These past couple of years have been big for performance BMWs. Sure, some enthusiasts might bemoan the brand’s decline from the pure, engaging cars it used to make but there’s no denying the astonishing levels of performance its newer cars can achieve. In the past couple of years, I feel like I’ve written “the fastest accelerating BMW of all time” a dozens of times.
In reality, though, I’ve written it enough that all five of the fastest accelerating cars have debuted quite recently. So we thought we’d take a look at the the top 5 fastest BMWs in history as of 2019. While that last bit seems obvious, it’s worth noting because we can look back on this article in just a year or so and the list will likely be entirely obsolete, with the way the industry has been going.
We’re also going to go by claimed 0-60 mph times, as it’s the most consistent, concrete number we can go by. Yes, many publications have proven modern Bimmers to be faster than claimed times but their independent results have varied and we can’t confirm test conditions. So let’s check it out.
5. BMW M5 30 Jahre
We’re all currently clamoring of the current BMW M5, thanks to its mind-boggling performance and impressive usability. However, even the previous-gen M5 still has some fight in it. In its most powerful iteration, the M5 30 Jahre — meant to celebrate 30 years of the M5 — it’s still one of BMW’s fastest machines ever. With its 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 cranked up to 600 hp and 516 lb-ft, it was capable of 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. That’s still pretty fast, though it’s not enough to top the next four Bimmers.
4. BMW M760Li xDrive
It’s a bit shocking to see any iteration of the 7 Series on this list. Considering 7ers are so big, heavy and luxurious, it seems at odds with its ethos to be among the fastest Bimmers ever. However, the BMW M760Li xDrive packs a monster 6.6 liter twin-turbocharged engine with 600 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. All of that combines to send the M760Li to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. That’s insane in a car as big and as heavy as the 7 Series.
3. BMW M4 GTS
While the BMW M4 GTS never quite reached the level of popularity the Bavarians had hoped, it was still a very fast car. Sure, compared to other cars like it, including the Porsche 911 GT3, it wasn’t the best driving car. However, thanks to its water-injected 3.0 liter twin-turbo I6, the BMW M4 GTS made 493 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. So it could reach 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. During its time, it was the fastest accelerating BMW in history and it’s still in the top three.
2. BMW M5 Competition
It’s kind of hilarious to think that one of the very fastest cars BMW has ever made isn’t some sort of hardcore performance machine or a lightweight supercar. Instead, it’s a four-door luxury sedan with all-wheel drive, tons of tech and enough leather to make cows worldwide nervous. However, with 617 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque on tap from its new 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8, the new F90 M5 Competition can hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. What’s interesting is that we’ve actually seen in done quite a bit quicker, even as low as 2.8 seconds. We won’t go by those times, as previously mentioned, but it’s worth noting that BMW is quite conservative with its power and performance metrics.
1. BMW M8 Competition Coupe
That leaves us wit just one car left and it’s BMW’s latest. The all-new BMW M8 Competition is the brand’s newest performance car and, in terms of outright speed, it’s the best. While it shares the same engine as the M5 Competition, its lighter curb weight and better aerodynamics help it to be faster. BMW claims 3.1 seconds to 60 mph and we actually expect it to be quicker once we can get some testing gear on it.
