This may well be a car that you buy for the engine, and nothing else. And for good reason. The Formula 1-inspired, naturally aspirated, 5.0-litre V10 makes an enormous 500bhp at a euphoric 7750rpm – a rev figure that might sound more likely for 1990s Honda Type R screamer than an 1830kg executive saloon (and indeed one that is often found in black, looking more like a bank manager’s 520d than a supercar-scaring monster).
The BMW M5 is not a car you buy because of its ability to get to 62mph in 4.1sec, a frankly ridiculous figure for the time, but because of how it gets there. The intoxicating noise will encourage a heavy right foot – luckily, the trip computer won’t read below 7mpg, so you never quite know the true damage you’re doing (but it’s far too easy to see single figures) – and a delve into the iDrive system to find a route with more tunnels.
The earliest cars are 2005, and at £61,750 17 years ago, they came with almost all the bells and whistles possible: 19in alloy wheels (you can get those on a Volkswagen Golf these days), head-up display and sat-nav, 11 shift modes for the SMG gearbox, and even launch control.
In 2007, the M5 was facelifted (or LCI in BMW speak, meaning ‘life cycle impulse’) and the easiest way to tell is the LED running and tail-lights. (Be aware that some early cars will have them fitted retrospectively.) These are probably the ones you want, thanks to the uprated gearbox with upgraded pumps and hardware. Also note that the facelift was released in batches, so there could very well be pre-facelift cars registered late into 2007.
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Not keen on these and only buy if you know a mechanic, you can spanner yourself, or are generally wealthy and must have a V10 (which is understandable). To my way of thinking this is the point where cars started to be made to get through the warranty period only.
Ugly, fragile engine and terrible gearbox. I think my money (if I had any) would be going on an E39 M5 with the 6 speed manual
I had the 530i version of this 5series, it was fast enough handled well didn't have a drink problem (32-34mpg) Holiday car four up and luggage, it looked like an M5 , it had a manual box, didn't have quad exhausts or fancy Wheels, but it just about everything else, the M5?, unless you've got deep deep pockets I'd avoid it because you'd be a nervous wreck waiting for something expensive to fail.