The BMW M5 Competition is Go

Peter Anderson

May 10, 2018 — 4 min read

The dust has barely settled on the new BMW M5’s launch, but Bavaria has already delivered the M5 Competition.

Unlike previous years, this isn’t a pack – the M5 Competition is a model in its own right, just like the M2 Competition. The new beastie features more power, torque across a slightly wider rev band and a host of detail changes.

Engine and Transmission

The M5 Competition features the same 4.4-litre V8 but with 460kW (625PS). That’s 19kW (26PS) up on the standard car. The 750Nm torque figures stays the same, but is available for an extra 200rpm from 1800 to 5800.

Somehow that means a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time of 3.3 seconds and a 0-200km/h (0-123mph) time of 10.8 seconds, both of which are three tenths faster. Of course, the new-to-M5 all-wheel drive xDrive system has a lot to do with this astonishing performance. BMW’s famed Active Diff also provides for hair-raising shenanigans when you’re in the right mode.

To get those extra horses, the M5 Competition has its very own M Sport exhaust, but still with the mode-specific sound (ie not so loud to quite loud).

The controversial (not really, but there must always be drama with a new M5) all-wheel drive gets its power by via the minor controversy, the ZF eight-speed automatic.

Here’s a quick table comparing the M5 Competition to the M5 as well as the F10 counterparts:

[table id=2 /]

Chassis

The M5 Competition comes with a ton of detail changes. Stiffer engine mounts deliver a pointier rear end, with the spring rate up from 580N/mm to 900N/mm. While the double wishbones up front and five link rear end remain, the ride height drops 7mm.

Naturally a new set of springs and dampers further improve the handling, with ball joints replacing rubber mounts in the rear suspension links. The front wheels have more negative camber for more bite.

The electronic dampers still have three modes – Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus, the latter intended for track use while Sport’s Nordschliefe tune is good for the real world.

Braking comes from low-weight M compound brakes and the six-piston calipers provide the biting at the front. Somehow the rears get away with a single piston caliper, but I haven’t heard any complaints.

If you want to spend yet more money, you can option up carbon ceramics.

The M5 Competition picks up 20-inch forged alloys and tyres are 275/35s up front and 285/35s at the rear.

Design

You can pick out the M5 Competition with blacked-out kidney grille, different exterior door handles, black mirror caps and the M badges. The exhaust tips are also blacked out, this time with a chrome finish.

Inside you’ve got the usual M stitching all over the place and when you fire up, an M5 Competition graphic flashes up on the screen.