The Classic BMW 5-Series M Car by Robert P. Hall

Author:Robert P. Hall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Cool Lifestyle
Published: 2015-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

4

Driving Impressions—Compared

A quick summary of the three engines reveals the following. The latest version, the V-8 in the E39, sounds like a highly sophisticated German version of an American muscle car. The first two M5s were offered with the M1-inspired straight sixes, which give the driver a certain “cammy” sound and feel of the engine. Relative to the weight of the first two M5s, they delivered modest torque in the lower end of the torque band. Consequently, you need a deft hand to choose the right gear to get the rear end squatting and both ends accelerating. The first two M5 engines also crackled with six acoustical sound bites coming from the throttle bodies accompanied by the smooth snarl of a high-output inline six engine.

Driving the E28

The shape of the first M5 model, the E28, is boxier than the other two, and I liken it to a raw egg; that is, the character of the next two models is more refined. Acceleration in the first model is accompanied by a little vibration and a lot of wonderful sounds. The E28 has a bit of looseness built into it when you drive it hard, but the car just keeps coming back with a feeling that you can’t flip it or lose control when the drive gets close to the limit.

The first M5 might be regarded as rougher in character than the other two, but it has a certain charm that, in my experience, appeals more to female passengers. For example, the E28 is my wife’s favorite.

Despite being slightly numb on center, the E28’s steering is perfectly weighted and highly accurate. It takes a while to learn the idiosyncrasies of the transmission, but once you gain experience with the shifting you will feel you’ve mastered it and shifting will be a joy.

After you have driven the E28 enough to get this feeling of mastery, the first M5 is easy to drive fast—and even very fast. Something about the unlikely combination of the first E28 boxy family-sedan shape and its ability to take corners with serious urgency makes for a car that provides great driving pleasure. A car with square corners and sharp angles possibly offers more driving pleasure because you constantly wonder how a car with this prim-and-proper shape can handle so well.

Having driven an E28 M5 for more than two years, I would agree with other commentators that you have to be much more involved with the driving experience in these cars than you do in the modern BMWs. The stick shift is easy to use, but both the steering and the braking action are a bit heavy.

Despite these characteristics (or perhaps because of them), the driver really does feel exactly what is going on among the car, the tires, and the road. Although the E28 may feel a bit loose, with some vibration, the car never ceases to amaze in terms of its handling prowess. You can throw it around, but the E28 M5 never gets out of control, even though there is a bit of body lean.

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