BMW 5 Series vs Chrysler 300C
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The BMW 5 Series wins on money kept: 56% retained after three years vs 49%, worth about R 467 408 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| 5 Series | 300C | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 1 286 731 | R 528 990 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 22 490/m | R 9 246/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 77% | 70% |
| Retained after 3 years | 56% | 49% |
| Value after 3 years | R 724 997 | R 257 590 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 561 734 | R 271 400 |
| Value after 5 years | R 515 249 | R 181 474 |
| Our tier | Premium (established) | Orphan & discontinued |
BMW 5 Series →
A long-running executive staple, the 5 Series has been sold new in South Africa across every generation since the mid-1990s. The 520d and 530d diesels were the volume picks for years, and the current range is topped by the plug-in hybrid M5. Used examples are plentiful and prices fall quickly once the motor plan ends.
Known for: executive sedan with strong badge status
Chrysler 300C →
The 300C gave SA buyers full-size American presence for less than the German equivalents, from R359,900 at its 2005 launch to R528,990 for the 3.6 V6 by 2013. A Mercedes-derived 3.0 CRD diesel and the 6.4 SRT-8 bookended the range. Values fell hard once Chrysler left in 2017, so used examples now look very cheap against original list.
Known for: hemi v8 presence for e-class money
Common questions
Which holds value better, the BMW 5 Series or the Chrysler 300C?
The BMW 5 Series. It keeps about 56% of its price after three years against 49% for the Chrysler 300C, a gap of 8 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The BMW 5 Series loses about R 561 734 over three years and the Chrysler 300C loses about R 271 400. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the BMW 5 Series runs about R 22 490 per month and the Chrysler 300C about R 9 246, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.