2018 BMW 530e

Unfortunately, the vehicle is not reliable at all. Lots of faults in the electrical system and very expensive damage to repair. The most disappointing thing is that the manufacturer does not take any responsibility and disavows everything.

I bought my 2018 530 a few months ago. I commute 11 miles each way to and from work. The distance is ideal for the 14 mile battery range. I charge at work and get a credit for using the night rate at home. The 530e is one of the best cars I've owned. I bought my first 5 Series in 1984 and have always loved BMW's.

I bought my 2018 530e in May 2021 with 30k miles on it. It has performed flawlessly with the exception of putting my cell on the passenger seat and that makes the seat belt alarm go off. I leave the passenger seat belt fastened all the time so the alarm won’t go off. I had a contractor put a dryer 240 plug in my garage so that I could charge in under 3 hours. With the regular 110 plug, it took twice that time to charge. Also I have noticed that the 240 volt plug charge seems to make the lithium battery last much longer than with a 110 volt plug which surprised me. I definitely recommend getting a 240 volt plug installed. It makes a marked difference in the daily life span of your electric battery. I get 18 miles of driving range from just the battery which is sufficient for my average day. And the battery does help extend the hybrid range of the car when you are driving long distances. It really helps with the gas mileage. With the charged battery helping, I average just under 40 mpg. Now the trunk is smaller because of the lithium battery and it is noticeable but still has adequate storage but it is on the small size. The engine has been flawless so far. I now have 45k miles on it as of April 2022 so I feel good about that reliability. Sport mode is powerful so you can have fun when you feel like it and give it some gas. The driver seat does hug your body tightly so it does feel like a cockpit. It can feel a little tight but it still feels comfortable. On the 2018, it comes wireless apple carplay ready but you have to pay BMW $350 a one time to activate it. I think the more recent model years now come without the $350 fee. I paid it and it is worth it especially because it is wireless. As soon as I start the car, the bmw connects to my iPhone without me doing anything. That’s much better than having to plug your phone into the car’s USB port every time. I really enjoy that seamless feature. I do wish it had a capless gas entry but that’s a very small inconvenience. I would buy this car again. Fingers crossed that it stays reliable for years to come.