The 5 Series is one of the most popular luxury sedans of all time, with millions of sales. Part of that success comes down to the options BMW offers owners, with the chance to customize their perfect car. That process starts with the trim levels, but what exactly do you get with each trim level on the 5 Series?
To help you decide, we’ve covered each trim level available across the 5 Series range. We’ll talk you through their features and which models are available with each trim level. We’ve also covered the cost of each trim, so you can decide what 5 Series will be best for you.
What are trim levels?
First, let’s cover what BMW calls its trim levels. These are design packages with different types of styling choices combined to create the 5 Series you want. Some trim levels will be more premium and include changes like larger wheels and different materials to help your 5 Series stand out.
What are the different trim levels on the BMW 5 Series?
There are four trim levels available across the 5 Series range. Trim levels vary across models, so some trim levels are only available on a few 5 Series versions. The different trims available is below:
| Trim Level | 530i | 530e | 540i | M550i |
| Sport | Y | Y | Y | |
| M Sport | Y | Y | Y | |
| M Performance | Y | |||
| Shadowline | Y |
To find out what features are available on each trim level, we’ve got a summary of each trim below:
Sport Trim
The Sport trim is the standard, entry-level trim available on the 530i, 530e, and 540i models. You get a large number of standard features with the Sport trim that are also included on later trim models, along with some unique options.
Standard features on the Sport trim include various driver assistance tools, such as blind spot detection and lane departure warning. Every 5 Series model also comes with tech features that include the twin-screen infotainment & driver’s display and a reversing camera for parking.
The 5 Series Sport trim also includes several unique features. As the entry-level trim, these are BMW’s most basic options, but this is still a $50,000+ car, so quality is high. The most obvious features are on the exterior, with 18-inch silver wheels on the 530i and 19-inch bi-color options on the 530e and 540i.
The Sport trim also comes with body-color front and rear bumpers and chrome accents around the kidney grilles and the windows. You’re limited to just two color options at this trim level (Alpine White and Jet Black), and the chrome features stand out too much for our liking with these colors.
Overall the Sport trim has the effect of making your 5 Series as ‘unsporty’ as it can be. The smaller wheels on the 530i look out of place once you park this car next to an M Sport version, and the chrome trim looks odd with these paint options. Even with the upgrade costs, the M Sport trim is the one we’d choose – so let’s go through the options.
M Sport Trim
Next up is the M Sport trim. Also available on the 530i, 530e, and 540i models, this level improves upon the Sport trim with a number of visual upgrades on both the exterior and interior of the 5 Series. You still get all the standard features from the Sport trim on this version.
Let’s start with the exterior. One of the main upgrades on the M Sport trim are unique alloy wheels. On the 530i model, you get an upgrade to 19-inch wheels as standard, in a bi-color design. You also get a choice of eight alternate wheel designs, with a 20-inch option, too – although these other wheels cost extra.
On the 530e and 540i models, you also have the choice of these eight new wheel options. As the Sport trim already includes 19-inch wheels, the M Sport pack is less of an upgrade, but the new wheel designs are still a bonus.
The M Sport trim also makes changes to the chrome trim on the grille and window edges. These areas are now glossy black, and on certain paint colors, this change works really well, especially when paired with the M Sport black wheels.
Inside the 5 Series, there are fewer changes. You get a new M Sport steering wheel, and although we are fans of this option, I know some 5 Series owners who would prefer the standard model. You also get a unique M Sport interior finish for the dashboard and console in ‘Aluminum Rhombicel Smoke Grey’. It’s not our favorite interior spec (we prefer the wood finishes), but it’ll appeal to plenty of you, I’m sure.
Pricing for the M Sport trim is different for each 5 Series model:
- 530i – $3,050
- 530e – $2,000
- 540i – $2,550
M Performance Trim
Moving up to the flagship 5 Series model (if you don’t count the M5), the M550i comes with two trim levels; M Performance and Shadowline. Let’s cover the M Performance spec first, as this is the option most owners will go with.
The M550i gets all the standard features from the other 5 Series models we’ve discussed, with those driver assistance tools and the latest infotainment system. One significant upgrade on the M Performance trim is adaptive suspension as standard – this is an option on other models, but it comes with every M550i at no extra cost.
Looking at the M Performance exterior changes, you get blue brake calipers on this trim level instead of the standard grey calipers. It’s a nice touch and helps the car stand out, especially in combination with the new M Performance wheels. BMW offers M550i drivers a choice of alloys that includes some options from the M Sport range but also a couple of unique 20-inch wheels just for this trim.
Elsewhere on the exterior, the side mirrors and front grille surround are given a unique bronze coating – it’s a minor detail but another step to set this model apart from the rest of the 5 series range. Apart from that change, you get the same black finish around the window frames and the same bumpers as the M Sport trim.
Inside the M550i, the M Performance trim has a few alterations. Your choice of seat materials is actually limited on the M Performance, with no option for Sensatec, although the upgraded Nappa Leather is less expensive on this car. There are also two unique material options for your interior trim, with the piano black finish our favorite.
Shadowline Trim
The final trim level for the 5 Series range is Shadowline. Only available on the M550i, this is a minor upgrade to the M Performance trim, offering some exterior changes to help your car stand out.
The feature most owners will spot first are the red brake calipers. Depending on your body color, you may prefer to change back to the blue calipers, but it’s an option you have, and they help to make the M550i look a bit more aggressive.
Another change on the Shadowline trim is the styling of the side mirrors and front grille. For some reason, BMW has returned to body-color side mirrors, removing the bronze finish from the M Performance spec. On the grille, you now get a jet-black finish, just like the M5. This matches the window trim well in our opinion, but we’d still have the bronze effect over this. You also get a black lip spoiler, which is purely a visual change.
The final option on the Shadowline trim are the darkened headlights. These ‘Shadowline’ lights are tinted to be darker than the standard 5 Series headlights, and they match the black grille. There’s no impact to the lights themselves, but it helps to make your M550i that bit more unique.
There are only a small number of Shadowline upgrades, and that’s reflected in the cost – at $500, this is one of the less expensive options on the 5 Series, so it’s worth investing in if you want a more aggressive M550i.
What are the best packs and options to choose for your 5 Series?
If you’re buying a 5 Series, once you’ve chosen your trim level, the next decision will be which options and packs you want to add. We’ve covered all the major packages and options below, so check out the below articles to find out more about everything you’ll need to know:
Comparing The Audi A6 vs The BMW 5 Series
Which BMW Models Have Ambient Lighting?
BMW 3 Series Trim Levels Explained
BMW Convenience Package Explained
