M5 In The Autoblog Garage: 2008 BMW M5

[Bartek S.]

BMW's M5 is understated enough to fly under the radar of the general public, but those in the know, familiar with its capabilities and the legacy it carries, grow silent with reverence if you pull up to them at the gas pump. Who can resist a vehicle that can stop conversations mid-sentence, and accelerates strongly enough to extinguish candles on the next block? We certainly couldn't, and thus began our week with the mighty M5.

Mighty cuts both ways. The engine is mighty impressive, but the transmission leaves a lasting impression, and it's not a good one. With 507 horsepower snarling forth from an alloy V10 the M5 pins you into the seat, which is fine, because you'll be comfortably smiling as your skull flattens against the headrest. Wipe that grin off your face, quickly, or else you'll be bouncing the tachometer's needle off its redline somewhere north of 8,000 RPM. Leaving the transmission in auto will avoid the rev limiter, but that's not the proper way to drive an SMG-equipped BMW.

Full article: autoblog

 

[Potential]

Tycoon will love the combination. As do I. Still my favourite sports sedan on the planet.

 

[PanterroR]

^Absolutely!

 

[ateekt]

The more I see her, the more I love her! My favorite car in her best dressing... bingo!

 

[cawimmer430]

Is this like the first negative review of the SMG in the M5? I remember testers thought the E39 M5 6-speed that was carried over to the E60 M5 didn't function well with the V10.

 

[Bartek S.]

Good memories