Tank Ledger

BMW 530i MPG by year — every rating on record

The BMW 530i has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 14 model years, from 1994 to 2021. Across those years its best rated version returned 28 mpg (2020) and its thirstiest returned 17 mpg (1994). The EPA record holds 29 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.

28best combined mpg (2020)
17worst combined mpg (1994)
28latest year best (2021)
29configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1994418 mpg17 mpg#41 of 53 (23th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
1995218 mpg17 mpg#50 of 60 (17th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2001221 mpg19 mpg#41 of 62 (34th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2002222 mpg19 mpg#33 of 64 (49th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2003222 mpg20 mpg#34 of 64 (48th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2004321 mpg20 mpg#21 of 55 (63th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2005321 mpg20 mpg#21 of 56 (64th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2006321 mpg20 mpg#26 of 61 (58th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2007322 mpg20 mpg#23 of 68 (67th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2017127 mpg27 mpg#53 of 110 (52th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2018127 mpg27 mpg#63 of 125 (50th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2019127 mpg27 mpg#69 of 127 (46th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2020128 mpg28 mpg#57 of 124 (54th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2021128 mpg28 mpg#53 of 116 (55th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The BMW 530i placed highest in 2004 at #21 of 55, and lowest in 2019 at #69 of 127. It spent 8 of its 14 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 29 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20212.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop253328410.710.6$2,7503136/10
20202.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop253328410.710.6$2,7503166/10
20192.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop243427425.911.0$2,8503246/10
20182.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop243427425.911.0$2,8503246/10
20172.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop243427425.911.0$2,8503266/10
20073.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSMG TRANS172520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20073.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182821547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20073.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20063.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl172520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20063.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182821547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20063.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20053.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl172620575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20053.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20053.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20043.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl172620575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20043.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20043.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20033.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium3.0L 6-cyl172520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20033.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182722522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20023.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl162419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20023.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182722522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20013.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium3.0L 6-cyl162419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20013.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium3.0L 6-cyl182721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19953.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(GUZZLER) (FFS)152217676.517.5$4,550522.7647058823529n/a
19953.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium(FFS)152318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19943.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI)152217676.517.5$4,550522.7647058823529n/a
19943.1L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium(FFS) (MPFI)152317676.517.5$4,550522.7647058823529n/a
19943.1L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI)152117676.517.5$4,550522.7647058823529n/a
19943.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium(FFS) (MPFI)152418638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 5 of 6 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1995 → 200118 → 21 mpg+3 mpg548 gal
2001 → 200221 → 22 mpg+1 mpg523 gal
2003 → 200422 → 21 mpg-1 mpg548 gal
2006 → 200721 → 22 mpg+1 mpg523 gal
2007 → 201722 → 27 mpg+5 mpg426 gal
2019 → 202027 → 28 mpg+1 mpg411 gal

What 530i fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2021 BMW 530i burns 411 to 411 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 priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,232$1,232$0
$3.50/gal$1,438$1,438$0
$4.00/gal$1,643$1,643$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 2021 model year is $2,750 to $2,750 a year in fuel, or $2,500 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Midsize Cars

Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 28 mpg the BMW 530i is 3 mpg better the median, which is worth about $173 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other BMW nameplates

Every BMW model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.