RE: BMW M5 (F90): Driven

RE: BMW M5 (F90): Driven

Author
Discussion

2 GKC

1,884 posts

104 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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Is this the same block that went in the 8 Series, E38, E39 etc?

cerb4.5lee

30,184 posts

179 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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It is too big/heavy and overpowered to use on the commute...yet I'd still love one though, I love how it's switchable from 4WD to RWD so it offers the best of both worlds.

It would be a great lottery win car to have alongside some other tasty stuff.

hondansx

4,562 posts

224 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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Esceptico said:
Cars have reached the point that motorbikes did some 20 years ago; each new car has to have more power and more performance (and more electronic aids to control it all) so that they are “better” than the model they replace. Yet for most drivers on real roads those performance gains mean little in day to day driving and all the electronic aids and excess power actually detract from the driving experience,

When I had my first 5 series (E39 530d) the then M5 was objectively very different - in the real world there was a big gap (0-60 in just over 5 seconds compared to around 8), plus the M5 was not that much heavier, only come with manual, only RWD. On the Autobahn the 530d would struggle make 140 whereas the M5 was limited to 155.

Nowadays the current 530d hits sixety in under 6 seconds and is limited to 155 like the M5. In the real world not a significant difference and on a long journey you would be quicker because you would not need to stop for fuel so frequently.

Besides bragging rights of having bought the most powerful 5 series what are you getting for all the extra money?
I think you make a very good point there. And in my view, the M5 needs to look more interesting to help differentiate it. I saw one in the flesh at an unveiling and was utterly underwhelmed.

E65Ross

34,944 posts

211 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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2 GKC said:
Is this the same block that went in the 8 Series, E38, E39 etc?
I'm assuming this is tongue in cheek? Surely you don't actually think that's even a remote possibility to even warrant the question?

culpz

4,881 posts

111 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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I like it, on the whole. I just think that the new E63(s) dominates this segment and i'm not usually a huge fan of Mercedes.

However, in the segment below, I'd have an F80 M3/M4 all day.

HeMightBeBanned

617 posts

177 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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I can't decide if it's being damned by faint praise.

Vocht

1,630 posts

163 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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Random observation but the engine bay is nicely symmetrical! Looks great!

It will be interesting to see how Audi position the new RS6. I suspect Mercedes have won this gen/round.

Yipper

5,964 posts

89 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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Saw one at the weekend. Looks like it was styled by my mate's grandad.

Near-supercar speed at near-£100k (with options) that looks like a 535d for a regional sales manager.

Ahm oot.

Guvernator

13,104 posts

164 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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peteA said:
Looking at the guvenators garage I suspect you are an AMG guy from your past cars - loud, shouty, in your face, etc... good, don’t get me wrong, petrol heads love an AMG but its extrovert all the time and it’s never switched off, never toned down.

I doubt the others commenting have been in t either the F10 or latest versions?

The M5 isn’t like this - it’s meant to be a thinking mans super saloon, a bit more subtle and well, less obvious. Similar if you like the Jag XFRS too?

You might have guessed that I have an F10, is it perfect...? No. Would I change much...? No. It’s a bloody great car with two distinct characters that suit my driving needs perfectly and I’m so glad I bought it - in normal mode it could be a ‘kitted up’ 520d to the untrained eye (perfect for meeting clients and attending meetings, etc) but in m sport it’s a fire breathing beast of a thing (it’s no sports car, to heavy for that, but it goes down the road ok trust me!)

I’m glad the new one is similar in ethos because as mentioned above it will be a bargain further down the line when 3 years old and it’s the only thing I can see replacing my current car?

I’m glad there are alternatives on the market with different characters to suit all our tastes but can’t see the point of having a go at the BMW or the M5 for ‘not being an AMG’ - it’s exactly what BMW wanted. If this isn’t what you want then that’s fine, off to merc (and Audi?) you go I guess?

Edited by peteA on Monday 4th December 07:13
I actually prefer BMW's to be honest or I used to. I've owned two in the past, an E36 M3 and a 335i and driven almost every iteration of M car in the last 15 years. I just think the last generation or two of M cars haven't been as awesome as they could be. Sure they are very impressive in terms of numbers and both the F10 M5 and F82 M4 I drove where nice but just didn't have that final edge for me.

Yes the v8 unit in the M5 is impressive in how quickly it goes and how much torque it produces and yes it might sound churlish to pick fault in a 600bhp v8 but once you get past being impressed by it's speed, it's just not as exciting as engines in previous M5's. You soon get used to the speed at which point you look for other thrills and it falls short for me, VERY effective but just dull in it's delivery.

I'm just not a big fan of the way nearly all modern turbo engines deliver slugs of power down low but then seem to run out of fizz at the top end. Unfortunately baring some exotica from Ferrari and Mclaren etc, they are almost all mapped the same way these days.

sutts

896 posts

147 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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I looked round one of these at the PH BMW SS a few weeks ago. A technical tour de force and beautifully put together, but it did leave me a bit cold. I don’t think the colour helped as it was even more anonymous than it could be with the relatively subtle styling. The blue of the feature car is much better.




Although I’m biased I can’t see anyone wanting to hang on to one of these for the long term and have an emotional attachment to it! Unlike the older cars:



Mine:




4941cc

25,867 posts

205 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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Guvernator said:
...an M5 has to be a little more than just an anonymously faster 5 series.
That's exactly what I love about them and Mercs until the latest iteration. W124 500E/E500, then 210 E55 were masters of subtlety, only cues given away to the initiated, otherwise could go about their business without drawing attention.

The 211s were a crossover point, when AMG found it's voice, figuratively and literally as a little more raucous and a bit more aggressively differentiated styling from regular Es, 212 E63s seemed to go back a bit, but the 213 changes all that, every panel forward of the windscreen is substantially different to the M-B E-Class (inc E43) just for starters.

Not a bad thing, still love the general concept of both and I'd choose a C63 coupe over an M4 (but oddly an M3 over a C63 saloon) - in standard trim before you start adding carbon bits and larger/more garish wheels and stripes, they're nicely discreet - aside from the noise, which is great.

Different strokes for different folks...

Herbs

4,912 posts

228 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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Yipper said:
Saw one at the weekend. Looks like it was styled by my mate's grandad.

Near-supercar speed at near-£100k (with options) that looks like a 535d for a regional sales manager.

Ahm oot.
But isn't this BMW's aim and the M5's party piece?

I agree it is too restrained for me but that is part of the appeal for others.

I also wonder whether they have got it right. AMG's seem to have taken over from Range Rovers as the drug dealers choice of chariot and RS6's seem to increase the chances of it being stolen off your drive or hijacked but I never seem to hear any stories about M5s.

Is that a true reflection?

Oz83

687 posts

138 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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Yipper said:
Saw one at the weekend. Looks like it was styled by my mate's grandad.

Near-supercar speed at near-£100k (with options) that looks like a 535d for a regional sales manager.

Ahm oot.
That's the point.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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I think this looks great, just like the rest of the M5 bunch - to a person who knows their cars it's easily distinguishable as an M5, to everyone else it just looks like a 5-series.

The change back to a torque converter auto also holds some interest - as an everyday, do-everything car I think a proper torque converter is a must over a DCT. So much smoother and more refined.

Much want.

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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Oz83 said:
Yipper said:
Saw one at the weekend. Looks like it was styled by my mate's grandad.

Near-supercar speed at near-£100k (with options) that looks like a 535d for a regional sales manager.

Ahm oot.
That's the point.
Indeed, every M5 has looked unstated, I'm amazed that it's news to anyone who posts on PH and has even a passing interest in them.

This will be a fabulous daily driver but an expensive one at 90k.





InductionRoar

2,001 posts

131 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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Yipper said:
Saw one at the weekend. Looks like it was styled by my mate's grandad.
Which other cars has he styled?

unpc

2,831 posts

212 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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HeMightBeBanned said:
I can't decide if it's being damned by faint praise.
That was my first thought after reading that. I think the last time I lusted after an M5 was the E39.

mylesmcd

2,521 posts

218 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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Mr Tidy said:
No thanks - I'd much rather have the earlier V10!
and I would rather have he factory warranty!

PunterCam

1,069 posts

194 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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This "user configurable" rubbish has to stop. I can't even decide where I want my blinking seat to be - how am I meant to configure the rest of the car?! It's a nonsense - I don't know anything about setups, and I don't care either.

I would always rather have a lovely compromise, perfectly judged and refined by people who knew what they were doing, than a bunch of configurable parts that must by design be flawed to work over a larger range.

RumbleOfThunder

3,546 posts

202 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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So disappointed to again hear of synthesized engine sounds through the speakers. Do they not hear the negative feedback?? It's a st solution and it hurts the credibility of the //M brand.