The M Take On The Facelifted 5 Series Sedan Is Here

• Gets similar styling to the refreshed 5 Series, but with blacked out elements.

• M-specific elements offered inside, including the seats, steering wheel, and pedals.

• Can go from 0-100kmph in 3.3 seconds, 0.1 seconds faster than the 5 Series.

Following the launch of the facelifted 5 Series sedan in India last week, BMW has now launched its sportier sibling, the M5 Competition at a price tag of  Rs 1.62 crore (ex-showroom), with largely the same updates.

To keep things more ‘M’, elements like the traditional kidney grille, rear spoiler and ORVMs are decked out in black. That’s not all though. The fast sedan also gets smoked LED tail lights, black chrome tailpipes, and black inserts on the rear bumper. The front is highlighted by BMW’s laser headlamps and L-shaped DRLs. If that’s not enough to distinguish it from its relatively normal sibling, there’s quite a few black M5 Competition badges to spot around the car. 

In addition to this, a few optional additions are also available. These include M double-spoke wheel replacements for the stock 20-inch M light alloy wheels, M Carbon ceramic brakes, and an M Carbon engine cover. 

Inside, there’s more M5 badging all around, accompanied by M-specific elements such as M multifunction seats, M seat belts, M footrest and pedals, M leather steering wheel, and an illuminated M5 logo. To add an element of comfort, the sedan also gets seat heating, an auto tailgate, ambient lighting, four-zone climate control, and a carbon fibre reinforced polymer sunroof. 

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Features offered onboard the M5 Competition consist of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, gesture control, head-up display, parking assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking.

Under the hood, the mechanicals remain unchanged. The M5 is still powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 that puts out 625PS and 750Nm, helping it hit 100kmph in just 3.3 seconds. It continues to be paired with an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission and uses the xDrive all-wheel-drive system with a choice of 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD drive modes. 

Being an M version, it also gets a retuned chassis, M-specific suspension, new shock absorbers (borrowed from the M8 GC), active M differential, track mode, better driving dynamics, and bespoke engine mounting.

The M5 Competition will be offered in India as a completely built up (CBU) model, which explains the glaringly obvious disparity in pricing between this and the 5 Series (Rs 62.90 lakh onwards). Customers will also be granted membership to the exclusive BMW Excellence Club, giving them access to luxury experiences around the world.