GTP Cool Wall - BMW M5 E60

[TheCracker]

Cool, the only thing keeping it from subzero is there isn't much difference visually between this and the spray tan house wive version(aka normal 5 Series).

This is something that I really hate about the 5-series.
You think you see a M5, just a 530i.
It's very hard to spot someone with a M5 because you look away when it seems like a regular 5-series.

This is what makes it cool. Just.

 

[Stotty]

Uncool.

According to the multitude of road tests I've read, the E60 M5 only really excels when being driven at or near the edge... The rest of the time it's hampered by it's rubbish gearbox and overhard ride.

I'm not sure why would anyone choose a heavy, 4 door saloon for hooning around in when they could go buy a proper sports car.

An AMG E Class would make a much better job of transporting 4 people over big distances at speed than the M5... better ride comfort, a proper automatic gearbox, better interior and more space.

 

[Watchman]

 

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> ...

Cool. It's a BMW M car, that automatically gets a minimum of cool. However, the previous M5 was subzero. iDrive and no 6spd manual only option kills it all by itself. Can never be subzero with iDrive and not "sure you can have any transmission you like as long as its a 6spd manual".

^ Um...

👍

👎

-> The 6-speed is only available in the US. That would be a future collectable, if not the most sought-after model in Europe.

 

[Lucas]

Uncool.

According to the multitude of road tests I've read, the E60 M5 only really excels when being driven at or near the edge... The rest of the time it's hampered by it's rubbish gearbox and overhard ride.

IMO, why buy this in the first place if you are not going to drive it near the edge?

 

[Duke]

Eh, uncool. It's a little too geeky, combined with a little too heavy, and not enough character. It's barely uncool, but it's how I feel.

It replaced the subzero E39 M5 with something over-technologied, over-decorated, over-weight, and under-personalitied despite being massively over-designed. Uncool.

 

[Pitracer100]

IMO, why buy this in the first place if you are not going to drive it near the edge?

Good question.
The reason it may be that way is the BMW M5 may not be aimed towards the enthusiasts audience and it can be aimed towards the wealthy women and the golddigging housewives.

 

[Stotty]

IMO, why buy this in the first place if you are not going to drive it near the edge?

Precisely.

But the opportunities to drive a 500bhp, near 2 tonne saloon car at or near its limits are very, very few... meaning the car must also reward when being driven at lesser speeds... and from what I've read, the M5 is poor in this regard, mainly down to it's gearbox (which is supposedly rubbish when not in maximum attack mode) and very hard ride.

 

[Azure Flare]

Its ugly, I want idrive to burn in Hell, we have Chris Bangle to blame for this. The rest of the car is awesome. Sub-Zero

 

[Stotty]

I quite liked i-drive (had it on both an X5 and a 6 series)... it's fine once you get used to it.

 

[Adamgp]

Barely cool.

Prefer the E39 M5, as this one is pure ugly. Nice engine and performance specs but the CTS-V meets or beats it's performance for much less $.

 

[Vince_Fiero]

I let the master speak on this one (Sub-Zero, watch the video all the way)

Top Gear M5 review:

 

[Tornado]

It replaced the subzero E39 M5 with something over-technologied, over-decorated, over-weight, and under-personalitied despite being massively over-designed. Uncool.

I was too lazy to post this, so thank you Duke. Though I'd even say that the car straddles even being Seriously Uncool.

 

[Bones Brigade]

Can we start a cool wall for people who don't judge everything by the size of engine and how fast it can go?

 

[homeforsummer]

I went with gut instinct on this one.

Cool. Despite it being a BMW, and therefore loathed by everyone apart from BMW owners.

Why? Well, the E60, despite initial shocks over the styling, is quite a handsome looking car and to my eyes actually looks newer than the 5-Series BMW have just released. They stand out on the street and the M5 just has that extra subtle something when it passes that attracts your eye, without being brash and stupid. So it's a good looking car.

It's also a good looking car with a high-revving V10, which is extra cool. That it's also a wonderful place to be inside is even cooler.

And because it's an ///M car, even people who hate BMWs have to admit that it's an excellent car. So it neatly avoids usual unfortunate BMW uncoolness.

 

[Joey D]

Uncool. Technology is cool, too much technology makes you look like a nerd.

 

[Philly]

Cool, bordering on sub-zero.

And mostly because of that engine. This would definitely be a sub-zero car a few years ago when it was new. But awesome engine, and a very capable car for it's size.

 

[CTznOfTime]

Voted: COOL


but a bit flashy to my taste... i prefer the understated the latest 535i...
now, if this was the touring version, M5 touring... c'mon guys, that would be SUB-ZERO COOL!

if not wait for the brand new 5 series (1st F model)

 

[Kryz11]

For something to be a cool car in my book, it needs good setup, as well the looks, car really needs both of them. Why buy something hedious with good engine and suspension? I rather strap a M5 engine and suspension to my 23 year old lawn mower.. BMW is not that ugly of the car, but its a HUGE downgrade from the earlier models.

I might vote M5 COOL or SUB ZERO once new body styling comes out.

 

[homeforsummer]

I might vote M5 COOL or SUB ZERO once new body styling comes out.

You mean the boring looking one?...

 

[Milliethemutt]

Uncool. Too techy after the previous version and no manual option means it just does nothing for me.

 

[niky]

I quite liked i-drive (had it on both an X5 and a 6 series)... it's fine once you get used to it.

Still not as intuitive as simply turning a knob on the radio (without looking) and hitting one of the preset buttons for your favorite station (also without looking) then adjusting the volume to taste (still not looking).

It's not bad to use when you're stationary, but it's a needless complication and distraction.

-

Just couldn't bring myself to vote uncool, because I've seen what it can do firsthand. The thing is, you're right. The gearbox is rubbish at anything but full speed... clutching like a student driver high on caffeine... and the suspension is un-necessarily harsh for a "luxury sedan".

Totally pointless car. Does the luxury thing less well than all of its competitors. Is slower in a straight line than newer opposition, thanks to a stubborn insistence by BMW M on retaining a naturally aspirated high-revving engine... (which is going bye-bye next generation)... and is too big to actually enjoy thrashing on the twisty narrow mountain passes such cars are built for.

Still like it. Because it's epic. Doesn't stop it from being a stupid car.

 

[Kryz11]

You mean the boring looking one?...

I think the new one

Looks much better then the current version

Opps, I mean this one..

Even if you look at the front body bumper lower part (vents), the Current BMW says WOOOOOOOOW (in stupid way) while new BMW has that STFU Coming though B$*$ face.

 

[Delphic Reason]

Uncool.

Ugliest and least understated 5 series ever... Just doesn't hit any of the cool buttons...

 

[homeforsummer]

I would have personally chosen an image of the actual car rather than a render.

But regardless, yeah I find the new one dull. I wasn't keen on the E60 when it first came out, but like most modern BMWs it quickly grew on me. Unfortunately, it seems that BMW scared itself with the negative comments made after Bangle's attempts, so now they've done the opposite and started bringing out fairly bland designs instead, which in my view is much worse. I've always been more of a BMW guy than a Merc/Audi guy but that's actually been changing recently...

And from the reviews I've read so far, the new 5-Series has lost the sporty feel of all the previous models. It's supposed to be very good, but it's become less of a sports saloon.

I'm not holding out much hope for the next M5. We might have a situation where the E60 is the last great M5...

 

[NotThePrez]

Cool

It's a big, fast saloon car that can perform and even outperform some great sports cars. But come on, eleven settings for the gear box? I could understand if it saves fuel, but that's a little much.

 

[homeforsummer]

I think the regular 400bhp is the fuel saving mode

 

[CarBastard]

I'm truly biased with this one. I remember some years ago when I liked cars but couldn't be considered the utter petrolhead I'm now...I grabbed a magazine with the M5 E60 on it and I went crazy...I kept babbling for a couple of days "Bi-Vanos 5.0 Liter Ten Cylinder Engine". Staggering, I love this car. But I know it can't be considered as "Cool".

Erm...what to do?

Can't vote...

 

[mustangGT90210]

Change the body to something non-fugly, and it's subzero. Until that point, Seriously Uncool

 

[homeforsummer]

Styling wise the picture used so far in this thread is very unflattering, I think. It makes the car look slab-sided which it certainly isn't, and the silver paint is bland.

Looks better in blue, black or the very light silvery blue they do, and focused more on the side or the back:

Obviously personal opinion is the order of the day, but after my initial reaction when it came out however many years ago, the E60 has grown on me. It looks fast even when standing still, it's well proportioned, and it's interesting. And this far down the line, it no longer stands out like a sore thumb like it once did. Years more of Bangle designs have adapted our expectations so cars like the E60 aren't as "shocking" as they used to be.