The M5 is already a special BMW. The 2016 M5 Pure Metal Silver Limited Edition is even more special.
It starts under the hood. The M5’s twin-turbo V8 has been tuned to unleash 600 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Channeled through the M5’s dual-clutch gearbox and 20-inch wheels, that output translates to a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds.
The interior is trimmed with full leather, contrast stitching, and aluminum trim. Standard equipment includes M multifunctional front seats, a head-up display, navigation, keyless entry, BMW Driving Assistant, and Advanced Real-Time Traffic Information. A Pure Metal Silver M5 1/50 badge separates it from the cockpits of other M5s.
The exterior of the M5 Pure Metal Silver Limited Edition, coated in BMW Individual’s exclusive Pure Metal Silver, is the most special part about it, though. According to BMW, “Hundreds of thousands of ultra thin aluminum flakes guarantee a uniform and gleaming surface. Painting a vehicle in this color is extremly delicate and requires a lot of detailed hand work. The vehicle is completely removed from the regular production processes and the surface of the car is checked three times until the surface is 100 percent perfect.”
BMW is only making 50 of these unique M5s for the US market. They’ll arrive in dealerships (provided they’re not already sold out) in August; prices start at $130,900*.
*Price excludes $995 destination and handling charge.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
