Used BMW M5 Buying Guide
The BMW M5 is the original super-saloon: a full-size executive car with genuine supercar pace. The used market offers three distinct eras - the E60 (2005-2010) with its Formula 1-inspired 5.0-litre V10, the F10 (2011-2016) that introduced the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, and the F90 (2018-2023) that added xDrive all-wheel drive and made 600bhp usable in a British winter. The newer G90 brings plug-in hybrid power. It suits drivers who need one car to do everything, including things no saloon should be able to do, and each generation offers a distinctly different flavour of the same outrageous recipe - analogue drama, brute-force turbocharging, or all-weather completeness.
Engines and trims
The E60’s S85 V10 revs to over 8,000rpm and sounds extraordinary, but demands the most committed ownership; most use the single-clutch SMG gearbox, which divides opinion. The F10’s S63 twin-turbo V8 (around 552bhp, more in Competition Package form) brought effortless torque and a proper dual-clutch box. The F90 (around 592bhp, ~616bhp as Competition, more again as CS) pairs the developed S63 with an eight-speed auto and switchable xDrive - the most complete M5 ever and the easiest to live with. Seek cars with ceramic brakes only if the discs check out, and prioritise comfort seats, upgraded audio and full driver-assistance on F90s. The F90’s ability to decouple the front axle and go full rear-drive is a party trick best appreciated on track; in daily use it’s the all-weather security that sells the car.
What to check before buying
E60: rod bearings and throttle actuators are the known S85 weak points - documented preventative bearing replacement transforms a car’s desirability - and SMG pumps/clutches wear. F10: the S63 of this era had known issues with valve stem seals (watch for smoke on start-up after idling) and turbo-related oil consumption; listen for rattles and check for consistent oil-change history. F90: robust so far, but verify recalls, software updates and that the complex drivetrain behaves in all modes.
On any M5, condition tells the truth: matching premium tyres, unscuffed forged wheels, clean underbody and a thick history file. Be suspicious of short ownership chains and remapped cars. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is essential - the cost is trivial against a V10 rebuild or a pair of turbos. Check the electronic driving modes, head-up display and seat functions all behave on F90s, and confirm ceramic-braked cars show no disc cracking or delamination.
Running costs
Budget realistically: fuel economy is poor when enjoyed, insurance sits at the top of the scale, and consumables are supercar-adjacent - tyres, brakes and fluids come around quickly on driven cars. Independent M specialists make servicing manageable, and a maintenance contingency fund is part of responsible M5 ownership, particularly on E60s. On the plus side, depreciation has largely finished with F10s and settled on F90s, so a well-bought car should cost you running expenses rather than value loss.
Verdict
Every M5 generation is an event, and the F90 in particular manages to be astonishing daily transport as well as a weekend thrill. Buy the best-documented car you can find rather than the cheapest one advertised, have it inspected by a specialist before money changes hands, and it will feel like the bargain of the decade every single time you merge onto a motorway.
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