This BMW M5 is over 30 years old but manages to stay ahead of a Porsche Cayman GT4 behind it on the Nordschleife
by Dim Angelov, on LISTEN 02:31The Nurburgring is a coveted place by many petrol heads around the world and mastering the challenging circuit is a feat few can boast of. Misha Charoudin, the Nurburgring’s resident Russian, professional test driver, vlogger, and Nordschleife veteran is taking us for another ride around the legendary race track. This time, the car of choice is a BMW M5 E34 – a car that is as capable as it is overlooked because of the M5 models that came after it. This is how the, now 32-year-old performance sedan performs.
The BMW M5 E34 was produced between 1988 and 1994 (1995 for the Touring), with the facelifted, 3.8-liter version coming out in 1992. This being a 1990 model year, it comes with the S38B36, 3.6-liter inline-six engine, which produces 315 horsepower at 6,900 RPM and 266 pound-feet (360 Nm) at 4,750 RPM. A five-speed manual sends power to the rear, resulting in a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 6.0 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
| Engine | S38B36, 3.6-liter inline-six |
|---|---|
| Power | 315 HP @ 6,900 RPM |
| Torque | 266 LB-FT @ 4,750 RPM |
| Transmission | five-speed manual |
| 0 to 60 mph | 6.0 seconds |
| Top speed | 155 mph |
This particular M5 has received a slight suspension upgrade and upgraded front brakes that come from the bigger BMW 7 Series. Other than that, and some light restoration to repair rust, the 1990 BMW M5 is bone-stock. Not much time is wasted before Misha and the driver get into the car and let’s just say there were sections where the old Beemer went well over 200 km/h (124 mph). As you will see in the video, in the right hands, the Bavarian sedan can keep a Cayman GT4 behind it.
Why is it the second-generation BMW M5 among the less popular M5 models, then? While all M5s are legendary in their own right, but it probably has something to do with how innovative and awesome the E39 M5 and the E60 M5 that came after it are, although most of us would not want to maintain the latter. The track is too busy for the M5 to go all-out, but at least this gives you a chance to take a closer look at the race track’s features and memorize them for when you actually visit.
