Driving and owning the M5

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by FC

Temporary plates are downright illegal in MA. I can talk myself out of a ticket (maybe) if I’m in my hometown and mention the ineptitude of the RMV, but more than that is asking for trouble.

I have a feeling the piped-in sound was disabled. We’ll see.

Would you want the sound back?

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by JST

I don’t think it’s just cosmetic; rear brake rotors have been getting bigger in part of accommodate brake-based traction control systems. And for those you need a fair amount of heat sink but clamping force is less important.

I noticed this when doing track days with ppl running 987.2s. Porsche went to a traction control system on that car but didn’t upsize the rotors, which were basically the same as the ones on my car. The rear rotors and calipers on the 987.2s got so hot the red paint turned brown.

I would argue that rotors that size are primarily cosmetic front AND rear.

Thickness specs also are revealing - the rear rotors are MUCH thinner than the fronts.

[lemming]

Originally Posted by FC

I thought it would be best to create a new thread about my ownership of the M5. The other thread doesn't even have the proper title (and I can't change it) and it pertains to the waffling of getting the right car.

I put on the near-new winter wheel and tire set and went for a short drive. I could not drive it much because of SNL skit-levels of RMV incompetence and as a result I still do not have Massachusetts plates and the car is on TX temp plates. Trust me, the RMV deserves it's own thread.

That said, the drive was good. I got around to pairing my phone, played a little with settings, etc.

At a high level, this car is spectacular but it is not a sports car. Not even close. It's a tremendous luxury cruise missile. Even with the loud MPE (///M Performace Exhaust) it was very quiet inside. I wonder if the previous owner disabled the piped-in sound. It is VERY quiet inside. The seats are super comfortable. Too comfortable for a proper sportscar. Not to say it doesn't hug you because with a million adjustments it does. But even with the most fitted adjustment there is compliance against the cushions themselves. The ride is very good. The 19" winter tires probably helped even more, but the ride is a great mix of sport and comfort. The suspension is magical. It makes a big car feel small and nimble and you can drive through twisty country roads with ease. There is none of the flex and backlash I felt with the M550i that made it feel heavy and lumbering. It stays flat and changes directions easily. It feels nimble and athletic. A very different vibe from the other 5ers and IMO transforms 5er. I think the steering is actually quite good in terms of being able to precisely place the car where you want to.

The car has just about every bit of tech and luxury you could want. The B&W sound system is spectacular, the hand gesturing works very well, the full leather trim is amazing. Tech and sensors galore. I have not yet scratched the surface. It is the ultimate executive sport sedan.

But to my earlier point, it is not a sports car. I drove the Mini immediately after on the same roads and that car was more engaging and fun to drive. The M5 is very isolated. The steering has no feel. The F80 steering is 987-like in comparison. It does the spectacular things it does with too thick an insulating layer to get a tactile feel of driving. It's as if the roads get straighter and smoother in that car. It actually feels as though the car was designed to reduce the drama of driving it instead of enhancing it. It think it was Savage Geese who nailed it when they said (paraphrasing) that this is the car you get into at the end of a long day to relax on your way home in a drama free environment no matter how crappy your commute. If you have the itch or need to absolutely annihilate traffic on your way home, you can easily do that.

It's funny how different this is from the F80. The performance levels are much higher and yet far easier to achieve, but the experience is different. To a car guy, the F80 is much closer to a one-car-does-it-all solution, its limitations notwithstanding. The M5 is not. Not even close. At the very least one would need to pick up a Miata to change things up once in a while. But as fortunate as I am to have more fun alternatives, this car is excellent and my wife already loves it.

More to come once I get plates and drive it on the highway to work. Sit tight. It will be at least a week from now. Thanks RMV! I'll just keep updating this thread over time with my experiences.

Well. Not sure the M5 has ever been a sports car. It embodies what M started as and just added better and better engines. M to me has always been about taking a passenger car and making it sporty —but not a sports car.

How is the brake pedal feel? And how is the damping working for you? Not too stiff? Also curious about anti roll control. Does the M5 do a nice job of staying flat through the curves?

I’m very happy that you’re enjoying this car. Intriguing choice. I love to read about your experience with it.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by lemming

Well. Not sure the M5 has ever been a sports car. It embodies what M started as and just added better and better engines. M to me has always been about taking a passenger car and making it sporty —but not a sports car.

How is the brake pedal feel? And how is the damping working for you? Not too stiff? Also curious about anti roll control. Does the M5 do a nice job of staying flat through the curves?

I’m very happy that you’re enjoying this car. Intriguing choice. I love to read about your experience with it.

My take (as a longtime observer) is that Mrs. FC and Mr. FC, for that matter, have always had a soft spot for a luxury sedan (Mercedes, etc.), but our FC likes a sporty edge. And this is an attempt to reconcile those impulses. It may indeed be the perfect middle ground.

[Josh (PA)]

it will be interesting when the weather gets a little nicer if you get that 'shrinks around you feel'. Otherwise, your review reminds me a lot of my e39m5. I think that incredible levels of competence from a car that doesn't rub it in your face has always been the essence of the m5. I remember the best description of my old e39 being a locomotive. Silly levels of power with no drama. When you pushed that car, though, it did come alive and felt like it shrunk around you. Maybe when it warm up and you can get some heat in the tires this one will show that side of itself.

It is beautiful and I'm sure you'll appreciate the comfort side when you're commuting to work most days.

Congrats again. This is such a cool car.

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by Josh (PA)

it will be interesting when the weather gets a little nicer if you get that 'shrinks around you feel'. Otherwise, your review reminds me a lot of my e39m5. I think that incredible levels of competence from a car that doesn't rub it in your face has always been the essence of the m5. I remember the best description of my old e39 being a locomotive. Silly levels of power with no drama. When you pushed that car, though, it did come alive and felt like it shrunk around you. Maybe when it warm up and you can get some heat in the tires this one will show that side of itself.

It is beautiful and I'm sure you'll appreciate the comfort side when you're commuting to work most days.

Congrats again. This is such a cool car.

There were a few small things that you could do with the E39 that radically tightened it up. None of them really solved the slopbox steering, though. If they'd sold it with a rack and pinion, I'd have one instead of the E90 today.

I still periodically wonder if I made the right choice though.

[FC]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

Would you want the sound back?

I don't know yet. My wife would certainly be happy with it as is.

[FC]

Originally Posted by lemming

Well. Not sure the M5 has ever been a sports car. It embodies what M started as and just added better and better engines. M to me has always been about taking a passenger car and making it sporty —but not a sports car.

How is the brake pedal feel? And how is the damping working for you? Not too stiff? Also curious about anti roll control. Does the M5 do a nice job of staying flat through the curves?

I’m very happy that you’re enjoying this car. Intriguing choice. I love to read about your experience with it.

The brake feel was pretty good, honestly. I never got up to great speeds, but they felt as good as any other BMW and stopped the car with ease and no drama.

Even in comfort mode the car is pretty flat and composed. As I mentioned this was a huge and immediate difference with the M550i, but I will note that the M550i I drove did not have the rare Dynamic Handling Package, which is supposed to improve things. But the personality of the M5 is very different and this is mentioned in every review, so I am not alone in this. This is the reason I went with the M5. Both cars are way too fast, so it wasn't a speed thing.

[FC]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

My take (as a longtime observer) is that Mrs. FC and Mr. FC, for that matter, have always had a soft spot for a luxury sedan (Mercedes, etc.), but our FC likes a sporty edge. And this is an attempt to reconcile those impulses. It may indeed be the perfect middle ground.

No doubt. I certainly would prefer the M5 to have more feel but considering all else, it is a good compromise. I could never have this as my only car. But for annoying mostly highway commuting this is a great car. Especially when there are other options for more engaging driving.

[FC]

Originally Posted by Josh (PA)

it will be interesting when the weather gets a little nicer if you get that 'shrinks around you feel'. Otherwise, your review reminds me a lot of my e39m5. I think that incredible levels of competence from a car that doesn't rub it in your face has always been the essence of the m5. I remember the best description of my old e39 being a locomotive. Silly levels of power with no drama. When you pushed that car, though, it did come alive and felt like it shrunk around you. Maybe when it warm up and you can get some heat in the tires this one will show that side of itself.

It is beautiful and I'm sure you'll appreciate the comfort side when you're commuting to work most days.

Congrats again. This is such a cool car.

Thanks! Pretty happy with it so far. I still feel like I've not really driven it, since I've only done a neighborhood loop twice.

I've never driven an E39, but I find it interesting that you keep drawing parallels between my experience in the F90 and yours in the E39.

I want to get it registered and go on longer drives and spend more time outside of comfort mode. Certainly the interior, features, and quality are amazing. The car has zero rattles. It's not old, but it's not new either with 33k miles.