BMW M5 E60

Lore & Background

In the Forza universe, the E60 M5 sits in a unique niche: it is the car you reach for when you want to feel like a street-legal supercar without sacrificing the ability to park it at a client's office. Across the Motorsport titles, it has been a go-to for players who want to dominate the S-class sedan bracket with a machine that sounds like a fighter jet on takeoff. Its naturally aspirated V10 delivers a linear, screaming power band that rewards aggressive throttle inputs, and in the sim-racing entries, that character translates into a car that demands respect on long straights and tight corners alike.

In the Horizon open-world games, the E60 M5 becomes a symbol of understated luxury on the road. Players often encounter it as a high-tier purchase or a reward for completing specific challenges, and its presence in the world's traffic or as a rival's ride adds a layer of narrative: this is the car of someone who doesn't need to show off but still commands the road. The V10's distinctive wail, audible in the game's audio design, has made it a memorable auditory signature for fans.

The car's longevity in the franchise—spanning multiple generations of both sub-series—speaks to its balanced design. It is neither the fastest thing in the garage nor the most exotic, but its combination of power, weight, and driving feel makes it a perennial choice for players who value engagement over raw numbers.

In Their Own Story

The rain had just stopped over the coastal highway, and the asphalt still shimmered under the low afternoon sun. Marcus gripped the leather-wrapped wheel of his E60 M5, feeling the slight drag of the damp road through the rear differential. He wasn't racing today—just driving the long way home, the kind of drive where the V10's idle rumble in the cabin felt like a purr. He flicked the gear selector to manual, dropped to third, and let the engine climb past 5,000 rpm. The V10's howl filled the cabin, a sound no turbocharged twin could replicate, and the rear tyres bit into the wet tarmac with a confidence that made him smile. Somewhere ahead, a rival's sports car had tried to match him on the last stretch. It hadn't stuck. Marcus eased off, let the car glide in sixth, and watched the coastline scroll by, the M badge on the trunk catching the last golden light of the day.

Reader's Guide

BMW M5 (E60), 2005–2010, Class S sedan. Out of the box, the E60 M5 is a 500-horsepower, roughly 1,750 kg four-door with a naturally aspirated V10. It feels planted and composed, with a handling rating that sits solidly in the upper tier of its class—responsive but not twitchy, stable at speed but with enough body motion to remind you it's a sedan, not a coupe.

Tuning levers in the Motorsport titles include suspension (spring rates, anti-roll bars, damper settings), brakes (pads and disc size), transmission (gear ratios), engine (cam profiles, intake/exhaust, and in some entries, a turbo or supercharger bolted onto the NA V10), tyres (compound and size), and aero (front splitter, rear wing). You can also shave weight through component swaps. Push the aero and suspension hard and it becomes a track weapon; go light on the aero and keep the suspension softer and it remains a comfortable grand tourer. The trade-off is always between downforce and drag, or between grip and body roll.

In Horizon entries, the modification tree is broader: you can add forced induction, swap the exhaust, upgrade the turbo (yes, even on a V10), change the suspension geometry, and add body kits. The car scales well, but the V10's character is best preserved with modest power additions and a focus on suspension and brake upgrades.

Build philosophy: respect the V10's linear scream, keep the car balanced and communicative, and let the driver do the work rather than the computer.

Did You Know?

• The E60 M5's S85 V10 is a 90-degree, naturally aspirated engine that redlines at 8,250 rpm—one of the last of its kind in a production sedan before BMW shifted to twin-turbo V8s.
• The car has appeared in virtually every major Forza title from the original Forza Motorsport through Forza Horizon 5, making it one of the most consistently present vehicles in the franchise.
• In real life, the E60 M5 was the first production sedan to use a carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer roof, a detail that helps keep the 1,750 kg weight in check despite the V10's size.
• The M5 E60's electronically limited top speed of 190 mph (306 km/h) means that, in Forza's open-world games, it can comfortably keep pace with dedicated supercars on long straights.