Tucked away in the corner of a parking lot in Munich, Germany, a 1986 BMW M5 sits in silence.
It’s an automotive legend, but few passersby would know it at the sight of the unassuming black sedan. Only 2,241 were produced, meaning this first-generation M5 is the rarest of the breed.
This particular M5 is owned and maintained by BMW Classic, the automaker’s division dedicated to anything and everything concerning its history. The team is also responsible for restoring vintage BMWs in a facility that dates back to 1918, when it was used to manufacture aircraft engines for BMW.
Making History
The first M5 was introduced in 1984, based on the E28 generation 5 Series. It was the company’s attempt at integrating racing technology into a luxury sedan, which hadn’t been done before. Its 3.5L M88 inline six-cylinder was a modified version of the one in the mid-engine M1 and made 286 hp, which was enough to make it the fastest sedan in the world at the time.
The rest, as they say, is history. The M5 grew heavier and more powerful with every successive generation, and increased in complexity each time. Place the newly revealed 2025 M5 next to the original and there’s nothing in common except for the badges.
Owning the Autobahn
It’s rush hour in Munich, which is intimidating behind the wheel of what is essentially a museum piece, but the M5 is relaxed and the clutch forgiving. It doesn’t take long to settle into a groove, but then the shift knob comes clean off in my hand. I can’t help but laugh as I frantically try to slip it back into place before grabbing the next gear.
With traffic dissipating, my guide – and literal and figurative fixer – radios to say it’s time to try the M5 on the autobahn. Without hesitation, I bury the gas pedal into the carpet, and the engine surges towards its 7,000-rpm redline with a metallic growl. We might be spoiled in modern vehicles, but this vintage BMW can still move. We crest the 200-km/h mark and the M5 keeps accelerating. With a top speed of 245 km/h, no other sedan of its time could keep up with it.
The engine is one of the reasons this M5 feels so special. Once you spin it past the 3,000-rpm mark the symphony of valvetrain and intake noise is pure magic, unencumbered by any electronic trickery. Then you realize how good the steering is. It’s slow in response by modern standards, but the messages sent up through the thin rim of the wheel are clear and unfiltered.
As I wind my way through the Bavarian Alps and scythe through its alpine forests, the purity of the M5’s character shines through. The ride is remarkably compliant but the M5 is wonderfully balanced in the corners. There’s a bit of body roll, but you feel the suspension load and the period-correct tires dig into the pavement. And everything happens slowly and predictably.
Final Thoughts
The modern M5 is a technological tour de force, with power figures that would have seemed ludicrous in the 1980s, but the original didn’t need all that technology to be good. It had a powerful engine, a manual transmission, and a beautifully balanced chassis. The cabin was elegant and simple, and covered in leather. Even the headrests were power-operated. It wrote the book on what a luxury sport sedan should be.
Every successive M5 has had to be faster but also safer and more efficient, and it’s not hard to see how we ended up with a four-tonne behemoth of today. The next M5 will likely be all-electric and even heavier, but you can bet your last dollar that it will be even faster on a race track or the autobahn.
