BMW 5 Series MPG by year — every rating on record
The BMW 5 Series has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1984 to 1988. Across those years its best rated version returned 24 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 12 mpg (1988). The EPA record holds 23 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 4 | 20 mpg | 18 mpg | #26 of 36 (29th pct) | n/a | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1985 | 5 | 24 mpg | 17 mpg | #26 of 45 (43th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Diesel, Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1986 | 5 | 23 mpg | 16 mpg | #29 of 48 (40th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Diesel, Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1987 | 4 | 20 mpg | 16 mpg | #41 of 57 (29th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1988 | 5 | 19 mpg | 12 mpg | #39 of 53 (27th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular, Premium | Compact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The BMW 5 Series placed highest in 1984 at #26 of 36, and lowest in 1987 at #41 of 57. It spent 0 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 23 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 3.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 9 | 17 | 12 | 958.3 | 24.8 | $6,450 | 740.5833333333334 | n/a |
| 1988 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 14 | 19 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $3,900 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1988 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 15 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1988 | 2.7L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) (MPFI) | 17 | 22 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1988 | 2.7L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) (MPFI) | 17 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1987 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 15 | 20 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $3,900 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1987 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 14 | 20 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $3,900 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.7L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) (MPFI) | 16 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1987 | 2.7L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) (MPFI) | 18 | 22 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1986 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 15 | 20 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $3,900 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1986 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 14 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1986 | 2.7L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) (MPFI) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1986 | 2.7L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) (MPFI) | 18 | 22 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1986 | 2.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Diesel | (DSL,TRBO) (NO-CAT), turbocharged, Diesel | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 15.5 | $3,900 | 442.60869565217394 | n/a |
| 1985 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 15 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1985 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 14 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.7L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.7L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 18 | 23 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1985 | 2.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Diesel | 2.4L 6-cyl, Diesel | 21 | 28 | 24 | 479.2 | 14.9 | $3,750 | 424.1666666666667 | n/a |
| 1984 | 3.2L 6-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 15 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1984 | 3.2L 6-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 15 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.7L 6-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1984 | 2.7L 6-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 4 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 → 1985 | 20 → 24 mpg | +4 mpg | 479 gal |
| 1985 → 1986 | 24 → 23 mpg | -1 mpg | 500 gal |
| 1986 → 1987 | 23 → 20 mpg | -3 mpg | 575 gal |
| 1987 → 1988 | 20 → 19 mpg | -1 mpg | 605 gal |
What 5 Series fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1988 BMW 5 Series burns 605 to 958 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,816 | $2,875 | $1,059 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,118 | $3,354 | $1,236 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,421 | $3,833 | $1,412 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1988 model year is $3,300 to $6,450 a year in fuel, or $5,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Compact Cars
Across the 498 nameplates EPA classifies as Compact Cars, the median best combined rating is 26 mpg. At 19 mpg the BMW 5 Series is 7 mpg below the median, which is worth about $570 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Compact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other BMW nameplates
Every BMW model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.