The BMW 5 SERIES (1996-03) 523I 4DR SALOON 2.5 SE AUTO is a large, four-door executive saloon, rather than a hatchback or family SUV. In the UK used-car market it sits among comfortable, upmarket cars designed to cover distance, with the automatic gearbox making everyday driving straightforward. It suits commuters, couples and families wanting a roomy, refined older car, though its size and age may be less appealing to new drivers or tight-city parking. mycarcheck.com recorded 86 checks covering 57 different VINs, a useful but modest snapshot of cars searched. Those checks show an average private-sale valuation of £700 and average recorded mileage of 125,000 miles. Average annual mileage is 4,000, while cars had around 4.3 previous keepers on average. These figures describe the vehicles checked, not a guarantee of any individual car’s condition or value. Its smooth engine and comfort made it a respected rival to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.