As BMW New Zealand had just released photos of the face-lifted BMW M5, due here later this year, I thought it was time to walk down memory lane of this coveted car.   

For 35 years, the M5 represented the ultimate high-speed luxury “Q car” sedan, much like the Audi RS6 Avante holds a similar, but younger, crown in the wagon stakes. 

You don’t buy a M5 to shout from the rooftops. It’s understated but embellished enough to let others know this is a powerhouse that can beat most cars on the road.

It was back in 1985 that the first M5 appeared on the E28 BMW, with its engine modified from the glorious M1. The 3.5-litre straight six engine threw out 210kW, with a five-speed manual, making it the fastest production sedan on the planet.

The second generation E34 M5 appeared in September 1988, again with a straight six engine, modified from the E28 version, and grew in power to 232kW, pushing it to 100km/h in a very respectable 6.3 seconds. 

This engine was upgraded for the 1992 model year to 3.8-litres with power pushing to 250kW and the 100km/h sprint dropping to 5.9 seconds. That’s almost the norm in 2020 but very fast for 1992! It also gained a six-speed manual transmission in 1994. 

The third generation E39 M5 swung into action in 1998 adopting a 4.9-litre, V8 engine that pushed power to 294kW and a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds. It was the first of the M5s to be produced on the same production line as ‘normal’ BMWs. A touring (aka wagon) version was seriously evaluated but did not make it to fruition.

The E60 M5 was born in 2005 and it was perhaps this fourth generation that hit the high water mark of excess with its 5-litre, V10 engine and seven-speed single clutch electro-hydraulic manual transmission. The engine put out 373kW and reports of times as low as 4.1 seconds were recorded to 100km/h. An E61 wagon version was sold in Europe.

Then we rolled on to the wonderful F10 4.4l, V8 litre engined M5 in 2011, representing the fifth instalment of BMW’s hero sedan.  This model had a twin-turbocharged V8, with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission, both firsts for BMW.

A “Competition” package was offered in 2015 that raised power to 441kW and 0-100km/h time of about 4.0 seconds neat.

The six-generation F90 M5 was launched in 2017 and is where we are today, until the facelift arrives in October. This model has stuck with the V8 model of the fifth generation but now included all-wheel-drive, which is the first M5 to appear with this, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

The “Competition” package bumped power to 461kW and sent the 0-100km/h time to 3.3 seconds.

As we look forward to the facelift of the F90, with official pictures just released, we expect it will take styling queues from the recently reviewed face-lifted 5 Series. This means slimmer headlights, slicker daytime running lights and a bumper restyle.

BMW NZ says the M5 Competition will launch in New Zealand this October with full pricing and specification details to be revealed in the lead-up to launch.

The future could be partial electric for seventh generation M5 and based on model changeovers we should see that in 2023 or 2024.  And long may this glorious car live on.