30 years of BMW M5

8 May, 2014

J-C Etter

BMW dully celebrates the 30th anniversary of the M5.

BMW’s Motorsport division develops cars with a strong identity, and the M5 has been a pillar in building the ///M badge into one of the most coveted and respected performance oriented sub-brands. Three decades ago, BMW undertook the development of the first M5, and this milestone is being celebrated today as it should with a limited series edition of the contemporary M5 model.

Limited to 300 cars, this anniversay edition puts out a mighty 600 hp at 6250 rpm with 700 Nm of peak torque from 1500 to 6000 rpm, versus 560 hp and 680 Nm for the ‘standard’ version. These gains in torque and power come from an engine remap and increase in turbocharging pressure. They allow BMW to claim the 0-100 km/h acceleration in 3.9s vs 4.3s for your average F10 M5. Top speed is still governed electronically at 250 km/h, but tick the M Driver’s Package option box and the car will pull you all the way to 305 km/h, conditions permitting.

Presented in BMW Individual Frozen Dark Silver metallic livery, the 30th anniversary edition benefits from multiple cosmetic touches and 20 inch rims (265/35 ZR 20 front, 295/30 ZR 20 rear). The interior is suitably badged and draped in a combination of leather and alcantara.

Glorious genealogy

Motorsport engineers started to work on the first M5 en 1984, building on the inline six cylinder engine used for the production of the legendary M1 between 1978 and 1981. This first M5 (type E28) was launched in the summer of 1985 with a 286 hp version of the straight six, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5s and reaching a 245 km/h top speed, all of this on 220/55 VR 390 TRX tires. BMW built 2’200 cars through 1987.

In 1988, BMW launches the E34 version. The inline six gains 80 cm3 in displacement (3535 cm3) and now puts out 315 hp. The 0-100 km/h figure drops to 6.3s and top speed now reaches 250 km/h. At the end of 1991, after a production of 8’079 cars, the E34 M5 engine is bumped to 3.8 l, reaching 340 hp. The 0-100 km/h times shed another 0.4s at 5.9s. The 3.8L E34 M5 is equipped with an adaptive suspension and a “Nürburgring suspension package” is also available. A Touring station wagon version is also launched, 900 will be sold, compared with more than 11’000 sedan M5 E34 over the life of the model.

In 1998, the M5 E39 trades the six cylinder engine for a mighty 4.9 liter V8 delivering a neat 400 hp and 500 Nm of torque. The 0-100 km/h acceleration times melt to 5.3s, top speed is still governed at 250 km/h and 20’500 customers succomb to the aura of this new V8 M5. Seven years later, in 2005, a 5.0 liter V10 is wedged under the hood of the E60/E61 M5, coupled to a 7 ratio SMG sequential gearbox. Power output jumps to 507 hp (a healthy 100hp/liter of displacement) and torque now peaks at 520 Nm. The 0-100 km/h exercize is now dealt with in 4.7s, the 0-200 km/h in 15 seconds. A Touring version is launched in 2007, 1025 will be sold, versus 19’523 E60 M5 sedans.

The fifth generation M5 (type F10) will appear in 2011. BMW has retreated to a turbocharged 4.4L V8, but power has climbed to 560 hp, 575 with the Competition packaged added to the options list two years later in 2013.

A saga of high performance sedans and estates, covering three decades of relentless development, gloriously celebrated by this 30th anniversary M5 and its 600 hp.