BMW 5 Series E39

Fourth generation · 1997–2003 · 7 model years · 14 trims

BMW 5 Series (E39) – exterior Unverified
Photo: BMW 525i (E39, 2003) (55012871210) by Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
All photo credits
  1. Photo: BMW 525i (E39, 2003) (55012871210) by Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Photo: BMW M5 E39 speedometer by inkiboo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Photo: BMW E39 523i Gauges by Untitled, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Photo: BMW E39 523i instrument panel by Untitled, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
All BMW 5 Series generations

Trims by model year

Trim Engine HP Torque Transmission Drive MPG city/hwy (comb) MSRP
2003
525i Naturally Aspirated 2.5L Inline-6 184 175 lb-ft 5-Speed Manual RWD 20/29 $37,600
525iA Naturally Aspirated 2.5L Inline-6 184 175 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic w/StepTronic RWD 20/28 $37,600
530i Naturally Aspirated 3.0L Inline-6 225 214 lb-ft 5-Speed Manual RWD 21/30 $41,100
530iA Naturally Aspirated 3.0L Inline-6 225 214 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic w/StepTronic RWD 19/27 $41,100
540iA Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 290 324 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic RWD 18/24 $51,800
540i Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 290 324 lb-ft 6-Speed Manual RWD 15/23 $55,800
525i Wagon 5AT · Wagon 2.5L 6-cylinder — — 5-speed automatic RWD 17/24 (20) —
525i Wagon 5MT · Wagon 2.5L 6-cylinder — — 5-speed manual RWD 17/24 (19) —
540i Wagon 5AT · Wagon 4.4L 8-cylinder — — 5-speed automatic RWD 15/19 (17) —
2002
525i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.5L Inline-6 184 175 lb-ft 5-Speed Manual RWD 20/29 $35,950
525iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.5L Inline-6 184 175 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic w/StepTronic RWD 19/27 $35,950
530i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 3.0L Inline-6 225 214 lb-ft 5-Speed Manual RWD 21/30 $39,450
530iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 3.0L Inline-6 225 214 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic w/StepTronic RWD 18/26 $39,450
540iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 290 324 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic RWD 18/24 $51,200
540i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 290 324 lb-ft 6-Speed Manual RWD 15/23 $53,900
525i Wagon 5AT · Wagon 2.5L 6-cylinder — — 5-speed automatic RWD 17/24 (19) —
525i Wagon 5MT · Wagon 2.5L 6-cylinder — — 5-speed manual RWD 17/24 (19) —
540i Wagon 5AT · Wagon 4.4L 8-cylinder — — 5-speed automatic RWD 14/19 (16) —
2001
525i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.5L Inline-6 184 175 lb-ft 5-Speed Manual RWD 20/29 $35,400
525iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.5L Inline-6 184 175 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic w/StepTronic RWD 19/27 $35,400
530i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 3.0L Inline-6 225 214 lb-ft 5-Speed Manual RWD 21/30 $39,400
530iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 3.0L Inline-6 225 214 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic w/StepTronic RWD 18/26 $39,400
540iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 282 324 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic RWD 18/24 $51,100
540i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 282 324 lb-ft 6-Speed Manual RWD 15/23 $53,900
525i Wagon 5AT · Wagon 2.5L 6-cylinder — — Automatic 5-spd RWD 17/24 (19) —
525i Wagon 5MT · Wagon 2.5L 6-cylinder — — 5-speed manual RWD 17/24 (20) —
540i Wagon 5AT · Wagon 4.4L 8-cylinder — — 5-speed automatic RWD 14/19 (16) —
2000
528i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.8L Inline-6 193 206 lb-ft 5-Speed Manual RWD 21/29 $38,900
528iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.8L Inline-6 193 206 lb-ft 4-Speed Automatic w/StepTronic RWD 18/26 $38,900
540iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 282 324 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic RWD 18/24 $51,100
540i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 282 324 lb-ft 6-Speed Manual RWD 15/23 $53,900
528i Wagon 4AT · Wagon 2.8L 6-cylinder — — Automatic 4-spd RWD 16/24 (19) —
528i Wagon 5AT · Wagon 2.8L 6-cylinder — — Automatic 5-spd RWD 16/24 (19) —
528i Wagon 5MT · Wagon 2.8L 6-cylinder — — 5-speed manual RWD 16/24 (19) —
540i Wagon 5AT · Wagon 4.4L 8-cylinder — — Automatic 5-spd RWD 14/19 (16) —
1999
528i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.8L Inline-6 193 206 lb-ft 5-Speed Manual RWD 20/29 $38,900
528iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.8L Inline-6 193 206 lb-ft 4-Speed Automatic RWD 18/26 $38,900
540iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 282 324 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic RWD 18/24 $51,100
540i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 282 324 lb-ft 6-Speed Manual RWD 15/23 $53,900
1998
528i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.8L Inline-6 190 206 lb-ft 5-Speed Manual RWD 20/28 $38,900
528iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.8L Inline-6 190 206 lb-ft 4-Speed Automatic RWD 18/26 $38,900
540iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 282 310 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic RWD 18/24 $50,500
540i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 282 310 lb-ft 6-Speed Manual RWD 15/24 $53,300
1997
528i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.8L Inline-6 190 206 lb-ft 5-Speed Manual RWD 19/28 $38,900
528iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 2.8L Inline-6 190 206 lb-ft 4-Speed Automatic RWD 18/26 $38,900
540iA · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 282 310 lb-ft 5-Speed Automatic RWD 18/24 $49,900
540i · Sedan Naturally Aspirated 4.4L V8 282 310 lb-ft 6-Speed Manual RWD 15/24 $52,350

Safety & recalls by model year

YearRecallsNHTSA overall rating
2003 2 —
2002 2 —
2001 2 —
2000 2 —
1999 1 —
1998 2 —
1997 3 —

US-market data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), matched by model year, make and model; the year link opens the full recall list and star ratings.