The internet has been abuzz with chatter following news that the BMW M5 Touring will be available in the US for the first time ever. We’ve been missing out for decades, however, first with the early ’90s M5 Touring (E34), followed by the M5 Touring (E61) in the late aughts.
“A superlative sportscar, packed in a sporty, but never showy bodywork” – that’s how BMW M described the first BMW M5 Touring in 1992.
A sleepless night takes me on a deep dive into BMW history. Non-M 5-Series tourings lined up by generation for a press photo make me smile and giggle, disturbing my dog, Cota, who wonders why the lights are on and I’m not in bed. Who wouldn’t want an M5 wagon as a daily driver? Tell me you’ve never fantasized about squandering savings on a motor-swapped 5-Series touring, a DIY M5 touring of your own? I have, and you’re being dishonest if you say you haven’t.
“The E60 M5 was arguably the car that ignited the ‘arms race’ of contemporary super saloons. It was the first such vehicle to use a V10 petrol engine, and the headline figure of 500bhp was extraordinary at the time. Enthusiasts had scarcely had time to lift their jaws from the floor when the E61 Touring version arrived in 2007.” – Collecting Cars
The E61 M5 Touring stats are impressive even by today’s standards. 5L V10. 507 hp with 383 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 in 4.7 seconds (or less). Launch control. Not very demure. Not very mindful. Not in the slightest.
It’s now two hours before my alarm will go off, and I’m re-watching a video where Chris Harris reviews his new-to-him E61 M5 Touring, and I fall in love all over again. With the car, not Chris. I hope you enjoy the watch as much as I do, even the second time around. – Cat Choe
“Chris Harris is very good at talking about cars. Knowledgeable, entertaining, and frequently witty, it’s clear why he’s had success in the video review format. However, when discussing his newest acquisition, the E61 BMW M5 Touring, he exudes an infectious excitement reminiscent of a thrilled 10-year-old—and we say that in the most complimentary manner possible.” – Carscoops
