Limited-edition BMW M5 marks 35 years

BMW has lifted the covers off a commemorative edition of the M5, celebrating the nameplate's 35 years of history.

Scheduled to begin reaching customers from July of this year, the BMW M5 '35 Years' will be produced in a batch of just 350 units for worldwide consumption.

Starting with the BMW M5 Competition as its base, the anniversary edition is powered by the same turbocharged V8 to produce 460kW and 750Nm for a 0-100km/h time of 3.3 seconds. As with the donor car, the anniversary model drives through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels.

Finished exclusively in Frozen Dark Grey II metallic – with a 'silk matt surface impression' – the anniversary edition M5 runs on a new design of 20-inch alloy wheel in a 'Y'-spoke pattern in coordinating 'Graphite Grey'. The standard brake calipers are finished in high-gloss black, but buyers may also specify the optional carbon-ceramic braking system with gold calipers.

Inside, the BMW M5 35 Years features multi-function seats trimmed in BMW Individual Merino leather in black, with contrasting beige seams. Complementing the seats are gold-anodized aluminium/carbon décor for the instrument panel, door cards and centre console. Door sill finishers feature the legend, 'M5 Edition 35 Jahre', which also appears in laser-inscribed form on the cupholder cover in the centre console.

The M5 model name was coined in 1984 for a performance model in the range for the E28 generation of BMW 5 Series. That original M5 was powered by a 210kW naturally-aspirated inline six-cylinder engine shared with the M1 sports car. A stronger five-speed manual transmission, locking differential, and enhanced suspension and brakes were part of the package and set the tone for M5 models to follow.

Subsequently, the M5 continued in the E34 generation with 232kW of peak power, rising to 250kW in 1992. When BMW introduced the E39 generation of M5 in 1998, the straight six was dropped in favour of a 4.9-litre naturally-aspirated V8 that produced 294kW. When the E60 generation of M5 arrived in 2005 it was powered by a 373kW V10 that owed its development to F1 racing.

For the F10 generation of 2011, the M5 dropped the V10 engine in favour of a V8, but this time with turbocharging. The 4.4-litre unit developed 412kW and ran through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Today's M5 is the F90 generation, sticking with turbocharged V8 power, but now driving through a conventional (eight-speed) automatic to all four wheels.

The M5 35 Years will be sold in Australia. BMW has set aside 10 cars for local buyers, with production for Australia due to begin in September and deliveries to follow in December.