Used BMW 5 Series Glow Plugs

Only diesel-engined BMW 5 Series models have glow plugs — they are a diesel-only component used to pre-heat the combustion chamber for cold starts. If your 5 Series is petrol (for example a 520i, 528i, 530i, or M5), it never had glow plugs at any point in its production. Check your V5 or run a VIN check to confirm your fuel type before searching.

These are different generations — the E60 ran from 2003 to 2010 and the F10 from 2010 to 2017 — and the diesel engine families changed significantly between them, so glow plugs are not a straightforward swap across that boundary. The correct plug is determined primarily by engine code, and common E60 diesels such as the M57 use different plugs to the F10's N47 or B47 family engines. Supply your engine code and registration to the breaker so they can confirm the correct part for your specific unit. Never assume a plug fits based on generation alone.

No — trim level has no effect on glow plug fitment whatsoever. SE, Sport, M Sport, and Luxury are badge and equipment differences; the glow plugs are determined entirely by engine code and fuel type, which are identical across trims sharing the same engine. Buy to your engine code, not your trim badge.

The 530d uses a six-cylinder diesel (engine code M57 in most E60 applications), which means it has six glow plugs — one per cylinder. Many E60 530d units share the same plug, but there were running production changes within the M57 family, so confirm the exact engine code from your V5 or a VIN check and supply this to the breaker rather than assuming all 530d parts interchange freely.

Both the 520d and 518d in the F10 generation (2010–2017) are four-cylinder diesel engines and in many cases share the same N47 or B47 engine family, making the glow plugs potentially compatible. However, output variants and any mid-production engine updates can affect which exact plug is specified, so give the breaker both registrations and your engine code to confirm before purchasing. It is a likely match but not a guaranteed one.

The F10 received its LCI (Life Cycle Impulse) facelift in 2013, but glow plug fitment is driven by the engine code rather than whether the car is pre- or post-facelift. If both cars carry the same engine code — for example both running the N47 or both running the B47 — the plugs are very likely the same, but confirm with the breaker against your registration as there can be ancillary specification changes around a facelift that are not always obvious.