BMW M5

BMW M5
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The BMW M5 has been produced from 1984. It is 4,951 mm long and seats 5. Engine options have displacements ranging from 3,500 to 5,000 cc with 6 to 10 cylinders. The top speed is 288 km/h. For new registrations in the EU/EEA in 2025, the plug-in hybrid petrol version has COâ‚‚ emissions of 48 g/km (WLTP). In Norway, 78 were registered new between 2019 and 2025, with a peak of 40 in 2025. Two recall campaigns are listed in EU Safety Gate and 9 with the US NHTSA.

Technical data (EU/EEA average, 2025)
ManufacturerBMW
ProductionFrom 1984
FuelPlug-in hybrid (petrol)
Engine power (EU/EEA average)430 kW (576 hp)
COâ‚‚ (WLTP, EU/EEA 2025)Plug-in hybrid (petrol) 48 g/km
Kerb weight (EU/EEA average)2,532 kg
Displacement (engines)3,500–5,000 cc
Cylinders (engines)6–10
Top speed288 km/h
Dimensions and layout
Length4,939 mm
Width1,887 mm
Height1,481 mm
Seats5
Doors4

Engine power and kerb weight are registration-weighted averages of the BMW M5 registered in the EU/EEA in 2025 (6,353 cars), engine power from 26 countries, kerb weight from 27 countries. Source: EEA COâ‚‚ monitoring (CC BY 4.0).

Engine power is the type-approved engine power (EEA field Ep). For hybrids and plug-in hybrids it is the power of the combustion engine, not the system power, and for electric cars it can differ from the peak power the manufacturer advertises.

New registrations in Norway

Number of BMW M5 registered for the first time in Norway per year.

BMW M5 first registrations in Norway per year
201914
20209
20214
20224
20231
20246
202540

Source: EEA COâ‚‚ monitoring (CC BY 4.0).

Power by engine variant (Norway)

78 BMW M5 cars registered for the first time in Norway in 2019–2025, by drivetrain and type-approved engine power. The EEA data has no trim names, so variants are told apart by power.

Power by engine variant for the BMW M5, new registrations in Norway
DrivetrainPowerKerb weightYearsRegistered in Norway
Plug-in hybrid (petrol)430 kW (577 hp)2,537 kg2024–202546
Petrol460 kW (617 hp)1,955 kg2019–202328

Plus 2 variants with fewer than 10 cars (4 cars in total).

Power is the type-approved engine power (EEA field Ep). For hybrids and plug-in hybrids it is the combustion engine, not the system output; for electric cars it can differ from the peak power in the maker’s marketing. Kerb weight is the average for the variant. Source: EEA CO₂ monitoring (CC BY 4.0), one record per car (the years EEA lists twice, 2019 to 2021, are counted once).

New registrations by country (2025)

Number of BMW M5 cars registered for the first time across 28 European countries in 2025.

CountryRegistrations
Germany2,996
United Kingdom827
Belgium732
Netherlands393
Austria318
Italy304
France245
Poland235
Sweden207
Hungary157
Ireland150
Spain127
Czechia75
Romania65
Portugal53

Source: EEA COâ‚‚ monitoring (CC BY 4.0), 2025 data.

Other BMW models

Common problems & reliability

US owners have filed 26 complaints for the BMW M5, most often about engine, power train, unknown or other, fuel/propulsion system. These are owner-reported issues, useful for spotting recurring weaknesses before you buy. In the UK, 88% of BMW M5s pass their MOT test first time, based on 4,049 inspections in 2023. (2023 is the most recent annual release published by the DfT.)

Based on real owner complaints and inspection data, not an editorial rating. Sources: NHTSA (US, public domain), DVSA MOT (UK, Open Government Licence).

Recalls & safety

2 recall campaigns recorded in the EU Safety Gate (European market) and 9 in the US-market NHTSA database for the BMW M5. Recalls can flag known weaknesses of the model.

  • Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Germany)

    This can result in increased contact resistance, potentially leading to malfunction of the power supply and increased risk of fire.

    EU Safety Gate · alerted 2019-07-19

  • Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Germany)

    This could lead to engine failure and to increased risk of the vehicle catching fire.

    EU Safety Gate · alerted 2019-08-30

  • BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAUS · NHTSAModel years 2020–2021

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e iPerformance vehicles. A small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    NHTSA campaign 20V598000 · reported 30/09/2020

  • POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONUS · NHTSAModel years 2019–2020

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 M5 and 2020 M8 Gran Coupe, M8 Coupe, and M8 Convertible vehicles. The transmission wiring harness can become damaged, resulting in an electrical short circuit.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace any damaged transmission harnesses. All harnesses will be rerouted and secured. These repairs will be performed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 3, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    NHTSA campaign 19V883000 · reported 11/12/2019

  • BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAUS · NHTSAModel years 2018–2020

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50i, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, Z4 sDrive, Z4 M40i, 740Le xDrive and 745Le xDrive, 2018-2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2019 M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and Rolls-Royce Cullinan and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

    NHTSA campaign 19V684000 · reported 28/09/2019

  • FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPUS · NHTSAModel year 2019

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 750i xDrive, 2019 M850i xDrive Coupe, M850i xDrive Convertible, X5 xDrive50i, X7 xDrive50i, and M5 vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may not have been properly attached to the engine, which may cause the fuel pump flange to crack, resulting in a fuel leak.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    NHTSA campaign 19V513000 · reported 03/07/2019

  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLYUS · NHTSAModel year 2018

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW M5 vehicles. The fuel level sensor in the fuel tank may become stuck against an in-tank fuel line, causing the fuel gauge to display an inaccurate and possibly larger amount of fuel than is actually available.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will secure the in-tank fuel line to keep the fuel line from contacting the fuel level sensor, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    NHTSA campaign 18V473000 · reported 17/07/2018

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWAREUS · NHTSAModel year 2018

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW M5 vehicles. In certain driving conditions, the engine control unit software may cause the fuel pump to stop.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine control unit software, free of charge. The recall began on June 25, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    NHTSA campaign 18V323000 · reported 16/05/2018

  • AIR BAGSUS · NHTSAModel year 2016

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    NHTSA campaign 16V914000 · reported 20/12/2016

  • CHILD SEATUS · NHTSAModel year 2016

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535d xDrive, M5, 550i, 550i xDrive, and 535d sedans. The affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child seat from fully engaging both lower anchors. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair the inboard lower anchor on the left rear seat, free of charge. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    NHTSA campaign 15V718000 · reported 30/10/2015

  • POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTUS · NHTSAModel year 2015

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 BMW M5 sedans manufactured September 4, 2014, through December 4, 2014, 2015 M6 coupes manufactured September 3, 2014, through December 3, 2014, 2015 M6 convertibles manufactured September 8, 2014, through December 4, 2014, and 2015 M6 Gran Coupe vehicles manufactured September3, 2014, through December 4, 2014. The affected vehicles have a driveshaft that may have been inadequately welded during manufacturing.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driveshaft, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during September 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

    NHTSA campaign 16V540000 · reported 19/07/2016

Sources: EU Safety Gate (European market) and NHTSA (US market). See all BMW recalls.

Frequently asked questions

What is the top speed of the BMW M5?
The BMW M5 has a rated top speed of 288 km/h.
How much power does the BMW M5 have?
The BMW M5 produces 430 kW (576 hp).
What are the dimensions of the BMW M5?
The BMW M5 is 4,939 mm long, 1,887 mm wide and 1,481 mm tall.
How much does the BMW M5 weigh?
The BMW M5 has a kerb weight of about 2,532 kg.
What are the CO2 emissions of the BMW M5?
A new BMW M5 registered in the EU/EEA in 2025 emits 48 g/km of CO2 (WLTP, plug-in hybrid (petrol)).
How many seats does the BMW M5 have?
The BMW M5 has 5 seats.