BMW M5 2015 review

Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?

7 / 10

The standard Australian M5 is chock-a-block with goodies, including performance brakes and a few extra kW from the volcanically powerful V8 as part of the Competition Pack.

The Nighthawk, as our matte black test car was known, weighed in at an RS6-baiting $235,930 and $5610 more than the standard M5 on which it is based. 

Inside is standard 5-Series but filled with the goodies and ultra-comfortable seats

Standard features include adaptive LED headlights, Bang and Olufsen high-end surround sound system, head-up display, matte paint, Competition Package, BMW's Comfort Access system which means keyless entry and start as well as seat positions matched to the key, DAB+ tuner, four-zone climate control, sunroof, top-of-the-line Merino leather trim, carbon fibre bits and pieces, high performance (steel) brakes, soft-close doors, front and rear parking sensors and reversing camera with surround view, sat-nav and various telematics services.

The headline act here is the 16-speaker B&O, controlled by the full-fat version of BMW's iDrive. The big rotary controller sits on the console and doubles as a scratchpad for writing in addresses on the sat-nav.

The 10-inch screen dominates the top of the dash, the graphics smooth and clear. The stereo is mightily impressive in both power and clarity while the sat-nav is highly-detailed and accurate.

For extra passenger terror, you can switch to the Sports display on the screen to display how much of the power and torque you're sending through the rear tyres.

Is there anything interesting about its design?

7 / 10

The M5 is as subtle as ever. The 20-inch alloys are joined by a body kit that could be an M Sport pack from a 520d. The black paint job is smooth and not as fragile as some other matte finishes and made our car blend into the background, sometimes a little more than we'd have liked – it seemed to be a magnet for idiots cutting us off.

Inside is standard 5-Series but filled with the goodies and ultra-comfortable seats. It's more of a 4+1 seater but even when configured this way, it's more than comfortable for decent drives in the middle perch.

Explore the 2015 BMW M Models Range

BMW M5 2015 review BMW M5 Nighthawk Edition 2015 review

How practical is the space inside?

What are the key stats for the engine and transmission?

7 / 10

BMW's twin-turbo 4.4L V8 provides 423 kW and 680 Nm, up from 412 kW in the Pure. Matched to a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission with paddle shifts, the M5 will sprint to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds (with launch control) and BMW claims you'll use 9.9L/100km when driving carefully and making full use of stop-start and regenerative braking.

In the first 100 metres, you can feel the potential in the M5

Despite giving the car a thorough workout, we never saw the average rise above 14L/100km.

How much fuel does it consume?

Warranty & Safety Rating

Basic Warranty

3 years/unlimited km warranty

---

ANCAP Safety Rating

-

What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating?

8 / 10

Six airbags, ABS, traction and stability programs, blind spot sensor, reversing camera, collision mitigation and warning, brake force distribution, lane departure warning.

The 5 Series scored five ANCAP safety stars.

What does it cost to own? What warranty is offered?

What's it like to drive?

8 / 10

It may not be a lightweight at nearly 1.9 tonnes, but this M5 feels just as agile as the much smaller cars in BMW's performance range.

In the first 100 metres, you can feel the potential in the M5, with that thundering V8 under the bonnet reacting instantly to throttle inputs with barely any turbo lag. The 7-speed transmission isn't the smoothest in the world, especially at low speeds, but when you crank it up to Sport + and let everything loose, you'll soon forget its sometimes lurchy low-speed progress.

The car really wakes up when you're attacking it, something that has been always been one of the M5's core values, from the precursor E12 M535i right through to the F10's predecessor, the V10-powered E60.

While the some of the thunder from under the bonnet is synthetically produced, the actual result is all real. In Sport + mode, the acceleration is vicious and the M5 has a distinct advantage of being rear-wheel drive, the steering wheels uncorrupted by having to drive as well as turn.

Attacking is easy with M Dynamic Mode active. It allows the low-skilled driver some heroics without letting things get out of hand, which would be pretty easy in a car this big. If you want to find out, turn off the traction and stability control – things can get very, very sideways very very quickly. It's terrific fun, but on the road, insanity.

Switch the mode selector back to Comfort, however, and it becomes a docile executive sedan, the only remaining clue being the noisy tyres (295/30 rears, 265/35 fronts) and the sometimes uncertain gearchange. The steering is light and fluid and the throttle is tamed to bring the intimidation level right down.

Pricing & Specs Insurance Quote

Verdict