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Chris Harris has the first drive of the F10 BMW M5 2011 2012 MY

132K views 199 replies 86 participants last post by  mohan 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Here you go folks M5board.com Member Chris Harris : Pre-production new BMW M5 review by Chris Harris | evo car reviews

So here is the full version of the Chris Harris BMW M5 F10 testdrive in Arjeplog:

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In work at the moment so if someone wants to embed the pics etc. Feel free to do so.


"What is it?

The BMW M5. The fast saloon car after which the whole genre is named. Its internal code is F10M – the first time an M car has been given a specific internal name.

Technical highlights********* *

Twin turbochargers, with unspecific modifications to both intake and exhaust systems. Official response to the question of power output is: 'Do you really think we would give it less than an X6M?'. An X6M has 547bhp. There's a seven-speed DCT dual clutch transmission with three different shift speeds and a fully automatic mode. Saloon only for now.

What’s it like to drive?

Is turbocharging a highlight? When it makes a car this flexible and plain accelerative, it has to be. Yes, the near-insanity of the old V10 makes way for slightly reduced throttle response, but it’s marginal. On a Swedish lake, you can still make tiny adjustments to sustain that all-important 1km drift. Does it feel turbocharged? A little bit. Does it make enough induction noise? No. But this isn’t the finished car, the BMW M-gurus insist that the final product will be different in this respect.

I only drove the car on snow, ice and the occasional patch of asphalt. It felt like an M-car in the correct sense: purposeful, but not too aggressive. The steering, chassis and powertrain each have three modes: comfort, sport and sport-plus, giving a myriad of options. The MDM (M Driving Mode) brings a higher threshold DSC intervention that requires steering correction from the driver, or you spin, It works brilliantly. Switch it all off and you have a circa 560bhp, rear-wheel-drive saloon with an LSD. If you can’t enjoy that, you’re a wally.

I can’t tell you much about ride comfort and steering yet, except that with the suspension set to comfort the car is compliant but never soft. The steering is faster than in a regular BMW 5-series.

How does it compare?

The Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG is too good to be a walkover, but this M5 will take some beating. For all current and recent E60 M5 owners know this: the new M5 has a gearbox as fast as the E60s that also works properly in Auto mode. It has a bigger fuel tank than a regular 5 (somewhere between 70 and 80 litres, but they won’t say exactly what – I’m cleverly guessing 75) which with the much improved economy gives a real range of 400 miles. So: range, gearbox, torque – BMW has listened, all of the E60’s vices have been sorted.

Anything else I need to know?

I can’t really comment on the styling because the car was disguised. On narrow winter tyres it’s lacking that delicious signature rear-axle camber, but the flared front wings give just the right suggestion of clout. Expect bespoke seats, masses of M badges, an oil temperature gauge and, hopefully, an M5 specific steering wheel.

To me this car feels like its DNA has been drawn from the E39 M5. It’s a less frenzied machine than the one it replaces: it has torque and flexibility but still the killer pace every M5 owner requires. Something will need to go badly wrong between now and the end of 2011 for the finished car to be anything but a triumph."


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#3 ·
So lightning shifts and torque all over the place.. no 8k rpm limit but then why would you need that.. high rpm fans not going to be happy.. feels like an evolved E39.. hmmm.. just what i thought it was going to be.. You don't really have to worry about being in the right gear.. just mash it from low rpms any gear and it goes.. engine note not too intimidating though.. :grrrrr:
 
#9 ·
Very exciting news. Larger tank and decent auto will be a massive bonus for my commute in London.
 
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#12 · (Edited)
Hmmm?
Confirms all I feared, but I shall wait for a proper road test & pictures before I make my comments.

But for now my M5 owning days will not go further than the E60 animal.
The revs, the scream, the gear change all make it what I want it to be.

But it does have a bigger fuel tank.............................................?
 
#15 ·
Yes, it does:


"It has a bigger fuel tank than a regular 5 (somewhere between 70 and 80 litres, but they won’t say exactly what – I’m cleverly guessing 75) which with the much improved economy gives a real range of 400 miles. So: range, gearbox, torque – BMW has listened, all of the E60’s vices have been sorted."


But it does have a bigger fuel tank.............................................?
 
#16 ·
The sound however still is boring as .... well very boring, nothing anywhere near my current E60 V10 and I think it never gets close.
For me the sound is at least 20% of the total driving experience.
The sound will be improved upon for the production model ...
 
#27 ·
Very compelling, this. I like the comparisons to the E39 (for obvious reasons). The price of progress, I suppose, will be paid with turbos and DCT, but I am incredibly interested in this car. Might be in my future.
 
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#28 ·
Mmh sounds like its going to be an E39 M5 with Forced Induction.

Damn, I have one of those already too ;)
 
#30 ·
Hey man!

Whats up my friend!? Long time. How the hell are you? I still have the monster M6 and I really still love that car. Unfortunately it has fallen out of warranty so i'm not sure how long it will make sense to keep it. i love my E90 M3 sedan though man. I am in that car constantly and it is one of the most complete M cars i have owned. :goldcup: I hope you are well man.

The F10M car sounds pretty nice. Not sure that I am excited enough to get in line yet. I have my eye on the face lifted M3 sedan in 2012. I will switch up my current M3 and hopefully still be able to justify holding the beast. keep in touch man :)






Take care
 
#34 ·
DCT / DKG is the way to go :D I have one as well :D YouTube - BMW M3 Sedan DCT | Limousine DKG sounds + Autobahn driving

YouTube - Top speed BMW M3 DCT | DKG Sedan | Limousine (E90) Autobahn Germany

Im so happy to hear the new M5 have DCT!

Whats up my friend!? Long time. How the hell are you? I still have the monster M6 and I really still love that car. Unfortunately it has fallen out of warranty so i'm not sure how long it will make sense to keep it. i love my E90 M3 sedan though man. I am in that car constantly and it is one of the most complete M cars i have owned. :goldcup: I hope you are well man.

The F10M car sounds pretty nice. Not sure that I am excited enough to get in line yet. I have my eye on the face lifted M3 sedan in 2012. I will switch up my current M3 and hopefully still be able to justify holding the beast. keep in touch man :)






Take care
 
#31 ·


To me this car feels like its DNA has been drawn from the E39 M5.

We will see looks good but the sound was weak IMO.....
 
#32 ·
Whats up my friend!? Long time. How the hell are you? I still have the monster M6 and I really still love that car. Unfortunately it has fallen out of warranty so i'm not sure how long it will make sense to keep it. i love my E90 M3 sedan though man. I am in that car constantly and it is one of the most complete M cars i have owned. I hope you are well man.

The F10M car sounds pretty nice. Not sure that I am excited enough to get in line yet. I have my eye on the face lifted M3 sedan in 2012. I will switch up my current M3 and hopefully still be able to justify holding the beast. keep in touch man
 
#36 ·
It's still missing a foot pedal.

Of course I say that because I can't afford to plunk down for a new one as I'm keeping my E39 for as long as humanly possible so I have to make it unappealing.

Love the 400 mile range though. I hate having to stop at 280 - 290 when I'm doing some fast desert driving. Fuel economy kinda goes to crap after 80 and the last time I made the run to Vegas, I averaged 99.
 
#40 ·
US-spec E34 M5 had an 81L fuel tank, not sure why the F10M would move back towards a larger tank with the price of gasoline skyrocketing. hmmm

As for the looks, I'm still getting used to the whole F10 looks in general, hell, I was barely used to the E60 look.

Also, DCT will be the ONLY available option? Not a fan of that either, I'd like to see it optioned with a real clutch pedal and 6-speed.

Any official numbers on fuel consumption ? I also hope BMW didn't use the same fuel pump manufacturer in this M5 as they did with the N54 engines :rolleyes:
 
#42 ·
Today is a good day. Finding out the F10M will sport the DCT, and picking up an IPad2 later. This just made my weekend :cheers:
 
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#43 ·
Several thoughts

1) Thank God it is DCT and not a full blown automatic:applause:
2) I am not thrilled about forced induction. However, it is clearly a necessary evil because of CAFE standards and the need for more efficiency.
3) I have had two BMW loaners with turbo engines - a 335i and and V8 X5. The latter was a fast mutha with no noticeable turbo lag. I have never driven an X5M or X6M. I assume there is no turbo lag there. I doubt it will be an issue in the new M5
4) The increased tank size is obviously to improve the range. The range on the E60 M5 is poor to say the least. I would gather this points to other weight saving tricks by the boys at ///M. If they are putting a higher capacity tank in - they are taking the weight off somewhere else...carbon roof? hood? trunk?
5) Car looks awfully close to production. Would not be surprised to see the production version at Shanghai....
6) Thank God it is DCT:applause:
7) Thank God it is DCT:applause:
 
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#48 ·
1)
4) The increased tank size is obviously to improve the range. The range on the E60 M5 is poor to say the least. I would gather this points to other weight saving tricks by the boys at ///M. If they are putting a higher capacity tank in - they are taking the weight off somewhere else...carbon roof? hood? trunk?
I wouldn't be too sure about shaving the weight off somewhere else.
Each generation is way heavier than the next. I dont think this would be much different especially given all the gadgets that will probably be inside it. But somehow... bmw always manages to make it not feel heavier...
 
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