BMW M5 E60 (2008)
General information
The BMW 5 Series range has been the mainstay for the company since 1972. Epitomizing the sport sedan, it has always been at the forefront of incorporating latest performance technology with its comfort offering.With subtle changes to the styling, it looks sleeker, smarter, and better without doing away with its traditional looks. The leather seats and sporty trims on the inside add that extra dash of suave that you get only with BMW. It even offers an optional HUD (Head Up Display) that is not only a fancy add on but also a great help during those long drives.
Interior
As you enter the BMW M5 cockpit, you feel right at home with the tech array laid across from you. No matter if you aren’t very tech friendly as the systems are quite intuitive. The passengers along with the driver are treated to the best standards of luxury. A central system integrates the climate, navigation and audio systems in what is called the iDrive. It also stores the driver’s preferences in relation to the car’s adaptive damping and stability control systems. The rear seating is as comfortable as the front seats and features supportive seating. On the whole, there can be no complaints as to the quality of the construction or the attention paid to the details.
Specifications
Most of the magic happens under the hood of the 5 series’ BMW M5 E60. Redlining at a generous 8250 RPM, the 5.0 litre V10 engine churns out a phenomenal 500 bhp at 7750 RPM and achieves a torque of 520 Nm at 6100 RPM. Improving on the previous V8 M5, this V10 driven M5 offers greater speed while maintaining the overall weight.
In 4.7 seconds this beautiful machine goes from 0-100 km/hr. An all-new transmission along with the third generation SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) makes the ride smoother than it has been in the past. Various settings control the speed, shift point, and clutch slip to enable the SMG to go from a cruising magnificence to a redline pushing, engine ripping, beast with just the touch of a button.
The M5 also includes an Electronic Damper Control that gives the power of choice in the driver’s hand as far as the suspension is concerned. You can now choose between comfort, sport, and normal settings.
Driving Experience
A serene driving experience is what you can expect from the BMW E5. With the right balance between highway drives, aggressive handling, and managing country roads, it is truly a great car to have in your arsenal. It exhibits great turn-in in the sports mode of the Electronic Damping Control system and gives little in the way of body roll. For a more relaxed driving experience, the comfort mode makes sure to keep you as far away from a bumpy experience as you can get. The one place where you might feel the need for improvement is the sudden bursts of acceleration that it isn’t able to manage perfectly, showing a tiny bit of lag.
Ups and Downs
The BMW M5 has always been at the top of its segment and once again manages to keep the competition at bay. Though it does leave a few notes of dissatisfaction with a tin like exhaust note and slow uptake during hard driving by the SMG transmission. Despite these issues, the M5 comes out a clear winner by any standard.
That car is absolutely brilliant as a high-tech, expensive factory sleeper car. The best bit is: it's the last of the dying breed - no turbo, pure V10 power. And as far as I've come up with some data - there are still factory new E60 M5s at many dealerships and since the new M5 took over - there are some great discounts.
ReplyDeleteIt looks a little bit too rich boy racer, especially in that metallic coat, for my tastes, but a gorgeous car none the less.
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