RE: BMW M5 30 Jahre: Driven

[Dan Trent]

Fair comment; speaking personally I found the two further damper modes simply added harshness rather than body control and made it feel even less composed over bumpy roads. You can have wallowy or locked down, neither or which is especially nice IMO. A pattern I've seen repeated in other BMWs with variable damper modes too. The M4 long-termer we're running is, in fairness, better. But still not entirely happy in any of its modes at pace - I think Comfort compliance but with better body control mid damper stroke would be the ideal. Jag seem good at this.

Cheers,

Dan

[Patrick Bateman]

Dan Trent said:

Fair comment; speaking personally I found the two further damper modes simply added harshness rather than body control and made it feel even less composed over bumpy roads. You can have wallowy or locked down, neither or which is especially nice IMO. A pattern I've seen repeated in other BMWs with variable damper modes too. The M4 long-termer we're running is, in fairness, better. But still not entirely happy in any of its modes at pace - I think Comfort compliance but with better body control mid damper stroke would be the ideal. Jag seem good at this.

Cheers,

Dan

I haven't driven a car with various modes but do you ever just wish they could get it right straight out of the box with normal springs and dampers? I get the feeling I'd get irritated.

[bryn_p]

That is a fair comment too Dan and I do agree that none of the modes are perfect. 'Sport' (the middle) setting is pretty good though. And as Patrick says, it'd be nice if they could just get it right! My Alpina B12 6.0 is an even more extreme example, wallowy barge or race car stiff!

Cheers,
Bryn.

[CorvetteConvert]

Any car weighing 2 tons with almost 600 bhp ''will have damping issues when you press on''.

It needs to go on a diet big time then it could be superb.
Kryste, that thing weighs half a ton more than my 7 litre monster.

[Leins]

bryn_p said:

Leins said:

Which leads us to the F10, which I have not driven, but I really fear possesses an engine that gives up its charms far too easily. I'm open to correction from those with experience of these, but everything seems to point to easily accessible power with these, and that just doesn't seem right

There's nothing quite like an older M5 roaring down the road, boot full of luggage, and engine demanding you trash the bejesus out of it. It feels wrong, but oh so good!

I disagree, it's fine having an engine that needs thrashing in your weekend car but part of the appeal of the F10 is the easy availability of power that makes it such a good every day car. For me anyway, and I used to use my E34 for exactly the same journey 13 years ago. Maybe it's just me getting old though

Cheers,
Bryn.

I see you have both an E34 3.8 and a B10 BT. Where do you think the latest M5 leaves the B5 these days? On paper they seem to be getting very close in function

[bryn_p]

CorvetteConvert said:

Any car weighing 2 tons with almost 600 bhp ''will have damping issues when you press on''.

It needs to go on a diet big time then it could be superb.
Kryste, that thing weighs half a ton more than my 7 litre monster.

And there's the issue... although it's not really an issue if you look at it for what it is. It's a big luxury car that is extremely fast and capable so it's not really fair to review it as a sports car. It can't be up to what's expected for today's luxury standards and not weigh what it does in my opinion.

M5 CSL anyone

Can't comment on the B5 sorry as I don't know anything about them. Although I have a long history with BMWs and Alpinas the F10 kind of fell in to my lap as my friend was selling it, if he'd had a B5 instead I'd probably be driving that now!

Cheers,
Bryn.

Edited by bryn_p on Thursday 6th August 08:56

[HoHoHo]

bryn_p said:

It's a bit misleading in the article because they are talking about the comfort setting being "underdamped and lacking in body control as you start pressing on" which I totally agree with. However there are 2 stiffer modes which address this, the middle of which is the sweet spot for me. Not mentioning this in the article is a bit bizarre though.

Cheers,
Bryn

Yep, middle damping for me too

Third setting is too crashy for U.K. roads and best left for a track day.

[joscal]

Middle for me now too, feels like a boat in comfort.

[likesachange]

CorvetteConvert said:

Who sells them that cheap new with 0%?

CorvetteConvert said:

Who sells them that cheap new with 0%?

All dealerships are offering 0% on them til end of September afaik

And all I have seen are offering at least 10k off to start with

Peter vardy keep offering 14500 off but each day it varies depending on what time of day you click on the "figures" section of the m5 section.
If you phone them they should have it in place
7k down
598 a month
And GFV of 24k
(8k a year and 48 months)

[Davey S2]

CorvetteConvert said:

And feel for the people paying £92,000 and up. What price their investment next week, never mind in 2 years.

These aren't bought as investments. They're bought by people with the resources to be able to lose £50k over a couple of years and not worry about it.

[amusingduck]

Davey S2 said:

These aren't bought as investments. They're bought by people with the resources to be able to lose £50k over a couple of years and not worry about it.

If I could afford to throw away £50k over a few years on a car, an M5 wouldn't be anywhere near the top of the list

[Vee12V]

theotherJamie said:

Leather Door Panels, Leather Center Console, Full Trunk Carpeting, Air Conditioning, Power Windows, Power Sunroof, Power Seats, Cruise Control, On-Board Computer, Central Locking......

all in the 1985 E28 M5!

They've always been a luxurious car with a powerful engine not the stripped out racer that those with rose tinted glasses seem to remember.

Exactly. The M5's problem is weight. But they obviously couldn't care less.

[bryn_p]

Vee12V said:

Exactly. The M5's problem is weight. But they obviously couldn't care less.

If you are concerned with weight don't buy an M5, as I have said above it's a big luxury saloon and always has been. It's not like BMW don't know what they're doing and have deliberately made the car heavy :roll eyes:

Cheers,
Bryn.

[HoHoHo]

Vee12V said:

theotherJamie said:

Leather Door Panels, Leather Center Console, Full Trunk Carpeting, Air Conditioning, Power Windows, Power Sunroof, Power Seats, Cruise Control, On-Board Computer, Central Locking......

all in the 1985 E28 M5!

They've always been a luxurious car with a powerful engine not the stripped out racer that those with rose tinted glasses seem to remember.

Exactly. The M5's problem is weight. But they obviously couldn't care less.

Have you ever driven one?

[joscal]

Dan Trent said:

Fair comment; speaking personally I found the two further damper modes simply added harshness rather than body control and made it feel even less composed over bumpy roads. You can have wallowy or locked down, neither or which is especially nice IMO. A pattern I've seen repeated in other BMWs with variable damper modes too. The M4 long-termer we're running is, in fairness, better. But still not entirely happy in any of its modes at pace - I think Comfort compliance but with better body control mid damper stroke would be the ideal. Jag seem good at this.

Cheers,

Dan

I wonder if it's too hard because of the competition pack, my standard car rides very well in sport setting?

[Quickmoose]

bryn_p said:

If you are concerned with weight don't buy an M5, as I have said above it's a big luxury saloon and always has been. It's not like BMW don't know what they're doing and have deliberately made the car heavy :roll eyes:

Cheers,
Bryn.

No it's not, it's a sports saloon, big luxury saloons are 7 series and S class etc.

Quite surprising (or is it?) that there is an ever growing precentage of car 'enthusiasts' that when discussing the more performance oreintated versions seem completely at ease with ever increasing size and weight.
And it's not just in this segment, hot hatches too are going down the more kit, more luxury, more weight but just muller it with more power and ever more complex suspension route. People seem unable to cope without buttons for everything, power assisted cup holders and auto opening/dimming this and that, wipers that start a milliscond before your fingers could reach the stalk.
An autonomous M5 can't be far away. Sit in massaging, infintley adjustable armchair, a seat belt is applied to you, headphones are placed upon you, race car sounds piped directly to you and the 3 tonne behemoth with 1000BHP and anti gravity GPS and radar adjusted suspension hurl you down the road until a leaf/deer/pedestrian?/other car appears and the car stops for you.
Can't wait

Yeah I'm sure BMW know what they're doing, everything they do is spot on right...mmm love them 2 series MPVs... if any BMW required lazy arse powered/luxury everything it's that pig-with-the-right-badge.

[bryn_p]

Quickmoose said:

No it's not, it's a sports saloon, big luxury saloons are 7 series and S class etc.

Quite surprising (or is it?) that there is an ever growing precentage of car 'enthusiasts' that when discussing the more performance oreintated versions seem completely at ease with ever increasing size and weight.

The 5 series got bigger and heavier (like every other new model from every other manufacturer) and the M5 is based on the 5 series. What do you want the M division to do, use a carbon fibre tub? A smaller lighter version is the M3, just like it always has been.

Maybe take a look at my garage, I think I'm reasonably well qualified to have the opinion I do, the F10 is the only modern car I own.

Cheers,
Bryn.

[Quickmoose]

last I checked, everyone's opinion is equally valid regardless of 'garage'.

The 5 is the size it is, the performance version of each sector should be (IMO) designed and specced to suit, if all out luxury is required I'm confident BMW have that covered also.
M cars...where M standards for Motorsport.... now appear to try and cover all the bases, which ultimately (for me) end up succeeding in few, unless beaten, mashed and computer controlled and dictated as to make the driver more of a passenger who decides whether they want to ruin a set of tyres or waft serenly looking like an owner who appreciates motorsport.

hmm M for motorport dulled by weight?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3n7zhb7aN8

Edited by Quickmoose on Thursday 6th August 13:35

[HoHoHo]

Quickmoose said:

last I checked, everyone's opinion is equally valid regardless of 'garage'.

The 5 is the size it is, the performance version of each sector should be (IMO) designed and specced to suit, if all out luxury is required I'm confident BMW have that covered also.
M cars...where M standards for Motorsport.... now appear to try and cover all the bases, which ultimately (for me) end up succeeding in few, unless beaten, mashed and computer controlled and dictated as to make the driver more of a passenger who decides whether they want to ruin a set of tyres or waft serenly looking like an owner who appreciates motorsport.

The last sentence is a bit patronising........

I'll also ask you, have you driven one...........however I'm guessing the answer my well be no.

[bryn_p]

Quickmoose said:

last I checked, everyone's opinion is equally valid regardless of 'garage'.

The 5 is the size it is, the performance version of each sector should be (IMO) designed and specced to suit, if all out luxury is required I'm confident BMW have that covered also.
M cars...where M standards for Motorsport.... now appear to try and cover all the bases, which ultimately (for me) end up succeeding in few, unless beaten, mashed and computer controlled and dictated as to make the driver more of a passenger who decides whether they want to ruin a set of tyres or waft serenly looking like an owner who appreciates motorsport.

Buy you haven't driven or been in one right?

Cheers,
Bryn.