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BMW

Tuesday, 6th of January 2009

Polls

It’s impossible not be impressed by BMW’s remarkable 4th-generation M5, and that’s before even driving one. Not only is it the first production saloon to offer a high-revving V10 engine and a 7-speed sequential gearbox, but a quick glance at the numbers is enough to set pulses racing: 40 valves, 507bhp at 7,750rpm (400bhp in low-power mode), 0-62mph in 4.7secs and a top speed of 155mph (limited), 200+mph (unlimited)! Its SMG gearbox has no less than 11 different programs, and its magnificent motor doesn’t feature any kind of forced induction (turbo/supercharging) to dilute the purest of power deliveries. From behind the wheel, and with an open road ahead, the M5 is simply stunning.

Being part car/part computer, the M5 can be programmed to do pretty much what you want of it. The ride quality, for example, can be anything from acceptably comfortable to pretty darned stiff, but drive it quickly on a bumpy road while full comfort mode and you’ll soon feel the need to fiddle with the settings. With everything properly adjusted via buttons on the centre tunnel, the M5 can cover ground at a stupefying pace while remaining utterly composed. On tight, twisting roads the M5’s size and weight can compromise its agility a little, but physics is physics after all.

Hard to fault on both counts. Doubtless there will be some reading this that have had troublesome BMWs, but generally the Bavarian maker has a pretty solid reputation, and the M5 has done nothing to sully that. The M5 I tested was a nearly new press demonstrator which seemed solid as a rock and performed faultlessly, so I can only nitpick, somewhat reluctantly, about some of the cabin finishes having a slightly little less high-quality feel to them than in some BMWs of old.

Though BMW dealers will delight in relieving you of thousands for all manner of fantastic options, (satnav, for example costs £1,365 – TomToms are much less than that at Curries), pretty much everything to do with safety and security comes as standard. The M5 additionally comes with run-flat tyres, DSC+ (a more sophisticated stability control system), a highly advanced ABS braking system and even an automatic system which applies slight brake pad pressure to wipe the discs clear of water. As options there are also radar-based systems to prevent tailgating, and another to prevent you from straying out of you lane. A standard-fitment, top notch Thatcham 1 alarm does its bit to protect all this.

Amid all this mention of electronic sophistication and brute horsepower, its easy to forget that the M5 is also a reasonably plush and roomy executive car, with more than adequate accommodation for four adults and their luggage. At 500 litres, the M5 actually has 20 litres less bootspace that other 5 Series models, but if that’s likely to be a problem then allow me to suggest the M5 Touring, which has a maximum of 1,650 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Be under no illusion, to run an M5 you need deep pockets and be able to reach to the bottom of them. The official combined mog figure is 19.6. The official urban figure is just 13. But if you find yourself really using the M5’s extraordinary performance, then don’t be surprised if consumption plummets, or should I say rockets, to around 10mpg. Ouch. On top on that CO2 output is high (357g/km) and servicing costs will be appreciable too. Looking on the bright side, as the M5 is only imported in small numbers it should hold its value relatively well, but what’s money for if not for spending!

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