Performance Review: BMW 5 Series M5 F10 - [2011]

Figures & Specs Summary:

BMW 5 Series Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the BMW 5 Series M5 F10 is the 7 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2011. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2011 SSC Tuatara 6.9L V8 Twin Turbo.This particular BMW 5 Series has a 4395cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V8's includes the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The 5 Series shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 5 Series's Rear Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1945 kgs (4287 lbs) this makes the BMW 5 Series M5 F10 in the same weight category as the 2022 BMW 3 Series M3 Competition Touring 3.0 xDrive or the give or take 50kg.

The BMW 5 Series shares the same bhp with the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (542 bhp)

In terms of power the 4395cc 32V V8 engine produces 552 bhp (411 kW) @ 6000 rpm similar to the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (542 bhp) or the 2023 BMW 3 Series M3 CS 3.0 Twin Turbo G80 (542 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V8 throws out 502 lb-ft (680.6 Nm) @ 1500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Lotus Eletre 603 bhp (524 lb-ft) or the 2023 BMW 3 Series M3 CS 3.0 Twin Turbo G80 (479 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the BMW 5 Series you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2014 Tesla Model S P85D (308.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the BMW 5 Series.

The BMW 5 Series has a Power to weight ratio of 283.8 bhp per ton and 258.0 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2011 5 Series competing with the 2014 Tesla Model S P85D (308.6 bhp per ton) or the 2019 Jaguar F Type R Convertible 5.0 V8 Supercharged (308.4 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the BMW 5 Series generating around 258.0 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1993 TVR Chimaera 4.5 (283.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 2017 Aston-Martin DB11 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (282.9 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.40 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.5 secs, this made the BMW 5 Series M5 F10 as fast as the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe S 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs) the 2023 Porsche Cayenne S 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs) the 2020 Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs) the or the 2020 Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo (4.40 secs). This BMW 5 Series M5 F10 is also faster than the 2022 BMW i7 xDrive60 (4.50 secs) the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive 3.0 Turbo F23 (4.50 secs) the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge 6.6 V12 Twin turbo (4.50 secs) the and the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive Cabrio 3.0 Turbo F23 (4.50 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 5 Series and the 1970 Ford Falcon 4th Gen 429 Cobra Jet V-8 4-speed

When talking about the performance of the BMW 5 Series on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.54 secs @ 109.1 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1970 Ford Falcon 4th Gen 429 Cobra Jet V-8 4-speed (12.48 secs), the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII GSR (12.49 secs), and the 1992 Subaru Impreza WRX - Classic JDM (12.49 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2011 version of the BMW 5 Series M5 F10 has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2011 5 Series equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2011 BMW 5 Series M5 F10 then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2011 5 Series Rivals List.

A Brief History of BMW

Car Comparison