Market Watch BMW M5 F10

Five star! Market Watch

First shown to the public at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW’s F10 M5 went on sale in November 2011 – and initial reaction was rather mixed. Larger and heavier, and packing a twin-turbo V8 (rather than a naturally-aspirated V10), top speed was down slightly and, although the new model boasted a lot of extra tech, the asking price was over £70,000. But, as the last rear-wheel drive M5, it has since risen in popularity.

The M5’s exterior styling was relatively under-stated – with a deeper front spoiler and rear valance, extended side sills, front wing gills and quad rear tailpipes giving it a more purposeful stance than the cooking F10 models. In addition, 19in alloys and blue front brake calipers added a touch of exclusivity.

The performance was mighty, though, with the S63B44 4,395cc V8 twin-turbo producing 560bhp, plus a sizeable 502lb ft of torque from just 1,500rpm. BMW’s M multi-mode suspension enabled a variety of settings from Comfort to Sport+, and UK-launch saloons were priced at £73,985.

A Competition Package was introduced in 2013, priced at nearly £81,000, which added larger, 20in alloys, a sports exhaust and stiffer suspension. The extra 15bhp was sufficient to slice 0.2 seconds off the standard car’s 4.3-second 0-62mph time. A seven-speed dual clutch transmission was standard (although a manual was available in the US) with the top speed limited to 155mph. The M5’s luxurious spec included Merino leather upholstery, sports seats, sunroof, satellite navigation and a head-up display, while split rear seats and a leather dashboard were popular option choices.

In 2015, BMW released a limited-edition 30 Jahre BMW M5 to celebrate the model’s 30th anniversary, and 300 units were produced. All were finished in Frozen Dark Silver, and boasted a numbered dashboard plaque, logos embroidered into the seat backrests, and an up-rated version of the Competition Pack. Power rose to 591bhp, allowing the 30 Jahre to hit 62mph in just 3.9 seconds.

Despite all this accessible power, however, the F10 still feels heavier on the road than the E60 model, and the steering isn’t quite as sharp. Also, the synthetic cabin engine noise – which is played through the stereo under heavy throttle – isn’t to every M5 enthusiast’s taste. The F10 does look good value now, though, as Graham Beeson at experts Renaissance Classic Sports Cars explains: “When this model was launched back in 2011, you could have spent an eye-watering £73k-£100k on one, depending on your personal specification.

Depreciation was subsequently savage, but residual values have thankfully started to stabilise, and the F10 M5 now represents cracking value for money compared to other rivals.”

Do your homework carefully, though. Check the ownership history and look for evidence of proper servicing and maintenance as well as condition and provenance. “Values tend to be influenced by mileage and specification, although the effect isn’t as pronounced as for some cars, and there’s a fair amount of overlap,” confirms Robert Redman at trade gurus, Glass’s.

“Cars with the Competition Pack tend to be priced around 5-10% higher,” he points out. “Although the gap appears to be pretty flexible, while the ‘30 Jahre’ edition is currently priced from £55,000.” Examples that have been tuned or modified may be worth slightly more than a standard equivalent but, with many buyers seeking originality, there’s no real guarantee of any premium. ”Long-term, it’s the officially tuned 30 Jahre that is most likely to appreciate,” Robert confirms.

Many of the best buys are to be found at BMW and Premium specialists, with quite a choice of different exterior and interior colours available. I really like this Monte Carlo Blue 2013 car, with a Silverstone leather interior and Piano black trim. Advertised for £28,990 at renowned Sussex luxury car dealers, Targa Florio (targafloriocars.com), it comes with 20in M Double-Spoke Style 343M alloys, heated M Multi-function memory front seats and a full BMW service history, including that all-important running-in service. It’s covered a very reasonable 48,200 miles.

If you’re seeking a slightly lower profile, then something like this 34,000-mile 2014 metallic grey example, advertised at Somerset-based Sutherland MPower Cars (mpowercars.co.uk), would fit the bill perfectly. With just one previous owner, it has 19in M Double-Spoke Style 345M alloys and a Black Merino leather interior. Once again, the full service-record includes the running-in service, while the asking price is £30,990.

Franchised dealers will, of course, charge that little bit extra, but you do get the reassurance of a BMW-backed warranty, making cars like this Silverstone II Metallic example at Cooper BMW Norwich (coopernorwichbmw.co.uk) appealing to many buyers. At £33,642, it’s not the cheapest 2014 example by any means, but it has covered just 27,000 miles and looks as good as new.

So, what should would-be buyers watch out for? A common issue is heavy oil consumption: “This is usually down to the first owners not sticking to the correct, advised running-in procedure,” Graham Beeson explained. “It’s not uncommon to see these cars go through a litre of oil every 500-800 miles.” So look out for blue smoke… and spare oil in the boot!

Also, make sure that all the sophisticated technology works as it should. “Being a heavy car, expect the F10 to go through front suspension arms too,” he warns. As well as these items, owners have also reported defective coil springs, brake pad sensor failure, minor oil leaks, fuel pump and pressure sensor failures and strange clicking noises from the wheel bearings.

This 2013, 48,000-mile, Monte Carlo Blue F10 M5 is well equipped and for sale at Targa Florio for £28,990.

Franchised dealers will charge more than independent sellers, but customers get the reassurance of a BMW backed warranty. This good-as-new-looking, Silverstone II metallic, 2014 model has just 27,000 on the clock, and is for sale at Cooper BMW, Norwich, £33,642.

Left: The F10 M5’s move to a turbocharged V8 raised eyebrows at the time, but the S63B44 certainly delivers the goods. Right: While the M5’s interior isn’t dramatically different from that found in lesser F10s, it’s certainly well-equipped and comfortable. This 2014, 34,000-mile metallic grey example, was available for £30,990.

BMW Car retail price guide

Poor: Under £22,000

Good: £22,000 to £35,000

Excellent: £35,000+

Special editions: The Competition Pack attracts a 5-10% premium, while the 30 Jahre Edition starts at £55,000

WITH THANKS…

I’m very grateful to Graham Beeson at Renaissance Classic Cars (renaissance-classics.co.uk), the BMW Car Club of Great Britain (bmwcarclubgb.uk), British Car Auctions (bca.com), www.bimmerforums.co.uk and Robert Redman at Glass’s Guide (glassbusiness.co.uk), for their help with this feature