Car and Driver: Even With Manual Transmission the 2013 BMW M5 Remains Remote, Fussy and Aloof!

Really a shame. E39 based version was the peak for the M5. Lets hope they don't screw up the new M3/M4

There was a King.....

I wonder if some of the faults with the manual shift were unique to this car like maybe something with the engine programming. I had BMW's years back-all of 'em sticks- and, if they had one great quality, it was the shear harmony between clutch/shifter/engine.
Also, this being a "press car" with a few thousand miles on it, I'm sure it's been beaten.
Spent some time in the new '5' when it first came out, an automatic, steering was severely lacking. It might be a few years before manufacturers figure out how to give 'steering by wire' some feel.

And the S6 and E63 smiles just got bigger…

Full disclosure - I prefer to own MB to BMW but those two have always been my top 2 preferences for actual ownership. So I catch myself feeling kind of weird defending BMW's trend to make their car more comfortable over the last 10 years. I get tired of C&D far leaning towards driving performance and manual. How many of us drive twisty, and smooth, road for most of the day? The realities of seat of the pant comfort, straight and boring road, stop-and-go traffic over a period of time will wake us up. BMW is a business, and they know to increase sales, profit, they need to make their cars more appealing to the majority of the car buyers, i.e. those that, sooner or later, prefer comfort and convenience. Can you honestly say that if BMW had stick with their traditional characteristics that they would be able to sell as many cars as they do now?

GermanNut, how did Car & Driver like the competitor stickshift cars from Audi and Mercedes? Oh, that's right, there are none.

Here's an article comparing the stick M5 to the CTS-V, which is not in the same price category but size-wise is the only other car in the class you can get with a manual.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-reviews/car-comparison-tests/2013-bmw-m5-vs-2012-cadillac-cts-v

and as for the "universal criticism", apparently your universe is pretty small. "Small", as in "limited to a couple of U.S. magazines". Outside of those couple of mags the rest of the world sure seems to love the new M5. Here are a whole bunch of excerpts from Top Gear, including the one where they said it was the best car on the road:

https://www.google.com/search?q=top+gear+m5&aq=f&oq=top+gear+m5&aqs=chrome.0.57j0l3j62l2.2606&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

And here is one from Autocar:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/5-series/first-drives/bmw-m5-(uk-drive)

Their take was it's so much better than its competitors that it's essentially "too good at being fast". That's their biggest complaint, that the car is so capable that you can't ever exploit it. It's basically better than you.

But hey, you work for Audi, I'd expect nothing less. Didn't mean to interrupt the B.S., please, continue.

Wow, defensive much? I think the point here is that many were hoping (and promising) that the manual M5 would be "vintage BMW". And, as per this article, from a magazine accused of basically being on BMW's payroll, that is not the case.

As far as reviews, many reviews of the M5 on its own were stellar…at first. But when compared directly to its competitors, its weaknesses shown threw

And, btw, Edmunds also was extremely critical of the M5. So it wasn't just a "couple of mags".

Well said, but why waste your time on germannutlicker. I doubt he even read your response, he's probably home or at work in the bathroom, fapping to a pic of an audi.

cidflekken - don't mind JRobUSC's fervent defense of BMW. He's gone as far as defending the greatness of 5GT so don't expect anything different.

Ive driven the M5 and its competition. Im fortunate to have this luxury. I think the issue is that even though it is balls to the walls fast, its not as spartan as it used to be. People who get in to a BMW and have been driving them for more than a decade are amazed at the upgrade interior refinements. BMW has focused in on luxury refinements, even though they are supposed to be a drivers car that happens to get labeled "luxury".
Just like the previous M3 (E46) to the current E92 M3, its not has harsh as it used to be and not much like an angry badger. Its like the angry badger finally graduated with a graduate degree and doesn't go on spring break anymore. However, it still likes to go back in time a shake things up. Its a refined super car. You dont feel the massive power and aggression as much, but it actually handles better and is more adaptable to random environments.
Thats my take on the M5. If you live in the past, dont bother and go get yourself an E39. If you are progressive, then you will love the M5 and come home with a smile everyday. Yes, it does blow away its competition. Everytime my lease is up (Im on my 4th BMW) I drive the competition of the model Im interested in. I always go back to BMW, there truly is nothing like it.

JRob, I fully expected you to defend the BMW brand as you always do.

In case you didn't read all the reviews criticizing the 2013 BMW M5, I'll provide the links for you below:

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2013-audi-s6-vs-2013-bmw-m5-2012-mercedes-benz-e63-amg-comparison-test

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2013-bmw-m5-manual-instrumented-test

http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/m5/2013/road-test.html

Clearly, the 2013 BMW M5 has been ripped apart in reviews.

Clearly? Lol. I would fully expect germs nut the Audi fanboy to worship every VW/Audi parts car, and post negative articles about their competitors b/c of some strange insecurity, and actually cut and past all the negative sections of the article and post them on autospies.. Also those are only two sources. What about motortrend, automobile, autocar, autoexpess, top gear, Evo, CAR, Chris Harris, along with the many other written/video reviews that have had no issue with the new m5?

BmwM6, you and JRob see that the M5 has been ripped apart by Car and Driver and Edmunds.

Even if all your other cherry-picked positive reviews from AutoExpress, AutoCar, Evo etc. say the 2013 BMW M5 is great, two sources say the 2013 BMW M5 is god awful.

I have no idea why the discrepancy is so large between multiple reviews but the fact that two reliable sources have ripped the 2013 BMW M5 is a terrible sign for BMW.

I bet you can't find me two sources that ripped the E39 BMW M5. It's probably because there weren't any.

Bottom Line: BMW's M5 no longer receives universal praise when tested by itself nor does it defeat the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and Audi S6.

That, BMW fans, is a HUGE problem.

Where does C&D say its awful? That's because it doesn't. Hi kettle meet pot. You accuse me if cherry picking? Lol. Your the cherry picking negative lines from an article. The M5 is just fine, and the sales number prove it. also it laps the ring as faster than pan turbo, and in c&d's lightning lap the m5 lapped VIP a full 5 seconds faster than the understeer plagued S6 . 5 seconds is HUGE on an only 3 mile track. 140 additional hp in the RS6 won't make up 5 seconds on such a poorly balanced Audi chassis.

Bottom line: The m5 is more than good, and you need to get a life.

you're right, the direction BMW has gone is a HUGE problems for the buyers who loved the cars most. now you might as well just buy whatever is cheaper...audi, mercedes, bmw...they're all the same in terms of performance. all that's left is porsche, but they are ungodly expensive--not only to buy but the maintenance is insane ($3,000 for a tune up).

I understand what everyone is saying. But the bottom line is the M5 isn't head and shoulders above it's competition anymore. Depending on the drivers needs, the M5 isn't he auto go to sports sedan. I beleive that M is less worried about audi than AMG. The new m6 is out performed by the sl63 both in the str8 line and around the corners. The old E63 could dance and from every review I've read about the 2014 E63 4matic its a total beast in the str8's and around corners. Anyway they all make great cars. AUDI, MERCEDES, AND BMW. I will say that BMW fans tend to live in the past a little, bmw isn't always the best handling most sporty car anymore. This site would be a lot more enjoyable without all the biased arguments about cars that the majority of us have never drove.

so depressing. it used to be that bmw made wonderful sports sedans with cohesive design and just a dash of luxury thrown in. sadly, they have turned into luxury sedans first and sports sedans second just like everyone else.

the only sedans left under $150,000 that actually make my heart beat faster are the panamera GTS and the S8. under $100,000, you're just fucked.

Such a bunch of BS, I own one of these cars and its great for what it is supposed to be. Its not a sports car anymore, its a fast 5 seater luxury liner and offers tech, speed, luxury, and utility all wrapped up nice together. I get people asking me about the car all the time.

i have one too---an F10 535i. sure it's great looking, comfortable and full of tech. but it's zero fun to drive except in a straight line. nothing like my last 3 BMWs.

At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. 90% of the people who can afford to buy these cars are 2 years from retirement and shining their golf clubs or renewing their spa and country club memberships. They don't drive these cars the way they're meant to be driven. They like to be SEEN in the cars. They don't like to DRIVE the cars. That holds true for Ferrari and Lamborghini owners. I drive alongside these cars (M5s, E63s, Ferraris, Lambos, et al) every day of the week and they all may as well be in the Rose Parade procession.

you are completely off base. the average bmw buyers is in their 40s. you're confusing this with lexus with an average buyer in their 60s.

No problem. Just buy a Honda Accord with manual. Runs like a clock.

Throw a Hurst shifter in it and stop complaining.