2008 BMW M5

Description

The BMW M5 has always been a special combination of luxury and performance, but the boys in Bavaria pulled out all the stops with the E60 version, which further blurred the line between sedan and sports car. The E60 is by far the wildest sports sedan to ever wear the blue-and-white roundel, and although the design was polarizing at first, it's quickly become a collector-grade vehicle nearly 20 years since it's introduction. With screaming, 500-horsepower 5.0L V10 power, a 7-speed paddle-shift transmission, and more electronic aids than a 747, this is the technophile's dream car that feels right at home on the track.

The M5 is all about big performance in a subtle package, so you won't see wild spoilers and graphics on this BMW. In fact, it could almost go unnoticed by the general public as something special, and I suspect that's just how M5 owners would prefer it. Sure, park this one next to a garden-variety 5-series and the difference become quite obvious, but as it sits, this car has a quiet confidence and an understated look that's insanely appealing. Obvious M-Division giveaways in the E60 include the three intakes integrated into the front bumper that account for the V10's need for copious amounts of air (not to mention more effective brake cooling), slightly wider front wheel arches with functional grilles, aggressive side skirts, aerodynamic side-mirrors (replacing the beloved square mirrors enraged many BMW fans), a redesigned decklid complete with a deep license plate holder, and the sculpted rear bumper that accommodates for those wicked quad tailpipes below. These are all functional and extremely important design elements that help this M5 fly through the air with minimum drag while maintaining a favorable 53:47 weight distribution, but only the Germans could make it all look so subtle. The Interlagos Blue Metallic paint is appropriate for this high-tech Autobahn missile, and for nearly $100,000 in 2008, you got very impressive finish quality that resists the passage of time. The doors close with a firmness that feels like the interior is hermetically sealed and the glossy paint has an inner glow that makes this car look incredibly expensive. It's not showroom-new anymore, but it's pretty darn close, showing only very minor signs of use and age. Things like the deep chin and rocker panel extensions are in excellent shape, suggesting careful driving all its life with a paltry 39,795 actual miles. And the only major giveaway that this is an uber-sedan is the M5 badge on the trunk. Cool, right?

The sumptuous black leather interior offers every bit of tech you could wish for, all wrapped in the finest materials this side of a Bentley. The leather seats are supportive and all-day comfortable and show minimal wear for their 14 years of life. There are silver accents on the dash, center console, and door panels (instead of optional woodgrain) a touch that looks very sporty and livens up the monochromatic interior nicely and with big, round M-spec gauges including a speedometer etched to 200MPH and a tachometer with a moving redline indicator that corelates to the engine temperature, you're easily able to keep an eye on the important stuff. The multi-function, M-specific steering wheel is nicely weighted and that joystick in the center console is for the 7-speed sequential transmission, which BMW called the SMG III and includes launch control, a hill holder, and shift-lock avoidance. The round knob on the console is for BMW's first-generation I-Drive system, which controls the navigation system, climate control, entertainment system, and about a zillion other functions, and yes, it'll take some familiarization, but that's what technophiles love. And with all the performance, you still get a big trunk and a usable back seat.

The 5.0 liter V10 aluminum alloy 90-degree engine is more race engine than commuter machine, and was designed from scratch by M Division for this car and this car alone. With 507 horsepower on tap and a 8,250 RPM redline, it was both the quickest and fastest 4-door in the world in 2008 and even today, the performance is shockingly potent. The look under the hood is clean and very well-maintained and the 7-speed sequential gearbox sends torque to the rear wheels vial a locking M differential and allows the driver to shift gears manually on the floor-mounted shifter or metal paddles behind the steering wheel, so go have some fun. The exhaust is muted at idle but the V10's F1-inspired firing order offers a rising crescendo wail at speed and it bangs through the gears like a shotgun blast. You'd better be ready when you plant the loud pedal, because things start to happen VERY quickly. Fortunately, there are giant brakes at all four corners and equally massive 19-inch wheels with 255/40/19 front and 285/35/19 rear Continental performance radials.

Beautifully preserved and a thrill to drive, this shockingly affordable A-list performance car absolutely won't last long. Call today!