Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2026 9:54 pm
Looks fantastic Simon. Looks fantastic Simon.Page 6 of 8
Looks fantastic Simon.Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2026 10:03 pm
Simon wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 9:36 pm Any chance of a front pic @Jobbo ? I saw a dark coloured one from the front the other day and it looks so much better than silver/white/bright green etc. I'm guessing yours looks mega from the front.
I can’t get the interior photo to show but it’s Silverstone inside.
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2026 10:08 pm
Good job it has the 12 o clock marker on the steering wheel so when you're on the lock stops on track you'll be able to know which way the wheels are pointingJobbo wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 10:03 pmSimon wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 9:36 pm Any chance of a front pic @Jobbo ? I saw a dark coloured one from the front the other day and it looks so much better than silver/white/bright green etc. I'm guessing yours looks mega from the front.
I can’t get the interior photo to show but it’s Silverstone inside.
ETA: My 991 is probably the king of pointlessness on that front as, not only is it pretty unstickable being 4WD, the band at the top of the steering wheel is actually all in black leather so indistinguishable from the rest of the wheel unless you're staring it at
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2026 10:17 pm
Love it.
The colour is fantastic as is the bright interior, a black interior with a bold exterior would be the obvious dullards choice
The colour is fantastic as is the bright interior, a black interior with a bold exterior would be the obvious dullards choice
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2026 11:12 pm
Jobbo wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 10:03 pmSimon wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 9:36 pm Any chance of a front pic @Jobbo ? I saw a dark coloured one from the front the other day and it looks so much better than silver/white/bright green etc. I'm guessing yours looks mega from the front.
I can’t get the interior photo to show but it’s Silverstone inside.
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 6:10 am
That’s probably the only thing I don’t like about the car. There’s no option to remove it and it clashes with most of the interior unless you choose red ambient lighting. Fortunately mine was specced with red brake calipers so there’s something visually linking it to the car. At least you could in theory put it in 2wd mode and do smokey driftsGG. wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 10:08 pm Good job it has the 12 o clock marker on the steering wheel so when you're on the lock stops on track you'll be able to know which way the wheels are pointing
ETA: My 991 is probably the king of pointlessness on that front as, not only is it pretty unstickable being 4WD, the band at the top of the steering wheel is actually all in black leather so indistinguishable from the rest of the wheel unless you're staring it at
I hate the Porsche one too - it is just an extra seam when you run your hands around the wheel. Both the Macan and Cayenne have had it.
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:05 am
Looks fantastic. Well done!
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:17 am
~20 miles to work this morning, battery only half full because I don't have a second EV charger at home yet and the granny lead I bought isn't long enough to reach any suitable socket (doh). At least the granny lead works for charging at the office.
93.5mpg with the EV bits averaging 2.4mi/kWh. That'll do me; it clearly suits my use. There are pure EVs which don't have to lug around a V8 engine and ZF 8-sp transmission that don't manage that electric running efficiency.
93.5mpg with the EV bits averaging 2.4mi/kWh. That'll do me; it clearly suits my use. There are pure EVs which don't have to lug around a V8 engine and ZF 8-sp transmission that don't manage that electric running efficiency.
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:27 am
Currently getting 3.4mi/kWh from the Alpine, considering there's almost a tonne difference, 2.4 is incredible. Also realised your M5 has more power than my A290, Mrs's EX30 (LR), daughter's Mini Cooper and youngest daughter's Fiat 500 combined!Jobbo wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:17 am ~20 miles to work this morning, battery only half full because I don't have a second EV charger at home yet and the granny lead I bought isn't long enough to reach any suitable socket (doh). At least the granny lead works for charging at the office.
93.5mpg with the EV bits averaging 2.4mi/kWh. That'll do me; it clearly suits my use. There are pure EVs which don't have to lug around a V8 engine and ZF 8-sp transmission that don't manage that electric running efficiency.
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:40 am
Sounding rather epic so far.Jobbo wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:03 pm Running in is going to be complicated - I think ideally I should not use hybrid mode so the engine isn’t miles behind the rest of the car because it still needs the 1200 mile oil change.
I'd never really thought about this for hybrids > so the initial oil change is at 1200 miles regardless of whether the ICE was providing motive power for 95%, or just 5% of those miles?
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:45 am
I would guess there is some guidance around running it in at least hybrid mode (as they will do not to rev it to redline)?mik wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:40 amSounding rather epic so far.Jobbo wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:03 pm Running in is going to be complicated - I think ideally I should not use hybrid mode so the engine isn’t miles behind the rest of the car because it still needs the 1200 mile oil change.
I'd never really thought about this for hybrids > so the initial oil change is at 1200 miles regardless of whether the ICE was providing motive power for 95%, or just 5% of those miles?
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 9:29 am
There's no guidance at all and the countdown definitely goes in miles travelled, not just on petrol. I asked and the people in the BMW dealership didn't seem to have ever had it queried before
Realistically I think I need to do a lot more driving on petrol this month so I can get the running in service done at the end of April or beginning of May and know that I've actually used the engine.
Realistically I think I need to do a lot more driving on petrol this month so I can get the running in service done at the end of April or beginning of May and know that I've actually used the engine.
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 11:54 am
It's been 10 years since I owned a BMW - I sold my F11 535i Touring around spring 2016. I sort of assumed that controls would have similar labels now but it's not quite the case. Just discovered that S mode on the gearbox isn't Sport as I had anticipated, it's manual - S stands for Sequential. That explains why when I stuck it in M2 mode yesterday it didn't change up and I had to pull a paddle
Thank the lord that BMW actually produce a decent owner's manual still. There's a paper copy in the car and a pdf version accessible through their app. Now to look up what the hell the differences are in the Drivetrain settings between Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. I think it's just throttle response.
Thank the lord that BMW actually produce a decent owner's manual still. There's a paper copy in the car and a pdf version accessible through their app. Now to look up what the hell the differences are in the Drivetrain settings between Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. I think it's just throttle response.
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 9:55 pm
How are you finding the a290. I am tres tempted.Holley wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:27 amCurrently getting 3.4mi/kWh from the Alpine, considering there's almost a tonne difference, 2.4 is incredible. Also realised your M5 has more power than my A290, Mrs's EX30 (LR), daughter's Mini Cooper and youngest daughter's Fiat 500 combined!Jobbo wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:17 am ~20 miles to work this morning, battery only half full because I don't have a second EV charger at home yet and the granny lead I bought isn't long enough to reach any suitable socket (doh). At least the granny lead works for charging at the office.
93.5mpg with the EV bits averaging 2.4mi/kWh. That'll do me; it clearly suits my use. There are pure EVs which don't have to lug around a V8 engine and ZF 8-sp transmission that don't manage that electric running efficiency.
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 9:23 am
Fantastic colour, makes it seem a lot more special and stand out in a good way
Dave!
Dave!
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 9:26 am
There was lots of differences on the M2 so I'm sure there will be more on that. Suspension, steering weight, brake pressure and so on...Jobbo wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2026 11:54 am It's been 10 years since I owned a BMW - I sold my F11 535i Touring around spring 2016. I sort of assumed that controls would have similar labels now but it's not quite the case. Just discovered that S mode on the gearbox isn't Sport as I had anticipated, it's manual - S stands for Sequential. That explains why when I stuck it in M2 mode yesterday it didn't change up and I had to pull a paddle
Thank the lord that BMW actually produce a decent owner's manual still. There's a paper copy in the car and a pdf version accessible through their app. Now to look up what the hell the differences are in the Drivetrain settings between Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. I think it's just throttle response.
ETA there is also an anti-lag type thing going on in Sport+ which made it sound mental
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 11:47 am
Awesome, Jobbo. Serious bit of kit! Can't imagine how the acceleration must feel.. once it's fully run in, of course.
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 8:41 am
I’m not going to keep updating this thread but thought I should add a fuel economy figure now I’ve done my first visit to my further away office. I know I’d have got 50mpg out of the S6 on this trip. What was interesting was the overall fuel economy improved when I was going through the inevitable traffic jam at the M5/M6 junction because it did that solely on electricity. Here are the full journey stats:
I’m happy with that. No hypermiling involved, plenty of cruise control at 78mph and only a few times did I venture over 90mph.
I’m happy with that. No hypermiling involved, plenty of cruise control at 78mph and only a few times did I venture over 90mph.
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 9:24 am
I spotted a green one of these towing a little trailer the other day, it surprised me that they were homologated to tow
Re: M5 test drive report and new car thread
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 9:52 am
I nearly held out for one with a tow bar - Harry Metcalfe's long term test car has one - but it would only have been to put a bike rack on and I have an estate so I can fit my bike in the boot. So colour won out.