The wait is finally over, BMW fans. You’ve been dying to see what BMW could conjure up to make the new M5 even sharper, even faster and more capable of taking down its main rival from Mercedes-AMG. There was also a desire to see what BMW could do if the M5 was less focused on being comfortable every day and given a bit more of an edge because if there was any flaw to point out on the M5 it’s the fact that it can almost be a bit too smooth and comfortable, while its rival from AMG feels properly brutal. Thankfully, BMW has been working on such a car and you no longer have to speculate. This is the BMW M5 Competition.
It all starts up front, under the hood. The 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged engine in the F90 BMW M5 now makes 625 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase of 25 hp but its torque figure stays the same. However, that makes the M5 Competition more powerful than the Mercedes-AMG E63 S, it’s most fearsome rival, though the AMG still has more torque. Although, the M5 Competition’s torque spread is now 200 rpm wider, so it should feel a bit punchier anyway.
BMW claims a 3.3-second 0-60 mph time, which is the same as the standard M5, but that it will get to 124 mph in 10.8 seconds, which is three-tenths faster than the regular car. That’s also quite remarkable for a sedan to break eleven seconds to 124 mph. Having said that, we suspect the M5 Competition to be a tick or two quicker than the standard M5, which is already far quicker than BMW has claimed. In fact, we’ve seen the BMW M5 record 0-60 mph times of 2.8 seconds before, making it faster than every sedan on Earth not named the Tesla Model S P100D. So it wouldn’t be out of the question to see the M5 Competition hit 60 in 2.7 seconds.
The BMW M5 Competition also gets a new, unique exhaust system. The standard M5 sounds good but it provides nowhere near the aural firepower of the AMG E63, so it was in need of a bit of an upgrade. This new M5 Competition gets just that and we have our fingers crossed that it has a hair-raising soundtrack, so as to give it more emotion.
Which leads to the real reason for the M5 Competition’s existence. The BMW M5 Competition isn’t about performance figures or spec sheet bragging, it’s about fun. The entire reason for buying the M5 Comp is to get a car that’s sharper, more dynamic and slightly more thrilling than the standard car. Which is why it gets Competition-specific engine mounts that are more rigid and provide a slightly better response while also allowing the front end to feel more rigid.
It also sports a new suspensions setup, specific to the Competition. The new suspension is seven millimeters lower than the standard setup and has had its shocks, springs and geometry specifically-tuned for the M5 Competition. So an increase in negative camber at the front, thicker anti-roll bars and ball joints, rather than rubber bushings, at the rear axle make the BMW M5 Competition noticeably sharper and more communicative than the standard setup. Springs, both front and rear, are also ten percent stiffer, which should allow the M5 Comp to handle a bit better than the normal car. And everything combined, including the new front suspension tweaks, and lack of rubber compared to the old car, should also improve the steering feel, which is exciting.
On the outside, the BMW M5 Competition gets BMW’s usual Competition Package treatment. That means black grilles, black mirror cars, a black Air Breather and black badges. It also gets a little black decklid spoiler, giving it a more aggressive look. BMW also get the M5 Competition new wheels, which are a bit sportier than the standard ones, even if they aren’t some of BMW’s best. Inside, the M5 Comp gets M-striped seatbelts and floor mats, to make it feel a bit more special.
In the United States, the 2019 M5 Competition is priced at $110,995, including destination($995). In comparison, the “regular M5” pricing is set at $103,595 including destination($995).
We have high hopes for the BMW M5 Competition. The Competition Package worked wonders for the BMW M3/M4 with the same sort of subtle tweaks. So we’re expecting the same thing from the M5 Competition. What’s encouraging is that the M5 was already an excellent package that doesn’t need much improving. The BMW M4 needed some improving as the Comp Pack helped tremendously. So if BMW’s Comp Pack can do that for the M4, what might it do for the BMW M5?
