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2008 BMW M5

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Overview

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2008 BMW M5 Review

By KBB.com Editors

BMW subsidiary BMW M GmBH develops small volumes of ultra high-performance M versions of the compact 3 Series, mid-size 5 Series, luxury coupe and convertible 6 Series and Z4 sports cars. The heart of the 5 Series-based M5 is a high-revving 500-hp V10 engine matched with a standard Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG). The dynamic M5 offers 279 combinations of chassis and powertrain settings including three power levels and three modes each of Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Electronic Damping Control (EDC). Although faced with stiffer competition today than ever before, the M5 remains the king of sports sedans.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're into German ultra-performance in an otherwise practical sedan, and BMW is your brand, then this is your ride. It's exclusive, expensive and seriously fast, and with more high-technology features than just about anything else on the road.

You May Not Like This Car If...

You may prefer one of several other ultra-performance mid-size sedans, including Mercedes' E63 AMG, Audi's S6 and Cadillac's STS-V, ranging from 435 to 507 horsepower and from around $70,000 to nearly $90,000. BMW also offers a 300-horsepower twin-turbo six-cylinder 535i and a 360-horsepower V8-powered 550i for a lot less money.

What's Significant About This Car?

Like other 5 Series models, the 2008 M5 gets an exterior freshening, interior upgrades and some new features, including six programmable memory keys in the iDrive control system. New options include a heated multi-function M steering wheel, soft-close doors, premium audio, High Definition (HD) Radio and an iPod/USB adapter that integrates the iPod's functions into the car's control system.

Driving the M5

Driving Impressions This may be the fastest, most muscular, most glued-to-the-road four-door on the market. It can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds (according to BMW), can seem to...

corner almost like a race car and its braking might leave you feeling as if it has hooked an aircraft carrier arresting cable. The standard seven-speed sequential manual gearbox (SMG), with 11 selectable programs ranging from "softest and slowest" to "hardest and quickest," can shift automatically or manually with the console lever or steering wheel paddles. But, in normal driving, and with a skilled driver, it is actually slower and less smooth than the conventional manual transmission. We prefer the no-cost optional six-speed manual, which offers crisp throws, well-arranged pedals and smooth clutch engagement.

Favorite Features

Variable Tachometer Warning Zone
This innovative feature uses a rotating disc behind the tachometer face to move the yellow warning segment and redline to as low as 4500 rpm when the engine is cold, then gradually moves it to the normal 8250-rpm redline as the engine warms.

Brake Standby and Drying
When the driver abruptly lifts off the throttle, the DSC senses that hard braking may be imminent and applies just enough pressure to snug the pads against the rotors to reduce the system's reaction time. Also, acting on input from the windshield wiper's rain sensor during rainy conditions, the pads are periodically brought up against the rotors to eliminate any film of water between them.

2008 BMW M5 Details

Interior

The 5 Series interior is revised for 2008 with the power window switches relocated to the armrests, larger door storage pockets, leather-wrapped center console and passenger door handles. The M5's brushed-aluminum interior trim can be replaced by either of two no-cost optional woods, and its high-end Merino leather can be optioned up to perforated leather and to cover the entire dash. Its iDrive multifunction controller now offers six programmable memory keys that can be set to frequently-used addresses, phone numbers or radio station presets, plus voice command for numerous functions.

Exterior

Critics have been harsh on BMW's current styling, which debuted on the larger 7 Series for 2002 and the mid-range 5 Series the following year. For 2008, all 5 Series models get styling enhancements including redesigned headlights, taillights, front air dam, rear bumper and rear diffuser. The M5 sports a deeper, more aggressive front air dam with larger center air intake and brake air inlets, BMW M front fender gills, special rocker panels and rear bumper/spoiler/diffuser and quad exhausts.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

In addition to all the trappings you'd expect in a vehicle priced as it is, the 2008 BMW M5 includes as standard equipment a DVD-based navigation system with real-time traffic information, special M instrumentation and sport steering wheel, heated front seats with adjustable backrest width, Xenon Adaptive Headlights and ultrasonic Park Distance Control. Safety equipment includes dual front, front-side and tubular head-protection airbags, plus a sophisticated set of electronic stability, traction and brake controls.

Optional Equipment

The M5 offers an enticing array of options including full or perforated leather interior with suede-like Alcantara headliner, 20-way M multifunction seats with active width adjustment, active seat ventilation, Comfort Access keyless unlock and start, M Head-Up Display, heated steering wheel, soft-close automatic doors, high-definition radio, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, iPod/USB adapter, rear seat heating and rear side air bags.

Under the Hood

High-rpm is a key BMW M credo, so this V10 is engineered to rev eagerly to its 8250-rpm redline, at least partially due to the use of lightweight reciprocating components throughout, which also reduces total vehicle weight and helps balance front/rear weight to a near 50/50 distribution. It has three power and response settings: A P400 default mode caps the engine's output at 400 horsepower with normal throttle response, P500 unleashes all 500 horses with quicker response and P500 Sport delivers full power with still quicker response.

5.0-liter V10
500 horsepower @ 7750 rpm
383 lb.-ft. of torque @ 6100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 11/17

To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used BMW M5 vehicles for sale near you.

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2008 BMW M5 Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

9.4

Out of 10

Based on 40 Ratings for the 2006 - 2010 models.

Review this car

Value

9.3/10

Quality

9.6/10
Reliability

9.4/10

Performance

9.8/10
Comfort

9.5/10

Styling

9.6/10

Amazing Drive!

By bogart60 (FL) on Saturday, November 10, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 61,500

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Power, braking, apperance."

Cons: "MPG. haha"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I love driving this car. It does not matter if I am driving on the highway, around town, or in the mountains, this car does it all."

4 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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Couldn't be a better ride out there!

By PghM5 (PA) on Wednesday, September 05, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 40,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Every aspect of it is really perfect"

Cons: "SMG works best in either manual shift mode"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Love everything about the car. Bought it used with 2007 with 23k. There are NOT enough superlatives. My wife asked how she will ever be satisfied with any other car now. Terrible rear tire wear (3k miles per pair) until they got the rear alignment specs corrected and now going on 6k and expect >10k easily. Oil consumption is part of the design and reasonable as confirmed on the M5 Board. We do avoid winter salt with it. Can't imagine a better ride on the planet after 2 terrific years. It IS the ultimate driving machine."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Love my car.

By Micah (AL) on Monday, April 02, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 68,123

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Fun to drive, Fun to track, comfortable"

Cons: "expensive to maintain, consumes oil, gas mileage"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I love my car. The drive, the handling, the community are second to none. When the warranty is gone however, it can get expensive, and the car can have expensive issues such as SMG and alternator. However, if those are replaced, even factory replacements, it lasts the life of the car. Additionally, oil consumption (TW60) is common for this car, but only if your pushing it (IE Tracks, racing, "spirited driving" etc) You will not drive another vehicle like this, the last of the V10s, and the sound is unmatched. Its one of the most responsive and powerful cars I have ever driven. It will be a sad day if I ever have to get rid of it."

11 people out of 11 found this review helpful

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Can't beat this car for the money

By Costy (FL) on Thursday, December 08, 2011

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 56,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Give me a tight, windey, smooth road... :))"

Cons: "Gas pig"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"The power and performance of a 911. The comfort of a Mercedes 550... Unassuming with a little edge... Awesome car!"

7 people out of 8 found this review helpful

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Best All Around Vehicle I have Owned

By Dallas (TX) on Tuesday, November 29, 2011

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 56,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I have owned a number of "special" vehicles; including multiple BMW M's, Porsche 911's, Lamborghini's, a Ferrari, and an NSX among others and the E60 M5 has been the best all around vehicle to date for me. This model has all the creature comforts of a luxury sedan for daily driving and the exhilarating personality of a sports car for very spirited drives. I get bored with vehicles fairly quickly, but I still enjoy every drive to work or to the grocery after more than two years of ownership. It is highly respected among car enthusiasts, but subdued enough to visit clients. Of course once a client hears the growl of the normally aspirated 507 hp V10 engine they immediately realize it is no ordinary 4-door sedan! A highly recommended vehicle for those that need four doors and a back seat, but remain a [sports] car aficionado."

10 people out of 10 found this review helpful

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Perhaps the best car I have ever owned

By R (AZ) on Saturday, September 03, 2011

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 30,500

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Comfortable, fast, reliable, steering almost as good as a 911"

Cons: "shifting is not always smooth"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I have owned 18 BMW's and this might be the best. It was the second M5 the dealer got. It needed a battery earlier this year and that is it. The car is quiet, fast, comfortable and drives like a sports car. I love it."

7 people out of 7 found this review helpful

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See all 40 reviews