BMW F10 M5 Review - EVO's Chris Harris: New M5 Mostly Awe Inspiring

[Jason]

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BMW F10 M5 Review - EVO's Chris Harris: New M5 Mostly Awe Inspiring

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EVO Magazine's Chris Harris takes a first drive crack at the production F10 M5 and comes away impressed, as all the others have. He calls it a compelling package which takes the usable hyper sedan to new levels of all-around ability.

What’s it like?

Interesting. Mostly awe-inspiring.

There is no other powertrain like this in a series production car. Some produce similar results in terms of outright performance, but not in the same manner. It’s perhaps the first car to match the benefits of grossly-turbocharged-low-RPM-performance with high engine speeds. This gives the effect of having a gigantic effective, useable powerband of over 5000rpm because it will pull hard enough in seventh gear - from just 2000rpm - for the driver to assume he was in fourth. And yet there is still something to be gained from taking it all the way to the 7200rpm redline.

The relationship with the gearbox is about as harmonious as anyone could have hoped. BMW has learned a lot about double-clutch systems and this is a masterpiece of calibration, one capable of spanning the disparate disciplines of part-throttle chugger and vein-popping, manual-shifting beserker.

I tried to fool it and make it misbehave, but it wouldn’t. On flat upshifts, the throttle cut fires a great ‘bang’ from the four exhausts. Hit the rev limiter, then back away from the throttle and it sounds like a rally car with anti-lag switched-on.

The noise needs more space for discussion than we have available, but here’s the outline plot. This car doesn’t have a signature voice like all of its predecessors. In trying to make something musical from an inherently un-musical engine layout, BMW has given the M5 several different voices: under full load at low engine speeds it’s a hollow, almost flat-plane drone. Then there’s a Veyron-esque surging whoosh of low frequency that gives way to a fascinating top-end that owes as much to a highly tuned Impreza as it does any previous M car.

The performance is outrageous. I clocked it, perhaps very slightly downhill at 0-100mph in 8.7sec. Throttle response - the way you can make tiny adjustments mid-corner is the best I’ve encountered in a turbo.

This car takes everything that made the loveable E60 M5 a pain to live with day-to-day, and systematically corrects those problems. It has touring range, torque and a great self-shifting transmission. Oh, the brakes are fine for road use, but butter on a circuit.

Full review at EVO

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[M3_WC]

Did he just say it sounds like a tuned Impreza?

[MDyDinanM]

Oh, the brakes are fine for road use, but butter on a circuit

so much for it being both a track and road car, or those carbon/ceramic brakes that were rumored...lol

so there is a lot of hype with this car, and i'm excited about the F10, as is everyone else. However, i'm waiting to see a real down to earth review, not one that is kissing BMW's butt raving about the car. Something to compare the car to, with real figures, numbers, etc. It may be too early for this, as those reviews will come in time.

I'm sure its a great car, and unique for it's class, but its seems like every review is saying how great it is because all other reviews are saying its great, plus all the hype. lol

[red-sauerkraut]

Love it.

[wisesoul]

Best response fron any turbo car? Crazy!! He has most likely already driven the McLaren MP4 12-C, so that is a huge compliment! Carbon Ceramic brakes are a must on a car this heavy for sure though. I am excited for this engine and what tuners have in store!

[wisesoul]

Originally Posted by mdyaman

so much for it being both a track and road car, or those carbon/ceramic brakes that were rumored...lol

so there is a lot of hype with this car, and i'm excited about the F10, as is everyone else. However, i'm waiting to see a real down to earth review, not one that is kissing BMW's butt raving about the car. Something to compare the car to, with real figures, numbers, etc. It may be too early for this, as those reviews will come in time.

I'm sure its a great car, and unique for it's class, but its seems like every review is saying how great it is because all other reviews are saying its great, plus all the hype. lol

No, maybe it is actually a good car and BMW may have done it again!!

[MDyDinanM]

Originally Posted by wisesoul

No, maybe it is actually a good car and BMW may have done it again!!

i never said it was bad

[wisesoul]

Originally Posted by mdyaman

i never said it was bad

But you implied that the journalists were biased. Maybe they were, but then again all the reviews on this car have been positive. Just saying maybe this car isn't all hype. Actually there wasn't much hype in the first place IMO.

[宝马.e90]

Now we just need some head-to-head comparisons. M5 looking like a real winner so far!

[Justin Spelman]

To all the doubters and skeptics (even in the face of all the good reviews so far):

I'll take Chris Harris' word over your cynical views any day

Good review!

[Justin Spelman]

P.s. I also heard and saw some of the same ppl doubting the 1M reviews when they first came out and were so positive. Look how that turned out... Not well for the doubters

[red-sauerkraut]

Exactly!

Originally Posted by Justin Spelman

To all the doubters and skeptics (even in the face of all the good reviews so far):

I'll take Chris Harris' word over your cynical views any day

Good review!

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

Did he just say it sounds like a tuned Impreza?

That's about as much praise as you can give a turbocharged engine, those things sound incredible.

Originally Posted by stingray23

You ever notice that they ALWAYS give the M cars the benefit of the doubt no matter what? Even if the car is marginally better then the competition, they rave about it as if it were the greatest car in the world. I bet you anything, when the M5 vs CLS 63 or E 63 vs CTS-V vs Jag XFR that they will ALL have the M5 #1. Even if the numbers tell a different story. They'll say the same old things: CLS63/E63: pros: Gods own torque, great seats, locomotive fast.....Cons: Too heavy, too stiff.....
M5: Pros: Wolf in sheeps clothing, precision handling for size, unbelievable kick in the pants, fantastic chassis......Cons: Wolf in sheeps clothing, brakes not up to tracking, thats it.

They'll place the M5 in 1st(mostly because its a new car)the CLS63/E63 in 2nd, CTS-V in 3rd and the Jag last.
I like the new M5 and will be test driving it when it comes to the states, but I dont overdose on KoolAid like some others and will also be driving the CLS 63 AMG

Yeah, you do that and then we both know you'll end up in the M5 if you value cornering or steering in any way. I've driven the entire lot of AMGs, Jaguar's R cars (many different generations of both) and a few S and RS Audis and no matter which M car they were competing with, be it E46 M3, E9x M3, E60 M5 etc. the M car was always better to drive by a large margin.

Numbers are irrelevant, my tuned 135i puts down way better numbers in almost every test conceivable than my brother's E90 M3 but guess which car we both fight over driving?

[Prophet]

+1 or 2

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Exactly!

[InTheNightKitchen]

Originally Posted by Remonster

That's about as much praise as you can give a turbocharged engine, those things sound incredible.

Why thank you kind sir!

[MDyDinanM]

Originally Posted by Justin Spelman

P.s. I also heard and saw some of the same ppl doubting the 1M reviews when they first came out and were so positive. Look how that turned out... Not well for the doubters

really? find a post that shows me doubting the 1M

or show me proof that you "saw" or "heard" me doubting the 1M

i've never even met you

[03BeastCharmer]

Originally Posted by mdyaman

so much for it being both a track and road car, or those carbon/ceramic brakes that were rumored...lol

so there is a lot of hype with this car, and i'm excited about the F10, as is everyone else. However, i'm waiting to see a real down to earth review, not one that is kissing BMW's butt raving about the car. Something to compare the car to, with real figures, numbers, etc. It may be too early for this, as those reviews will come in time.

I'm sure its a great car, and unique for it's class, but its seems like every review is saying how great it is because all other reviews are saying its great, plus all the hype. lol

I take his statement to mean that the brakes have a strong initial bite from a highly aided system, and if the steel brakes are good for circuits, than no need for the carbon/ceramic brakes that may eventually become an option.

Chris Harris is generally seen as a no BS racer/journalist, so his opinion is seen as honest, and not just repeating hype. He even states that he's not giving his final grade until he compares it to the Jag and Benz and on UK roads.

Looking forward to issue 163!!

[MDyDinanM]

Originally Posted by 03BeastCharmer

I take his statement to mean that the brakes have a strong initial bite from a highly aided system, and if the steel brakes are good for circuits, than no need for the carbon/ceramic brakes that may eventually become an option.

Chris Harris is generally seen as a no BS racer/journalist, so his opinion is seen as honest, and not just repeating hype. He even states that he's not giving his final grade until he compares it to the Jag and Benz and on UK roads.

Looking forward to issue 163!!

i did not know that, thank you

[Just_me]

Originally Posted by stingray23

We'll see, there is more to a car then cornering and steering. Besides, what makes you think the new CLS 63 cant corner and steer well?

What makes you think CLS is a better car than this new M5?

[Q4P]

It is a short matter of time before everyone forgets about the E60 M5. The only thing anyone will ever miss is the sound.

[MDyDinanM]

Originally Posted by Questforpower

It is a short matter of time before everyone forgets about the E60 M5. The only thing anyone will ever miss is the sound.

i'll still keep mine for a long while. Even though the F10 will be more powerful and faster, something about going from a V10 to a V8 doesn't sit right with me, at least not just yet. Maybe that will change when I get to drive the F10, or its time to move on from the e60. The V10 is intoxicating to listen to though. I've only had the e60 for just over a year now, so it's still "new" to me..haha

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

I want an M5.