RE: PH Blog: M5 talks dirty
Discussion
If you like AMG Mercs then how can you not like the M5, they are almost identical. Big turbo charged V8, automatic gear box, active suspension, so much sound deadening that they have to fake the engine noise, more stability controls than ever before and an interior brought to you by PC World.
I would ask that you stop pretending you can tell there is a 100kg difference between two cars that weigh nearly two tons. I stopped reading Evo partly because of crap like that.
I would ask that you stop pretending you can tell there is a 100kg difference between two cars that weigh nearly two tons. I stopped reading Evo partly because of crap like that.
I'm in no position to comment on cars I've never driven, but I struggle to see how an M5 can be "trying too hard" and a Merc E Class with a 6.3V8 and TWO turbos isn't...
Perhaps my idea of "trying too hard" is different to everyone else's??
I do know that I'd prefer a car which isn't beset with a tonne of electronics controlling everything - and I definately prefer cars which weigh more than the local post office
Perhaps my idea of "trying too hard" is different to everyone else's??
I do know that I'd prefer a car which isn't beset with a tonne of electronics controlling everything - and I definately prefer cars which weigh more than the local post office
I had an E60 M5. For the first couple of weeks I experienced exactly the same things as Dan did with this one. It was intimidating to say the least. I'd say more so even than the new one as, being used to 535d torque, it needed huge effort to extract meaningful force from the engine. It felt big and far, far too fast.
However, once I got used to it after a few weeks (it's not that I wasn't used to RWD and big power; I had a 450bhp 300ZX, M3 Coupe and Maserati GT at the time) I totally fell in love with it. The noise on part throttle between 3-4000 rpm was heavenly, you knew the sweet spots in the engine for overtaking and what suspension settings on what roads to use.
In short, it's a grower and once it's gone you miss it like hell. Nothing feels as special as an M5; the repsect you give a motor that can do a max speed run and then gently cruise home with all dials reading normal with 4 sitting in comfort has to be respected. They are the daddy!
However, once I got used to it after a few weeks (it's not that I wasn't used to RWD and big power; I had a 450bhp 300ZX, M3 Coupe and Maserati GT at the time) I totally fell in love with it. The noise on part throttle between 3-4000 rpm was heavenly, you knew the sweet spots in the engine for overtaking and what suspension settings on what roads to use.
In short, it's a grower and once it's gone you miss it like hell. Nothing feels as special as an M5; the repsect you give a motor that can do a max speed run and then gently cruise home with all dials reading normal with 4 sitting in comfort has to be respected. They are the daddy!
bmthnick1981 said:
Mr Whippy said:
Why BMW can't just buck the trend. Make a 5.0 turbo with 500bhp as a rapid express by all means, but why not make one with an NA 6 pot and about 350bhp, and then spend the £25,000 left on carbon everywhere, and make it super light/agile and a driving tool beyond autobahn express?!
Good post. An F10 M535i with a NA 6 pot 3.5 engine producing circa 350bhp could be great like the E28 and E34 M535's of old. Don't offer any spec choices on it, cloth seats with manual adjustment only, no shat nav, simple suspension, manual box, don't over wheel or over tyre it, less sound proofing etc, simple stereo and maybe even wind up windows! Keep it simple and offer it at £35k rather than £70k+..... I can dream!lets face it, who wants a stripped out 4 door saloon car with big power these days....those who can afford them want a bit of luxury.
the M5 has NEVER been a stripped out 4 door saloon, it's always been laden with the most tech around at the time.
Hmmmm.
I suspect my presenting this opinion here might upset my new editor, but I'm loving the new M5.
For me an M5 has to be a finely judged balance of the everyday useable and the on-demand nutcase. Version E39 (V8) struck a cleverer balance than version E60 (V10). This car's DNA is more E39 based - good thing.
To me the F10M has those classic M attributes nailed: anonymous to the uneducated or passing glance, suggestive to those who know through stance and camber. The cabin is superb, the gearbox class-leading, the performance so far beyond adequate I find myself laughing out loud at times.
It's too big and it's too heavy, but then it's an M5, so it needs to be spacious and it'll do 400 miles on a tank. That's a revelation after the V10.
I am currently battling an unhealthy AMG obsession: I love the cars, the character, the presentation and the way they drive. But I'd take an M5 over the E63 simply because it somehow feels like a stand-alone model, whereas the E63 - for all its brilliance - still feels like a lunatic E-Class. That said, I prefer these cars as Estates, so the E63 still wins by default.
The F10M's artificial engine noise is bizarre at times, there's too much configuration nonsense that leaves the driver with ever-so-slightly-sub-optimal set up on the road and I'm not sure about the alloy wheels. But I still love it. Those exhaust parps on flat-shifts are genius.
The car I'd most like to live with in 2012.
I suspect my presenting this opinion here might upset my new editor, but I'm loving the new M5.
For me an M5 has to be a finely judged balance of the everyday useable and the on-demand nutcase. Version E39 (V8) struck a cleverer balance than version E60 (V10). This car's DNA is more E39 based - good thing.
To me the F10M has those classic M attributes nailed: anonymous to the uneducated or passing glance, suggestive to those who know through stance and camber. The cabin is superb, the gearbox class-leading, the performance so far beyond adequate I find myself laughing out loud at times.
It's too big and it's too heavy, but then it's an M5, so it needs to be spacious and it'll do 400 miles on a tank. That's a revelation after the V10.
I am currently battling an unhealthy AMG obsession: I love the cars, the character, the presentation and the way they drive. But I'd take an M5 over the E63 simply because it somehow feels like a stand-alone model, whereas the E63 - for all its brilliance - still feels like a lunatic E-Class. That said, I prefer these cars as Estates, so the E63 still wins by default.
The F10M's artificial engine noise is bizarre at times, there's too much configuration nonsense that leaves the driver with ever-so-slightly-sub-optimal set up on the road and I'm not sure about the alloy wheels. But I still love it. Those exhaust parps on flat-shifts are genius.
The car I'd most like to live with in 2012.
mmm-five said:
David87 said:
538i?
I originally intended it to be M538i, but it looked better without the ///M badge so never put it on. Still have it somewhere.As the E39 M5 that followed it was built on the standard production lines, surely that is more a case for being an M550i (or M54941i for the pedantic)?
Patrick Bateman said:
TrivsTom said:
finally someone speaks out! it doesnt look anything special, so £75000 for a plain looking car with too much power...
Can you point me to any of the previous generation M5s that looked vastly different to their regular 5 series brethren? It, I believe, is kind of the point.
TrivsTom: Do a search for "Q cars"
A bit of support here for our writer Dan.
I've been reading this site for long enough to know that due to the overwhelming number of BMW fanboi members, it doesn't matter what you write about the M5 in that if you don't like it, and dare to suggest an AMG is a better car, the Bimmer massive will be unhappy and vent their fury on you without regard for the fact you are expressing an opinion.
Had you said you preferred the M5, I dare say you couldve just written "M5, ooh, power, ahhh, V8, grrr, AMG driver old, wear flat cap, M5 the daddy" and you wouldve been hailed the best automotive journalist ever to grace PH.
I've been reading this site for long enough to know that due to the overwhelming number of BMW fanboi members, it doesn't matter what you write about the M5 in that if you don't like it, and dare to suggest an AMG is a better car, the Bimmer massive will be unhappy and vent their fury on you without regard for the fact you are expressing an opinion.
Had you said you preferred the M5, I dare say you couldve just written "M5, ooh, power, ahhh, V8, grrr, AMG driver old, wear flat cap, M5 the daddy" and you wouldve been hailed the best automotive journalist ever to grace PH.
E38Ross said:
bmthnick1981 said:
Mr Whippy said:
Why BMW can't just buck the trend. Make a 5.0 turbo with 500bhp as a rapid express by all means, but why not make one with an NA 6 pot and about 350bhp, and then spend the £25,000 left on carbon everywhere, and make it super light/agile and a driving tool beyond autobahn express?!
Good post. An F10 M535i with a NA 6 pot 3.5 engine producing circa 350bhp could be great like the E28 and E34 M535's of old. Don't offer any spec choices on it, cloth seats with manual adjustment only, no shat nav, simple suspension, manual box, don't over wheel or over tyre it, less sound proofing etc, simple stereo and maybe even wind up windows! Keep it simple and offer it at £35k rather than £70k+..... I can dream!lets face it, who wants a stripped out 4 door saloon car with big power these days....those who can afford them want a bit of luxury.
the M5 has NEVER been a stripped out 4 door saloon, it's always been laden with the most tech around at the time.
It wouldn't have to be 'stripped out' as such, just LESS luxurious / more basic than the M5. This is where I would like to see the new 'M Performance sub brand' BMW are talking about but I doubt that will happen. FWIW I think the new M5 looks great and from the write ups I think i'd enjoy the drive but, for me at least, at £70k+ its out of reach - and it will be until its 10 years old or so.
tonym911 said:
The last M5 Touring was a commercial disaster, nobody bought it. It's one of those cars that those of us who can't afford it think should be bought in bulk by those who can.
The fuel issue & the mediocre gear box did not help. Now they have sorted those two issues out...An M3 Touring is what I would really, really like. At least a couple thousand RS4's Avants sold in the UK, and 220 RS2's
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff