BMW M5 2011

The 2011 BMW M5 Base belongs to the fifth generation of the M5, introduced that same year. It continues the line of high-performance 5 Series-based sedans first established in 1984. In the model’s history, this version marks a technical shift with the arrival of a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, rated at up to 575 horsepower for the F10 generation. As the Base version, it represents the standard configuration of this generation, with no additional equipment details specified in the dossier. Its importance lies mainly in its position within the M5 timeline and in the move to a more modern engine concept than the one used before it.

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History

The BMW M5 began in 1984 as the high-performance offshoot of the 5 Series, created to combine everyday usability with serious performance. The first generation, based on the 535i chassis, used a 3.5-liter inline six derived from the BMW M1 and produced 286 horsepower. Later generations steadily moved the formula forward: the E34 added a Touring version, the E39 switched to a 4.9-liter V8 with 400 horsepower, and the E60 introduced a 5.0-liter V10 rated at 507 horsepower. In 2011, the fifth-generation F10 started a new chapter with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, rated at up to 575 horsepower. The 2011 M5 Base sits at the beginning of that era and reflects the standard specification of the generation. It belongs to a long progression defined by rising output and major mechanical changes.

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Technical data

7 powertrains recorded for the M5. Some figures apply to the version as a whole rather than to each engine.

Compare powertrains

Pick a powertrain: the detailed sheet below follows your selection.

Comparison of official powertrains. Selecting a column updates the detailed sheet.
Criterion
Power	210 kW	232 kW	250 kW	294 kW	373 kW	250 kW	373 kW
Torque	340 Nm	360 Nm	400 Nm	500 Nm	520 Nm	400 Nm	520 Nm
Gearbox	Manuelle, 5 rapports	Manuelle, 5 rapports	Manuelle, 6 rapports	Manuelle, 6 rapports	Automatique, 7 rapports	Manuelle	Automatique, 7 rapports
Drivetrain	Propulsion	Propulsion	Propulsion	Propulsion	Propulsion	Propulsion	Propulsion
Fuel	Essence	Essence	Essence	Essence	Essence	Essence	Essence

Showing: 5.0L V10 7AT

This powertrain

Power: 373 kW
Torque: 520 Nm
Transmission: Automatique, 7 rapports
Drive type: Propulsion
Fuel: Essence

Recorded across the whole version

0-100 km/h: 4.6 - 6.5 s
Top speed: 245 - 250 km/h
Displacement: 3453 - 4999 cm3
Consumption: 11.3 - 15 L/100 km
Dimensions: 4620 x 1699 x 1400 mm
Weight: 1445 - 1955 kg

Source: cardatawiki

Production

The 2011 BMW M5 Base belongs to the F10 fifth generation, which the dossier states was produced from 2011 to 2017. No more specific information about launch timing, production numbers, or markets is provided. What can be established is that this version appears at the start of the F10 production period. It accompanies the introduction of the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and continues the M5 line that began in 1984. Without further details, the production context has to remain limited to that place in the timeline.

Evolution

Compared with the previous generation, the 2011 M5 marks a major mechanical change. The move from the E60’s V10 to the F10’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 shows a new technical direction for BMW’s sport sedan. The dossier states that this fifth generation produces up to 575 horsepower, placing it among the most powerful versions mentioned in the provided history. The Base version corresponds to the standard trim of this generation, with no separate equipment details given. Its significance comes from being part of the F10 launch and from introducing this new engine architecture. It is an important step in the M5 story, bridging the naturally aspirated models of the past and the later generations.

1984M5 Base

Same variantPhotos: 1

1998M5 Base

Same variantPhotos: 0

2017M5 Base

Same variantPhotos: 7

2020M5 Base

Same variantPhotos: 5

2024M5 Base

Same variantPhotos: 1

Variants

In the provided dossier, the Base version is not described with any equipment differences from other trim levels. For the 2011 BMW M5, it should therefore be understood as the standard configuration of the F10 fifth generation. That generation is defined by a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and an output rated at up to 575 horsepower. Among the important M5 versions listed in the dossier are the E28, the E34 Touring, the E39, the E60, the F10, and the F90 Competition. In that context, the 2011 M5 Base occupies the starting point of the F10 range before later family developments. The dossier does not support further detail on trim-specific variants.