Adjusting the rearview mirror
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Since 1984 the BMW M5 has offered a hard-to-beat combination of performance, handling, and executive car class, all in one package. The sixth-generation car covered here is the last to be powered by internal combustion alone (a seventh-generation plug-in hybrid model arrives in 2024) and it’s one of the best yet, from a very strong lineage.
The M5 doesn’t have the market all to itself, but supercar-style performance, balanced handling and a spacious, high-quality cabin are all M5 strengths, just as they were in those very earliest M5s in the 1980s. Read on to find out what you need to know before you buy a used M5.
The BMW M5 is one of the definitive sports saloons - a car that combines executive car luxury with huge performance, just as it has done for more than three decades now. While an all-new model is just around the corner, the outgoing car is deeply appealing as a used buy - not least as it’s the last M5 to be purely combustion-powered, since the new model is a plug-in hybrid.
The regular combustion car lacks nothing in terms of performance. The very quickest variants rush to 62mph in three seconds flat, once the preserve of the very fastest supercars, but the M5 is far more than just a straight-line weapon. The V8 engine feels brawny and cultured even if you’re just rumbling around at slower speeds, while all-wheel drive traction means it can always put its power to the ground. It’s enormously capable in the corners too, with responsive and involving handling that belies its near-two-tonne kerb weight.
Given the BMW’s build quality though the weight doesn’t come as much of a surprise - there’s a real sense of long-lasting quality in the interior, and the feel and appearance of the materials, switches, and details all go a long way to justifying the price. It’ll easily seat four adults too and the 530-litre boot means plenty of luggage space.
The M5’s closest rivals include cars like the estate-only Audi RS6 Avant, the Mercedes-AMG E63, and the Porsche Panamera in various forms, all of which come with V8 power and can handle themselves in the corners as well as down the straights. If a V8 isn’t the be-all and end-all though, all-electric cars like the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-Tron GT, and the Tesla Model S all offer variants with M5-style performance.
Not all BMW M5s are created equal. If you want nothing less than the best then the M5 CS is the one to go for, and hang the hefty premium - brand new, the CS cost around £140,000, or £30,000 more than the Competition, and there’s likely to be quite a gulf with used models too. Not that the Competition, or even the regular M5 available early on, should be ignored, as they’re still fantastic driver’s cars, and equipped like luxury models.
The BMW M5’s exterior dimensions are:
The BMW M5’s boot space is:
All M5s get both a flat rate of VED and a surcharge on top of that for costing more than £40,000 when new, for a £600 annual bill. The surcharge applies for the five years following the first year of registration, so cars seven years old or more get a standard rate, currently £190 per year.
All M5s are in either insurance group 49 or 50, out of the maximum 50 groups. Premiums are unlikely to be cheap, but insurance shouldn’t be too different to the M5’s rivals, while technology like a Drive Recorder to capture video footage in a collision, and optional GPS tracking, contribute to the M5’s safety and security.
£69,750
£99,990
£96,991
£6,901 off£67,995
£106,000
£89,990
£103,228
£119,995
£60,975
£87,421
What is the most popular colour for BMW M5 ?
What is the most popular gearbox for BMW M5 ?
What is the most popular fuel type for BMW M5 ?
What is the most popular engine for BMW M5 ?
What is the average mileage for BMW M5 ?
8067
How many BMW M5 cars are available for sale?
15
