PLATINUM BMW M5 COMPETITION

By Maarten Hoffmann

Reviewing a legend such as the M5 is a mix of trepidation and unadulterated joy. Over the years it has changed, been modified, had a new frock and generally fiddled with – but it is, was, and remains the fastest super saloon car on sale today.

The fi rst M5 model was hand-built in 1985 on the E28 535i chassis with a modifi ed engine from the famous M1 that made it the fastest production sedan at the time. M5 models have been produced for every generation of the 5-Series since 1985. Between 19921995 and 2006-2010, you could also buy the M5 as an estate that rivalled Audi’s barnstorming winner, the RS6 Avant, the finest estate car on planet earth.

Aficionados will tell you (until your ears bleed) that the new version is not a patch on the ‘famous’ one - the E60 M5

(2004-2010), which was the world’s first production car to use a 5.0-litre V10 engine and was hugely fast. In fact, and these are not words that fall easily from my lips – it was too fast. It was a monster to drive, constantly wanting to rip your face off, and reach its top speed of 205mph (unrestricted) in every sleepy village you entered. It was great fun but possibly a little too much for the average driver. Hence, the new version, which is calmer but actually faster!

It’s worth remembering that BMW did briefly give us another M5 option, though. The full-fat 626bhp M5 CS was the most powerful M car ever built when it arrived in Spring 2021 and, although it wasn’t a limited edition, BMW only ever planned to build it for 12 months. The UK is only allowed one variant but not too much to complain about as it’s the M5 Competition.

One engine choice – the brutish 4.4-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 kicking out 616 bhp and 553 lb ft of torque. It will haul this two-tonne four-door family saloon to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds. As standard, it will hit 155 mph or, with the M package, 190 mph. Pay the extra £19,000 for the ‘Ultimate Pack’ and you get carbon ceramic brakes, a carbon engine cover, heated and massaging seats, a larger stereo and digital televisions in the back.

Today’s cars are complex, to say the least, and BMW has cornered the market in so much tech, it leaves you dazed and confused. The M5 retains the xDrive four-wheel-drive system but if you want to be naughty, you can switch it off and leave it in rear-wheel-drive only. If you have any respect for your tyres, and your wallet, you will not do this very often.

After all these startling stats, it’s worth remembering that this is a four-door family car. It has superb road manners, is composed and calm if you wish, and will pootle around the shops and get the kids from school – and most people will be none the wiser about what you have under the hood. Back in the day, these cars were called ‘sleepers’; stock cars that looked average but had some thumping great V8 under the bonnet that would leave a smidgeon of shock and awe at the traffic lights.

Inside, it’s typically Germanic - screwed together so well there’s not a squeak

MODEL TESTED:

BMW M5 Competition

ENGINE: 4.4-litre, V8 twin-turbo

POWER: 616 bhp

SPEED: 0-62 - 3.3 seconds

TOP: 155 or 190 mph

ECONOMY: 25.4 mpg combined

PRICE FROM: £111,220

AS TESTED: £138,550 anywhere to be found; superb materials and a huge 12.3in screen to control it all. The screen can be touched or you can use the iDrive scrolling wheel to access. There is lots of space, front and back, and the front seats keep you locked in place for those physics-defying corners so well that you just want to keep testing those limits. Believe me, you will run out of courage long before the M5 runs out of talent.

So where’s the competition? Obviously, the Mercedes AMG E63 has to be mentioned here and it is seriously close. However, the Merc is too noisy and a tad loutish (but so much fun). Then there’s the Audi RS7 Sportback – fabulous but not the best looking Audi out there.

Do l think the BMW M5 is the best super-saloon out there? I’ll leave you with one answer. l just bought one!

Enough said.

The Platinum programme here at Sandown offers 3 tiers of loyalty discounts on your servicing, MOT and parts if your vehicle is over 3 years old*.

TIER 1 - 3, 4 and 5 year old vehicles.

- 10% discount on all Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts held in stock

- 20% labour discount on services and repairs.

TIER 2 - 6, 7 and 8 year old vehicles.

- 10% discount on all Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts held in stock

- 40% labour discount on services and repairs

- £30 MOT.

TIER 3 - 9+ year old vehicles.

- 15% discount on all Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts held in stock

- 40% labour discount on services and repairs

- £20 MOT.

To find out more about our Sandown Platinum programme, contact us today on 0330 178 1801.

The benefits of choosing Sandown for your MOT:

- Complimentary Health Check at the same time as your MOT

- Complimentary wash and vacuum

- Fully trained Mercedes-Benz technicians

- Outstanding manufacturers’ service measures carried out with compliments.

0330

178 1801 sandown-group.co.uk

2 Entries are open for the second Dynamic Business Awards

News

12 In The Right Direction: Good news stories from around the world

36 Tanya Borowski discusses whether to boost our immunity or build resilience

40 Are women more mentally ill than men? Psychologist Dr Sanah Ahsan is not so sure

Further reading

44 Yetunde Hofmann engages in the power of sponsorship, mentorship and allyship of black women in business

Art scene

46 The artworks of Dana Cowie, as described by art critic and curator Kellie Miller

48 A relaxing spa session at Alexander House Hotel on the Sussex/Surrey border

52 Fiona Shafer on the electric VW ID5. For once, Fiona prefers its predecessor

What’s on

50 A brief snapshot of art and culture cross Sussex and Surrey

SPOTLIGHT

32 Highlighting four female CEOs operating at the top of their game within the charity sector

Women wishing to return to work could be undermined with the imminent collapse of the underfunded UK childcare sector

BIG STORY

Remembering Baroness Boothroyd, the first female Speaker of the House of Commons

PUBLISHER: Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinummediagroup.co.uk

EDITOR: Tess de Klerk tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk

MOTORING EDITOR: Fiona Shafer fionas@platinummediagroup.co.uk

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Lesley Alcock lesley@platinummediagroup.co.uk

EVENTS DIRECTOR: Fiona Graves fiona@platinummediagroup.co.uk

EVENTS MANAGER: Zaneta Bealing zaneta@platinummediagroup.co.uk

HEAD OF DESIGN: Michelle Shakesby design@platinummediagroup.co.uk

SUB EDITOR: Alan Wares alan@platinummediagroup.co.uk

WWW.PLATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK

It is difficult to believe we are in April already but the lighter evenings and warmer climate brings joy to my South African soul.

Likewise, I am uplifted by much of the content of Dynamic this month, such as the feature by Dr Sarah Ahsan where she explains why the belief that women are more mentally ill than men is a myth. In Spotlight, we focus on those strong women at the top of the region’s charities, and Tanya Borowski explains how to boost your immune system.

We have an exclusive interview with the new, and fi rst, female Managing Partner of Surrey law fi rm Morr & Co, Catherine Fisher, and the founder of YUnique Marketing, Jarmila Yu talks all things branding.

The Dynamic sponsorship of all female places on the University of Brighton’s Help to Grow programme continues and with the April and May courses now full, they are enrolling for the September course. Our sponsorship means that the cost of £750 is waived as long as one notes the code PLATINUM100. You can’t get better than free in our attempt to level the gender playing field.

Enjoy this month’s magazine – from all of us here at Dynamic.