The used sleeper that’s better than a new Corvette

The Corvette C8 is a pure sports car, one that looks fast even when parked, a two-seater, two-door, with a huge V8. The BMW F90 M5 is a beautiful mid-size sedan with three boxes, perfect for taking the successful manager to work and back. It’s a 5 Series, but the M in the name gives away the game. Underneath, the F90 is a voracious beast that can eat the Corvette for lunch. And that’s just the ‘normal’ M5. There is also a competition version.

The F90 is the model and generation designation of the M5, and was produced from 2017 to 2023. When launched in 2017, this M5 was the first M5 to ditch traditional rear-wheel drive in favor of xDrive AWD. This provided better traction off the line, and it also had the ability to switch to rear-wheel drive when the stability system was reversed. This gave the F90 M5 the best of both worlds, with a mix of confidence and driving characteristics that made this car a legend.

Powertrain and performance

Mercedes-Benz has AMG, Toyota has GR and BMW has M, all three marking a vehicle that delivers significantly better performance than the standard model. M for motorsport, marked with a three-color parallelogram and the letter M. M cars have much more powerful engines, a matching transmission and suspension and aerodynamics to make the most of this power. BMW tests and tunes its M models to the legendary Nürburgring circuit.

A 4.4-liter Twin Turbo V8 under the hood

The heart of the F90 M5 is BMW’s legendary 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. In stock form, this engine produces 600 horsepower and 552 pound-feet of torque. The Competition Package increases power to 617 horses. But it’s not just the massive horsepower and torque that allows the Bimmer to take on the Corvette, it’s also the nature of the engine and the way it delivers this power that makes the difference. Unlike the ‘Vette’s naturally aspirated engine that revs, this engine growls from low revs, thanks to its twin turbos and broad torque curve. In combination with a snappy eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and xDrive AWD grip, the F90 can go from zero to fast like a rocket.

Acceleration and top speed

Despite its 4,200-pound curb weight, the F90 has supercar acceleration. BMW claims 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds for the standard M5 and 3.1 seconds for the competition version, but better times were achieved in real-world testing. The standard M5 was measured from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, the same as the much lighter Corvette C8 with the Z51 performance package. The quarter mile took 10.9 seconds at 125 mph.

BMW F90 M5 and Chevrolet C8 Corvette spec comparison

The M5’s top speed is limited to 260 km/h, although there is an additional package that removes this limit and allows the M5 to reach a speed of 300 km/h. But this M5 isn’t just about straight-line speed. The AWD and super-tuned chassis and suspension provide very good handling, and the ability to switch to RWD gives it traditional BMW behavior in long corners.

Usability and everyday usability

The reason the F90 M5 is called a sleeper is that at first glance it is just a normal sedan. Sure, a beautiful and quite luxurious sedan, but a car that can handle the daily commute, take the kids to school and can be used to run errands. It has five comfortable seats, four doors and a large trunk. It’s a normal sedan, except for the part where it can go full Frankenstein when called upon.

During normal driving, the M iDrive provides excellent traction in wet or slippery conditions. You also don’t want to sound like a young racer when you pull into the headquarters parking lot, so Comfort mode relaxes the suspension and engine, reducing the racing grunt to a stylish murmur.

Comfortable cabin

The interior of the M5 features plenty of good quality leather and seats that are sporty, yet roomy and comfortable enough for longer journeys. The M5’s interior gives strong clues to its performance character, with the driver’s seat optimized for spirited driving and the dashboard not just a touchscreen.

Controls such as the radio and AC are manual, which many drivers prefer to the clunky touchscreen options that are now widespread. The ambient lighting in the interior can be adjusted, the steering wheel and front seats are heated and the steering column is electrically adjustable. Options include ventilated front seats with massage function, heated rear seats and four-zone automatic climate control. Passenger volume is 102 cubic feet, while the trunk holds a respectable 14 cubic feet of cargo. The front seats have room to spread out, while the rear seats have 36.5 inches of legroom and over 41 inches of headroom.

Infotainment and connectivity

The production run of the F90 M5 is behind the meteoric rise of infotainment and connectivity, so the level of these now-must-have features may vary depending on the annual model you get. The mid/late generation 2021 M5 has a respectable 12.3-inch touchscreen, controlled primarily via a button on the center console. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot, are standard. The sound is a 16-speaker, 600-watt Harman/Kardon setup, and wireless charging is also standard. Optional are a rear-seat infotainment system and a Bowers & Wilkins system with 16 speakers and 1,400 watts of power.

F90 M5 vs. C8 Corvette

The comparison between the BMW F90 M5 and the Corvette C8 is a popular way to compare a car that looks normal with a car that is clearly sporty. It’s not really fair either, because the driver who chooses the Bimmer is not the same as the one who chooses the Corvette. But here we are, so let’s compare how they stack up.

Prices vary, although the F90 M5 is generally cheaper than a C8 Corvette

The purchase price of the F90 M5 varies enormously. A quick look at the auction prices at Bring a trailer shows as low as $40,000 to nearly $200,000 for a low mileage late model Competition version. This is clearly a collector’s car. You can get a new Corvette for between $70,000 and $90,000. A used 2021 Corvette averages around $60,000.

The German Luxury Lounge or the exotic American Muscle

The BMW is more powerful, but much larger and heavier than the Corvette. Fantastic engineering and brilliant tuning deliver a ride and performance that will burn every track. The Corvette is lighter and feels more agile. It’s really the choice between a super sedan and a really sexy sports car.

If you prefer the low-slung, long-nosed American muscle car and don’t mind lugging kids or groceries, go for the ‘Vette. But if you like the idea of ​​a sleeper car, a stately sedan that blows everyone away at the lights, then the M5 might be the car for you.

Why the F90 M5 is a great second-hand purchase

The BMW F90 M5 has only been out of production for a few years, but auction prices suggest it has already achieved cult status. If you can get a solid M5 for a reasonable price, there’s a very good chance you have an investment rather than a used car.

A river basin model

The F90 M5 was in many ways a turning point in the development of the BMW sedan. It was the first AWD after decades of legendary sporty RWD driving, but the ability to switch to RWD kept the F90 on the radar. It was also the last of the pure ICE models, with the next generation moving to a mild hybrid. While there’s nothing wrong with a mild hybrid like BMW uses, the current generation has gained a lot of weight and mechanical complexity.

Achieved cult status

The BMW F90 reaches cult or collector status much faster than most cars. Even older cars with higher mileage have retained their value much more than almost all other luxury models of comparable age, German or not. If you like collector cars, and/or just enjoy a nice daily drive, but one that can blow the socks off a Corvette or unsuspecting Carrera, then the F90 M5 might be the sweet spot.

Sources: BMW, GM, Edmunds, Bring a trailer