BMW 5 Series Drive Shaft Replacement Parts

Both years fall within the F10 generation (2010–2017, facelift 2013), so they share the same basic platform, but whether the shaft itself interchanges depends first on the engine code — a 520d and a 535i use different shafts even within the same year. Check your engine code on the V5 or a VIN check and confirm with the breaker that it matches the donor car, especially across the 2013 facelift boundary where ancillary changes can occur. Never assume fitment on year alone.

No — the E60 (2003–2010) and F10 (2010–2017) are entirely separate generations with different subframes, suspension geometry, and drivetrain layouts, so the shafts are not interchangeable. Always match the generation first, then narrow down by engine code and gearbox type. Confirm the exact part reference with the breaker against your registration.

Trim level does not affect drive shaft fitment on the BMW 5 Series — SE, Sport, and M Sport are cosmetic and equipment packages, not mechanical variants. What actually determines fitment is the engine code, fuel type (petrol or diesel), and gearbox type (manual or automatic), so focus on matching those rather than the trim badge. You may find cosmetic differences between donor and your car when collecting the part, but the shaft itself is unaffected by trim.

For the front drive shafts the body style (saloon or Touring) does not typically affect fitment, as the drivetrain components are shared across body styles within the same engine and gearbox combination. The engine code and gearbox type remain the most important details to match. Confirm the exact application with the breaker against your registration to be sure.

The gearbox type does matter — a 520d with a manual gearbox and one with an automatic (ZF eight-speed on later F10 models, for example) can use different shafts, so you need to match both the engine code and gearbox type. Within the F10 generation, also confirm which side (NS nearside or OS offside) you need, as left and right shafts are not the same part. Give the breaker your full engine code and gearbox type alongside your registration for the most accurate match.

The F10 facelift arrived in 2013 and was largely a cosmetic and electronics update, so the drivetrain architecture remained the same — however, whether a specific drive shaft crosses that boundary interchangeably depends on the engine code and any mid-production ancillary changes that are difficult to verify without checking part numbers. Name the facelift year to your breaker, supply your engine code, and ask them to cross-reference the part number against your registration before purchasing. This is not a swap to make on year alone.