BMW 525i · Engine family

BMW 525i 2.5L six-cylinder

The 4-Value is the most common engine code the VIN decodes to on the 2.5L six-cylinder configurations below; hybrid variants of the same displacement carry their own code. Rated at 168–189 hp. We decode it on 5,850 VINs across 20 factory builds, and 26 listings are reported active. The configuration price reference is $5,999.

Cylinders
6
Power
168–189 hp
Induction
Naturally aspirated
Fuel
Gasoline
Fitted
1989–2005
Gearboxes
Automatic

◷ Updated September 25, 2026 ▤ National asking prices, refreshed nightly

$5,999
Configuration price reference
26
On sale today with the 2.5L 6-cyl
1989–2005
Model years it was fitted
20
Factory configurations
5,850
525i VINs decoded with it

The price reference is the median of configuration medians, not the median of all active cars. Each configuration has equal weight. Configurations with at least 3 priced listings are used when available; otherwise the reference uses the configurations with a recorded price. Model years, mileage and condition vary. Open a model-year report below for its asking prices across all engines.

Which 525i years got a 2.5L 6-cyl engine

Every model year this engine was fitted to, newest first. The bar is how much of the family's VIN volume sits in that year — long bars are the years this engine was everywhere.

Year Share of VINs VINs On sale Builds
2005 1,056 3 1
2004 1,572 11 1
2002 1,070 5 3
2001 943 4 4
1995 656 1 3
1994 160 — 1
1993 151 — 2
1992 145 1 2
1990 71 1 2
1989 26 — 1

VIN counts come from our decode of the model's build patterns, not from live listings. A year link opens the full 525i report for that year — every engine of the model, not just this one.

20 factory configurations with this engine

Each one is a distinct build as the VIN decodes it — trim, body, gearbox and equipment. Open a build sheet for its full spec and the VINs recorded on it.

2005

1 build
2005 525i Trim not recorded wbana535 184 hp

2004

1 build
2004 525i Trim not recorded wbana535 Sedan · 184 hp

2002

3 builds
2002 525i IT Automatic wbads434 184 hp 2002 525i Trim not recorded wbadt434 Sedan · 184 hp 2002 525i I wbadt334 Sedan · 184 hp

2001

4 builds
2001 525i Trim not recorded wbadt334 Sedan · 184 hp 2001 525i Sport wbads434 184 hp 2001 525i Trim not recorded wbadt434 Sedan · Automatic 2001 525i Sport wbads334 184 hp

1995

2 builds
1995 525i I wbahd532 Sedan · 188 hp 1995 525i 525IT wbahj632 188 hp

1994

1 build
1994 525i I Automatic wbahd632 Sedan · 188 hp

1993

2 builds
1993 525i 525IT wbahj631 188 hp 1993 525i I Automatic wbahd631 Sedan · 188 hp

1992

2 builds
1992 525i I Automatic wbahd631 Sedan · 189 hp 1992 525i I wbahd531 Sedan · 188 hp

1990

2 builds
1990 525i Trim not recorded wbahc131 Sedan · 168 hp 1990 525i I Automatic wbahc231 Sedan · Automatic · 168 hp

1989

1 build
1989 525i I Automatic wbahc230 Sedan · Automatic · 168 hp

Showing the 19 most-built configurations of 20. Every 2005 525i build →

The 2.5L 6-cyl 525i: common questions

Which 525i years have the 2.5L 6-cyl?

1989–2005 — 10 model years in our VIN decode, across 20 factory configurations and 5,850 VINs.

What does a 2.5L 6-cyl 525i cost?

$5,999 is a configuration price reference: the median of configuration medians, with each priced configuration weighted equally. It is not a listing-level median or a valuation of an individual car. The year-by-year ladder shows VIN and inventory counts; its links open model-year price reports covering all engines.

What is the engine code, and does it matter?

4-Value — the code the VIN decodes to on the configurations on this page. It matters when you order parts or read a service history: the same displacement badge on another model can be a different code with different outputs.

2.5L 6-cyl 525i on the market

Individual vehicles carrying this engine, each with its own listing-history page. The sample is pinned to fixed VIN buckets, so it does not reshuffle day to day.