THE BMW M5 Competition is an M5 a little more powerful, faster and… “hardcore” than the regular M5. Power has risen from 600 to 625 hp and 750 Nm of maximum torque is available in a wider rev range, which improves the already very good accelerations.
The powerful V8 twin turbo makes “shoe-cat” from the 1940 kg weight. The 100 km/h is reached in just 3.3s and the 200 km/h in 10.8s — no more than a few tenths of a difference to the regular M5. The maximum speed is 305 km/h, a value that can also be reached by the regular M5 if we choose the Pack M Driver.
Driving is more precise, says BMW, considering the changes made to the chassis.
The M5 Competition is 7mm closer to the ground, the camber values have been re-adjusted, some bushings replaced, and the front stabilizer bar has new struts and the rear is distinct from the existing M5. The shock absorbers are also 10% firmer, as well as the engine mounts are more rigid.
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Despite the many changes made, they end up being more of an improvement to the existing recipe than reinventing the M5.
What is the time reached?
To measure the gains, Sport Auto thoroughly tested the BMW M5 Competition, which included a return to the most famous circuit of all, the Nordschleife on the Nürburgring. The M5 Competition did not disappoint, by getting a time of 7min 35.9s — a remarkable value considering the mass of the super saloon.
A comeback that was not without its dramatic feel, with a poor bird meeting its end after crashing into the windshield of the M5 in a rage — fast forward to 3:55 in the video.
It is just three seconds from the time achieved by the more compact and light Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and a further 14s from that achieved by the more extreme Jaguar XE SV Project 8 (7min21s).
What about the regular M5? Fortunately, Sport Auto had already taken the regular M5 to “green hell” on a previous occasion, and compared to the M5 Competition, it loses 3s, staying by 7min38.92s. Progress? Undoubtedly, but on the 20 km long circuit, three seconds doesn't seem like much.