The G90 M5 – and hotly anticipated G99 M5 Touring – are about to start out making waves as reviewers get their palms on them. However for the car-buying public, getting one may be a bit more durable. Its older brother, nonetheless – the F90 M5, produced from mannequin years 2018 till 2023 – is sort of straightforward to search out. And, due to a nonetheless spectacular 600 or so horsepower, xDrive all-wheel drive, and fast depreciation, it’s turning into fairly the efficiency discount in case you’re searching for a used tremendous sedan. Throw in sensible – and delightful – proportions and loads of top-tier facilities, and the F90 M5 is ideal in case you solely have room for one automotive in your life.
The Specs
All F90 M5 sedans get a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine beneath the hood – the S63B44T4. It’s probably the most refined, potent, and most dependable iteration of the S63 V8 engine. Normal output is 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, and automobiles geared up with the Competitors Bundle developed 617 horsepower. It hardly issues which you select; thanks to straightforward M xDrive all-wheel drive, the OG M5 flew from zero to 60 mph in a Automobile and Driver examined 2.8 seconds. It went on to finish the quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds at 129 mph. That’s round as fast as a McLaren 720S, and half a second faster from a standstill to 60 than the BMW-quoted time for the brand new G90 M5.
The F90 M5 additionally arguably will get one of the best period of BMW iDrive, too. All fashions supplied Apple CarPlay compatibility, and all utilized iDrive 6 or iDrive 7 – the intuitive “tile” show that shortly made BMW a frontrunner in in-car software program UI. Pre- or post-LCI (a mid-life-cycle refresh occurred for mannequin 12 months 2021), the F90 M5 had entry to all of the most interesting facilities, too; whether or not you need hands-free driving help or massaging seats, it’s accessible on the F90 M5.
The Worth
Because the educated purchaser, die-hard fanatic, or semi-professional window shopper you possible are, you most likely already knew many of the highlights the F90 M5 provides. What you may not notice is you could choose up an early F90 M5 for round $52,000. And in case you don’t thoughts a automotive that’s had a crash or two, you may snag an F90 for lower than a base Dodge Durango. That’s an insane worth in a world the place the common new automotive transaction value hovers just below $50,000. There’s worth for buyers on the high finish of the size, too. Examples of the collectible and ultra-desirable M5 CS with a couple of miles on them – round 20,000 – are buying and selling across the $135,o00 mark. That’s a bit larger than the $120,000-ish the G90 M5 instructions, however nonetheless shy of the automotive’s authentic $145,000 authentic MSRP.
The drawbacks of moving into this cruise missile of a luxurious sedan are the same old pitfalls of shopping for a used BMW M automotive. Components are costly, and there’s no scarcity of crappily-modified examples littering the net itemizing websites – particularly in case you’re trying to find a very whole lot. That stated: in case you can wrench, have the elements hookup, and/or just know what you’re moving into, you’ll be arduous pressed to discover a higher efficiency discount than the F90 M5. Oh, it’s additionally hardly what we may environment friendly; anticipate to refill with high-test often, because the F90 M5 tops out at 21 miles per gallon on the freeway, in keeping with the EPA.
The F90 M5: Final One-Automobile Resolution
It’s actual straightforward to say one thing is a “efficiency discount” – however within the F90’s case, it’s ludicrously straightforward to again up. Due to its turbocharged engine, it’s receptive to modifications and is well able to churning out 800+ horsepower. If, for some purpose, the usual automotive isn’t sufficient. The automotive was the primary to supply switchable all-wheel and rear-wheel drive. In truth, the all-wheel drive even makes it an incredible candidate for every day driver responsibility even in case you reside in a snow-prone locale. Throw in a usable trunk, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, and spectacular consolation, and also you’ve bought the right one-car answer.
The F90 M5 is a bit too heavy to be the right canyon carver or observe weapon, and possibly slightly dated in case you want the newest and best tech. Regardless of being a grasp of none, its compelling worth on the secondhand market – and with costs nonetheless falling over time – makes it excellent for fanatics that want a one-car answer with out feeling like they’re compromising. Maintain your eyes peeled as LCI costs begin to fall within the coming months and years – you may not discover a higher general automotive.
