The article was originally produced on May 23, 2012, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

BMW M5

If you have missed BMW and their M5 models, you have probably lived very far from civilization without contact with the motorized outside world!

There are few car models that resonate with drivers who feel that extra allure at high speeds. The BMW M5 has always been synonymous with the sharpest from the Bavarian engine manufacturer. Every time an M model, and mainly the M5, is released, the motoring world stops for a moment to hear about its new performance that usually breaks the competition. Or make them quiver and kick their techs to squeeze additional power out of their competing models. The new M5, with the internal model name F10, is no exception and once again raises the bar for what is possible in the way of performance for this type of car. The basis for the BMW M models lies in the brand's sports car department and since the early 70s they have built special versions of existing BMW models intended for the street, the first being the 3.0 CSL model. The first M5 was introduced in 1984 and at the time was a killer with its 288 horsepower and a top speed of 245 km/h. Since then, when the engine was a straight six, the volume and number of cylinders have increased for each model. This was topped by the previous generation M5 with the model name E60 which had a wonderful five liter V10 with 507 horses. Just like most other car companies, BMW has embraced the ecological thinking and started downsizing the engines in its model range, the new M5 has therefore received a 4.4 liter V8 with twin turbo units. However, the "shrinking" has not meant any reduction in power and the M5 F10 squeezes 560 horses out of the engine with a torque of a whopping 680 Newtons - in other words "enough"!

At first sight of this Silverstone blue M5 which Cars Collection got to sink their teeth into it, you see that the size has increased, just like so many other car models and mentioned in many previous tests. It has grown so much that the first impression is that you sat in a BMW 7 series. The seats, which very much come from the 7 series, have so many settings that even the most discerning should find a perfect driving position. The ability to fold the upper part of the chair is a very convenient feature for perfect back support. There is no doubt that the new M5 is a grand tourer and four people travel as generously as a limousine. But this is exactly where today's super sedans start to show their shortcomings, and the M5 suffers a bit from the same phenomenon. These are models that are supposed to be so comfortable that ancient Rolls-Royces fade, but then with a simple push of a button, they change their guise into a full-fledged performance sports car ready to take on any track. The combination cannot mean anything other than certain problems as the comforts of a car equals greater weight, which is a big minus as soon as it comes to active driving, be it on winding roads or the track. It doesn't matter how much power you push into the engine, weight will always play the final role in how easy the car is to drive. The M5 weighs in at just under two tonnes, compare this to a race car intended for the track and it's double the weight. BMW has of course done everything they could to ensure that the feeling of a heavy car is removed, a series of settings on the chassis, anti-skid, throttle response, steering, and gearbox change the car's settings and stiffen it up. To make this even smoother while driving, two buttons have been placed on the steering wheel with the text M1 and M2 on them. With these buttons, you program the settings you want to then be able to quickly and easily adjust the car for the desired character. Incredibly good function when you want to quickly change the settings on the car and not take your eyes off the road.

 

When you start the M5, you are not immediately startled by the soundscape created by the V8 engine, a consequence of the twin turbochargers that muffle the actual engine noise. Even when driving, the actual sound is quite subdued compared to the last generation M5 and its howling V10 engine. In order not to take away all the pleasure of enjoying the sound of the engine, the BMW technicians have introduced some of the engine sound through the speakers in the passenger compartment. The result is a different but very well-tuned sound. With elements from the whining turbo units, a digital but very pleasant engine sound is formed in the passenger compartment.

The versatility of the M5 is anything but a minus, in city driving the car is very easy to handle, with all the settings in the comfort mode, you slide along with a rather low-key revelation, only those who recognize the characteristic features of a real M5 with its four exhaust pipes, the flanges on sides and the M5 emblem on the right side of the tailgate know what's coming driving. The changes take place imperceptibly without any hint of jerkiness and the steering is soft and light. When the tight city streets turn to country roads, the car transforms into a beast with a press of the M1 button. The settings for the chassis, throttle, steering wheel and gearbox have been saved in the Sport Plus mode and the ride is anything but smooth. The M5 is on the move and at the slightest thought of giving the iron, the powerful acceleration has already begun and it is brutal, 0-100 is completed in 4.3 seconds and the electronic top speed limiter at 250 km/h is reached after just a couple of blinks. The BMW M5 is nothing short of a comfortable cruise missile for everyday use and once again BMW has raised the bar for these super sedans!

+ The amount of power is impressive along with fantastic comfort. 

- Heavy cars have their downsides and lead to voracious consumption of soup.