BMW’s ballistic M5 Competition Pack

This power and torque is driven to the rear wheels by a combination of a seven-speed M dual-clutch transmission and Active M Differential.

You would think that this is enough? It is enough to scare the hell into such a feared machine as Nissan’s GT-R but I am telling you that for some it isn’t, and for those with an extra R110 000 lying around, you can opt to order your new R1 320 991 BMW M5 with a Competition Pack.

The Competition Package was specifically devised to improve the already good, for a full sized sedan, handling properties of the BMW M5. As an added bonus the output of the high revving V8 is increased by 11kW to 423kW.

The bottom line with the BMW M5 Competition Pack is that BMW are bringing some of their vast race track technology to the road by applying extensive modifications to the chassis set-up. Along with the suspension and damping systems, the stabiliser bars have also been more tautly tuned. In the BMW M5 this adjustment has resulted in a lowering of the car by around 10mm.

The Active M Differential on the final drive – standard on all models – is also issued with its own control unit in conjunction with the Competition Package. In combination with the modified set-up for the suspension, damping and stabiliser bars, this results in further improved traction. The new hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering with the M-specific Servotronic function, moreover, has more direct mapping to enable firm and secure contact with the road while further increasing the agility of the vehicle during cornering.

The package additionally includes exclusively designed 20-inch M light-alloy wheels along with a sport exhaust system featuring customary M twin tailpipes in black chrome that lend an unmistakable sporty note to both the look and the sound of the car.

So now that you know what your R100k gets you, how does it translate onto the road? I can tell you straight away that sprint times are slightly better with 100 km/h getting done in 4.46 seconds, the quarter mile at 12.32 seconds at 198.21km/h, the 1km distance at 253.01km/h, that by the way is quicker than the latest GT-R, while the fun stops a few seconds later a true 258.58 km/h. I can tell you that should the speed limiter electronics not get in the way, this family sedan will run quite easily over 300km/h.

Mechanical grip around corners and in the twisties is also improved but you must be daft if you think you can just throw this ballistic machine around on a public road. I warn you now, keep the DSC on as often as you can, otherwise you could find yourself heading backwards down your favourite piece of road quicker than you think or want to be.

The competition is stiff in this part of the market with Audi not being able to offer an RS6 but the exceptionally good RS7 as something that is less of a white knuckle ride. I really tried to get a Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S and Jaguar XFR-S for test at the same time, but try as I did, I couldn’t come right. The Merc probably represents the most direct challenge but the XFR-S is a bargain in this company and should not be excluded from a performance point of view either.

My call here is that a BMW man will stay a BMW man and enjoy the wild ride the M5 Competition Pack offers, just as the Audi And Merc man will enjoy the less frantic ride their cars deliver. And the Jaguar man might just smile the most as he paid the least and has just as much fun as them all.