Ever since BMW decided way back in 1984 that middle-aged finance industry executives deserved to have a bit of fun too and jammed the M88 3.5-litre straight six engine from the M1 sports car into the 5 Series to create the mighty M5, the debut of a new incarnation on whatever the newest 5 Series is has been eagerly anticipated.
And, while it has never really been a let down, the latest G90 version has sure seen a lot of moaning about it. To be accurate, mainly about its weight. Which, to be fair, is a lot.
Yes, the G90 BMW M5 weighs 2501kg, which is hefty in anyone’s book. In fact, it’s more than a tonne (1101kg to be exact) heavier than the original M5, more than 600kg heavier than the spectacular V10-powered E60 from 2004, and 560kg more than the previous generation F90 from 2017.
So it is easy to think that the M5 has really let itself go in the last few years, but that is ignoring another set of numbers that tell a rather different story.
You see, while the original M5 pumped out 210kW and 340Nm from its straight six, the current incarnation has increased those numbers a little bit to 430kW and 750Nm from its 4.4-litre V8 . I mean, “a little bit” is close enough to “more than doubled” really.
And just in case you are shouting that those figures are actually a fraction less than the 441kW/750Nm the previous F90 produced - you are very correct. The extra 560kg that the G90 carries over the last car is largely made up by an 18.6kWh battery and plug-in hybrid system that bring a further 145kW and 280Nm to the techno party, for a combined overall output of a thoroughly silly 535kW and 1000Nm.
This sees the G90 M5 belt to 100km/h from a standing start in 3.3 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the previous model, despite being the first M5 to have had a lower power-to-weight ratio than the one it replaced, simply by virtue of its simply staggering thrust off the line thanks to the new layer of low-down electric torque.
The extra weight may be contentious, but the serious performance on offer certainly isn’t, with the M5 being an absolute monster in terms of sheer raw performance. Acceleration is nothing short of brutal, while point-to-point you would be hard-pressed to find a faster large luxury car. Simple as that.
It is easy to miss a vital parameter than could be wound up to 11 to squeeze another layer of aggression out of the powertrain.
However, while the M5 is mind-bendingly fast, it does come across as somewhat uninvolving, almost like it is holding you at arm's length from the real fun. And that's because it probably is.
Weirdly, the M5 does its best to make the full force of its sheer feral power genuinely difficult to fully access, thanks to its dense and often unintuitive menus that allow you to adjust almost every performance option individually.
As a result it is easy to miss a vital parameter than could be wound up to 11 to squeeze another layer of aggression out of the powertrain. For example simply dropping it into Sport or even Sport+ will make it go Very Fast Indeed, it still isn't enough to squeeze the most out of it, with further tinkering with shift options and the AWD system required.
But then this is nothing new for the M5, as I can remember spending a good 15 minutes going through all the individual settings in a V10 M6 many moons ago, winding everything up to maximum attack.
So while a bit of prep work is (and always has been) necessary to get the best out of an M5, the result is worth the time it takes, and with everything finally dialled in properly the M5 becomes something rather spectacular on a winding road.
The M5 is a truly staggering achievement in technology used for pure brute force, but with an extremely luxurious overlay.
Setting all the power and shift options to their most aggressive and the chassis to its most rear- biased setting sees the M5 transform from “just” a ferociously fast AWD luxury sedan into a properly angry performance car with a lively and responsive rear end. And if you are brave enough and at a track, you can even switch it into full RWD mode with everything off. Which would be just mental…
Anyway, all of the various settings may seem like overkill, but it does mean you can dial the M5 in exactly how you like it, over and above the preset standard drive modes and even the programmable M1 and M2 buttons on the steering wheel.
While this is all very cool for a tech nerd like me, it does mean that there may well be buyers out there who will never fully access their cars true potential. Which makes me sad thinking about it.
The M5 is a truly staggering achievement in technology used for pure brute force, but with an extremely luxurious overlay. Yes, it is absolute overkill, worryingly heavy and often unnecessarily complex, but the results speak for themselves - spend the time to tailor it to your driving style and you will find a truly satisfying car that is staggeringly fast and supremely capable.
How much is the BMW M5?
The M5 is a hefty car with a hefty price to match; $244,900 to be precise. But for that money it comes pretty much loaded with everything, with our test car's $7500 frozen grey metallic being one of the only options available outside of the BMW Individual special paint options and a tow bar.
What are the key statistics for the BMW M5?
The price isn't the only big number when it comes to the M5; its high-tech PHEV powertrain pumps out an impressive combined output of 535kW and 1000Nm, with the twin-turbo petrol V8 contributing 430kW and 750Nm, while the electric motor and 18.6kWh battery add a further 145kW and 280Nm when necessary.
Is the BMW M5 efficient?
Well, it is a plug-in hybrid, but... it's all about power, right? BMW claims a combined average consumption of 1.7l/100km for the M5, but that's only while the battery is full and you are behaving yourself - but here's the impressive thing, even normal running with a few blasts away from the traffic lights for good measure saw figures of about 7l/100km during a week with the M5. Of course, it goes without saying that leveraging all that 535kW and 1000Nm from the powertrain sees those figure leap upwards...
Is the BMW M5 good to drive?
The M5 is still that traditional blend of superb executive luxury and ferocious performance that ticks so many boxes for so many people. It does have a tendency to isolate you from the fun, but rather than this being due to its prodigious weight, it is more the needlessly complex set up to access its full ability.
Is the BMW M5 practical?
Yes, it certainly is. With a 466 litre boot and bags of room inside the cabin, the M5 is spacious and well laid out. While it's 67km of electric-only range makes it a superbly refined and effortless urban commuter.
What do we like about the BMW M5?
The unrelenting performance on offer is the undoubted highlight, but the high levels of luxury and comfort are also rather nice. Also the fact that it is actually an engaging and enjoyable car to throw around, despite its weight. If you put in the effort to access it, that is.
What don’t we like about the BMW M5?
That you do have to do so much digging to access the best of the M5. While it is admirable that BMW give you so much freedom to set the car up exactly how you want it, it is probably more than most people will ever bother with. Also the excessive amount of LED lights (and that optional red leather) does make the interior seem a bit like a gamer nerd's fever dream...
What kind of person would the BMW M5 suit?
The same sort of person the M5 has always appealed to - someone who wants a refined, comfortable and high-tech luxury executive sedan that is capable of surprising very rude words out of unsuspecting passengers when you drop the hammer.
