RE: BMW M5 (F90): Driven
Discussion
Willy Nilly said:
Traffic, driving to the limit point for a start. Even if you put the law aside for a moment, it's hard to give my car any stick at all, never mind one with 6 times more power. I've watched MotoGP where they show throttle position and the bikes are only at WOT for a few second per lap on a track where going fast is actively encouraged. Quite how you unleash 600 horses from a big car for anything more than a second or two is beyond me, but I'd be interested to learn from you.
I would have thought the 530D or 540i would be pretty fast cars on public roads and more than fast enough. I'm not for one second saying someone shouldn't be allowed to buy it, just wondering how you use the performance you paid for.
Wow, what a boring place PH has become. Do you find anything like, say, a 911 pointless because it's too fast as well?I would have thought the 530D or 540i would be pretty fast cars on public roads and more than fast enough. I'm not for one second saying someone shouldn't be allowed to buy it, just wondering how you use the performance you paid for.
E65Ross said:
Willy Nilly said:
Traffic, driving to the limit point for a start. Even if you put the law aside for a moment, it's hard to give my car any stick at all, never mind one with 6 times more power. I've watched MotoGP where they show throttle position and the bikes are only at WOT for a few second per lap on a track where going fast is actively encouraged. Quite how you unleash 600 horses from a big car for anything more than a second or two is beyond me, but I'd be interested to learn from you.
I would have thought the 530D or 540i would be pretty fast cars on public roads and more than fast enough. I'm not for one second saying someone shouldn't be allowed to buy it, just wondering how you use the performance you paid for.
Wow, what a boring place PH has become. Do you find anything like, say, a 911 pointless because it's too fast as well?I would have thought the 530D or 540i would be pretty fast cars on public roads and more than fast enough. I'm not for one second saying someone shouldn't be allowed to buy it, just wondering how you use the performance you paid for.
0a said:
"BMW has upped its volume compared to last time around, but it never approaches AMG levels. It still has some augmentation through the speakers, for heaven's sake.
So sad. You can imagine the original M engineers shuddering in disapproval.
Blame the regulations, not the manufacturer. So sad. You can imagine the original M engineers shuddering in disapproval.
Willy Nilly said:
E65Ross said:
Willy Nilly said:
Traffic, driving to the limit point for a start. Even if you put the law aside for a moment, it's hard to give my car any stick at all, never mind one with 6 times more power. I've watched MotoGP where they show throttle position and the bikes are only at WOT for a few second per lap on a track where going fast is actively encouraged. Quite how you unleash 600 horses from a big car for anything more than a second or two is beyond me, but I'd be interested to learn from you.
I would have thought the 530D or 540i would be pretty fast cars on public roads and more than fast enough. I'm not for one second saying someone shouldn't be allowed to buy it, just wondering how you use the performance you paid for.
Wow, what a boring place PH has become. Do you find anything like, say, a 911 pointless because it's too fast as well?I would have thought the 530D or 540i would be pretty fast cars on public roads and more than fast enough. I'm not for one second saying someone shouldn't be allowed to buy it, just wondering how you use the performance you paid for.
I've also been a passenger in a McLaren 650S which also used full throttle at times.....so I'm not sure why people seem to think that full throttle is simply never possible in cars like these? McLaren 650S was in another league to the F type R yet full throttle was still used and I didn't die. The F type R won't be much slower than this in reality....
To answer your question "So come on then, how do you use that amount of power on the road?" my answer is really very simple. You just put your right foot on the accelerator pedal as far as it'll go. If you're not stupid, you won't die....you'll just go very fast indeed.
0-60mph in 3.1secs and the quarter-mile in 11.1secs.
Very fast for your grandad's saloon.
https://youtu.be/hxsBUkm9vBs
Very fast for your grandad's saloon.
https://youtu.be/hxsBUkm9vBs
Ares said:
Sounds like it hits the brief square on then....??
On the others whinges
Fake Noise. Contentious issue. In practice, you can't tell. The alternative is either always noisy and being undesirably anti-social, or being too quiet.
Too many gadgets? Such as...? What could/should they remove from std equipment?
Unattractive design? I think it's just right.
No those ARENT the only two alternatives! Are AMG cars "anti-social" or "too quiet?" Not at all, and its not unreasonable to expect any performance saloon to be the same. The difference in the M5 between having the engine sound piped in and the sound after you pull the fuse is albeit not huge but noticeable and irritating in the way the subtle but noticeable sound of a fly buzzing round a room can be. On the others whinges
Fake Noise. Contentious issue. In practice, you can't tell. The alternative is either always noisy and being undesirably anti-social, or being too quiet.
Too many gadgets? Such as...? What could/should they remove from std equipment?
Unattractive design? I think it's just right.
E65Ross said:
Well I've driven the twin turbo M6 and a Jag F type R on numerous occasions and, on each of those occasions, full throttle was used several times.
I've also been a passenger in a McLaren 650S which also used full throttle at times.....so I'm not sure why people seem to think that full throttle is simply never possible in cars like these? McLaren 650S was in another league to the F type R yet full throttle was still used and I didn't die. The F type R won't be much slower than this in reality....
To answer your question "So come on then, how do you use that amount of power on the road?" my answer is really very simple. You just put your right foot on the accelerator pedal as far as it'll go. If you're not stupid, you won't die....you'll just go very fast indeed.
If it does 60 in 3.4 seconds, within 10 seconds you're going to be covering a lot of ground, where can you do that with such a big car? It's going to be a case of flat out for 10 seconds then back down to a speed where the ban won't be quite so long. The performance is just as illegal on a bike, but at least a bike is hardly wider than the riders shoulders, so even if the speed is illegal, there is a bit more space to do it for a few more seconds. I've also been a passenger in a McLaren 650S which also used full throttle at times.....so I'm not sure why people seem to think that full throttle is simply never possible in cars like these? McLaren 650S was in another league to the F type R yet full throttle was still used and I didn't die. The F type R won't be much slower than this in reality....
To answer your question "So come on then, how do you use that amount of power on the road?" my answer is really very simple. You just put your right foot on the accelerator pedal as far as it'll go. If you're not stupid, you won't die....you'll just go very fast indeed.
Anyway, 600hp would probably need 120+ litres an hour, so you're going to have range issues, unless BMW have put the fuel tank off a combine on it.
wildheb said:
I'm not sure how he can state the interior is 'understated' - I went to a dealer launch a few weeks back and the interior looks like a mix between a boyed up Max Power special and a night club/Xmas tree at night.
It has a £3 red Halfords starter button, light up speakers and head rest badges - wow and even more impressively you can programme the colour of all the Xmas tree/nightclub lights!!!
Having owned a F10 M5 for 3 years I feel I am in a position to comment. That car had an interior that was a lot more understated and classier than this.
Perhaps I'm just getting old but the E63S I drove in May was not much different. Perhaps BMW and Mercedes should revert to getting mature folk to design interiors for mature buyers as opposed to kids. It's enough to put me off buying one. Nuff said
Whats wrong with the E63S interior? Thousands of 70 yr old W222 S-Class owners (as far as I can tell, they're similar in interior design) would disagree with you (I know thats not an argument unto itself, but wanted to make the point anyway)It has a £3 red Halfords starter button, light up speakers and head rest badges - wow and even more impressively you can programme the colour of all the Xmas tree/nightclub lights!!!
Having owned a F10 M5 for 3 years I feel I am in a position to comment. That car had an interior that was a lot more understated and classier than this.
Perhaps I'm just getting old but the E63S I drove in May was not much different. Perhaps BMW and Mercedes should revert to getting mature folk to design interiors for mature buyers as opposed to kids. It's enough to put me off buying one. Nuff said
Ares said:
popeyewhite said:
Ares said:
That was the M3. And both were built for homologation purposes to go racing.
No, the first true M5 - the M535, came before any 3 series version. And they were built because MB had the 190 2.3 16v, were racing it, and BMW "had nothing to respond with". BMW had no sports version of the 5 series at this time so decided to build one, hence the M535 in 1984. It's all on the M Division website.The E30 M3 was the same year.
BlackPrince said:
Ares said:
Sounds like it hits the brief square on then....??
On the others whinges
Fake Noise. Contentious issue. In practice, you can't tell. The alternative is either always noisy and being undesirably anti-social, or being too quiet.
Too many gadgets? Such as...? What could/should they remove from std equipment?
Unattractive design? I think it's just right.
No those ARENT the only two alternatives! Are AMG cars "anti-social" or "too quiet?" Not at all, and its not unreasonable to expect any performance saloon to be the same. The difference in the M5 between having the engine sound piped in and the sound after you pull the fuse is albeit not huge but noticeable and irritating in the way the subtle but noticeable sound of a fly buzzing round a room can be. On the others whinges
Fake Noise. Contentious issue. In practice, you can't tell. The alternative is either always noisy and being undesirably anti-social, or being too quiet.
Too many gadgets? Such as...? What could/should they remove from std equipment?
Unattractive design? I think it's just right.
There’s some strange comments! Mostly from people who don’t appear to have been in an M5 let alone had the pleasure of owning one?
The M5 was never intended to be a sports car - there is no way a 4 door, 5 seat large exec saloon could be a sports car much in the same way a sports car could be an exec saloon! It’s a super saloon, fast exec call it want you like but it’s an awesome thing and very, very capable and yes fun!
I’ve also got a v12 Vantage s, is the M5 engine as nice to listen to as the Aston? No, but there’s never once I’ve thought oh that’s a bit bland - what rubbish! I suppose it’s all relevant but why not say that rather than ‘its bland’?
So there’s engine noise through the speakers - wow, get over yourself, I barely notice, in fact I’m not sure when it is or isn’t? There’s engine noise when you open the taps and a nice one at that. So it’s not quite a Lamborghini v12 scream or a flat 6 wail but it’s still a nice noise.
If non of us can the power why don’t we all just buy a Nissan Leaf and be done with it? Of course you can use the power if you are prepared to accept the consequences, as has been said, it’s rhe pedal on the right.
At the end of the day car design is a series of compromise and the M5 strikes a great balance that really hits the spot for me, if it’s not for you then fair enough but stop spouting b
ks you’ve read somewhere else! Is a 535d or similar a better all round car for general use?...probably, most of the time and a very happy chap you’ll be...but it’s just not a M5.
I’m just glad we can all buy M5’s, RS’s, AMG’s, etc with big engines and silly horsepower as this won’t always be the case...
The M5 was never intended to be a sports car - there is no way a 4 door, 5 seat large exec saloon could be a sports car much in the same way a sports car could be an exec saloon! It’s a super saloon, fast exec call it want you like but it’s an awesome thing and very, very capable and yes fun!
I’ve also got a v12 Vantage s, is the M5 engine as nice to listen to as the Aston? No, but there’s never once I’ve thought oh that’s a bit bland - what rubbish! I suppose it’s all relevant but why not say that rather than ‘its bland’?
So there’s engine noise through the speakers - wow, get over yourself, I barely notice, in fact I’m not sure when it is or isn’t? There’s engine noise when you open the taps and a nice one at that. So it’s not quite a Lamborghini v12 scream or a flat 6 wail but it’s still a nice noise.
If non of us can the power why don’t we all just buy a Nissan Leaf and be done with it? Of course you can use the power if you are prepared to accept the consequences, as has been said, it’s rhe pedal on the right.
At the end of the day car design is a series of compromise and the M5 strikes a great balance that really hits the spot for me, if it’s not for you then fair enough but stop spouting b
ks you’ve read somewhere else! Is a 535d or similar a better all round car for general use?...probably, most of the time and a very happy chap you’ll be...but it’s just not a M5.I’m just glad we can all buy M5’s, RS’s, AMG’s, etc with big engines and silly horsepower as this won’t always be the case...
peteA said:
There’s some strange comments! Mostly from people who don’t appear to have been in an M5 let alone had the pleasure of owning one?
The M5 was never intended to be a sports car - there is no way a 4 door, 5 seat large exec saloon could be a sports car much in the same way a sports car could be an exec saloon!
M5 E39 drives much better than a Camaro of its ageThe M5 was never intended to be a sports car - there is no way a 4 door, 5 seat large exec saloon could be a sports car much in the same way a sports car could be an exec saloon!
peteA said:
There’s some strange comments! Mostly from people who don’t appear to have been in an M5 let alone had the pleasure of owning one?
The M5 was never intended to be a sports car - there is no way a 4 door, 5 seat large exec saloon could be a sports car much in the same way a sports car could be an exec saloon! It’s a super saloon, fast exec call it want you like but it’s an awesome thing and very, very capable and yes fun!
I’ve also got a v12 Vantage s, is the M5 engine as nice to listen to as the Aston? No, but there’s never once I’ve thought oh that’s a bit bland - what rubbish! I suppose it’s all relevant but why not say that rather than ‘its bland’?
So there’s engine noise through the speakers - wow, get over yourself, I barely notice, in fact I’m not sure when it is or isn’t? There’s engine noise when you open the taps and a nice one at that. So it’s not quite a Lamborghini v12 scream or a flat 6 wail but it’s still a nice noise.
If non of us can the power why don’t we all just buy a Nissan Leaf and be done with it? Of course you can use the power if you are prepared to accept the consequences, as has been said, it’s rhe pedal on the right.
At the end of the day car design is a series of compromise and the M5 strikes a great balance that really hits the spot for me, if it’s not for you then fair enough but stop spouting bks you’ve read somewhere else! Is a 535d or similar a better all round car for general use?...probably, most of the time and a very happy chap you’ll be...but it’s just not a M5.
I’m just glad we can all buy M5’s, RS’s, AMG’s, etc with big engines and silly horsepower as this won’t always be the case...
+1The M5 was never intended to be a sports car - there is no way a 4 door, 5 seat large exec saloon could be a sports car much in the same way a sports car could be an exec saloon! It’s a super saloon, fast exec call it want you like but it’s an awesome thing and very, very capable and yes fun!
I’ve also got a v12 Vantage s, is the M5 engine as nice to listen to as the Aston? No, but there’s never once I’ve thought oh that’s a bit bland - what rubbish! I suppose it’s all relevant but why not say that rather than ‘its bland’?
So there’s engine noise through the speakers - wow, get over yourself, I barely notice, in fact I’m not sure when it is or isn’t? There’s engine noise when you open the taps and a nice one at that. So it’s not quite a Lamborghini v12 scream or a flat 6 wail but it’s still a nice noise.
If non of us can the power why don’t we all just buy a Nissan Leaf and be done with it? Of course you can use the power if you are prepared to accept the consequences, as has been said, it’s rhe pedal on the right.
At the end of the day car design is a series of compromise and the M5 strikes a great balance that really hits the spot for me, if it’s not for you then fair enough but stop spouting b
ks you’ve read somewhere else! Is a 535d or similar a better all round car for general use?...probably, most of the time and a very happy chap you’ll be...but it’s just not a M5.I’m just glad we can all buy M5’s, RS’s, AMG’s, etc with big engines and silly horsepower as this won’t always be the case...
They're all the same thing though.
V8 turbo with awd and driving against the electronics or at about 3/10ths 99.9% of the time.
In all this Audi seem to be the only ones who've stayed consistent and/or improved their offering without undermining their S/RS brand image.
BMW M has become almost full joke now.
Glimmers of quality shine through but the bulk of what I see is turd.
M4 seats for example with a hard plastic nugget badge in the back. Nice and tacky.
Now on the M5. Classy.
V8 turbo with awd and driving against the electronics or at about 3/10ths 99.9% of the time.
In all this Audi seem to be the only ones who've stayed consistent and/or improved their offering without undermining their S/RS brand image.
BMW M has become almost full joke now.
Glimmers of quality shine through but the bulk of what I see is turd.
M4 seats for example with a hard plastic nugget badge in the back. Nice and tacky.
Now on the M5. Classy.
A friend of mine had 40k to spend on a car after selling his C63 and he had the choice of a Nissan GT-R R35 and an F10 M5, he tested both and bought the Nissan. I asked him why and he said it’s because the M5 struggled for traction which annoyed him. He took me out in the GTR and my god that car just launches everywhere like a rocket! From any speed, zero wheel spin, just goes!
Now all of this is on public roads, I don’t condone his driving and that was the first and last time I got in his car as he is a nutcase but my point is that despite the GTR also being ‘over powered’ or ‘too fast for public roads’, those sprints from 0-40 or 20-60 are managed so easily with 4wd, it’s hard to dismiss the M5 by saying it’s too fast for public roads.
I once dismissed the Alpina B5 estate by saying it was pointless but this was before my time in that GTR, there is no such thing as too fast! fk it! If I had the means I’d happily buy that M5, why buy a 530d and miss out on that feeling of being launched back into your seat like a rollercoaster! Even if you only get to do it once a week for a short amount of time on a clear road, it’s definitely worth it.
In response to the posters who say ‘it has too many gadgets’
What would you rather drive to work in every day, a F90 M5 or an Indian spec base Dacia Duster?
Now all of this is on public roads, I don’t condone his driving and that was the first and last time I got in his car as he is a nutcase but my point is that despite the GTR also being ‘over powered’ or ‘too fast for public roads’, those sprints from 0-40 or 20-60 are managed so easily with 4wd, it’s hard to dismiss the M5 by saying it’s too fast for public roads.
I once dismissed the Alpina B5 estate by saying it was pointless but this was before my time in that GTR, there is no such thing as too fast! f
k it! If I had the means I’d happily buy that M5, why buy a 530d and miss out on that feeling of being launched back into your seat like a rollercoaster! Even if you only get to do it once a week for a short amount of time on a clear road, it’s definitely worth it.In response to the posters who say ‘it has too many gadgets’
What would you rather drive to work in every day, a F90 M5 or an Indian spec base Dacia Duster?
anonymous said:
[redacted]
+ 1
Slightly tangential, but I don't understand why the middle and top class cars from BMW and Merc all look the same now. Its very hard to tell the difference b/w an E and an S (100% of S-Classes having the gunsight hood ornament aside...), as it is between the 5 and the 7. Certainly in the past, they were similar but now they look almost indistinguishable. Shame that BMW and MB are following the Audi +25%/-25% photocopy style of design.
The E63's I've driven are a bit of a handful with the ESP off compared to the M5s, but I suspect no one will ever do this so it doesn't matter - the rortiness and character of the AMGs are far more important and usable on the road than the 10/10ths ability of the M cars
peteA said:
There’s some strange comments! Mostly from people who don’t appear to have been in an M5 let alone had the pleasure of owning one?
The M5 was never intended to be a sports car - there is no way a 4 door, 5 seat large exec saloon could be a sports car much in the same way a sports car could be an exec saloon! It’s a super saloon, fast exec call it want you like but it’s an awesome thing and very, very capable and yes fun!
I’ve also got a v12 Vantage s, is the M5 engine as nice to listen to as the Aston? No, but there’s never once I’ve thought oh that’s a bit bland - what rubbish! I suppose it’s all relevant but why not say that rather than ‘its bland’?
So there’s engine noise through the speakers - wow, get over yourself, I barely notice, in fact I’m not sure when it is or isn’t? There’s engine noise when you open the taps and a nice one at that. So it’s not quite a Lamborghini v12 scream or a flat 6 wail but it’s still a nice noise.
If non of us can the power why don’t we all just buy a Nissan Leaf and be done with it? Of course you can use the power if you are prepared to accept the consequences, as has been said, it’s rhe pedal on the right.
At the end of the day car design is a series of compromise and the M5 strikes a great balance that really hits the spot for me, if it’s not for you then fair enough but stop spouting bks you’ve read somewhere else! Is a 535d or similar a better all round car for general use?...probably, most of the time and a very happy chap you’ll be...but it’s just not a M5.
I’m just glad we can all buy M5’s, RS’s, AMG’s, etc with big engines and silly horsepower as this won’t always be the case...
Couldn’t have said it better myself! The M5 was never intended to be a sports car - there is no way a 4 door, 5 seat large exec saloon could be a sports car much in the same way a sports car could be an exec saloon! It’s a super saloon, fast exec call it want you like but it’s an awesome thing and very, very capable and yes fun!
I’ve also got a v12 Vantage s, is the M5 engine as nice to listen to as the Aston? No, but there’s never once I’ve thought oh that’s a bit bland - what rubbish! I suppose it’s all relevant but why not say that rather than ‘its bland’?
So there’s engine noise through the speakers - wow, get over yourself, I barely notice, in fact I’m not sure when it is or isn’t? There’s engine noise when you open the taps and a nice one at that. So it’s not quite a Lamborghini v12 scream or a flat 6 wail but it’s still a nice noise.
If non of us can the power why don’t we all just buy a Nissan Leaf and be done with it? Of course you can use the power if you are prepared to accept the consequences, as has been said, it’s rhe pedal on the right.
At the end of the day car design is a series of compromise and the M5 strikes a great balance that really hits the spot for me, if it’s not for you then fair enough but stop spouting b
ks you’ve read somewhere else! Is a 535d or similar a better all round car for general use?...probably, most of the time and a very happy chap you’ll be...but it’s just not a M5.I’m just glad we can all buy M5’s, RS’s, AMG’s, etc with big engines and silly horsepower as this won’t always be the case...
I was reading through this thread thinking exactly the same, too many inexperienced comments by the sounds of it.
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