H.G. Wells’ visionary concept of time travel might not yet have been realized, but I managed to transport back in time recently behind the wheel of first generations of the legendary BMW M5.
During the first drive event of the 2025 M5 sedan and touring in Munich, BMW Group Classic was on hand and brought a mouth-watering fleet of M5 sedans through the ages, from the first gen 1984 M5, based on the E28 535i chassis, to the V10-powered E60 of 2004, and from the 1998 E39 to the F10 of 2011 and the F90 of 2017. And, for performance station wagon lovers, the first gen, 1993 E34 touring.
Better still, this wasn’t just a static display for the assembled journalists to fawn over. Helpful members of the BMW Group Classic team were on hand to answer questions about each M5, and more importantly, hand out keys for a spin in one of these exceptional, and historic, vehicles. I have driven some older model M5s, but none were in the shape, mechanical and otherwise, as these exquisite feats of German engineering. Here’s what I learned about these historically important vehicles.
What makes the first gen BMW M5 sedan so important?
To set the stage for the BMW M5’s initial bow, consider that the top selling sedans in Canada in 1984 were the Plymouth Reliant, the Ford Tempo and the Dodge Aries. South of the border, the Chevrolet Cavalier topped the charts. That same year, deep in the heart of Bavaria, BMW master engineers were hand-building a high-performance sedan based on the E28 535i chassis and fitted with a modified engine from the legendary M1 sports car. The production M5 debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in February of 1985, and immediately claimed the title of fastest sedan in the world (245 km/h, 152 mph). Its 3.5-litre, inline six had a top output of 286 horsepower, and was mated to a five-speed gearbox. However, M5s sold in North America were outfitted with a catalytic converter, which diminished that output to 256 ponies. These North American versions were built between November of 1986 to November of the next year. While it’s exterior and interior shared most of the stylistic attributes of the 5-Series of the day, distinctive M badging set the M5 apart.
This first-gen M5 had a limited production run until 1988 of just 2,241 vehicles, making it one of the rarest M production vehicles.
Debates over which was the first-ever production sport sedan can go well into the night, however there is no argument that one of the most influential, and important, is this first gen M5 as it quickly established that there was indeed a market for a heady mixture of luxury and performance in a four-door package.
How does a four-decade old BMW M5 sedan drive?
It’s difficult to not feel a little sentimental when being up close and personal with the first generation M5 sedan. Its distinctive looks stir the soul of anyone who grew up in the Eighties, as at the time it represented a rare combination of German elegance and Teutonic might. That’s why, despite having each generation of the M5 on hand to drive, I beelined to the first-gen model with outstretched hand beckoning the key from a BMW Group Classic crew member.
The driver door opened with a satisfying click, its heft conveying a strong sense of quality. Settling into the well-worn, well-bolstered driver’s seat — festooned with the distinctive tri-colour BMW M logo (blue for the BMW brand, purple for a unique collection and red for motorsport) — the beauty of the analog dash framed by the leather, sport steering wheel triggered my journey into the past. Pushing in the firm and not-to-heavy clutch pedal, turning the key — another nod to the past — and sliding the five-speed shifter into first, I slipped back to 1985 as I maneuvered into midday Munich traffic.
It’s testimony to the skill, abilities and dedication of the dedicated BMW Group Classic team that this 40-year-old sedan felt rock solid as I up- and down-shifted through city traffic. And once unleashed on the Autobahn, this ride defied time again with its handling and performance. Yes, it did feel a little bit underpowered, but as I’d spent the previous day driving the 717-horsepower, 2025 M5 PHEV on the same roadways, recency bias factored in. It’s somewhat telling on where we are today in terms of horsepower when you realize that your garden variety Nissan Maxima sedan offers more ponies than the original M5. And despite having just 145,099 kilometres on the odometer, the first-gen’s M5 engine did feel a tad tired. Not surprising, I suppose, as every journalist and BMW aficionado who gets the chance to drive this lovely specimen no doubt pushes it hard.
I spent about 45 minutes driving this remarkable sport sedan, and another 15 minutes photographing it, and the entire time I felt transported back in time. Judging from the smiles and thumbs up this lovely piece of motoring history provoked during my time with it, many others enjoyed this journey into the past too.
What makes the first gen BMW M5 touring so important?
The second-gen M5 sedan (dubbed E34) debuted in 1988, and five years later the first-ever M5 touring, or station wagon, was produced. Just 891 units were built, marking the final M model that was built by hand and one that is even more rare than the first-gen M5 sedan. Its impressive 340 horsepower, 3.9-litre inline six features an innovative three-stage intake system. Top speed was reported to be 250 km/h (155 mph) and acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h a solid 5.9 seconds. The M5 touring has the distinction of creating the first station wagon with a sports car soul, and in doing so launched an entirely new segment. At least in Europe. North Americans have never had a chance to buy an M5 station wagon, but thankfully that will change next year when BMW Canada will offer the 2025 M5 PHEV touring.
How does a three-decade old BMW M5 touring drive?
Having returned the key for the first-gen M5 sedan to my newest best friend on the BMW Group Classic team, next up was the key to the M5 touring, a vehicle that I had never driven until earlier in the day when I spent the morning in the outrageous 2025 M5 PHEV Touring. Whereas that wondrous model is a showcase for the 21st century wizardry of M engineers and the associated digital-age technologies, the first-gen touring oozes old-world charm and sophistication, from its stylish interior to its high-end performance characteristics, and from its front-hinged hood to its double sunroof.
The first thing that struck me about this 31-year-old station wagon was what fantastic shape it was in, particularly in the cabin. “Showroom” quality is often hyperbole, but this thing was immaculate. Pop that front-hinged hood, and a sparkling, like-new six-banger greets you. And just 25,575 klicks on it! Despite being just five years older than the first-gen M5 sedan I’d just hopped out of, the Touring felt tighter from the first time I pressed the clutch and put the short-throw shifter into first gear. Buttery smooth describes shifting this thing, and neck snapping goes a long way in conveying the sensation when letting out the clutch and matting it between fourth and fifth gears. Handling was precise and sure, with very little body roll and sharp steering inputs belying this 30-something vehicle. It was only when I glanced in the rearview mirror that I was reminded I was driving a station wagon, not piloting a sports car.
There are some digital readouts on the dash, but still lovely and big analog speedo and tach convey the most important real-time information. Adding to that sense of changing technologies is a centre-console mounted Siemens phone. And I loved the dual sunroof, another feature that foretells the future, in this case the massive panoramic roofs found on contemporary vehicles.
Final thoughts on the first-gen M5s
Following my drive of the two first-gen M5s, I dutifully cycled through the other historic M5s offered up by BMW Group Classic. Yes, the 1989 E39 — considered by the most-serious of M-aficionados to be the ultimate version — was a track-quality sedan, its 4.9-litre V8 producing a Wagner-like crescendo and the debut of the ‘sport’ mode marking an important step in the technology of performance. And of course, the 2004’s E60 with its plus-500 horsepower V10 made Autobahn runs thrilling, if not a tad terrifying.
But each time I returned to the M5 collection for a key swap, I couldn’t help lingering over those two first-gen M5s. The beautiful bodywork, so unlike the cookie-cutter designs we see today. The wonderful interiors, bereft of plastic and touchscreens, and replete with analog displays and good old switches and dials. And I wasn’t alone, as at dinner that night the consensus was that those two original M5s, in sedan and station wagon form, were the stars of the show. And it wasn’t just sentimentality, though admittedly the romance of both vehicles is infectious. It is there importance not only to BMW as M flagships, but also to the greater automotive community, proving that four-doors and station wagons could be just as performance-oriented as two-door sports cars.
And finally, the time machine. Driving that first-gen M5 sedan, I imagined negotiating the Stelvio Pass switchbacks in the mid-Eighties, alone on the fabled road with a sport sedan that exudes confidence and performance. In the first-gen M5 Touring, it was negotiating twisty and snowy mountain roads en route to a ski chalet in the Alps, circa 1994.
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