Chris Harris Drives his BMW M5 Touring Part 1 | A Naturally Aspirated Family Supercar
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.
While Chris Harris famously once owned a ‘DIY’ M5 Touring based upon the E34-generation model, until now he’d never had an E61. That changed at the start of 2024, with Chris snapping up a 128,000-mile car in Indianapolis Red. If it felt slightly familiar, all was revealed soon after with a call from BMW to confirm that it started life as a press car.
As you’d expect, Chris took the car straight to the Llandow Circuit to put it through its paces. Some 125,000 miles after he last drove it, how would this E61 M5 Touring stack up? Would worrying warning lights or “expensive grumbles” ruin the potential honeymoon period with this new addition to the garage? Watch the video to find out what he discovered.
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Makes me feel warm and fuzzy to see Chris giving praise to the masterpiece that is E6x M5 and S85! I'm deeply in love with mine. Despite common lore, the S85 is a robust engine. The recipe is BE bearings to resolve the rod bearing issue, and Jason's throttle actuator upgrade, and that engine is golden. My 6-speed chariot is at 166k miles, still puts down over 500 hp, and goes over 200 mph on the Autobahn. I adore driving it. The carbon fiber intake plenum should be mandatory, the intake noise is biblical and makes the V10 experience even more visceral.
Your E60 M5 video series is the main reason I’m considering an E60 M5 as a baby hauler. 🙌
Seriously, Chris just needs to ship this car to you for a go over, youtube colab is a go.
Thanks Sreten.
Totally remember when Project Raleigh hit m5board. What a great journey for your 6 speed! These s85s are robust if they are maintained properly. 14 years and 192,000 miles on my 6 speed e60 m5.
Top tip, you shouldnt NEED to rebuild the engine yourself to keep it from coming apart, especially on an 80 thousand dollar plus sports saloon turned into a wagon, the thing should have been fixed within 6 months from it leaving the factory with a mass recall, not damn near 20 years on by a specialist such as yourself, hell your the only one crazy enough to know what's wrong with it, let alone fix it properly like you did like with that 850 I where they just took the electronics, doubled them, and then set up a really lousy system to syncrhonise the stupid thing that doesnt even isolate the computer properly if you have to jump it off as I call them Broken Motor Werkes for a reason, worst part is I think you'd honestly be better off running one of their world war 2 jet fighter engines that barely lasted 50 hours of flight time over one of these either that or start a separate factory called Fixed Motor Werkes where you go through every BMW made since the early 2000's that doesnt use an inline 6 and just fix them all in one go and sell them back to us at a Premium, like their doing with Singers and the like, as I certainly wouldnt mind a BMW that actually works at 30K with you doing 15 grand of the work on a 5K car that way you actually get something quality back that's worth a damn that you can keep running for another 20 odd years on like people are doing with the ones from the 80's, and that really crazy Alpine one I got down the street from me that is literally painted puke yellow with blue and green graphics, A B6 would you believe, like no wonder the guy in norway painted the damn thing white before the guy found it, brought it back and restored it to its worse than factory normal condition
Chris: "I want the problems." BMW: "Wish granted!"
Buy an alfa, you'll definitely get one.
Haha that was awesome !
BMW: "You've come to the right place!"
The ultimate leaking machine.
@@DL.jused all your effort to get that cliché off the shelf, did you?
In 2007 I had a bit of money after working my ass off and building a small business… I was all set to buy a manual 550i in white on black… Then I saw the white E60 M5 on the showroom floor and I had to have it. Driving it off the showroom floor then redlining it down the street as the incredible sound of the v10 ringing was glorious. One of the best moments of my life. Do I regret spending that much on it. Not ever for a second ..
Going on my tenth year of ownership of an E60 M5 and I have to say I agree. I just can't seem to let it go. The SMG 3 really suits this car. Even after spending more than the cars value in maintenance I can’t seem to break away from it. It is a special car that will remain in my collection forever.
You could alway throw a manual box in
Bought mine in 2011. You're right, I'll never sell it. I still find excuses to go for a drive. £1.78/L did make me wince today though.
Yes. Also have one for 5 years and the car has been perfect in every way.
Why ruin the car… manual should have never been offered in this car period… sure you’ll have bragging rights, but that’s it as you’ve ruined the car….
Going on 16yrs on my ‘08 and has been one of the more reliable high strung cars I’ve owned. 95% of the buyers should have never owned… keep proper maintenance and proper warm up and it’s a happy car. Treat it like a normal commuter car and it’ll treat you as you should be treated…. This is why we can’t have nice things as majority of consumer and most so called car people actually are just fan boys that don’t appreciate the engineering and balls that it took to pull this type of car off….
I loved my M5 Touring - when it worked.....managed just over 11,000 miles in it over 10 months during 2012/13, in that time it cost BMW £12.2k in warranty claims (water in wheel well in boot where there is no wheel but lots of electronics bits & ecu's live, fuel pumps etc etc) & me over £5k (ate it's clutch en route to Nurburgring & needed discs & pads all round). Best seats in any car I've owned (including Recaro's in R8 although they're a close second). It managed an overall total of 12.1 mpg during my time, in one memorable run managing 121 miles from full tank to fuel warning light coming on. I sold it as I just didn't trust in anymore, subsequent owner did 44k miles with it & only blew a headlight bulb. We live & learn.....
what a load of trollox
Trollox? What a worthy reply from such an eloquent fan. I am truly blessed :)
@M539Restorations and this car would be *chefs kiss*
Oh yes please 🤩
No slick top. He would never stop yelling
Sreten's @ M539 Reatorations E60 manual has been over 200 mph on the Autobaun! What a wonderful build he has done & so worth a look! Chris, You should plan on giving him a visit! The chemistry would be amazing! Both quick witted & have attention to detail! It's been a love affair with this beast ever since he put project Raleigh back on the road! Great work as always! & that sound!!!
That would be a godsend
Wasn't his the US-DM 6 speed manual one?
yes it is @@nabahmadi5012
The US manual is gearing limit (with stock redline) to somewhere just short of 200 I think. Maybe a redline lift and some tuning gets you there. The SMG could make it there stock once the speed limiter (if any) is removed.
That’s a collab I would watch!
Dude. You’re an absolute legend. Plain and simple.
Dude?
@@neilrafferty2097 Dude indeed.
"I want the problems." I totally get this comment from Chris. Old cars have problems we fix. That just makes us love them more.
08:20 "I don't want peace, I want problems always"
Chris and an AMG or a M car is always a treat
Absolutely
If you can manage the maintenance, compared to a new BMWs there is so much to love about the older ones; the tactile hydraulic steering, the timeless looks, N/A engine, the tasteful rim designs, the overall size etc etc...
The E chassis cars have my heart
Don’t get me wrong I absolutely love this car, but would struggle to call the looks timeless!
@@joemorgan164 I think it looks utterly fabulous, better now than when it was new.
Well said
A good car will always be a good car. This one is a great car.
Hello Jay, you made a very good video about this! The M5 for me is to expensive and troublesome. But my E61 - 550i M-Sport Lci is the next best thing. Especially with some upgrades like Bilsteins, a tune of the gearbox, remap of the engine etc. It even makes more torque (531NM) now then the M5 (520NM).
Standard BMW ownership experience: It breaks down with ALARMING FREQUENCY, causing no end of frustration and stress and anger - but then you get it fixed and go for a drive to find someplace to take photos for the classified ad you're definitely going to make, and you fall right back into love with it and decide to keep it.
No it won't if you maintain it. People drive them hard and don't look after it. This car is different. It was amazing and awful at the same time.
Currently on my 9th BMW, and the only one that ever "broke down" was a 12 year old e36 M3 track car, and the problem was a cracked prong on an aftermarket DME chip. I also worked for BMW service for 9 years, and actual break downs were not common. Perhaps with the exception of the early N54 DFI cars. But that was also the first mass produced direct injection engine, so you have to kind of give them a bit of a pass on that one.
@maxmoser412 16 for me and only one car that has gone on me is f31 320d. Engine blew out for no reason and I got a new one from BMW. Service it every 8-10 k, warm it up before and cool it down after trashing and nothing will go wrong. For God's sake, TOYOTA is using BMW engines.
Basically a kind of toxic relationship, hahahahahah ... Still totally worth it
Using capital letters doesn’t help you get your point across any better.
The only car I’ve owned that I’ve liked more and more the longer I’ve owned it. Very reliable if looked after properly
I dont think ive ever seen an E61 M5 Touring in that red... looks smart and perfect with those wheels 👌
It's not red
@@Birmingham_racing I'm talking about the car buddy... definitely red to my eyes
@@Birmingham_racing it's called Indianapolis Red 🤔🤷♂️
@@Birmingham_racing colour blind?
Yep - this is the life for any car enthusiast. About to get the bloody TVR ready for spring tonight. Nothing better than big engines and long roads. Thanks Chris Harris
Congrats on swallowing the brave pill, what a stunning M5 and in the only shape that matter, in touring !
My father had the E63 M6 back in the day-makes me smile to hear that exhaust note once again. Thanks for this!
This might be one of the nicest videos you´ve made Chris. This chapter of romance you´re living, comes across in the video. And I find it all very inspiring. All my love from Spain.
I am so grateful and blessed to own this beast and I've owned many M cars older and newer than the E60 M5. I have since moved on to Lamborghini and own a Huracan (V10 forever) and the E60 M5 is the only M car I still have along with a runaround M6 Gran Coupe. Also I must say despite the Lambo being a Lambo the E60 M5 somehow feels more special to drive and sounds better too! My M5 has a custom exhaust with genuine rear section+carbon tips from Akrapovic (they never made a system for the M5, just the M6), Eventuri carbon intakes and the newly released Eventuri full carbon plenum after being their prototype tester for many years and it just sounds fantastic. Fully loaded with the cooling/heated/auto-bolstered seats, extended leather everwhere ie dashboard, doors etc, alcantara roof, E92 style bonnet, LCI lights (easily the best BMW tail lights ever) carbon bits everywhere including a full carbon CSL boot and bonnet from Seibon. Despite owning it for 7 years and putting over 50K miles on it, still has a BMW warranty on it even with the mods! Absolutely zero expense spared on it. It truly defines the word 'legend' and I'll never sell it, as Clarkson said "it's the best car I've ever driven". 🙌
Hey do you have any social media where we can see photos of your car? I have a C63S at the moment but I think I'll sell it this year and go shopping for a E61 M5. See how the SMG is and if I don't like it manual swap it.
@tubejorrit Yeah you can find the cars on blackv10life :) Have been featured by the official BMW page as well 🙌
After having 18 Ferraris and 13 Lambos, I'd say I still prefer my Paganis and McLarens. They just feel better to drive while my supermodel wife sucks me off on our way to our villa after getting off our private jet.
@craigdavid6668 Clarkson said it was the best car he's ever driven after he reviewed the E60 M5 back in 2005. Slow gearbox in a Huracan? That DCT is one of the best ever 😂 Please don't comment on things you know nothing about 👍
@craigdavid6668 I genuinely think you're confusing the Huracan's DCT with the Aventador or Gallardo's single clutch...every single review has praised the gearbox because it's extremely good and one of the best ever to be put in a car. Pretty common knowledge... Evo's review just as an example: "All Huracáns utilise a dual-clutch transmission, and it's a fantastic unit. Far superior to the single-clutch unit Lambo still uses for the Aventador, with fast response to the paddles, instantaneous shifts up and down the transmission and its gearing is pretty bang on too." Again, you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about...unless you can find ANY evidence to back up your claim 😂🤡 Edit: @craigdavid6668 Just visited your channel, absolute pea-doh vibes from you posting nothing but strange looking little girls so can see why you're angry as you can't afford a supercar because if you did then you'd be able to lure a lot more children in more easily as opposed to that Toyota you've been rolling about in your whole life 😂 Everything makes sense now 😂🤡
I was on the motorway once. Doing a merry 160 km/h. One of these came along, at similar speed and then booted it. The way it picked up is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen.
I had an approved used saloon from Sytner about 10 years ago. Had a lame New Year’s Eve on year so my partner and I got up early New Year’s Day and blasted down to the tunnel. What followed was the best drive ever down to Paris for lunch and back in the day. Drank some fuel (to say the least) but howled down there and not a single French cop on the roads. The thing was and remains my favourite ever car. Renewal of warranty was about £650 a year! Epic machine. Didn’t lunch anything on me over three years. I was lucky it it was serviced on the button and I had the comfort of that full warranty. Had a special bond with that 🙌
bull
Congratulations. Delta, Mondial and this v10. Please continue and never stop. We need to preserve (and drive) such diamonds. We must ensure this passion for younger generations. Your faithful follower.
I'm not into BMWs at all but I'll watch any video with Chris getting excited and nerding out on them. Great to watch.
This really feels like the Chris and Neil films we grew up with! Something different and special about when people like Chris talk about their own cars and share their world with the audience like this. Superb.
And this why Chris Harris is the Goat of Car Journalists.
My old man had the saloon version of this brand new in 2005. Still to this day one of the best cars I’ve ever been in. I can still remember the number plate but I think that’s got something to do with it starting with BJ55
What an awesome vid. It’s so true that the older stuff is somehow more interesting. I’d go as far as saying this is one of if not my favourite car of all time. Bring on more content!
Chris my friend when it comes to car vids you are the GOAT...loved this and what a car ...
The fact you've rekindled an old 'fleeting relationship' and now own the csr you once drove upon its press release days is incredible all in its self! Look after her, cherish her, love her! One of the greatest cars of all time, the E60/61 M5! You just can't beat that noise and they now look even better when they launched. Chris Bangle got some grief for his designs but these are bob on!
My 2008 6-speed S85 E60 has 183000 miles and is going strong, watching this video gives me the warm fuzzies.
Agree RE the SMG transmission. I personally love it and think like you that it suits the car perfectly
Peak Harris. I’m glad you had the TG opportunity and you did a fantastic job with it, but we always loved this sort of content so it’s nice to see you back at it.
Chris, I just love your dedication to the fun. Respect man
Love the light in this film.
Had my E60 M5 for 3 years and loved it. And I agree some of the best standard alloys fitted to any M car. Congrats.
Look at you, continuing to roll out epic machines of the recent past. Well done Chris. This is fun for you, fun for us, and the subject matter is endless. Keep 'em coming!!
You sir, are a major influence in me putting my version of full effort into pursuing a career in cars. Your authentic passion for discovering a vehicle's personality is both contagious and addictive. From first seeing you test the 9ff way back in 2008 I thought "right I'd like to be like this guy and put my honest perspective into contributing to the automotive world." Cheers and thank you for many years of entertainment and education.
Some beautiful skids Mr Harris. Bravo.
I love what you guys do and these videos are truly a great watch.
Thank you for loving cars like you do!
I love how the one you shouldnt get is now the only M5 everyone wants now 4 years of wonderful ownership, highs and lows but the memories keep coming , ive owned lots of cars but nothing has made me feel so happy to drive dont manual swap it the smg is a big part of the v10 character, cars are allowed to have flaws and quirks Fit a full supersprint exhaust and change the intakes and love it, just uncorking the exhaust allows it to breath so much better.
The swap makes the car so much more reliable - and I think so much more fun. You lose a little bit of acceleration but if your not tracking it for times manual is the way to go.
Love your taste in cars, your collection is superb and I’m chuffed to know theirs others out there with my out look on cars.
So excited for what's coming up next to the M5! What a special car!
Completely vibing with this one. just went back to a 2012 c63 for similar reasons, new enough to have some creature comforts but old enough thats its still a raw exerience.
I remember I had a TopGear magazine and I saw an ad for the M5 V10 Estate, and I instantly fell in love with it
Smashing! What really impressed me is that your two slides onto the Hanger Straight were on precisely the same line - look at the rubber left on the road during the slo-mo shot to compare the lines. Nice one
The E60 M5 has always been the "practical" part of my dream 3 car garage. Back in the era I lived on a straight road that had a supermarket at one end and a BMW dealership at the other: Hearing the V10 wail down the road as (presumably) the salesmen went to get their lunch sold me completely on this car. And I love the styling too!
A failing SMG sound like a perfect opportunity to convert it to a manual transmission
But it doesn’t drive the same. SMG gets too much hate because people just don’t know how to drive them.
thank you@@y2kazan868
The manual was an afterthoughttaking the 550i gearbox which is not aligned ingear ratio to the V10. A DCT might be a great option though, some companies did map it but very rare.
@@egycsabthe E90 M3 manual bolts up to the engine as the S65 was based on the S85 and has more suited ratios.
@@y2kazan868stockholm syndrome
Thank you so,so,very much mister Harris,for making history repeat it's self,congrats!!!🙏🤝😁
My BMW ownership experience: very reliable, comfortable, handles great.
What a car. Loads of room and a 500hp na v10 what more could you want or need. Love it ❤
Fantastic as always, and spot on. I’ve had 3 BMWs, my current E36 M3 is my daily, ends up in the shop without fail every couple months, I’ve listed it for sale twice (CEL actually came on the night before its auction ended) but I’m now at peace with it staying with me forever. Brilliant cars.
I had one for eight years. Loved every minute of ownership. Eisenmann Race exhaust on it and it sounded glorious. Changed it to an F06 M6 GC but the E60 despite being slower was more exciting to drive by quite some main. I do miss it.
I miss my E60 M5 very much. A stunning , one of a kind car
One of my all time favourites
Great content, more of this please.
Chris, I absolutely bloody love this kind of content 👏🏽
great stuff, keep em coming
I'm happy to see you have an E61 M5. Great choice
I’m so happy he mentioned the seats that have the extra adjustment halfway up the back. Such a game changer!
Congrats Chris on this car! Looks fantastic. Looking forward to seeing more videos about it. Just picked up a Merc E350 estate myself :D
I had the 2000 E46, all the options as it was a demo car, brand new with 300 miles, yeah. But I never had one thing go wrong in 4 years except I always needed rear taillight bulbs replaced. The M5 was the dream car at the time. My buddy's M5 was in the shop every two weeks. I felt quite good about my basic 328i's reliability. But my buddy still talks that M5 like his one true love. Romance of the car with personality and drama. I really get it now.
Congrats Chris. Apart from the LFA it’s my favourite engine sound from that era 👌🤩🔥
Great video Chris really great words. I feel exactly the same about my e90 m3 and w204 c63 you can’t replace the historic nostalgia! Drive safe god bless!
I had this M5 from 2007 till 2010 and i regret selling it. The worst gearbox on the planet but this sound !!! I can still hear this amazing sound !!!
Owned one of these beauties in 2011 having owned x2 P1’s and one of the 1st Evo 7’s in the country, along with the Evo I would have my M5 touring back in a heartbeat….. driving one was complete theatre 👌
I briefly met Chris at Bicester in January as he signed his book for me. He’d not long bought this M5 and he quickly pointed it out to me a short distance away. It looks fab; something we will never see again. We’re both E28 M5 owners and I’m really hoping for more E28 content from him at some point….please - it’s been too long!!
I have Both a e60 m5 and a e63 m6 and love both the e63 m6 is actually a very well performing track car and about 450k miles racked up between the two of them. Love how durable they are.
I know my car not a M5, but have had a e61 M sport 530d for going on seven years now.. Had it throwing up some interesting problems now and then some I been able to sort out my self and others with Indy BMW garages. Think the shape as aged really well and there's something about it that I cannot see what I would replace it with.. It maybe a oil burner my one but it's got me by the heart strings.. Great clip Chris and we pop back to see up dates. 👍👍
This is the content we all always wanted
Much love Chris ❤ M5 Touring is literally my dream car
I love mine as well. Thank you for great video.
As an owner of a 2006 M6 for 6 years plus I can say its an amazing vehicle if you understand it. Did rod bearings and it has been a hella of a ride.
Your vid makes me more kin on buying this c55 amg wagon i want for years.
Worked in a main dealer when these came out. Absolute beast when new. Great memories of roadtests before dash cams 😇
Having owned an E60 M5 for 4 years, and keeping it in mint condition, almost got the best of me. However, every time I took the straight piped beast to its 8.250 it made me feel happier than any other machine has. I sold it to buy my current E92 M3. Although I love the M3, I miss my V10 every single day..
I’m looking forward to all the content with the new M5 Estate. I love me a super wagon and the M5 is one of my favorite ones.
27k seems like a hell of a lot of a 128,000 mile M5 Touring… just looked online, not a lot for sale, but late teens seems about right.
He paid £24,750 for it, per his comments, or so it sounded to me
Had mine over ten years, similar mileage, saloon but in the same red. Love it! Just had both front springs fail, up she goes on jack stands 😂
It’s pretty impressive that you slid two laps in precisely the same tire tracks on corner exit. Well done!
Real pleasure to watch this one, Chris. She's a beauty.
I agree, those wheels are great, always have been. The design matches that lovely body perfectly.
I do hope you find a way back on the maintream tele Chris, such a natural at it. This reminds me of my E39 528, god i loved it so much, but it was (surprisingly) fragile and bits always going wrong on it.
Chris, for the sake of your modules at the rear of the car, please keep the sunroof drains clear! Great car. I’d like to make one here in the states (and an e91. M3). Love it
I had one. 2012 to 2014. Best car I ever had. It was unlocked. 320kph on the clock, eismann exhaust, special edition. Fun part is, I saved money for a few years and bought it. Why? Becausee jeremy clarkson said it was a great car! (I did 20k km with 6000 eu on fuel. Epic car. Thnx Chris for reviewing it. 💯❤️
Looking forward to more!
coolest wagon I know of having that V-10. A station wagon that can hit 190+ MPH is a dream come true. The car has few competitors in this class, size, and performance. I love sports wagons the perfect vehicle.
just been out in my 08 335i convertable first time with the roof down this year, just love the old girl.
I have an 08 335i E92 coupe. Cant take the roof off but its always a wonderful drive.
Had a E60 M5 absolutely loved it was a real nice example the only issues I had was a new battery and a wheel speed sensor in 2 years of ownership
Had a 2009 e90 coupe 335i. But man. The amount of time it spent in the shop… this video reminds me of that.
Love the wheelrims too
Problems aside, glad you adore it, that’s the main thing. Also love to see someone brave enough and financially strong enough to take a proper punt on one. They should be enjoyed because they are a mega mega car! Imagine having one new in 2007, 500+ bhp super saloon that can still hold its own today corrrrrr 👌🏽
Awesome stuff, great to see one of these on the channel! I've just undergone a very expensive rebuild, but when you hear that v10 screaming, it's worth every $. Keep it as SMG, it suits the car. Stock wheels are perfect.
I put 36,000 miles on my 08 Monaco Blue E60 M5. I miss it all the time. Such a great car.
Gorgeous colour !!
I had an E60 M5 SMG and despite its Dame Edna face ... I really do miss that thing. Well done, Chris on acquiring the grocery getter version of this beast.
Dame Edna face 😂
I put a 'wand' in my E46 M3 with the SMG; it was roundly slated by the entire M3 community. However I absolutely love it and only drive using it, it creates that DTM feeling I was going for ❤
What a brilliant car review ❤