[Bill in Marin]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

I just welcomed an M8C into the family and had been selling my wife on getting an M5 wagon. Still considering it, but honestly, the M5 coming in at 5500+ lbs is just ridiculous. I'd been specifically avoiding a Taycan b/c the weight. Now, I see no reason why I wouldn't get a Taycan Turbo wagon. The M5 just feels like a complete compromise. Maybe my view will change as more reviews come in, but extending the electric only range with a larger battery feels like a party trick, not a core value add, and works to the detriment of performance in every other way. At that point, why not go all electric? I feel it either has to be hybrid as a performance-add, or pure electric. This middle ground for an M5 just seems dumb.

[CarlosM4]

Your analysis is spot-on, and the reason why I am straying away from this M5. If its a PHEV, heavy ass luxury barges, might as well go full and buy a Continental Flying Spur Speed or a S63 AMG or move to Porsche products.

Not sure how the M5 will be priced, but I don't doubt it will be too far from a Panamera Turbo S or a S63 AMG.

[subterFUSE]

Yep, big disappointment. It's ugly, overweight, and underpowered.
It should have just had electric turbos like an F1 car, not an actual short-range BEV.

It's just a 5 series with a bigger engine. It's not an "M"


The G99 is going to look like an X3 that's been lowered. It won't be an "M" either.

[Savoy2001]

This is pretty much exactly how I'm feeling as well. Overall very disappointed.

[RPiM5]

Blame the EU and States like California for the G90 M5 going PHEV. That’s what it is in a nutshell.

We at least still have the V8 for another 6-7yrs before battery technology gets good enough to be able to charge the car to 100% in 15mins and have a 500 mile range.

[Bill in Marin]

On the plus side, our current ICE cars should hold onto more value as it becomes increasingly clear that many models currently in production across manufacturers will be ‘last of their kind’. I have no issue with electric, and fully embrace it for most uses, but the cars like this that are half-measures will not hold up over time.

[CarlosM4]

Originally Posted by Bill in Marin

On the plus side, our current ICE cars should hold onto more value as it becomes increasingly clear that many models currently in production across manufacturers will be ‘last of their kind’. I have no issue with electric, and fully embrace it for most uses, but the cars like this that are half-measures will not hold up over time.

Spot on assessment.

[BMWCAT]

Originally Posted by Bill in Marin

I just welcomed an M8C into the family and had been selling my wife on getting an M5 wagon. Still considering it, but honestly, the M5 coming in at 5500+ lbs is just ridiculous. I'd been specifically avoiding a Taycan b/c the weight. Now, I see no reason why I wouldn't get a Taycan Turbo wagon. The M5 just feels like a complete compromise. Maybe my view will change as more reviews come in, but extending the electric only range with a larger battery feels like a party trick, not a core value add, and works to the detriment of performance in every other way. At that point, why not go all electric? I feel it either has to be hybrid as a performance-add, or pure electric. This middle ground for an M5 just seems dumb.

We have the Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo. I’d say Porsche did it best on making this car feel nimble and small but it never felt light. Especially if you drive over bumps & some quick shift of weight when you’re on the back roads.

Plus the Taycan CT are about 5100-5190 lbs (some 100 ish lbs heavier than the sedan) and is still 2-300 lbs lighter than the G90 M5 Sedan, I really don’t see how much more magic BMW could inject into the heavier Wagon to be any better than the Taycan dynamically..?

They really should have just gone full EV IMO…

[greentrbo95gst]

Taycan sport Turismo is coming out with a larger battery this year and will have a much more competitive range. Not sure if any of you tried to spec one out, but the amount of customizations and options makes you feel like a kid building your own LEGO. The quality of that car and the design is pretty amazing as well.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by BMWCAT

We have the Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo. I’d say Porsche did it best on making this car feel nimble and small but it never felt light. Especially if you drive over bumps & some quick shift of weight when you’re on the back roads.

Plus the Taycan CT are about 5100-5190 lbs (some 100 ish lbs heavier than the sedan) and is still 2-300 lbs lighter than the G90 M5 Sedan, I really don’t see how much more magic BMW could inject into the heavier Wagon to be any better than the Taycan dynamically..?

They really should have just gone full EV IMO…

I agree on full EV. But, I filled out a questionnaire about two years ago on the future M5 as I was at that point still driving my 2020 M5. Many of the questions focused on drivetrains...hybrid, ICE, and EV. I bet almost no one at the time besides me expressed a desire for a full EV. Many still do not have any interest in that.

I think BMW took their best shot at meeting EU7 emissions mandates with this PHEV setup. It sucks because it really won't satisfy what the M driving demo wants. I don't think they could stay with ICE though. So, now we have this unbelievably fat car. There is no way I would have believed that this car would gain one thousand pounds.

[Ex_Stig]

Originally Posted by Bill in Marin

I just welcomed an M8C into the family and had been selling my wife on getting an M5 wagon. Still considering it, but honestly, the M5 coming in at 5500+ lbs is just ridiculous. I'd been specifically avoiding a Taycan b/c the weight. Now, I see no reason why I wouldn't get a Taycan Turbo wagon. The M5 just feels like a complete compromise. Maybe my view will change as more reviews come in, but extending the electric only range with a larger battery feels like a party trick, not a core value add, and works to the detriment of performance in every other way. At that point, why not go all electric? I feel it either has to be hybrid as a performance-add, or pure electric. This middle ground for an M5 just seems dumb.

You are not alone in your concerns. I am now reconsidering as well.

[subterFUSE]

ICE is not going away anytime soon. A recent study by McKinsey showed that 46% of EV owners in the USA said they want to replace their EV with an ICE car next. That's a complete catastrophe for EV satisfaction. Basically half of the people who own one don't want another. You can't legislate widespread adoption of a technology that people are so vehemently opposed to.

These car companies are going to be backtracking bigtime in the coming few years as the realities of market demand sink in.

[soulsea]

Does it mildly irritate me that the new M5 is slower than its predecessor? Sure because it's lazy. But honestly both cars are so powerful that I don't even think that on a public road a tenth here or there really matters any more. It only really registers when you get to Plaid acceleration which is basically hypercar level for $90k. (also somehow a much lighter sedan btw)

I think my biggest issue with this new M5 is that on the surface it appears a confused visionless final product born of market research and accounting who think it's an M5 if it's got a V8 in it. We've got a bunch of XM engines no one wants, we've got leftover brakes from the previous gen, people seem to want a V8 and blinky lights/screens, but we also need to pass emissions. Let's slap something together as best we can with minimal effort and imagination and if we keep the V8 people will buy it. And while we're at it let's do what MB does when making things wider and bypass sexy flared hips for a pyramid look.

It's got less hp than AMG 4.0 TT E with more displacement, it weighs more than pre GLP-1 Wisconsinite, they could have easily coded a way to dump all its battery energy into a launch mode if desired but skipped that, ugliest ADAS sensor integration possible, the list of most compromises without more than one upside goes on and on. That one upside is its use case if you're a person that buys an M5 to drive suuuuuper slow in e mode only. At which point you might as well get the Plaid, at least that gives you something almost no other car can which is satisfying the primordial need to get to CVS in less than two secs.

PS. Reserving the right to go full hypocrite and still get the wagon because wagon. But honestly right now I'm the most tempted to go to CT5V Blackwing. Imagine if BMW made a manual RWD M5 with 650/650 ... it would be about as fast as this thing, lighter, and the damn thing would be sold out for years and going for at least $100k over if not more. But no, we get this hippo.

/rant

[subterFUSE]

It’s not going to be a wagon. It’s going to be a lowered SUV.

[Chas8283]

In same boat. X5M lease up end of year and I was so psyched about the wagon but for me, after the reveal, it’s not so much the weight, the design, or lack of the lux features we have now, it’s that I just don’t find the new M5 at all compelling. Not elegant, not beautiful, not overly mean looking, and definitely not luxious. Just sort of meh. We’re still on waitlist for wagon but seriously considering Cayenne for our next ride. The Cayenne is great and I am sure we’d love, but pretty bummed after looking forward to this wagon since the rumors first started.

[gblansten]

If you want to stay in the 5300+ weight class I would also consider a Chevrolet Tahoe.

[WWM3]

I’m reconsidering as well. #1 on my dealer’s list for a touring. As another person said, the wagon will drive like a lowered M SUV.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by WWM3

I’m reconsidering as well. #1 on my dealer’s list for a touring. As another person said, the wagon will drive like a lowered M SUV.

Do you just need a daily driver?

[WWM3]

Originally Posted by gblansten

Do you just need a daily driver?

Yep. DD.

[Savoy2001]

Well as for me. I was number one spot for m5 at the dealer I had deposit on since January to hold my place. I was super pumped for this car. Was looking forward to getting back into a sedan from my 23 x5mc which is great and I love it but I wanted a sports sedan feel this time. But I’m super disappointed with what they have done. And as such this is a want type car purchase not in need type car purchase to spend 140 $150,000. I’ve got a love the car and I’m simply not in love with what they’ve done it’s just OK and I’m not gonna spend that kind of money on something. I just feel OK about, so I thought about getting Cadillac CT five the black wing. But honestly, the reason why I’m leaning against that is because I already have a 19 z06 with a manual that makes over 900 hp and I love that car but I do not want the same engine again. I wanted something different, ironically I think I’m gonna forgo the whole four since it’s only me driving the car mostly and I have other cars in the house and looking to buy a slightly preowned m8 comp convertible. I know completely different than a four-door sedan but as it turns out I’ve always loved that car and I’ve got my eye on one and I’m working with a dealer to purchase only 700 miles and it’s exactly the spec and options I like. So yes, I passed on the M5. Sorry to say.

[subterFUSE]

When the M8 is gone, BMW M no longer exists. If you want one then grab it while you can.

[Savoy2001]

Originally Posted by subterFUSE

When the M8 is gone, BMW M no longer exists. If you want one then grab it while you can.

So true. I’ve loved the 8 series coupe and gran coupe since they launched in 2020. The m8 comp vert is my favorite of the series and that’s what I’m getting.