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Premium midsize car; Built in Germany
  • 4-door hatchback
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear- or all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $18,400 – $54,000*


2010 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo front


2010 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo rear


2010 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo interior


2010 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo


2010 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo interior

Pros:
  • Acceleration (V8)
  • Cargo room
  • Interior materials
  • Ride
Cons:
  • Fuel economy (V8)
  • Non-sporty handling

It’s hard to decide what to think of BMW’s latest genre-bending vehicle. On one hand, it has great V8 power and a relaxed highway ride. The hatchback design is practical, too, and the cabin is appropriately luxurious. At the same time, the 5-Series Gran Turismo was extraordinarily expensive when new and relatively high-priced used. It’s also not particularly fun to drive–an especially disappointing situation for a BMW. A conventional station wagon, such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or BMW’s own X5 SUV, probably makes more sense.

Overview

BMW launched its 5-Series Gran Turismo for 2010 as the latest addition to this German automaker’s midsize car lineup. The Gran Turismo (GT) was a four-door hatchback that shared elements of its basic design with BMW’s larger 7-Series cars. Compared to a 5-Series wagon, the GT had a different powertrain and styling. The 2010 5-Series Gran Turismo came in two rear-wheel-drive forms: 535i and 550i. The 535 was powered by a 300-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine. The 550i held a 400-horsepower turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. Both models used an eight-speed automatic transmission.

This hatchback marked the first application of BMW’s Brake Energy Regeneration System, which was designed to save fuel by allowing the alternator to charge the battery only when the vehicle is decelerating or braking. Standard safety features included antilock braking, traction control, an antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. BMW’s available Active Roll Stabilization was designed to counteract body lean in turns. Also offered was BMW’s Integral Active Steering, which included speed-sensitive rear-wheel steering; a Dynamic Damping Control adaptive suspension; and Driving Dynamics Control, which allows drivers to adjust throttle response, steering assist, and transmission programming. Standard seating was for five, with the rear seat a 40-20-40 split bench that could slide fore and aft up to 3.9 inches to benefit passenger or cargo space. An optional Luxury Rear Seating Package could decrease seating capacity to four but included power-adjustable rear seats, a full-length center console, power rear sunshades, and four-zone automatic climate control. A panoramic sunroof and a navigation system were standard on the 550i. Competitors included the Audi A6 Avant, Mercedes-Benz C-Class wagon, and the new Porsche Panamera.

Yearly Updates

2011 5-Series Gran Turismo
The 5-Series GT lineup expanded to include new all-wheel-drive models, using BMW’s xDrive system.
2012 5-Series Gran Turismo
There were no changes of note to the BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo for 2012.
2013 5-Series Gran Turismo
Despite sluggish sales of the 5-Series Gran Turismo, BMW gave the top-line 550i GT a bit of a boost with some extra horsepower. The base 535i was unchanged.
2014 5-Series Gran Turismo
The 2014 Series 5 GT received cosmetic changes to front and rear ends. LED headlights were a newly optional.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear- or all-wheel drive

Two turbocharged engines have been available in the 5-Series GT. In the 535i model, an inline six-cylinder engine rated at 300 horsepower mates with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In the 550i, a 4.4-liter V8 that produces 400 horsepower also teams with an eight-speed automatic. All models have rear-wheel drive. New all-wheel-drive models arrived for 2011, using BMW’s xDrive system.

Turbocharged dohc I6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/182
Engine HP 300
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 300
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
8-speed automatic

 20/30
Turbocharged dohc V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 4.4/269
Engine HP 400
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 450
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
8-speed automatic

 15/22

 21.5

Road Test

Despite a curb weight exceeding 4,500 pounds, the rear-drive 550i Gran Turismo is quite fast. After a slight delay from a stop, the 550i takes off with authority. Some testers felt that the eight-speed automatic transmission matches well with the engine, while others cited clunky shifts in urban commuting.

Consumer Guide testing averaged 21.5 mpg with more highway driving than city use. All 5-Series GT cars require premium-grade gas.

Even with the optional Sport Package, the 550i does a reasonable job of smothering bumps with the adjustable suspension set in Normal mode. Comfort mode brings some unwanted float and wallow, while Sport mode allows for some banging and crashing over sharp ruts and pavement cracks.

This hatchback is not as sporty as might be expected from a BMW. The GT’s bulky size and top-heavy nature preclude any feel of agility. Steering is nothing special, either. BMW’s Brake Energy Regeneration System compromises smooth braking. Lifting off the throttle at low-to-moderate speeds yields a marked “drag” on the powertrain, which causes the vehicle to lurch rather than smoothly coast.

A refined V8 powertrain and little intrusion from the wind or road make the 550i GT a fine highway cruiser. Even the performance-oriented tires included with the Sport Package kick up little fuss.

High-grade leather, ample soft-touch surfaces, and classy wood trim highlight the GT’s interior. BMW’s “virtual-analog” instrument cluster is quite slick. Though you have to get accustomed to it, the iDrive interface works quite well. Some testers have disliked the number of shortcut buttons around the console control knob, but others believed they make for quicker access to the audio and navigation systems. Using the console cupholders blocks access to some secondary climate controls.

Tall body proportions make for a spacious, airy-feeling cabin. Front headroom and legroom are ample for folks of all sizes. Sharply raked rear glass hurts visibility directly aft and to the rear corners. Generous door openings make for easy entry and exit.

If a Luxury Rear Seating Package is installed, the GT accommodates just two, rather than three, backseat passengers. That setup includes multiple adjustments to dial in a comfortable seating position. Headroom and legroom are as expansive as in most premium large cars.

The GT has more (and more useful) cargo room than BMW’s X6 but less than the brand’s X5 SUV. The power-folding rear seatbacks move painfully slowly and even require a few manual adjustments to maximize the available space. The two-piece tailgate can lift like a traditional hatchback or open with a smaller, more sedan-like aperture. It can be seen as an exercise in over-engineering, but the smaller opening might be preferable to lifting the full, heavy hatch. Front storage is minimal, but the center console on models with the Luxury Rear Seating Package is handy.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2010 BMW 550i w/Sport, Luxury, Rear Seating packages

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 8
80%
Fuel Economy - 5
50%
Ride Quality - 7
70%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 8
80%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Front - 8
80%
Room/Comfort Rear - 7
70%
Cargo Room - 8
80%

Other

Value - 3
30%

Total: 66

Specifications

4-door hatchback
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
120.7 196.8 74.8 61.4
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
63.0 18.5 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
41.4 39.0 40.6 41.8
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2014 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo 4-door hatchback

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Front Passenger Injury - 5
100%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Air conditioner
Description: The front carpet on the passenger side may get wet due to seal failure between the A/C system and the firewall. (2010)
Doors
Description: The doors may not open in below freezing weather due to ice forming in the release cable unless an improved cable that prevents water intrusion was installed. (2010-11)
Engine misfire
Description: Turbocharger might seize because of lack of oil flow. (2010)
Engine noise
Description: On certain vehicles the timing chain may wear prematurely. (2010-12)
Vehicle noise
Description: A whistling noise may come from the center vent when heat is selected due to a fluttering mixing flap in the ducts. (2010-11)
Electrical problem
Description: The audio functions may not work for 2-3 minutes in warm weather when using the USB connector due to a malfunction of the hands-free charger module. (2010)
Software problems
Description: Faulty engine-position-management software may cause engine to go to reduced power mode. (2010-14)
Software problems
Description: Engine can sporadically go into Park or Neutral because of faulty software. (2012)

Recall History

2010 550i Grand Turismo
Description: Certain models may fail to comply with federal safety standard for tire selection and rims; the tire-pressure label may indicate five-passenger seating capacity, but actual capacity (with optional seating package) is four.
2010-11
Description: On cars built from January 12 through July 2, 2010, fuel level sensor within fuel tank could become wedged against the tank, causing fuel gauge to display a larger amount of fuel than is actually present in the tank.
2011 5-Series GT with turbocharged 8-cylinder
Description: Circuit board for the electric auxiliary water pump can overheat, leading the pump to smolder and/or start a fire.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on April 20, 2016.
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