Automotive
BMW’s M5 story began in 1979 with the M535i, the spiritual precursor to the M5. Built during the heyday of the M1 supercar, the M535i packed serious performance into the relatively conservative body of the E12 5 Series. With only 1,650 units made by 1981, it was the first series-produced M-badged BMW, and a factory sleeper that hinted at the brand’s high-performance ambitions.
In 1985, BMW introduced the first true M5 based on the E28 platform. Unlike the M535i, this car carried the M5 badge and was fitted with the same inline-six engine as the M1. It delivered sports car performance in a formal sedan silhouette - subtle yet powerful. Limited to just over 2,200 units, this M5 proved that luxury and motorsport engineering could coexist.
By 1988, BMW was ready to bring that formula to the next level. The E34 M5 arrived the same year as the new-generation 5 Series, this time with a hand-built, higher-displacement engine producing more power. It maintained a restrained design but featured specific visual upgrades: unique fog lights, a subtle front lip spoiler, dual-nozzle headlight washers, and an extended lower bumper. The E34 was still understated but unmistakably special.
Then came the E60 M5 in 2005, and restraint went out the window. BMW installed a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V10 engine under the hood, making 500 horsepower and screaming to 8,250 rpm. Paired with a 7-speed SMG automated manual, it was both thrilling and polarizing. This generation also saw a complete design overhaul - wider arches, larger intakes, quad exhausts, and an interior packed with M-specific details. It redefined the M5 as not just a performance sedan, but a technological and emotional statement.
In 2013, BMW updated the E60’s successor, the F10 M5, which traded the high-revving V10 for a more efficient but no less potent 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. The Competition Package added power and sharper handling, while interior tech and comfort improved significantly, keeping the M5 competitive on both road and track.
Then, in 2017, BMW launched the F90 M5, marking the first time the model came with xDrive all-wheel drive. With over 600 hp and clever torque vectoring, it could run with supercars while comfortably seating five. Though larger and heavier, it set a new benchmark in the performance sedan class. BMW’s shift from high-strung NA engines to torque-rich turbo V8s paid off, proving that power could grow alongside refinement and usability.
From the stealthy M535i to the fire-breathing, tech-laden F90, the M5 has evolved from a discreet Autobahn stormer into a world-conquering super sedan. Like SherlockLock, it’s all about precision, performance, and being there when it counts - whether you’re securing what matters or chasing down seconds on a track.
