GO
GoAutoLogo
MENU

Make / Model Search

Car reviews - BMW - 5 Series - M5 sedan

The Car

20 Oct 2006

AFTER what seems an eternity since it appeared in concept form at last year’s Geneva motor show, BMW’s blistering new V10-powered M5 has finally reached Australian shores.

Launched this week at Victoria’s Sandown raceway, the redesigned E60 5-Series-based super-sedan costs $226,000 and packs a benchmark-setting 373kW (no less than 507 horsepower in the old money) and 520Nm of torque from a 5.0-litre F1-inspired V10 that revs to an astonishing 8250rpm.

It replaces the E39 M5, which produced 294kW and 500Nm from its 4.9-litre V8 and was last sold in October 2003, priced at $195,800.

Combining a new realm of high-revving V10 performance with the practicality of a large four-door sedan, the fourth-generation follows in a hallowed line of M5s dating back two decades to the 210kW E28 M5 of 1985.

With 79kW and 20Nm more performance than its forebear, the E60 also claims a substantial acceleration increase, now sprinting to 100km/h in a claimed 4.7 seconds.

Producing a specific power output well in excess of the hi-po yardstick of 100hp per litre and with a power-to-weight ratio of just 3.5kg per horsepower, BMW’s new V10 also pushes the 1755kg M5 to a governed 250km/h top speed – although its 330km/h speedo hints at its real potential if unleashed.

Weighing 240kg – just 1kg more than the V8 it replaces – the 90-degree alloy V10 picked up four gongs at the Engine of the Year awards, and also powers the forthcoming M6 coupe.

The revolutionary new powerplant combines with a new-generation seven-speed SMG transmission with 11 gearshift programs (including launch control and an improved auto mode), plus a tweaked E60 chassis comprising electronic damper control, two-stage electronic damper control, the M Differential Lock and mechanical variable steering.

M5 is discreetly differentiated from lesser 5 Series variants by an F1-inspired bodykit, 19-inch radial-spoke M wheels and four exhaust outlets.

Meantime, M5’s interior boasts red speedo and tacho needles, a Head-Up Display with gearshift light, an M steering wheel with shift paddles and MDrive button, an illuminated SMG shifter and a Power button, which switches between 400hp Comfort and 507hp Sport engine control maps.

Did you know?

As befits a car costing a quarter of a million dollars, M5 is equipped with every technical feature from adaptive Xenon headlights to a communications system comprising sat-nav, TV and Logic7 13-speaker Hi-Fi audio

Click to share

Click below to follow us on
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram

GoAuto can help you buy a new 5 Series

Customer Terms and Conditions – New Car Lead enquires

Agreement

This is an agreement between GoAutoMedia Pty Limited ACN 094 732 457 of PO Box 18, Beach Road, Sandringham, VIC, 3191 (“we/us”), the owner and operator of the GoAuto.com.au website (“the website”) and the person wanting GoAuto.com.au to provide them with a lead for the purchase of a new car (“you”).

By completing a New Car Lead Enquiry, you agree to the terms and conditions and disclaimers and acknowledge the policies set out below.

Terms and Conditions

  • In order for us to effect a lead you must you must complete a New Car Lead Enquiry (“Enquiry”).
  • We will call you as soon as possible after you complete the Enquiry and certainly no later than the next business day. When we call, we will discuss with you your new car requirements.
  • You consent to our passing on the Enquiry and your requirements to an appropriate authorised motor car dealer as a lead.
  • We will contact you again in approximately eight days following your initial enquiry to check on the progress of the Enquiry.
  • While we will provide the dealer with the Enquiry and details of your new car requirements, we take no responsibility for what happens after passing on that material as a lead.
  • You acknowledge that we are a new car information service providing new car editorial information, pictures and prices to our customers as a guide only. Any new car prices published on the website are the manufacturers’ recommended retail prices and do not include delivery charges and on-road costs. Any authorized motor car dealer to which we pass on your Enquiry as a lead will provide you with full details of the price at which the vehicle will be sold to you.
  • You acknowledge that we do not sell motor vehicles. Any sale of a new car to you by a dealer after we have passed on your Enquiry to that dealer as a lead, is a sale by that dealer not by us.

Privacy Policy– New Car Lead Enquires

  • We take privacy very seriously. We understand that you will only complete an Enquiry if you can trust us to protect your personal information and use it appropriately. Our policy is to ensure that the personal information collected when you make an Enquiry is only used for the purposes of connecting you with an authorised motor car dealer.
  • We do not on-sell information collected from you or any other customer.
  • From time to time, we may email you with information or promotions that may be relevant for car buyers. You will continue to receive communications from us unless you tell us that you do not want to receive any advertising or promotional information in the future by unsubscribing from these communications.
close
* Denotes required field
** Australian inquiries only

5 Series pricing

Motor industry news

GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events.

Catch up on all of the latest industry news with this week's edition of GoAutoNews
Click here