Less than a year since it was first unveiled, the all-new F90 BMW M5 finally celebrates its launch debut here in Malaysia. The recent 2018 World Performance Car winner replaces the previous generation F10 M5, and comes with a few firsts for the hallowed nameplate.
We’ll get the most important figure out of the way first: the new M5 is priced at RM942,759.86 on-the-road without insurance. Included in the price is a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service programme, two-year tyre warranty, roadside assistance and Loyalty+ mobile app access.
Under the bonnet, the new M5 is powered by a S63B44T4 4.4 litre twin-turbocharged V8, which serves up 600 PS from 5,600 to 6,700 rpm and 750 Nm of torque between 1,800 and 5,600 rpm. The engine comes with three response modes (Efficient, Sport and Sport Plus), and is paired with an eight-speed M Steptronic torque converter automatic transmission.
The gearbox includes BMW’s Drivelogic system with three shift modes, allowing drivers to transition from efficient and comfortable driving to shorter shift times, and on to extremely short shift times when they really need to get a move on (like on a track).
A first for the M5 is the new M xDrive all-wheel-drive system that works with the car’s Active M Differential and M-specific driving dynamics control software. Primarily a rear-biased system, drivers are able to set different configurations depending on the state of the DSC system (on, M Dynamic Mode and off) and M xDrive modes (4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD).
The 2WD mode is exactly as it sounds, with all the drive going to the rear wheels, making this M5 the first to offer the best of both worlds. However, keep in mind that enabling 2WD mode requires DSC to be deactivated, so you’ll need to be pretty brave (and skillful) to give it a go.
In terms of performance, the big sedan will get you from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds, while the sprint to 200 km/h takes 11.1 seconds. The top speed is limited to 250 km/h, and for those concerned, the average fuel consumption is rated at 10.5 litres per 100 km.
Aside from the grunt, the M5 gets significant chassis upgrades over the regular G30 5 Series it is based on. There’s an M Servotronic steering system and adaptive M suspension with three different settings (Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus), firmer anti-roll bars, an additional steel X-brace, aluminium transverse struts, stiffer mounts and many more.
There’s a lot of modes as you can tell, and the M5 allows you to save your two favourite configurations once you’re done fiddling around inside the system. Swapping quickly between them is done via dedicated red buttons on the steering wheel labelled ‘M1’ and ‘M2’. This function isn’t exactly new as it can be found on the F10 M5, but it is presented more prominently here.
As standard, the car comes with M compound brakes with six-piston fixed calipers at the front and single-piston floating calipers at the rear, clamping down on perforated, inner-vented brake discs. If you need an upgrade from that, BMW Group Malaysia offers M carbon ceramic brakes for RM95,000, which are lighter by 23 kg, offer better deceleration and less brake fade, and are identified by gold-painted calipers.
Exterior features include a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line trim, rear spoiler and an assortment of M-specific items like bumpers, side gills and side mirror caps. The wheels are 20-inch M light-alloy double-spoke style 706M alloys with mixed tyre profiles (275/35 front and 285/35 rear).
As for the interior, you’ll find anthracite headliner paired with Aluminium Carbon and Dark Chrome trims. The seats are upholstered with Aragon brown/black Merino leather, and those at the front are powered (with memory function) and receive an M embossing on the headrest. An M-specific digital display instrument cluster and M leather steering wheel are reminders you’re in an M5.
Equipment-wise, the M5 comes with an 11-mode ambient lighting system, four-zone climate control, a head-up display, 10.25-inch Navigation system Professional with BMW Gesture Control, GPS navigation and BMW ConnectedDrive services, 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system with a 600-watt digital amplifier.
Meanwhile, the following safety and driver assistance systems come as standard: Dynamic Stability Control, Automatic Stability Control, Dynamic Brake Control and Cornering Brake Control. This comes on top of the usual array of active/passive safety systems, including active cruise control.
Aside from the carbon ceramic brakes, the M5 can also be ordered with other optional packages like the Performance Pack for RM30,000. This adds on a carbon-fibre engine cover, M seat belts and an M Sport Exhaust system.
Also offered is the Advanced Safety Pack for RM15,000, which introduces Driving Assistant Plus to the standard array of systems. Finally, the Premium Entertainment Pack swaps out the Harman Kardon set for a Bowers and Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System. The RM55,000 package also includes the rear-seat entertainment professional system.
For the M5, the available colour palette consists of Marina Bay Blue metallic, Donington Grey metallic and Singapore Grey metallic. As mentioned at the start, the F90 BMW M5 is priced at RM942,759.86, but if you tick all the options, that figure goes all the way up to RM1,137,759.86. The car will be available at all authorised BMW dealerships nationwide from June 1, 2018.
If you’re curious what the new M5 is like to drive, you can read our thoughts about it here. The obvious rival to the M5 is of course, the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4Matic+, which starts from RM998,888 (GST-inclusive pricing). So, which one do you prefer?
For more information about the F90 BMW M5, check out CarBase.my.
F90 BMW M5 launch event
F90 BMW M5 launch official photos
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Sales will be much lesser than before. Infact, sales of other BMW also will be less.
Cause there is a total clean up. Previously, money easy come and easy go. Just take undertable money then come to BMW showroom and pay cash
Well, not anymore. There is a clean up. Thousands of corrupted individuals have lost their free flow of cash.
Now BMW only have to just rely on sales from honest workers, honest businessman and the rich from inheritance.
New government old cronies..
Should be cheaper after 1 June right..
Tax the rich no problemo. 1 June will subsidise the rich.
From the rich to the Br1m. Ooowaii
No more money to pay cybertroopers now…..oooooooo wai
Price is not bad considering it is CBU. If I were to get one, I’d tick the advanced driving pack. Will make driving in traffic and on highways a breeze. The carbon brakes is only really useful for track use. The performance pack seems like another option to tick, but am only interested in the sport exhaust. The carbon fiber trim is just for show really. And I’d get it in Donington grey. If only had the money. Haha.
attractive pricing, but too big to store in a condo
too many M’s in malaYsia now..ooo waii!
Another perfectly posed stylo photo of the BMW Malaysia boss. All other car bosses need to take lessons from him.
i want the manual version…oh wait no.
Wow, half the price compared to Thailand.
MY half the economy compared to Thailand
(M xdrive mode) got choice when drive it :)
lots of criticism, but between Merc and Audi, BMW newest designs are just super clean and sleek. this car looks very very good. really wanna see how they can improve the 3-series in October. Not the biggest fan of BMW, but admit it looks good. The current Audi A3/S3/RS3 still has the cleanest lines and best value-to-performance in the business.
All those cars you mentioned have boring outdated designs, even korean plastic surgery cars are much much more nicer.
Sack the designer!
:( no black kidney grille frame
No ventilatted seats & 360 camera?? Why BMW Malaysia?? Even E63s in Malaysia included that feautures.
i am baffled how this m5 can cost 3 times the price of 530e. do other countries have similar pricing structure where m5 costs triple the base model ?
its all because of tax…malaysia taxed cars above 3L engine highly..the true price of these m5 is $100,000 which is roughly equivalent to rm400,000..but the tax structure makes it that for 3L above cars made from non asean countries, from 100%,40% of it are the real price of the car and 60% of it are taxes…so basically youre paying 400k for the car and 600k to the goverment..imagine giving 600k to government in one single purchase..530e is a 2L $50k+,rm200k car so it avoids that crazy 3.0L taxes,but youre still paying twice of the cars worth,half of them to the goverment