BMW M5 (1985–2025) – 40 years

Few cars have managed to blend executive luxury and pure performance quite like the BMW M5. This year marks the 40th anniversary of BMW’s legendary supersaloon - a car that changed the way we think about fast four-doors forever. From its understated beginnings in the mid-1980s to today’s hybrid powerhouse, the M5 has always been about one thing: taking race-bred performance and wrapping it in everyday practicality.

The story begins in 1985, when BMW’s Motorsport division - fresh from the success of the M1 supercar - decided to create something no one expected: a discreet saloon that could outpace contemporary Ferraris.

The first E28 M5 looked almost identical to a standard 5 Series. No wild body kit or shouty graphics - just subtle spoilers, discreet badges, and an aura of quiet menace. Under the bonnet, though, lurked the heart of a racing car: the 3.5-litre straight-six (M88/3) from the BMW M1, producing 286bhp and propelling the car to 60mph in around 6.5 seconds - staggering for the era.

Hand-built in limited numbers, the E28 M5 set the template for every generation that followed: understated looks, superb balance, and the ability to thrill on both autobahn and B-road alike. As BMW proudly declared at the time, it was the world’s fastest production saloon.

By the time the E34 M5 arrived in 1988, the M division had matured. Built with even greater precision and refinement, the second-generation M5 was still hand-assembled and still gloriously powered by a straight-six - this time enlarged to 3.6 (and later 3.8) litres.

With up to 340bhp on tap, it delivered effortless pace but with the polish of a true grand tourer. Many enthusiasts still regard it as the most ‘pure’ M5 - a masterclass in balance and feedback. It was also the last M5 to be built entirely by hand at BMW M’s Garching facility, marking the end of an era before production scaled up for global demand.

Ask any BMW aficionado to name the definitive M5, and most will point to the E39, launched in 1998. It’s easy to see why. Under its bonnet was BMW’s first V8 engine in an M5, a 4.9-litre masterpiece producing 400bhp and revving to 7,000rpm.

Paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, the E39 blended comfort, power, and precision like no other saloon before it. It was a car that could cruise quietly one moment and roar to its 155mph limiter the next - all with perfect poise and unflappable control.

Even today, the E39 M5 is a modern classic, revered for its analogue driving feel and bulletproof engineering. It’s also one of the most desirable M5s for collectors, representing a high-water mark before electronic systems began to dominate.

Then came the E60 M5 in 2005 - perhaps the boldest M5 ever. Its 5.0-litre V10 was a direct descendant of BMW’s Formula 1 technology, screaming to 8,250rpm and producing 507bhp. It was raw, thrilling, and demanding - a car that truly rewarded skilled drivers. The optional seven-speed SMG gearbox divided opinion, but there was no denying the car’s sense of occasion.

Next came the F10 M5 in 2011, ushering in the turbocharged era. Gone was the high-revving V10, replaced by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 producing up to 600bhp in later “Competition” form. While less visceral, it was faster, more refined, and far easier to live with - a reflection of modern expectations.

By 2018, the F90 M5 added all-wheel drive, giving this supersaloon supercar-like acceleration. With 625bhp and 0–62mph in 3.3 seconds, it proved that BMW M could evolve with the times without losing its DNA.

As BMW marks 40 years of the M5, a new chapter is already unfolding. The latest G90 M5 features a plug-in hybrid drivetrain combining a twin-turbo V8 with electric assistance that delivers more than 700bhp.

While purists might lament the move away from traditional engines, BMW insists this new M5 is true to its heritage - offering electrified performance that still excites the senses. After all, the M5 has always been about progress, not nostalgia.

Over four decades, the M5 has redefined what a performance saloon can be. Each generation has pushed boundaries - from straight-six purity to V10 theatre and turbocharged torque - while remaining instantly recognisable as an M5.