Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW M5: a history

BMW’s iconic super saloon is 30 years old. We take a look back at the history of the BMW M5

The BMW M5 is celebrating 30 years of helping top executives get home quicker than is strictly necessary. The new 592bhp M5 ‘30 Jahre’ edition has been revealed to mark the anniversary and it’s a car with a glittering heritage stretching out in its rear view mirror. Let’s take a look back at the history of the BMW M5…

BMW M535i (1979-1981)

It’s not an M5 but the E12 M535i packed a lot of the DNA that would lead BMW to unleash the first proper 5 Series M-car a few years later. Power came from a 3.5-litre straight-six with 218bhp on tap. A close-ratio gearbox and upgraded brakes were also fitted, along with the essential BMW Motorsport spoilers. 

BMW M5: E28 (1985-1988)

The M5 brand was born in auspicious style as the hot version of the E28 5 Series took its bow at the 1984 Amsterdam Motor Show to wild speculation over what exactly BMW had been smoking.

Advertisement - Article continues below

With a version of the 3.5-litre straight six engine from the M1 supercar, the M5 offered 282bhp of thrust. As a result, a 153mph top speed and a 0-60mph sprint of 6.5s were on the agenda. Only 2,191 units were built, making this one of the rarest BMW Motorsport models to date. 

BMW M5: E34 (1989-1995)

The E34 M5 upped the super saloon ante yet again when it arrived in 1989. This was the last hand-built M car and a left-hand-drive Touring version in 1992 was the M Division’s first estate car.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The six-cylinder engine offered 311bhp in its initial form. In 1991 the unit’s displacement was increased from 3.6 to 3.8 litres and power rose to 335bhp; BMW’s horsepower arms race with Mercedes was well underway. Top speed for the 3.8-litre car was 177mph with 0-60mph performances of 5.7s possible in the manual models.

BMW M5: E39 (1998 – 2003)

BMW’s range was an M5-free zone for three years but that changed in 1998 when the E39 version brought the famous nameplate back with a 394bhp bang. The aluminium suspension of the standard 5 Series was upgraded with firmer shocks while beefy anti-roll bars helped the M5 pull big cornering forces.  

Power was now courtesy of a V8 unit that could take the M5 to 60mph in 4.8s then on to lock horns with its speed limiter at 155mph. De-restricted versions of the E39 are capable of 186mph.     

BMW M5: E60 (2005-2010)

The E60 M5 went for a V10. Needs must when you’re embroiled in a Cold War style bhp battle with a certain rival from Stuttgart. The amazing high-revving 500bhp powerplant mated to a 7-speed sequential manual gearbox proved that BMW wasn’t about to blink first.

The 0-60mph sprint takes 4.7s in an E60 M5 and if the limiter is removed, a top speed of over 200mph is a realistic possibility. The E60 M5 Touring was the first M5 estate to be sold in the UK through official channels. 

BMW M5: F10 (2011-date)

The 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show lifted the lid on the F10 M5 with BMW citing the need to improve fuel economy as a key reason for the switch to a 560bhp twin-turbo V8 – a sign of the times.

The F10 can hit 60mph in a supercar-scaring 3.6s and the limited 155mph top speed could be increased to 190mph with the optional M Drivers Package. The Competition Package launched in 2014 offered a more focused suspension set-up and power increased to 575bhp. The latest M5 ‘30 Jahre’ edition takes the car’s output up to 592bhp, a fitting way to celebrate 30 years of the M5. 

Which is your favourite BMW M5? Let us know in the comments section below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Head of digital content

Steve looks after the Auto Express website; planning new content, growing online traffic and managing the web team. He’s been a motoring journalist, road tester and editor for over 20 years, contributing to titles including MSN Cars, Auto Trader, The Scotsman and The Wall Street Journal.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Top 10 best performance cars to buy 2024
Best performance cars - header image
Best cars & vans

Top 10 best performance cars to buy 2024

Performance cars have reached new heights of speed and interaction - here’s a list of our ten favourites from the current crop
2 Jan 2024
‘Good tidings we bring in an M5 Touring’: BMW kicks-off Christmas with super estate teaser 
BMW M5 Touring Xmas teaser
News

‘Good tidings we bring in an M5 Touring’: BMW kicks-off Christmas with super estate teaser 

BMW’s performance estate gets festive with a special Christmas wrap
22 Dec 2023

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Car Deal of the Day: updated Skoda Enyaq at 0% APR and a free home wallbox charger thrown in
Skoda Enyaq iV - front cornering
News

Car Deal of the Day: updated Skoda Enyaq at 0% APR and a free home wallbox charger thrown in

Skoda’s family-friendly EV with 348-mile range is our Car Deal of the Day for 26 March
26 Mar 2024