My Weekend with the G99 M5 Touring (Swiss Alps Driving Review w/ Videos)

I waited with my report a bit till I had a number of extra movies up. Now, the primary 4 are on YouTube with the following 4 arriving shortly.

Late final yr I had the chance to spend a weekend with the G90 M5 and I shared my ideas right here and right here. However for a mountain move — or touge, as individuals wish to name it now — aficionado, it felt mistaken to not whip it throughout the Alps. Thankfully, this era is on the market as Touring once more, so I couldn’t miss the prospect.

So I didn’t.

To me, the G9x M5 is among the least offensive-looking current Bimmers (apart from that infernal flap within the entrance left wing). The Touring’s tail-light graphic is a touchless aggressive than the saloon’s, however it’s nonetheless handsome (however clearly not as good-looking because the E61 M5 Touring — unbiased opinion of a former E61 M5 Touring proprietor). It actually dawned on me throughout recording on the Nufenen Cross summit.

BMW Switzerland has specced Frozen Deep Gray Metallic, They appear obsessive about matte paints — M8 Comp Gran Coupe, M3 Comp, M2, and now this). I’d wish to level out two different bits of apparatus: One is the panoramic solar roof. That is noteworthy as a result of the registration papers listing a kerb weight of 2604kg (that’s in line with EU norms — full tank + 75kg driver) and it’s in all probability that large heavy piece of glass pushing the determine to 2.6 tons. In the event you assume that’s rather a lot, simply weight for the report on the XM.

The opposite is much extra nice: The M5 Touring’s wheels are clad in Pirelli P Zero R (*) tyres. The R is a slightly new compound slotting in between the PZ4/PZ5 and the Corsa. What higher tyre to have in these apocalyptic circumstances?

We’re in the course of summer season — I discussed that, apocalyptic climate and all — and the mountain passes are open, so I am going for the Driving Distilled loop — Gotthard, Nufenen, Grimsel, Susten. 4 passes, all above 2000m asl, all with their very own tales.

Gotthard North, 2107m asl

Summer season is nice — yeah, proper, summer season, take a look at the torrential rain — as a result of the passes are open, however that additionally means vacationers — plenty of them. Some are simply passing via, others desire a slice of the street themselves. The problem with Gotthard is that you simply get each varieties as some simply wish to dodge the queue on the tunnel by crawling excessive.

So normally, there’s not a lot driving to be executed right here. And the street itself doesn’t assist: Constructed to beat the terrain into submission, not circulate with it. It’s large with just a few turns.

Sure, I really feel like an fool, complaining a few street being too good. Let’s simply transfer on.

And Gotthard wasted no time making me eat my phrases. Boring street? Sure. Boring drive? The climate had different concepts.

Gotthard South, 2107m asl

I’m positive a few of you people have performed Murderer’s Creed. In that case, you’re in all probability aware of the loading display screen: Simply the character, surrounded by inescapable, countless fog. Seems it exists in actual life too: The map simply refuses to load with the added caveat that the drops and sheer cliffs are nonetheless there.

Visibility: 0%. Harm-potential: 100%

Fortunate me, I used to be testing a second digicam setup, and I feel it caught Armageddon properly.

Nufenen East, 2478m asl

I like Nufenen. It’s solely open for about three months a yr, and the second you flip off the Gotthard street the environment shifts: serene, nearly surreal. A number of villages on the backside, then a large inexperienced and largely empty valley that step by step tightens into slopes main as much as Switzerland’s second-highest move.

On the summit you’re typically greeted by wild however oddly pleasant — and given the variety of hard-accelerating vehicles blasting previous — not simply impressed ibex. As Swiss because it will get.

I choose up the tempo because the street meanders up the valley, offering not a lot of a problem to both automotive or tyres, though it’s nonetheless raining closely.

Larger up, the asphalt provides solution to concrete slabs, including a jarring rhythm to the climb. With the floor nonetheless moist, the Pirellis don’t require a lot persuasion to let go. I’m in MDM/4WD Sport all day, in gradual hairpins making an attempt to get an understanding of how the automotive (and the software program) reacts when it will get slidey.

However because the street dries, so does my braveness. I actually don’t wish to combat the Pirellis within the dry on roads like these.

Nearing the summit the fog returns. That is improbable, why wouldn’t you go for a drive in climate like this?

Nufenen West, 2478m asl

Nufenen West is a wholly totally different beast. No much less stunning, thoughts you, however manner much less affected person — no time to take a breather. Not way back I used to be sitting in an Alpine A110 S, chasing a G87 M2 and it was hilariously good enjoyable.

This time I’m alone, and the M5 Touring just isn’t precisely waltzing via the tight downhill hairpins just like the Alpine did. Understeer? Not likely, however not as willingly turning because the goat-like Alpine (so it took a 380km journey to find {that a} mild, mid-engined automotive is extra keen to show than a

three-ton behemoth? Get the Pulitzer prepared!)

Don’t, nonetheless, for a second assume that the M5 is clumsy. Removed from it, it may not be its favorite exercise, nevertheless it’ll not shrink back from filling the little Alpine’s rear-view mirror — and never solely on the straights.

What actually ruins a drive on these roads is a lazy steering rack: Lifeless centre (Oh, you want a written utility every week forward?), overly delicate to various camber (Nevermind, let’s go this fashion as a substitute) or unhealthy tyres (I took your steering wheel enter as merely a suggestion). Not the M5, although, and definitely not on these Pirellis.

Talking of which: for as soon as the tyres aren’t inflated to oblivion. Often these vehicles present up at 3 bar chilly, and with strain dropping at altitude they find yourself feeling like monster-truck tyres. (Okay, they don’t seem like it, however the eggshell-driving sensation is actual.)

The steep hairpins aren’t precisely nice, however as soon as the street opens up, the M5 comes alive. That was a very good one!

Grimsel South, 2163m asl



Hairpins are boring. And coming from the vacationer magnet that’s Furka Cross (Bond and all), hairpins are all you get and also you’ll miss the improbable bit from Oberwald to Gletsch (that technically just isn’t a part of Grimsel).

It’s there that I realise that the suspension setup have to be too delicate. Usually we solely speak about damper stiffness as a result of producers have sorted spring charges fairly effectively (or possibly they haven’t when you take a look at how a lot Porsche fiddles with the spring charges on their GT vehicles). However that is totally different.

There are some cobbled sections, stays of the outdated street, and each crossing sends a hefty jolt via the automotive: We’re hitting the bump stops. Now, I’m positive the chassis can take it, nevertheless it’s disagreeable nonetheless. I can’t assist however marvel if BMW M will regulate the suspension tune when the LCI is due.

Other than these few cringy moments, that is nice enjoyable. Oh, and the aforementioned hairpins? A lot simpler to endure in a RWD or rear-biased AWD automotive.

Grimsel North, 2163m asl



Site visitors is all the time annoying on the passes, however one way or the other it’s particularly annoying on Grimsel North.

Lengthy stretches the place you’ll be able to’t overtake due to poor visibility, interrupted by lengthy stretches the place you’ll be able to’t overtake due to “conservative” pace limits, sprinkled with lengthy stretches the place you’ll be able to’t overtake as a result of the authorities appeared to have scored a sale on white paint and determined to attract stable white strains in all places.

Grimsel North is mainly an train in persistence — and acceptance since you would possibly roll into Innertkirchen behind the identical dawdler you’ve been following from the highest.

Not at the moment although. The climate’s been unhealthy, so the street is empty. It’s nonetheless an train in persistence, although, with loads of sections the place the automotive’s simply rolling — Switzerland, so 80 kph, child!.

However there’s one thing to sit up for.

Susten West, 2224m asl



Felt unhealthy for me on Grimsel North? Don’t. Susten West makes up for it. Even tougher to overhaul however infinitely extra rewarding. Consider it as a climb in three acts:

Act 1 — Heat-up: The street climbs gently, weaving via small villages, now and again tossing in a number of fascinating bends, teasing glimpses of what’s forward. By the point you attain Obermaad — the final village — you’re absolutely dialled in.

Act 2 — Dedication: No extra interruptions, simply driving. A number of gradual hairpins, however largely flowing corners, tight sufficient to load up chassis and tyres. The M5? Unfazed thus far, however we’re not there but. Previous the Feldmoos bus cease hairpin comes a quick, flowing part with the proper sort of bends: nonetheless inside the posted limits, however you want actual religion within the automotive’s entrance finish. Evidently, it’s the proper chase part too. The M5? Nonetheless unfazed.

Act 3 — The Cherry on Prime (or cherry to the highest?): You arrive on the Steingletscher hairpin (or the Murcielago hairpin). From there it’s the ultimate push. The onerous work is completed, the reward in your arms: A view again down all the valley you simply drove up. and so they manner you drove up right here. Until, after all, the fog rolls in — which it typically does, with out warning.

#WorthIt

Susten East, 2224m asl



No extra offended driving. Two hairpins on the prime, mirrored by two-ish hairpins on the backside. In between a easily flowing ribbon of asphalt tracing the northern flank of the valley — excellent for constructing momentum, and confidence within the entrance axle (the rear’s executed for at the moment).

I don’t get pleasure from this stretch in quick turbocharged vehicles. There’s nowhere to speed up, you’re simply rolling, however since there’s additionally no significant engine-braking, you’re on the pedal all the way in which down. The petrol-hybrid M5 mitigates this with a dollop of regen-braking (Oh, God, I’m a hybrid-apologist now) and thus permits you to play this little sport: Maintain the automotive pinned at 80 kph all the way in which down, with out touching any of the pedals.

More often than not that is no drawback in any respect, however there are a number of quick bends — blind, so no slicing — that demand actual belief. Within the nat-asp GT3 and the E61 M5 (engine braking is plentiful) you may simply glide down at pace with out touching the throttle or brakes. Foolish video games, possibly, however driving any street after Susten West is like making an attempt to sing after Matt Munroe’s On Days Like These (for youthful readers: the music within the authentic Italian Job intro).

The M5? Nonetheless untroubled. Actually, I catch as much as a 458 close to the underside whose driver sadly just isn’t within the temper to play. I’d wish to assume that it will have been embarrassing, for him.

Closing phrases

Every time individuals hear I had the M5 Touring on check, the query comes up: This or the G8x M3? Straightforward one — The M3. However is anybody actually shocked? The M3 has all the time been the touge-ist’s alternative. (Oh God, what have I turn into?).

The M3’s chassis is peak M wizardry. Extra compact, much less heavy (see what I did there?), and with all of the torque on the planet to catapult itself wherever it pleases.

Depart apart the magnificent roar of the V10 — a motive all its personal to return right here — and my picks for these roads would nonetheless have been the E46 and E92 M3, every with their very own unforgettable soundtrack. So nothing new there.

What units the M5 aside from different super-salloons (or super-estates), although, is that this: it might not spend its weekends up right here, solely ready to embarrass extra highly effective or costlier vehicles. However provoked it, and it’ll — fortunately. The G9x isn’t any exception.

Is it my favorite M5? No (as if something may beat the E61 — an excessive amount of?). Am I keen to simply accept it as an M5 based mostly on the way it goes and drives? Completely.

Do you?