How does my new BMW M5 Touring compare to the old BMW M5?
Car changing is a big deal
Mat Watson recently revealed his new daily driver: the BMW M5 Touring. It’s hugely powerful and impressive to drive, but is it an improvement over the old BMW M5? He’s going to compare them to see if you should splash out on the new car, or head to the classifieds in search of a used example.
This is my new daily driver – a BMW M5 Touring. I’m living with this bonkers estate car for six months to see how it fares as both a family hauler and a track weapon, and you can find out more about the spec on my car in my first report.
Here’s the headline stat though – as tested, this car costs £140,000. That’s an awful lot of money, especially when you consider the fact you can get a used example of the old M5 for less than half that.
Used BMW M5 prices and deals
The new BMW M5 starts from £114,000, or £116,000 if you go for the Touring version like mine. Speaking of my car, it has a lot of optional extras fitted which push the price up to £140,000.
You can save an average of £13,300 on a new M5 Touring through Carwow at the time of writing, but I reckon a used example of the previous-generation car is even better value for money.
I found this 2023 BMW M5 Competition with just 25,000 miles on the clock for sale through Carwow, and it’s up for £62,000. Not only is that less than half the cost of my car, it’s about the same as a new 5 Series Touring.
The black-on-black paint job may not be to everyone’s taste, but this car does have the extended leather inside and an upgraded sound system. Then there’s the engine.
Used BMW M5 engine, performance and handling
Under the bonnet is a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 with 625hp. That may be almost 100hp less than my new M5, but the lack of hybrid gubbins means it’s a whopping 580kg lighter.
It’ll do 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds according to BMW, but I managed 2.9 seconds when I tested the car. By comparison, the new M5 will do 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds, and I managed to get 3.4 seconds from it.
And then there’s the driving experience. When I first drove the new BMW M5, I didn’t gel with it straight away. I felt like the immense weight dulled the fun a bit, despite it being hugely impressive through the bends.
After spending more time with it, I am warming to the M5. It can be quite playful in the right setting, but the old car does feel more agile and engaging. You can tell that it’s over half a tonne lighter, and for having fun on a tight British B-road the old car has the edge.
Mat’s verdict: should you buy a used BMW M5?
Ultimately, I think my new BMW M5 Touring and the old M5 are very different cars. The new car had to be a plug-in hybrid to meet the latest emissions standards, and BMW’s engineers have done a fantastic job developing the chassis to disguise the weight.
It’ll also be better for company car drivers thanks to the lower Benefit In Kind rates offered to PHEV drivers, and if you want a practical estate car then it’s the one to go for – the old M5 was only available as a saloon.
But if you want a brilliant performance car which is big enough for the family, and costs half as much as a new BMW M5, I can recommend shopping around for a used example of the old M5. It may not be as modern, but it’s still a fantastic car.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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