Is the 2021 BMW M5 a good car?

The 2021 BMW M5 stands out as a high-performance luxury sedan that blends serious speed with everyday usability. It was designed to deliver strong performance and added traction in rain or snow, while still keeping a rear-wheel power bias for a more playful driving character when you want it.

For 2021, it also gained refreshed styling and a new iDrive infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. That makes this version especially appealing if you want modern tech and a more polished driving experience without giving up the M5’s core mission.

The main tradeoff is cost: it is an expensive car to buy, maintain, and repair. Even so, the market signal is fairly supportive, with 27.5% of listings marked as good or great deals.

Is the 2021 BMW M5 reliable?

The 2021 BMW M5 is described as relatively new, with no major reported problem areas or concerns. It also benefits from a well-developed sixth-generation platform, which helps support its reputation as a capable and well-rounded performance sedan.

That said, high-performance cars still deserve careful inspection for neglect, abuse, or do-it-yourself tuning. For used buyers, the long-term ownership risk is less about a known model-wide flaw and more about how the previous owner maintained the car.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 BMW M5?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 78% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on signs of hard use, incomplete maintenance, and any evidence of modifications or tuning. Because this is a high-performance luxury sedan, condition matters as much as mileage, so pay close attention to service records, tire and brake wear, and overall mechanical presentation.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 BMW M5?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you have some room to shop carefully without expecting a deep bargain on every listing.

• Deal availability: 27.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 91 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 78.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $66,994.50, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Should I buy a 2021 BMW M5 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 27.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 78% — always verify the vehicle history report.

Consider the 2022 if:

• It adds the M5 CS with 627 horsepower and sub-3-second acceleration.

The bottom line:

The 2021 BMW M5 is the better primary pick if you want the refreshed tech and a strong mix of speed, usability, and market availability. If you are more price-sensitive, the 2021 also gives you a broader shopping pool than the more extreme 2022 direction, while still delivering the core M5 experience.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.