Check out the M Performance Parts for M5 Touring
Like the idea of a fast, discreet M5 wagon returning? Avert your gaze now
Credit where due to BMW, it gives the customer choice. There wasn’t an M3 Touring for the first 35 years of the model’s life, then there was. And it’s fantastic. It seemed like the M5 Touring was consigned to the history books, too, only to make a return after 15 years away. Meaning the 4.4 turbo V8, in one form or another, can be found in M versions of the 5 Series, 5 Series Touring, X5, X6, X7 and XM. Choice, see.
Now those who want a new 727hp M5 Touring can spruce it up further with the M Performance Parts. As will be familiar from other installations, the focus here is on cosmetic enhancement, making even more of a statement than a standard M car offers. Leaves room for really subtle BMW Alpinas in the future, right? For the G99 M5, BMW suggests that its upgrade ‘enriches the car’s athletic appearance with exclusive details that turn heads from every angle’.
To that end, there’s a carbon front splitter that’ll prove a nightmare on the leisure centre speed bumps - but does draw attention to the giant central intake. Down the side it’s a competition between the graphics and the side skirt extensions over which draws the attention first. Perhaps not too all tastes, though the way the latter grows to meet the rear diffuser looks quite smart. BMW reckons the extensions ‘create an attractive visual connection with the stretched roofline’. There are carbon mirror caps too, of course.
That rear diffuser is perhaps the most dramatic addition of all, particularly in conjunction with the titanium/carbon M Performance exhaust pipes. It’s officially described as particularly prominent, which undersells it a tad. Handily, the ‘strikingly cut bars’ that create so much attitude also seem to leave space for the tow bar, so that’s good news. Those truly committed to all things M Performance can even get carbon surrounds for the rear screen.
The rest of the catalogue, to be brutally honest, is the usual kind of silliness that’s all too familiar from the M Performance Parts empire. There’s a carbon fuel cap that ‘turns every refuel into a small pit stop’, floor mats to further enhance the sporting appeal and a key case that ‘also exudes a clear sense of racing passion’. Yeah. Tyre bags are available for those determined to take a set of Cup 2s and spare wheels to a track days.
The latest M5 hasn’t yet been added to the UK M Performance Parts catalogue, though as with all of these add-ons they won’t come cheap. For the previous model a much smaller rear diffuser is £1,175, the sill extensions £2,250, and the mirror caps almost a grand. So it’ll be easy to add a fair bit to the £112,500 RRP. But for making an impact with a fast estate, it’s hard to think of much better - apart from an RS6 GT, perhaps…
The whole car seems to be trying too hard to grab your attention, it's like it's shouting "look at me, look at me". I'm sure that many will disagree but I prefer a more understated appearance rather than some in your face boy racer look.
Then again, I am an old man these days.
The whole car seems to be trying too hard to grab your attention, it's like it's shouting "look at me, look at me". I'm sure that many will disagree but I prefer a more understated appearance rather than some in your face boy racer look.
Then again, I am an old man these days.
Standard car over this for me everyday.
The weight of the latest model is akin to taking an E39 M5, and adding another half of an E39 M5 on top. As has been mentioned, it's a never-ending vicious circle of chasing power to try and defeat weight.
The beauty of the M5 was always that it was a (relatively) affordable and nimble fast saloon; now a fully optioned one is moving into the type of territory and cost bracket which was occupied by supercars not too long ago, but becoming much lardier as it does so.
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