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Recipe BMW M5: nimble, resilient, maximum performance

With 40 years of history, the legendary high-performance sedan is now entering its seventh model generation. The BMW M5 has a strong reputation. The BMW M5 goes down in the books as a nimble, super-strong performance car with which you can also take the kids to school or go on vacation. The recipe has remained largely unchanged in recent years. This latest BMW M5 takes a completely different tack. Because in addition to a fuel tank, the model now also has a hefty battery on board.

Maximum system power BMW M5

The new generation BMW M5 has a maximum system output of 535 kW (727 hp) and maximum torque of 1,000 Nm. The BMW M5 combines a biturbo 4.4-liter V8 gasoline engine with an electric motor. This transfers power to the road via an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission and MxDrive all-wheel drive. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes only 3.5 seconds. Top speed is standard limited at 250 km/h, but the limiter can be raised to 305 km/h with the optional M Driver’s Pack.

V8 with high-speed character

Let’s treat the powertrain components “separately” for a moment, too. In the BMW M5 Sedan, the V8 delivers a maximum output of 430 kW (585 hp) at speeds between 5,600 and 6,500 rpm. Torque of 750 Nm is available between 1,800 and 5,400 rpm. The new BMW M5’s V8 engine can rev up to 7,200 rpm. So it is a high-revving engine. The electric motor produces 145 kW (197 hp) and 280 Nm of torque (temporarily up to 450 Nm in the pre-gearing stage).

18.6 kWh battery

So how big is the battery? The battery has 18.6 kWh of usable energy. This allows an electric range of 67 to 69 kilometers, according to the WLTP standard. The charging connector of the new BMW M5 allows charging with alternating current up to 7.4 kW. In all-electric mode, the new BMW M5 can reach speeds of up to 140 km/h. At speeds of 100 km/h or more, the car drains the battery quickly. In practice, count on about 50 kilometers of electric driving range.

M xDrive

Like the previous generation BMW M5, this new plug-in hybrid variant has all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. This is possible thanks to M xDrive. In 4WD Sport mode, the tuning of this system  is focused on the rear wheels. You can also select the 2WD mode. As a result, drive is sent only to the rear wheels when Dynamic Stability Control is disabled. Fancy a game of drift? The new M5 is not averse to that. The electronically controlled M active differential on the rear axle also ensures efficient distribution of all power.

Weight BMW M5 plug-in hybrid

The new M5 has even more technology on board. Like a front axle with double wishbones and a five-link rear axle. Also consider optional cabon-ceramic brakes and an adaptive M suspension, featuring electronically controlled dampers and Integral Active Steering. The latter system allows the rear wheels to be steered by up to 1.5 degrees. You understand: this M5 is full of tech. A lot of tech. That weighs some. All in all, the new BMW M5 weighs over 2,500 kilograms.

Still, it is particularly clever how BMW manages to mask that weight. This BMW M5 also steers nimbly and directly. From the steering you get enough feedback to position this car properly. If the car breaks out, there is a neat balance that allows you to steer it perfectly in the desired direction.

Everything can be off in the BMW M5

Driver assistance systems? In a sports sedan, you’d rather lose them than have them. But anyway, the BMW M5 has several. The lane assistant and speed warning are turned off by default. After all, you don’t buy a performance sedan for nothing. Press the DSC button and the car activates “M Dynamic Mode,” which lets the DSC intervene later when it comes to applying brake inputs and reducing engine power. DSC can also be turned off completely.  

Another button selects M mode. When switching from Road to Sport, the interventions of the driving assistance systems are limited to only the essential functions required for sporty driving, such as the content shown on the information display. With M Drive Professional, Track mode can also be used. Other features of M Drive Professional include the M Capture Timer and the Boost Control function, which maximizes dynamics during acceleration and overtaking maneuvers.

Extended wheel arches

In terms of design, the BMW M5 stands out nicely. Extended wheel arches with a rim only 10 mm high, the increased track width, side bumpers painted in color, a model-specific C-pillar with new lines – including M5 logo embossed – make the car stand out nicely. Not least, of course, also this color Speed Yellow. Which is optional. Speaking of options, this particular car has quite a few. We list some of them.

• Price BMW Individual exterior – Speed Yellow – 6,095 euros
• M Carbon-ceramic brakes – 10,569 euros
• Tow bar with electrically retractable ball – 1,281 euros
• Driving Assistant Professional – 1,784 euros
• M Driver’s Pack – 2,795 euros
• Carbon Pack incl carbon roof – 3,417 euros
• M Headliner Alcantara Anthrazit – 1,281 euros

Price of this 2024 registered test car comes to 174,166 euros

Favorable CO2 emissions, low bpm

The Dutch starting retail price for the M5 Sedan is 144,347 euros. Because this plug-in hybrid has favorable CO2 emissions on paper, you pay only 743 euros in Dutch VPT, making the BMW M5 in the Netherlands for the first time almost as expensive as in neighboring countries. That was sometimes different in the past. In fact: you pay as much bpm for this M5 as you do for a Toyota Prius! That’s a nice windfall.

BMW i5 M60 xDrive, an electric M5?

But is the BMW M5 really the fastest 5 Series in the lineup? Let’s see. This M5 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. The BMW i5 M60 xDrive – which costs 108,420 euros – comes pretty close to the M5 with an output of 442 kW (601 hp) and torque of 820 Nm. The 0-100 sprint of this car comes out to 3.8 seconds. A difference of 0.3 seconds, in other words. Salient detail: the electric i5 M60 xDrive has an empty weight of 2,380 kilograms and 490 liters of luggage space. This BMW M5? That one has an empty weight of 2,510 kilograms and a luggage space of 466 liters. So on paper, this BMW i5 M60 is quite a good deal.

Conclusion review BMW M5

Since you have to charge continuously anyway to utilize the full performance potential of the M5 – not just maximum power but also driving as economically as possible – we’d almost say it’s better to go for the i5 M60. It’s lighter and instinctively just as fast. It saves a lot of money, too. But then you miss the powerful V8 engine and, of course, the complete M5 fun package. Plus: the plug-in hybrid powertrain makes the M5 more attainable than ever, more powerful than ever and you get more tech than ever. The BMW M5’s value for money has never been better. Then the new M5 also comes as a BMW M5 Touring.