Used 2021 BMW M5 for SaleNationwide

Is the 2021 BMW M5 a good car?

The 2021 BMW M5 is a high-performance luxury sedan that blends serious speed with everyday usability. It uses BMW’s twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 and an eight-speed automatic transmission, and its xDrive all-wheel drive is tuned with a rear-wheel power bias, which helps it deliver strong traction without losing its performance character.

BMW says it can reach 60 mph in about 3.3 seconds and, with the M Driver’s Package, hit 190 mph. For 2021, it also got refreshed styling and a new iDrive infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. That makes it a compelling choice if you want a fast sedan that still works well as a daily driver.

The tradeoffs are the ones you would expect from an M5: it is expensive to buy, maintain, and repair, and it is not a subtle car in the way earlier M5s were. Even so, the market shows 31.8% of listings as good or great deals, which gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 BMW M5 reliable?

The 2021 BMW M5 is presented as a performance sedan that pairs astonishing acceleration with advanced technology and all-weather capability. It is also described as a car that is expensive to buy, maintain, and repair, which is an important part of the ownership picture for a used example.

For you, that means reliability is less about expecting low-cost ownership and more about buying a well-kept car with a strong service history. Long-term ownership risk is elevated if maintenance has been deferred, so a careful pre-purchase review matters.

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

At 70.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and confirm whether any damage was structural, cosmetic, or repaired to a high standard. A pre-purchase inspection should focus on signs of prior bodywork, uneven panel gaps, tire wear, brake condition, and any evidence that the car has been driven hard or maintained inconsistently.

Because this is a high-performance luxury sedan, condition matters as much as mileage. Prioritize examples with complete service records, clean inspection results, and no signs that maintenance has been stretched.

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

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop with some leverage if you are patient and focused.

• Deal availability: 31.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 88 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 70.5% of listings are accident-free.

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:

• 31.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 70.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

Consider the 2022 if:

• It adds the M5 CS, a more extreme, track-focused version with 627 horsepower.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of performance, daily usability, and available inventory, the 2021 is the more practical path. If your priority is maximum drama and you are willing to pay for a more specialized version, the 2022 is the better secondary path. For price-sensitive buyers, the 2021’s deal share makes it worth a close look, especially if you can find a clean, well-documented example.

How does the 2021 BMW M5 compare to the 2021 Porsche Panamera?

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