The Corvette C8 is pure sports car, one that looks fast even when it is parked, a two-seater, two-door, with a massive V8. The BMW F90 M5 is a nice-looking mid-size three-box sedan, perfect for taking the successful executive to work and back. It is a 5 Series, but the M in the name does give the game away. Under the skin, the F90 is a ravenous beast, capable of eating the Corvette for lunch. And that is just the ‘normal’ M5. There is a Competition version as well.
The F90 is the model and generation designation of the M5, and it was made from 2017 to 2023. When launched in 2017, this M5 was the first M5 to ditch the traditional rear-wheel drive in favor of the xDrive AWD. This gave better traction off the line, and it also had the option to move to a rear-wheel-drive bias when the stability system was dialed back. This gave the F90 M5 the best of both worlds, with a blend of confidence and road feel drivability 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 as having significantly higher performance than the standard model. M for motorsport, marked with a tricolor parallelogram and the letter M. M cars have much more powerful engines, transmission to match, and suspension and aerodynamics to make the most of this power. BMW tests and tunes its M models at 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 the standard form, this engine makes 600 horsepower and 552 pound-feet of torque. The Competition package bumps the power to 617 horses. But it is not only the massive horsepower and torque that allow the Bimmer to take on the Corvette, but it is the nature of the engine and how it delivers this power that makes the difference. Unlike the naturally aspirated engine of the ‘Vette that revs out, this engine has grunt from low rpm, thanks to the twin turbos and broad torque curve. When combined with a snappy-shifting 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 0-60 mph at 3.3 seconds for the standard M5 and 3.1 seconds for the competition version, but real-world testing achieved better times. The standard M5 was measured doing 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 with a speed of 129 mph.
BMW F90 M5 And Chevrolet C8 Corvette Spec Comparison
|
Models |
BMW F90 M5 |
Corvette C8 |
|
Powertrain |
4.4L Twin Turbo V8 |
6.2L V8 |
|
Horsepower |
600 to 617 hp |
490 to 495 hp |
|
Torque |
553 lb-ft |
470 lb-ft |
|
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
8-speed dual-clutch automatic |
|
Driveline |
AWD M iDrive |
RWD |
The M5’s top speed is governed to 163 mph, although there is an additional package that removes this limit and allows the M5 to reach 190 mph. But this M5 is not only about straight-line speed. The AWD and super-tuned chassis and suspension give it very good handling, and the ability to switch to RWD gives it the traditional BMW handling through long curves.
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Usability And Daily Practicality
The reason the F90 M5 is called a sleeper is that, at first glance, it is just a normal sedan. Sure, a nice-looking and quite luxurious sedan, but a car that can handle the daily commute, drop the kids off at school, and be used to go shopping for groceries. It has five comfortable seats, four doors, and a large trunk. It is a normal sedan, except for the part where it can go full Frankenstein when called upon.
In normal driving, the M iDrive gives great traction in wet or slippery conditions. You also don’t want to sound like a boy racer when you pull into the head office parking, so Comfort mode relaxes the suspension and the engine, reducing the racing growl to a classy murmur.
Comfortable Cabin
The interior of the M5 features loads of good-quality leather, seats that are sporty, but roomy and comfortable enough for longer journeys. The M5’s interior does give strong clues about its performance character, with the driver’s seat optimized for spirited driving, and the dashboard not all touchscreen.
Controls like the radio and AC are manual, which many drivers prefer to the fiddly touchscreen options now rife. The interior ambient lighting can be customized, the steering wheel and front seats are heated, and the steering column is power-adjustable. Options include ventilated front seats with massage function, heated rear seats, and four-zone automatic climate control. The 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 back seats have 36.5 inches of legroom and over 41 inches of headroom.
Infotainment And Connectivity
The F90 M5 production run straddles the meteoric rise in infotainment and connectivity, so the level of these now indispensable features can vary depending on the year model you get. The mid/late generation 2021 M5 has a respectable 12.3-inch touchscreen, mainly controlled by a knob 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 standard as well. Optional are a rear-seat infotainment system and a 16-speaker, 1400-watt Bowers & Wilkins system.
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F90 M5 Vs C8 Corvette
The comparison between the BMW F90 M5 and the Corvette C8 is a popular way of comparing a car that looks normal with one that is obviously sporty. It is also not really fair, 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, Though The F90 M5 Is Generally Cheaper Than A C8 Corvette
The purchase price of the F90 M5 varies wildly. A quick look at the auction prices on Bring A Trailer shows as low as $40,000 to nearly $200,000 for a late model, low-mileage Competition version. This is obviously a collector’s car. You can get a new Corvette for between $70,000 and $90,000. A 2021 used Corvette will average around $60,000.
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The German Luxe Lounge Or The Exotic American Muscle
The BMW is more powerful, but much bigger and heavier than the Corvette. Fantastic engineering and brilliant tuning give it handling and performance that will burn up any track. The Corvette is lighter and will feel more nimble. It really is 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 care about lugging kids or groceries, you will go for the ‘Vette. But if you like the idea of a sleeper, a stately sedan that blows everyone away at the lights, the M5 might just be the car for you.
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Why The F90 M5 Is A Great Used Buy
The BMW F90 M5 has only been out of production for a couple of years, but auction prices suggest it has already reached cult status. If you can get a solid M5 at a reasonable price, there is a very good chance that you will own an investment rather than a used car burden.
A Watershed Model
The F90 M5 was in many ways a watershed model in the development of the BMW sedan. It marked the first AWD after decades of legendary RWD sporty driving, but the ability to shift 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 is nothing wrong with a mild hybrid in the way BMW uses it, the current generation has gained a lot of weight and mechanical complexity.
Cult Status Achieved
The BMW F90 reaches cult or collector’s status far quicker than most cars. Even older cars with higher mileage have kept their value much more than almost any other luxury models of similar age, German or not. If you are into collector’s cars, and/or just a nice daily drive, but one that can blow the socks off a Corvette or unsuspecting Carrera, the F90 M5 may just hit the sweet spot.
Sources: BMW, GM, Edmunds, Bring a Trailer