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BMW M5 ‘30 Jahre’ Edition

Happy birthday to the original super sedan

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BMW M5 30 JAHRE

Engine 4395cc V8, DOHC, 32v, twin-turbo

Power 441kW @ 6250rpm

Torque 700Nm @ 1500-6000rpm

0-100km/h 3.9sec (claimed)

Weight 1870kg

Price $238,400

‘30 Jahre’ interior

gets a lift thanks to an

explosion of Alcantara

and lashings of silver

trim on the dash and

centre console

FAST. NEW. DRIVEN.

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FIRST

FANG!

T

hirty years ago, BMW rewrote

the fast car rulebook. By

installing the M1 supercar’s

M88 3.5-litre straight six into a

humble 5-Series, M Division created the

world’s fastest four-door.

With 210kW/340Nm and 0-60mph

(97km/h) in 6.5sec, the E28 M5 offered

unprecedented performance for a family

car. Contemporary road testers went

gaga for it and with only 2191 built, E28

values are heading rapidly north.

What would those same road testers

make of BMW’s latest super sedan? In

standard guise, the F10 M5’s outputs

are double that of the E28’s, yet for this

‘30 Jahre’ anniversary edition, those

outputs are further massaged to a surreal

441kW/700Nm. Which, if anything, still

feel conservative.

Forget the 0-100km/h claim of 3.9sec,

the fat 295mm rear Michelins don’t gain

purchase until well into three figures;

beyond that, the latest M5 retains its title

as the world’s fastest four-door – you’ll

need a 911 Turbo to leave it behind. It’s

a shame, though, the soundtrack doesn’t

do this awesome powerplant justice. It

sounds okay from outside, but in the

cabin the synthetic engine note is like

something from the first Gran Turismo.

The seven-speed dual-clutch ’box isn’t

totally convincing, either. While superb

at maximum attack, it blots its copybook

with stop-start behaviour that ranges

from dim-witted to wince-inducingly

harsh. With no ‘creep’ function built in, it

needs real finesse for a smooth take-off.

At 1870kg, the latest M5 is a big lump.

Even with the 30 Jahre’s standard-fit

‘Competition Package’ (10mm lower ride

height, firmer suspension and sharper

steering), trying to hustle it along a tight,

twisty road can be slightly alarming.

Its size can make it difficult to place,

wheelspin is an ever-present threat and

when it does arrive the transition from

grip to slip can be extremely sudden.

A quick track session reveals the

F10 M5 is actually reasonably friendly

when it slides, and while hard on tyres

and brakes, the speed it’s capable of is

astonishing. Back on the public road, dial

back the commitment a bit, be smooth

with your inputs and you’re easily

capable of travelling at speeds that will

make your licence melt in fright.

On the other side of the ledger, the

M5 is quiet, spacious and comfortable,

munching miles with ease. The 30 Jahre

interior is an Alcantara fetishist’s dream,

and the ‘Frozen Dark Silver’ paint looks

sensational, though the matte finish is a

pain to keep clean.

Combined with the extra power, these

unique touches make the 30 Jahre good

value at $238,400, less than $10K more

than the standard car. A shame, then, that

only 300 are available worldwide, and

Australia’s allocation is all spoken for. M

d motorofficial f motor_mag^29

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