesel torque makes more sense for those who rack up kilos between Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town, and fuel prices being what they are, that matters. The E-Class leans all boardroom, the A6 tries to be the hooligan, but the 5 Series sits perfectly in the middle, and it’s what the 5 Series should have been from the start.