I attended a computer seminar our vendor held at the BMW Performance Center. The afternoon was spent in various exercises with a buffet of BMWs. Among the cars, we were among the first ever to sample the new F10 M5!!! As previously revealed, they all have the carbon ceramic rotors. Unfortunately I only got a few short laps in it so I can't provide a good analysis of the car. But I did get a few pictures. Unfortunately not any of the Sakir Orange one but I did see it. My one interior pic didn't turn out any good.
In short, the car is fantastic. Some may miss the screaming V10 but the turbine like rush of acceleration, pulling hard from a slow corner even in 3rd, is mighty impressive. Second gear was even more impressive but I wasn't brave enough in the short drive to explore the limits of MDM at corner exit.
Handling does feel to be the perfect mix of a smooth yet firm ride, and tight neutral responsive turn in and grip. The carbon ceramic brakes were quite good but I can't say if they would be noticeably different/better on track. I was one of the last persons in the last group to drive it, so they were warmed up and the brakes had no noise that I could tell.
Unfortunately we were hustled from car to car so I didn't have much time to look it over and get to enjoy the car. I did notice it had the multi contour sport seats (no perfs) but I couldn't find the side bolster adjustments. It felt I could have used more. Are they fully automatic?
Note I also drove the M3 shortly after the M5. Having driven the M3 many times before, I was immediately comfortable pushing it. The M5 does feel much bigger and softer edged but also feels it could be just as capable in the corners, and faster overall, especially throughout the power band where the M3 is happiest above 4K.
PS: The instructors are still using the E60 M5 for the hot laps. It's hard not to be impressed with the screaming V10 at 8K RPMs along with the screaming tires in the viscous power slides they do with the cars. It is a real testiment to German engineering how those cars can do that day after day for the 2 years they have run these cars since E60 production ended... Having been there before, I think they are now pushing them the hardest ever. We shall see if the F10s can do the same.
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2020 X3M non-comp, Alpine White over black : Exec Pkg, ventilated M Sport seats, 20"s
2020 M2 Comp, Sunset Orange/Blk: Orange stitching, DCT, exec pkg, bicolor rims
Gone '18 M550i, '16 X4 M40i, '15 M5, '13 X3 35i, '12 335is, '11 X5 50i, '09 Z4 35i, '08 550i, 06 X3, 06 650i, '02 M5, '99 540i