Driving Every M5 Generation Back-to-Back
Take a stroll down memory lane with the entire lineup of the iconic BMW M5 with Lovecars hosts Tiff Needell and Paul Woodman.
The BMW M5 has been captivating us for nearly forty years. Though some of us 5 Series enthusiasts weren’t around for the first generation (or second, or third in some cases), we all can appreciate the classics.
Lovecars released this epic video of a walkthrough of the entire lineup. Former Top Gear host Tiff Needell and co-host Paul Woodman drive each generation and highlight their favorite perks and downfalls, starting with the legendary E28.
E28 M5: Respect Your Elders
This is where it all began. 1984, the E28 BMW M5 goes to the public and starts a revolution. An ultra-performance sedan that, at the time, was the fastest sedan on the planet. Not only that, but it has some pretty crazy quirks. For example, electrically adjustable headrests were on the docket of the ten buttons to adjust the front seats. It has a manual transmission mated to the iconic M88 (or S38 in the US) inline-six-cylinder engine for the ultimate driving experience. It was no slouch, either. With its 282 horsepower, it sprints to 60 in under seven seconds. It was truly the pinnacle of BMW engineering at the time.
“You know my trouble, though? This has always been, to me, the best looking M5. This lovely square, boxy shape,” says Needell
When new, they were right around $40,000. Remarkably, for one in this shape, you’re looking at paying nearly the same as the original MSRP. Hagerty lists its median price at $40,100.
E34 M5: Lesser Loved, But Groundbreaking
1988 brought us the E34 M5. While the E34 5 series isn’t as well-loved for its looks as the E28, it made some advancements in terms of handling and performance. Until 1994, they came with a five-speed manual transmission, and the final year, 1995, saw the introduction of a six-speed manual to the M5 lineup. Mid-production also saw a shift from 3.5 liters to 3.8 liters in displacement, but both were variants of the S38 inline-six like the US Delivered E28. The significant improvement from E28 to E34 was the handling capabilities and adaptive suspension that changes the ride quality when switched to sport mode.
“It turns in sharper than the previous model, and it definitely doesn’t have that wallowing feel. Nice little wheel, though. Now we’ve got a smaller wheel and more responsive steering,” says Needell
E39 M5: More Cylinders, Monstrous Power
From 1995 to 1998, there was no M5. Though BMW certainly did not waste this gap. What emerged from the break was the E39 M5. The first one to get a roaring V8, and a whopping 400 horsepower. Quite a leap from the E34’s 315 horsepower, indeed. Additionally, it dropped the 0-60 time from 6.3 seconds with the E34 to a mind-melting 4.8 seconds. This was also the first of the four-door brutes to see BMW’s Vanos variable valve timing. Interestingly, though, this is where the legendary sports sedan took a turn to a more luxurious side of things. It features a full infotainment system with GPS navigation.
“It feels a lot more luxurious, don’t you think?” asks Woodman
“Yeah, a lot firmer and a lot stronger, a bit heavier. But this car is like 1.2 seconds faster to 60, it’s a huge step up,” responds Needell.
E60 M5: V10? Why Not!
Ah, the E60. This is one of those rare occasions where the US market got the cool end of the stick. Where the rest of the world got stuck with only the lackluster SMG seven-speed automatic, the North American market got the option of a six-speed manual at no additional cost. While it was a bit slower than the auto, who wouldn’t prefer manually rowing through gears with that fearsome 5.0-liter V10 up front? With 500 horsepower, these madhouses are certainly as much a force to be reckoned with as any previous M5.
“These early flappy paddle gearboxes did have that hesitation. We’ll try to forget about that gear change, it was a feature of the car, but you soon forget about it when you’ve got this V10 howling around at 8,000 revs,” says Needell
The E60 also features adaptive seats that adjust the bolstering as you go around corners when in M mode.
F10 M5: Turbo Time
The F10 saw the first usage of turbochargers on the iconic M5. The 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged engine puts out an astonishing 560 horsepower, pushing the M5 to a sub-four-second o-60 time for the first time in the namesake’s history. While this truly was the biggest leap to the luxury side of things, making the super-sedan a bit more of a family-friendly vehicle, don’t think for a second that it isn’t right to its heritage. Also, the F10 was available in North America with a manual transmission, while the rest of the world got only the auto.
“Isn’t it bizarre, the Americans, we used to mock them for their automatics and terribly bad handling cars, and now the Europeans have got automatics, and the Americans have manuals,” says Needell.
“Inside the car, this is classy. This is very much modern BMW,” says Woodman
F90 M5: The Modern M5 is Still an M5 at Heart
While the F90 M5 boasts all-wheel-drive with a torque converter automatic in all markets, it is still, in its core, a true M5. Of course, BMW made the M5 a lot more palatable for daily use. However, it has been well-criticized for being less fun than the others. We find that statement laughable, though, as Car and Driver tested one with a resulting 0-60 time in 2.8 seconds. Interestingly, too, it is nearly 100 pounds lighter than the F10, despite the additional weight from the all-wheel-drive system (or four-wheel-drive, as the brits know it).
“It’s a car that you can use 365 days a year, come rain or shine or, indeed, snow,” says Woodman
“The engine growls a bit more. The suspension definitely firms up. The throttle response is sharper,” says Needell, as he puts it into a more performance-oriented mode.
“It’s a car for the family. You can have four people in it, five people in it with all your shopping and luggage and everything else. It’s an incredible everyday car that ticks most boxes,” says Woodman
BMW M5 History as We Know It
Of course, what better way to end the video than by switching the F90 to rear-wheel-drive and sliding it around its ancestry.
“That’s much more like it. It is an M5! It’s a real M5!” exclaims Needell as he drifts the F90
Whether you’re a fan of the classics or the modern marvels, it’s no doubt that BMW’s iconic M5 has captured the hearts of us all. Lovecars did a fantastic job walking us through the lineage, and this video makes for a great watch!