What a reputation! Tank’s too small, transmission’s too rough, in neutral it sounds more like a diesel than a sports car. And yet more people than ever wanted one. We’re talking about the fourth generation of the BMW M5 which came out in 2005. A personality with some rough edges.
When planning began for the fourth generation BMW M5, there was no question it was time to boost the engine’s power beyond its predecessor’s 400 hp. The new M engine became the means to an end. In racing, 333 cubic centimetres per cylinder are considered the golden measure; in a series engine, it’s 550 ccm. If we assume 100 hp per litre of displacement is state-of-the-art for an aspirated engine, we’d be looking at five litres displacement and ten cylinders, accordingly: a rarity among engines. What further underscores the technological link to racing is that the engine blocks come from the same foundry that makes engines for Formula 1. The 507 hp, however, does not just pay homage to one of the most expensive BMW cars, it’s a nod to the US American measurement of performance. At an even 400 hp in Europe, the predecessor remained stuck on the main sales market in the USA with an equivalent of 394 SAE hp. The new M5, however, was able to get a top performance ranking in the States as it made it into the jaw-dropping 500 SAE hp range.
The heart of the drive train is the 7-speed SMG Drivelogic. Unlike the engines of the earlier SMG versions, this is not a retrofitted manual gearbox. Right from the outset, this car was designed to be an automatic – the manual version was deliberately left out. In addition, there is an adaptive, adjustable chassis: the EDC. Using three different modes, you can choose from comfort to racetrack setting. In the previous model, there was a variable LED pre-warning field for the engine oil temperature in the speedometer, a feature that has appeared in all 5 series since 2003. A disc needle version was not possible due to the typical BMW M3 Shift Lights – incentive enough for the M engineers to look more closely at a head-up display (HUD). As a result, they came up with the M view, which reduced everything to the essential information: gear, speed and rpm.
In the interior – luxury. Under the bonnet – an incredible inferno with a crescendo between 6,000 rpm and maximum engine speed. Not compatible? Think again. The contrasts are what make this package so unique. The fourth generation BMW M5 has a personality all its own. Over its production time of around five years, the sedan sold 19,523 times and the touring 1,025 times. Once again, surpassing all its predecessors.
Further information about the official fuel consumption and the official specific CO2 emissions for new passenger automobiles can be found in the 'New Passenger Vehicle Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emission Guidelines', which are available free of charge at all sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern, Germany, or under http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html. The figures are not based on an individual vehicle and do not constitute part of the product offer; they are provided solely for the purposes of comparison between different vehicle types. CO2 emissions caused by the production and provision of fuel or other energy sources are not taken into account in the determination of CO2 emissions pursuant to Directive 1999/94/EC.
All vehicles, equipment, combination possibilities and varieties shown here are examples and can differ in your country. In no way do they constitute a binding offer by the BMW M GmbH. Visit your local BMW website or see your authorised BMW M Retailer for accurate details on the offers in your country.
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