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.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 4 | 18 mpg | 17 mpg | #41 of 53 (23th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 1995 | 2 | 18 mpg | 17 mpg | #50 of 60 (17th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 2001 | 2 | 21 mpg | 19 mpg | #41 of 62 (34th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 2002 | 2 | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | #33 of 64 (49th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 2003 | 2 | 22 mpg | 20 mpg | #34 of 64 (48th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars |
| 2004 | 3 | 21 mpg | 20 mpg | #21 of 55 (63th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2005 | 3 | 21 mpg | 20 mpg | #21 of 56 (64th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2006 | 3 | 21 mpg | 20 mpg | #26 of 61 (58th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2007 | 3 | 22 mpg | 20 mpg | #23 of 68 (67th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2017 | 1 | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | #53 of 110 (52th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2018 | 1 | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | #63 of 125 (50th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2019 | 1 | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | #69 of 127 (46th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2020 | 1 | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | #57 of 124 (54th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2021 | 1 | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | #53 of 116 (55th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize 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.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 25 | 33 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,750 | 313 | 6/10 |
| 2020 | 2.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 25 | 33 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,750 | 316 | 6/10 |
| 2019 | 2.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 24 | 34 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,850 | 324 | 6/10 |
| 2018 | 2.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 24 | 34 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,850 | 324 | 6/10 |
| 2017 | 2.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 24 | 34 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,850 | 326 | 6/10 |
| 2007 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | SMG TRANS | 17 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2007 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 28 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2007 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 28 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2006 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 17 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2006 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 28 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2006 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2005 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 17 | 26 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2005 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2005 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2004 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 17 | 26 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2004 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2004 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2003 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 17 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2003 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2002 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 16 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2002 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 2001 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 16 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 2001 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 1995 | 3.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 15 | 22 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $4,550 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1995 | 3.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 15 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1994 | 3.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 15 | 22 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $4,550 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1994 | 3.1L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | (FFS) (MPFI) | 15 | 23 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $4,550 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1994 | 3.1L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 15 | 21 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $4,550 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 1994 | 3.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | (FFS) (MPFI) | 15 | 24 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/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.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 → 2001 | 18 → 21 mpg | +3 mpg | 548 gal |
| 2001 → 2002 | 21 → 22 mpg | +1 mpg | 523 gal |
| 2003 → 2004 | 22 → 21 mpg | -1 mpg | 548 gal |
| 2006 → 2007 | 21 → 22 mpg | +1 mpg | 523 gal |
| 2007 → 2017 | 22 → 27 mpg | +5 mpg | 426 gal |
| 2019 → 2020 | 27 → 28 mpg | +1 mpg | 411 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 price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $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.
- All Midsize 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.