With the increasing trend of modern-era SUVs, sedan cars have slowly faded from the limelight. However, a few sedan cars still haven’t lost the game yet, including a few sedan cars from Mercedes Benz and BMW. One of these most popular sedan cars is the legendary BMW M5 Performance sedan. The BMW M5 is a very well-known name among automobile enthusiasts, and BMW has impressively managed to maintain this name in the good books of history. In the beginning, the M5 sedan established its legacy of being a lightweight and powerful sports sedan with the launch of the BMW M5 E28 in 1985. However, the new BMW M5 G90 is setting new benchmarks for BMW with a massive difference in weight and performance figures as compared to its predecessors.
The Old School BMW M5 E28
BMW M5 E28 (1985–1988)
Curb Weight: 1,430 kilograms (3,153 pounds)
Power: 286 hp
We are talking about the times when sedan cars were considered a luxury dream that was not easy for everyone to afford. They were unquestionably heavy and not so easy to handle as well, but the BMW M5 E28 completely turned the tables around. BMW introduced the original M5 E28 in 1985 which soon became popular for its lightweight agility and enormous power output weighing just 1,430 kilograms (3,153 pounds) accurately. This lightweight factor synonymously transformed the BMW M5 E28 into a perfect driver’s car that people loved driving.
Refinement Makes its Way to the BMW M5 E34 and E39
BMW M5 E34 (1988–1995)
Curb Weight: 1,650 kilograms (3,638 pounds)
Power: 340 hp
BMW M5 E39 (1998–2003)
Curb Weight: 1,695 kilograms (3,737 pounds)
Power: 400 hp
The name M5 got a new upgrade in 1988 when the BMW M5 E34 made its debut with better ergonomics and state of tune. As the M5 name evolved through generations, so did its increasing weight. The BMW M5 E34 weighed around 1,650 kilograms (3,638 pounds) and shortly arrived the BMW M5 E39 after a small improvement in performance in 1998. The E34 M5 brought more weight along with that little increment in performance, weighing in at 1,695 kilograms (3,737 pounds). Both of these models had a good visual appeal over the past generation E28 as per the era requirements while offering better performance output. The E34 and E39 models added more worth to the M5 name with a decent balance between performance, luxury, and refinement.
The Performance-Oriented V10 Powerhouse – BMW M5 E60
BMW M5 E60 (2005–2010)
Curb Weight: 1,755 kilograms (3,869 pounds)
Power: 507 hp
As the world grew better with new technology advancements, the BMW M5 E60 made its entry into the global markets with a high-revving V10 engine that was capable of producing 507 horsepower. This 5.0 liter V10 engine was greatly appreciated by the car owners for its amusing character that was beautifully synchronized with an SMG transmission. However, as with the past generations, the E60 M5 weighed heavier than its last predecessor at around 1,755 kilograms (3,869 pounds) to be accurate. If we ignore the weight factor of this car it still counts among the best-driving V10 engine cars of the history.
Turbocharged Magic Pushes the BMW M5 F10 and F90 to New Dimensions
BMW M5 F10 (2011–2016)
Curb Weight: 1,870 kilograms (4,123 pounds)
Power: 560 hp
BMW M5 F90 (2017–2023)
Curb Weight: 1,865 kilograms (4,112 pounds)
Power: 600 hp
With an era that demanded technological advancements at its peak, the Germans decided to take the M5 badge a step ahead. In 2011, BMW introduced its next-generation M5 F10 with a new 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine and all-wheel drive capability. There were many other significant improvements over the previous generation M5 E60 in terms of luxury and performance. The BMW M5 F10 was more powerful and heavier than the E60 M5, weighing in at 1,870 kilograms (4,123 pounds). Later in 2017, with the latest upgrades and tweaks in the twin-turbo V8 sports sedan, BMW unveiled the F90 M5 with 1,865 kilograms (4,112 pounds) of weight. However, when we talk about the F10 and F90 performance factors, they both had an amazing sense of pleasure to drive as well.
The German Powerhouse Goes Hybrid with the BMW M5 G90
BMW M5 G90 (2025)
Curb Weight: 2,445 kilograms (5,390 pounds)
Power: 717 hp
As with the past generation BMW M5 sedans, the German manufacturer recently pulled the curtains off its latest generation G90 M5 completely overlooking the lightweight legacy of the M5 badge. The 2025 BMW G90 M5, with its new plug-in hybrid powertrain, has a lot more to offer in terms of performance and efficiency. Although, with 2,445 kilograms (5,390 pounds) of curb weight, it marks itself as the heaviest M5 of all its predecessors. Undoubtedly, all of this additional weight is a result of compliance with the latest emission norms and its hybrid systems which improved the performance and efficiency of the new 2025 BMW M5 G90 sedan. What remains hidden about this new M5 is how it will perform in real-world scenarios and whether is it worth the M5 badge or not.
