The High-Speed History of a Badge: Every BMW M5 Generation Ranked
In the world of the performance saloon, few lineages carry the weight of the “M5” badge. For over 40 years, this machine has served as the mechanical benchmark for combining supercar physics with the practicality of a daily driver. It is a high-speed history of the internal combustion engine, spanning from the hand-built straight-sixes of the 1980s to the high-voltage hybrids of today.
While enthusiasts will argue over gearboxes and cylinder counts until the end of time, some versions of the M5 have clearly left a deeper dent in our collective cultural heritage. Here is the definitive ranking of the BMW M5.
10. F10 M5 (2011–2016)
The transition to the turbo era. The F10 was a direct response to customer feedback, offering more range and mid-range grunt than the V10 it replaced. While it was a superior daily driver, its muffled V8 and larger footprint meant it lacked the razor-edged responses of its predecessors. It was a democratic compromise that delivered a great car, but perhaps not a legendary one.
9. G90 M5 (2024–Present)
The heavyweight future. The current M5 is a hybrid powerhouse, combining a twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor for a total of 727PS. While its overtaking ability is “astonishing,” it tips the scales at over 2,400kg. It is a 2.4-ton engineering marvel that uses every digital trick in the book to hide its mass, but you can’t help but wonder what it could have been without the weighty electronic baggage.
8. E34 M5 Convertible (Prototype)
Another Geneva heartbreaker. BMW had priced this ragtop at £50,000 and even booked a show stand before the executives got cold feet. Fearing it would cannibalize 3 Series sales, they killed it. It remains a fascinating look at how close we came to a factory-built, straight-six convertible sports saloon.
7. E60/E61 M5 (2005–2010)
This generation is a study in risk and reward. It featured an 8,000rpm, F1-inspired 5.0-liter V10 that sounded like a mechanical scream from the gods. When it worked, it was a rocketship. However, the clunky SMG gearbox and notorious reliability issues make it a “Marmite” car today—loved for its engine, feared for its maintenance.
6. E39 M5 Touring (Prototype)
A ghost machine that haunts the dreams of wagon enthusiasts. BMW built a one-off estate version of the fabled E39, packing the S62 V8 and manual transmission into a practical long-roof body. It featured a clever split-opening rear window and four chrome exhausts. Sadly, BMW shelved the project due to concerns over rear-axle dynamics, leaving it as a hidden treasure locked in a secret Munich garage.
5. F90 M5 (2017–2023)
The F90 represents the point where the M5 became ballistic. It was the first generation to move away from being exclusively rear-driven, introducing a variable all-wheel-drive system that could still be toggled to a RWD “drift mode.” In its 627PS CS (Competition Sport) form, it could hit 62mph in a staggering 2.9 seconds. It is a technological monster that proves AWD doesn’t have to mean a loss of character.
4. E34 M5 (1988–1995)
The last of the hand-built M5s. The E34 was an evolution of the straight-six poise found in the E28. It resisted the move to V8s, instead refining the S38 engine to produce up to 340PS. It offered effortless elegance and introduced the very first M5 Touring (though only 891 were ever made). It is a machine that prioritizes craftsmanship and mechanical feel over outright digital speed.
3. E60 M5 CSL (Prototype)
Slapping the “CSL” badge on the back of an E60 M5 is the ultimate enthusiast’s daydream. While it never reached showrooms, BMW actually built a prototype. They stroked the V10 to 5.4 liters, boosted power to 550PS, and put the car on a strict diet, shedding 100kg through carbon fiber and the removal of the rear seats. The result was a Nürburgring lap time 20 seconds faster than the standard car. It remains one of the greatest “what ifs” in Bavarian history.
2. E28 M5 (1984–1988)
The origin of the species. When BMW stuffed the 3.5-liter M88 engine from the M1 supercar into a standard-looking 5 Series, they effectively “hacked” the industry. It was a 277PS sleeper that could embarrass legitimate Ferraris on the autobahn while carrying a family of five. This is where the heritage began, and for purists, the original’s lightweight, analog purity is still hard to beat.
1. E39 M5 (1998–2003)
The undisputed king of the family. The E39 arrived at the turn of the millennium and achieved a state of mechanical equilibrium that BMW has been chasing ever since. It was the first M5 to utilize V8 power—the legendary 4.9-liter S62—and it sent all 400 horses to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. With its understated design and telepathic steering, it took the M badge into the mainstream without losing its soul. It remains the yardstick by which all other executive sedans are measured.
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