2006 BMW M5 M5

The E60 M5 was introduced in 2005. with an uneven firing V10 engine and 7 speed sequential manual gear box linking the car with the BMW Sauber Formula One program. [2] The E60 M5 was the world's first production sedan to feature a V10 petrol engine. A 7 speed sequential manual gear box (SMG III) was available. and a six-speed manual transmission gear box was available for the USA only. As with some of its predecessors. the E60 variant of the M5 was both the quickest and fastest 4-door sedan in the world at the time of its release. [18]

Other unique M5 features include a wider track. unique body panels. 7-speed SMG III sequential manual gearbox. also known as a single-clutch automated manual transmission. a color heads up display [HUD] featuring navigation. control messages. speed. rpm and gear selection information. automated seat side bolsters. heated/ventilated seats and power rear curtain. The larger. flared front guards on either side also featured cooling vents. reminiscent of the 1970s BMW CSL. The wheels were of a standard 19" diameter with quad exhaust pipes to the rear.

The E60 M5 was the most successful M5. despite being on the market for one year shorter than the E39 M5. During its five-year run. 20. 48 units were built composing of 19. 23 saloons and 1. 25 wagons. 8. 00 were sold in the U. S. . all of the sedan variety. Great Britain and Ireland claimed 1. 76 examples. followed by BMW's home market of Germany with 1. 47 units. and 1. 57 were sold in Japan. Italian enthusiasts claimed 512 units. and 339 examples were sold in Australia. [19]

The E60 uses an odd firing V10 which has won multiple World Engine of the Year awards. nbsp;S85 engine produces 373 kW (507 PS; 500 bhp) and 520 N·m (380 lb·ft) of torque. The engine and transmission were designed from scratch for this particular model; they are not based on other models.

The BMW M5. along with the E63/64 BMW M6. were designed to use the new Getrag SMG III single-clutch seven-speed semi-automatic transmission. that performs gear shift in 65 milliseconds. The SMG III sequential manual includes features like a hill holder. a designated drive program for steep climbs and descents. and a downshift assistant. which briefly dips the clutch to avoid destabilizing wheel spin as well as a pseudo-automatic mode. [20] However. many reviews have observed the automatic mode of the transmission at low or frequent stop start speeds as being less smooth than that of a conventional automatic transmission. [21][22][23][24][25][26]

Based on North American demand. BMW announced in October 2006 that a six-speed conventional manual transmission would be available in North America; this became the base transmission in these markets while SMG III is an option. [27] The six-speed manual M5 was marginally slower in certain tests. as the dynamic stability control could not be disengaged unlike the SMG version. [28] The release of a Service Bulletin in November 2007 for a retrofit allowed DSC to be disabled as well as the function being implemented into the introduction of the 2008 model year M5 as well as the M6. [29] The SMG III includes the "Launch Control" feature. However. the US spec vehicles have a reduced launch control of 1500 rpm instead of the 4000 rpm that the European models received.

The M5 features several Formula One-inspired engine and transmission controls. [10] There is launch control. which allows maximum performance standing starts automatically. The Getrag SMG III single-clutch semi-automatic transmission has the option of changing to either automated or manual. as well as the speed at which shifts are completed (there are 11 shift programmes in total. forming what BMW calls Drivelogic). Manual shifting can be done with either a console shifter. or the steering wheel mounted shift paddles. both of which are fitted to all SMG M5s. The console shifter is the type used on manumatic transmissions; tipping it backward (toward the "+") shifts up. while a forward tip (toward the "-") shifts down. The shifter can be moved to the left to access neutral and reverse. The car also features a "power" button on the navigation panel (labeled "M") which offers access to three modes: P400 (limiting the engine to 294 kW (400 PS; 394 bhp) for daily driving use). P500 (unleashes the full 373 kW (507 PS; 500 bhp). and P500 S (for full power and sharper throttle response. selectable only from the "M Drive Settings" in the iDrive menu). P400 is the default start-up mode. the P500 modes are preselected using iDrive and then activated from P500 S using the "M" button.

BMW stated the car to reach 0-to-62-mph in a time of 4. 2 seconds and an absolute (de-limited) top speed of 204 mph[citation needed] Motor Trend's comparison test found that while the E55 AMG had recorded a faster 0–60 mph time of 4. 2 seconds versus the (inhibited) US-launch control equipped M5's 4. 5 seconds. the M5 had superior driving dynamics. [30]

In the Australian publication Wheels magazine in July 2005 recorded a 0–100 km/h time of an early. 2004-built E60 M5 of 4. 4 seconds. The E60 M5 Sedan shared its underpinnings with the E63 M6 Coupe. with the M6 being lower to the ground and slightly lighter with a carbon fibre roof. [31][32]

The E60 M5 recorded an official lap time of 8:13 at the Nurburgring [33] and recorded a Top Gear power lap of 1:26. 2.

The E60 M5 consistently was regarded as the benchmark for super high performance sedans in its class. According to Jeremy Clarkson former presenter of BBC's Top Gear. “It's a world of motoring perfection. If you want to take it on. don't bother. It doesn't matter what you've got. It doesn't matter what you've ever driven. This is quicker. it's faster. it's MORE astonishing. You just can't believe you're in a big 4-door saloon because it goes and it feels and it SOUNDS like a Ferrari 430. and that's about the best car I've ever driven. The steering. the brakes. the power. And this noise… The driving experience just dominates everything…. It's an epic car. just brilliant. ”

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