2018 BMW 540

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$58,200–$60,500 MSRP range
(4.7) 7 reviews
2018 BMW 540
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Key Specs
Our Take
Overview
Photos
Reviews
Safety & Recalls
Warranty & CPO
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Key Specs

of the 2018 BMW 540. Base trim shown.

  • Body Type:
    Sedan See similar vehicles
  • Combined MPG:
    23-24 Combined MPG
  • Engine:
    335-hp, 3.0-liter I-6 (premium)
  • Drivetrain:
    Rear-wheel Drive
  • Transmission:
    8-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual
  • View more specs

Our Take

From the Cars.com Vehicle Test Team

The Good

  • Active suspension available
  • Adaptive LED headlights standard
  • All-wheel drive available
  • Cabin quality
  • Apple CarPlay connectivity available

The Bad

  • Backseat isn't that roomy
  • Styling may be too evolutionary for some
2018 BMW 540 exterior side view

Notable Features of the 2018 BMW 540

  • Mid-size luxury sedan
  • Turbo four-cylinder (530i) or six-cylinder (540i) engine
  • Gesture-recognition system available
  • Remote-control parking available
  • Plug-in hybrid, M Performance versions available

2018 BMW 540 Overview

By Cars.com Editors
Vehicle Overview

What it is: The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size luxury sedan that was redesigned last year. It competes with cars such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6.

New for 2018

Plug-in hybrid and M Performance models have arrived. The M550i has a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 that makes 456 horsepower, while the 530e iPerformance has a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that combines a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. The rest of the lineup sees minor trim and packaging changes, including a newly available Dynamic Handling Package for the 530i and 530e.


View 20 Photos

Latest 2018 540 Stories

See all 2018 BMW 540 articles >

What Drivers Are Saying

4.7
7 reviews
Exterior Styling
(4.7)
Performance
(5.0)
Interior Design
(4.6)
Comfort
(4.7)
Reliability
(4.7)
Value For The Money
(4.3)

Latest Reviews

(4.0)

The ride is firmer than I would like.

by BMW fan from MADISON CT on March 25, 2018

The power is good and at the same time very quiet. The vehicle is much easier getting out of the the Corvette. The dash was well laid out and easy to read, without heads up display. Read full review

(5.0)

Comfortable barge

by Chabster from San Jose, CA on March 20, 2018

This car is very comfortable despite wearing 20" RF tires. M-Sport suspension works great, multi-contour seats are the best seats I've ever tried. Voice control just works despite our poor verbal ... Read full review

Safety & Recalls

Recalls

The 2018 BMW 540 currently has 0 recalls

IIHS Crash and Rollover Test Ratings

Based on 2018 BMW 540 i

IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor.

Child Seat Anchors (Latch)

Ease of Use
acceptable

Head Restraints and Seats

Dynamic Rating
good
Overall Rear
good
Seat Head/Restraint Geometry
good

Headlights

Overall Rating
good

Moderate overlap front

Chest
good
Head/Neck
good
Left Leg/Foot
good
Overall Front
good
Restraints
good
Right Leg/Foot
good
Structure/safety cage
good

Other

Roof Strength
good

Side

Driver Head Protection
good
Driver Head and Neck
good
Driver Pelvis/Leg
good
Driver Torso
good
Overall Side
good
Rear Passenger Head Protection
good
Rear Passenger Head and Neck
good
Rear Passenger Pelvis/Leg
good
Rear Passenger Torso
good
Structure/safety cage
good

Small Overlap Front - Passenger Side

Chest
good
Head/Neck
good
Hip/Thigh
good
Lower Leg/Foot
acceptable
Overall Evaluation
good
Restraints and Dummy Kinematics
good
Structure and Safety Cage
good

Small overlap front

Chest
good
Head/Neck
good
Headlights
good
Hip/thigh
good
Lower leg/foot
good
Restraints and dummy kinematics
good
Small overlap front
good
Structure and safety cage
good
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a nonprofit research and communications organization funded by auto insurers.

Manufacturer Warranty

  • Bumper-to-Bumper

    48 months / 50,000 miles

  • Powertrain

    48 months / 50,000 miles

  • Roadside Assistance

    48 months / unlimited distance

CPO Program & Warranty

Certified Pre-Owned by BMW

Program Benefits

Comprehensive inspection by BMW technician, 24/7 Roadside Assistance, BMW Assist. Exceptional vehicles with exceptional coverage

  • Limited Warranty

    Unlimited Miles for 1-Year

    BMW Certified Pre-Owned: Covers you for unlimited miles for 1-year, after the expiration o f the 4-year / 50,000 mile New Vehicle/SAV Limited Warranty for a total of 5 years with unlimited miles. This includes up to 5 years and unlimited miles of BMW Roadside Assistance and BMW Assist (TM) on many late model BMW vehicles. Additional plans are available to extend your vehicle's coverage for up to a total of 6 years with unlimited miles. See your BMW Center for details.

  • Eligibility

    Under 5 years / 60,000 miles

    Vehicles receive a Comprehensive inspection.

    See inspection details.

Have Questions about warranties or CPO programs?

See Warranty FAQs

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Cars.com Car Seat Check

Certified child passenger safety technicians conduct hands-on tests of a car’s Latch system and check the vehicle’s ability to accommodate different types of car seats. The 540 received the following grades on a scale of A-F.*
* This score may not apply to all trims, especially for vehicles with multiple body styles that affect the space and design of the seating.

Warranty FAQs

What is a Bumper-to-Bumper warranty?

Often called a basic warranty or new-vehicle warranty, a bumper-to-bumper policy covers components like air conditioning, audio systems, vehicle sensors, fuel systems and major electrical components. Most policies exclude regular maintenance like fluid top offs and oil changes, but a few brands have separate free-maintenance provisions, and those that do offer them is slowly rising. Bumper-to-bumper warranties typically expire faster than powertrain warranties.

What is a Powertrain warranty?

Don't be misled a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty doesn't promise a decade of free repairs for your car. It typically covers just the engine and transmission, along with any other moving parts that lead to the wheels, like the driveshaft and constant velocity joints. Some automakers also bundle seat belts and airbags into their powertrain warranties. With a few exceptions, powertrain warranties don't cover regular maintenance like engine tuneups and tire rotations.

What is included in Roadside Assistance?

Some automakers include roadside assistance with their bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranties, while others have separate policies. These programs cover anything from flat-tire changes and locksmith services to jump-starts and towing. Few reimburse incidental costs like motel rooms (if you have to wait for repairs).

What other services could be included in a warranty?

Some automakers include free scheduled maintenance for items such as oil changes, air filters and tire rotations. Some include consumables including brake pads and windshield wipers; others do not. They are typically for the first couple of years of ownership of a new car.

What does CPO mean?

A certified pre-owned or CPO car has been inspected to meet minimum quality standards and typically includes some type of warranty. While dealers and third parties certify cars, the gold standard is an automaker-certified vehicle that provides a factory-backed warranty, often extending the original coverage. Vehicles must be in excellent condition and have low miles and wear to be certified, which is why off-lease vehicles feed many CPO programs.

See also the latest CPO incentives by automaker