2008 BMW M5 Quality Review

With a price tag north of $80,000 and an M badge on the back, the 2008 BMW M5, as you might expect, should deliver in the performance category. Furthermore, with a BMW logo on the front, the M5 BMW should also come through fully in terms of comfort and quality, and reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that it doesn't disappoint.

The 2008 BMW M5 offers high performance and room to seat five comfortably. Up front, Cars.com notes that "heated M Sport front seats with 16-way power adjustment for the driver" are standard, while the passenger seats are 14-way adjustable. MyRide.com reviewers add "the spaciousness of the cabin makes for one of the most comfortable rides around." Edmunds agrees, saying "the supportive seats and commodious backseat further serve to make this an easy car to live with every day." Edmunds does, however, recommend that buyers stick "with the standard 16-way adjustable front seats" because the 20-way adjustable M multifunction seats, which are optional, are "equipped with active backrest bolsters that move inward to brace the driver (or passenger) against cornering loads," and as good as that sounds, the feature is "gimmicky" and makes for distraction at "critical moments." And ConsumerGuide reviewers remark that while headroom and legroom in the M5 BMW are good in the front, headroom is only adequate in the back, and legroom "can grow tight" when the front seats are pushed "far back and lowered."

One of the few complaints in this category regarding the BMW M5 concerns cargo room, which ConsumerGuide says is marginal, noting that "the trunk isn't very wide or deep" and "interior storage is disappointingly meager." MyRide.com notes that the maximum cargo volume inside the BMW M5's trunk is 14 cubic feet, which is a bit of a disappointment.

When reviewing the M5 BMW, it's hard to stay negative for too long, and despite the less-than-impressive cargo space, the 2008 BMW M5 returns to its superlative form when it comes to quality. Edmunds reviewers report that "build quality and materials inside the M5 are outstanding," and Kelley Blue Book says that the "brushed-aluminum interior trim can be replaced by either of two no-cost optional woods, and its high-end Merino leather can be optioned up to perforated leather and to cover the entire dash." Car and Driver adds that "leather covers nearly every part of the M5's lavish interior," and they feel that the cabin is "a huge improvement over the regular 5-series interior and make[s] you feel as if you were in a four-door Ferrari." MyRide.com reviewers are also impressed by the "signature M Series logos and tri-color stitching on the seat backs and leather-wrapped steering wheel," all of which increase the luxurious ambiance.

The impeccable build quality on the 2008 BMW M5 also helps keep exterior noises from intruding into the cabin. ConsumerGuide reviewers report "wind rush is minimal at highway speeds." However, Edmunds raises one issue with sound on the BMW M5, reporting the engine delivers "a tinny exhaust note" they feel is inappropriate for a car as capable as the M5 BMW.