22 Votes

Boost it!

You won't see this very often...A reviewer that HATES the new BMW M5

Agent001 submitted on 5/5/2006 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 7:45:48 PM

25 user comments | Category: Report Cards | Source: www.autospies.com

If you're on the cutting edge of technology, sometimes you're going to bleed.



Meet the 2006 BMW M5, a car in need of a tourniquet.

The new performance sedan is blessed with looks, comfort and speed, but cursed with a new-fangled technology that sucks all the joy from driving the marvelous machine.

I'm poleaxed by the fact that BMW managed to build a 500-horsepower sedan that's anything less than intoxicating to drive.

Full review here

About the Author

Agent001

FWD Torque Steer. Absolute proof the Devil exists.

— Agent001 (View Profile)


User Comments

BENR087

manual transmission will be coming out soon for the m5 just a reminder

— BENR087 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/6/2006 9:36:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

CarFreak

How can It be that Litterally Dozens of car mags have sung the praises of the M5 but ong bad review and were ready to hang it out to dry this could have been that some thing went wrong with his tester and of course rich kids looking for a status symbol dont like the SMG they dont know how to make the best of it and most of them are the same punks that used to come into my old shop with blown clutches on their cars after 200 miles or they are mid-life crisiser's who dont know how to drive a good performance car anyway as for me I'll listen to jeremy Clarkson who is some one who can appreciate F1 technology

— CarFreak (View Profile)

Posted on 5/6/2006 10:06:32 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

moto

Banglification aside, BMW does have increasing problems. While they used to make the most fun rwd compact and midsize coupes and sedans on the market, they have lost their focus, and it's not just the M5 where it shows:

1) compare mass of prior models to BMW's current models. Sure, hp increases, but the increasing waistline bulge is hard to ignore -- it adversely affects braking, cornering, and balance, so just adding more HP doesn't "solve" the problem. The new M3 wouldn't NEED a V-8 if BMW had kept it lightweight. Porsche, in contrast, keeps weight down with religious fervor.

2) iDrive and other gadgets do nothing for the true driver. for the status symbol-buyers, i'm sure there is demand for this crap. But on M-series cars? Complication is not welcome!!! Where are the Club Sport models?

3) price and value have evaporated. the 2002 was a fun little racer that most folks could afford to autocross, as was the first M3. Since then, the performance has not kept pace with the price increases, even taking into account the exchange rate.

4) reliability is becoming a real issue. ask any owner who actually uses a BMW for more than a garage ornament -- how long can you operate the car before dash warning lights flash? i hear more and more horror stories.


Hey, i'm the first to defend BMW's heritage, design philosphy, and most of its engineering detail. The cars are great in many respects, and BMW pushes the technology envelope in many areas. but the reviewer is right -- all is not well in Munich, and it's starting to show in the cars. the latest M5 is not BMW's best effort, which is extremely disappointing for an M-car.

— moto (View Profile)

Posted on 5/19/2007 7:17:29 AM | | Votes: 1   

TauronB2G

There are a few things about this article that I find true. First, SMG, yes when used by a race car driver may be faster than a manual and Its not as smooth as a conventional automatic. Problem is that most of us aren't race car drivers, so what if it is faster. If you don't have the skill to exploit it like a race car driver what does it matter! Its not as smooth as an automactic, it shouldn't be, its not one. People who buy it don't want an automatic, they want Schumacher fantasies on their way to work in the morning. Thats why they buy $90,000 BMW's that they will never ever get to use at its full potential.
The car should have the option of a 6 speed, an smg and spetronic. I'll bet you that the steptronic would outsell all of them. Its just more practical.
Personally I think the old M5 was a better car. It was a sleeper. I could get into it and just drive. You didnt' have to fiddle with iDrive, or set shifting preferences and what not. Just get in hit the clutch and go.
Personally I think that in the last few years that BMW has gone south. I think the whole line is ugly with the exception of the long in the. tooth X5 and maybe the 650 convertible. They don't look as good as they used to.
T
Thats

— TauronB2G (View Profile)

Posted on 5/6/2006 2:45:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

CarFreak

and so was the Mclaren F1 before the Veyron and the F40 before the Enzo but youve got to Evolve,and try to Improve. as far as the Manual Trans--I'm All for them but Personally I am one of the few People I know who Follow F1 and unless I winthe Lottery and buy A Ferrari this is the Lcosest I could ever come to Driving an F1 car that doesn't mean I'm Tech-Happy it means I'm a fan of Motorsport on top of which I'd like to see any of you do a full clean shift in 100ms or Heel-toe properly! Mow, I can Heel toe realgood but not that good or that fast

— CarFreak (View Profile)

Posted on 5/6/2006 3:54:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Yonder7

Both cars are wonderful cars, but accept it: Those cars are not for normal people, second: Sofistication have a price there is a bigger windows for problems and if you like sofistication you should be willing to pay for it, and that means tolerance with some flaws. If you are not willing, then buy a lexus they almost flawless and that a perfec car for most of you (people wit out common sence), but me, I will continue using Germans Supercars, even if I have to take them to shop more than your lexus. And Finaly The one wrote the review will pick an AMG or M car over any Flawles boring japanese car.

— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2006 9:36:32 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Audiose

I've got some bad news for several of you (or perhaps good depending on your leanings). The new RS6 is not a 400+ HP car. Audi has already released that it will be at least 550 HP.

And with Quattro it will be far easier to put all that power to use right off the line as well as leave your foot down through turns.

In all likelihood, an RS6 will leave scorch marks on an M5 before watching it grow ever smaller in the rear view mirror.

So Sunny, you might not want to blow that 95 grand just yet.

— Audiose (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2006 11:31:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

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