Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW M5 Competition Package 2014 review

Performance upgrade makes this BMW M5 Competition Package sharper, but is it really worth the £6,700 extra?

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£6,012 off RRP*
Find your BMW 5 Series
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

On the road, even the keenest drivers will struggle to set the BMW M5 Competition Package apart from its slightly less powerful stablemate – so, while it’s brilliant, you’re probably better off saving your money. Serious enthusiasts might prize the new-found agility – especially when it comes to track driving – but the excellent Jaguar XFR-S feels all the more extreme and it costs roughly the same.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Last time we got behind the wheel of the most powerful BMW M5 ever built, our drive was restricted to the smooth tarmac of a racing circuit. Now, though, we’ve hit the road for the first time – and in the UK, too – to find out if this £6,700 Competition Pack option is worth adding when you order your M5.

• BMW M5 review

The Competition Pack ups the power of the standard 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 by 15bhp, taking the total to 567bhp. That boost – and the car’s improved response over a wider rev range – has shaved a tenth of a second from the 0-62mph time, which falls to 4.2 seconds. In truth you won’t notice the extra performance on the road; instead you’ll come away thinking that the M5 didn’t need any more power.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Acceleration remains so brutal through the lower gears that the traction control steps in even on the driest surfaces, and throttle response is instant.

It’s the suspension and chassis tweaks that have the biggest dynamic impact. Retuned springs and dampers aim to sharpen things up, while a tweaked active diff makes the M5 feel more playful.

Add a 10mm drop in ride height, and the car seems more hard-edged than ever before. It doesn’t shrug off the worst broken road surfaces as easily as a standard model, but it does feel more eager to turn into corners.

Tinkering with the Drive Performance Control modes still adds more weight than feel to the steering. However, the gearboxis quicker, and downshifts are accompanied by a deeper growl thanks to the sportier set of pipes which, for the Competition Pack, are finished in black chrome.

The M5 is still a big and heavy car, so it’s a shame our model’s carbon ceramic brakes aren’t fitted as a part of the upgrade. The standard brakes can start to fade after heavy use, so the extra £7,295 might be a good spend for track day fans.

And that neatly sums the Competition Pack up. You can see its appeal for track days, but the standard car is a better choice for everyday driving. We’d save our cash and avoid the Competition Pack – you won’t be disappointed by the regular M5’s performance.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

BMW M5

BMW M5

RRP £111,405Avg. savings £6,012 off RRP*
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,075Avg. savings £1,664 off RRP*Used from £14,990
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,135Avg. savings £5,771 off RRP*Used from £13,571
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,505Avg. savings £4,317 off RRP*Used from £19,564
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia EV2 baby electric car due in late-2025 with a low, low price
Kia EV2 - spyshot front

New Kia EV2 baby electric car due in late-2025 with a low, low price

Kia’s EV electric car range will grow again with the arrival of the EV2
News
10 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: handsome, sporty Mazda CX-5 dips under £250 per month
Mazda CX-5

Car Deal of the Day: handsome, sporty Mazda CX-5 dips under £250 per month

The Mazda CX-5 is fun to drive, features a driver-focused, premium interior and is our Deal of the Day for 9 February
News
9 Feb 2025
BMW X3 vs Lexus NX: which premium mid-size SUV takes top honours?
BMW X3 and Lexus NX - front tracking

BMW X3 vs Lexus NX: which premium mid-size SUV takes top honours?

BMW’s much-lauded new X3 is one of the best luxury compact SUVs on the market – but is it good enough to topple the cheaper hybrid-powered Lexus NX 35…
Car group tests
8 Feb 2025