Winnipeg Luxury Automobile Site Dedicated to the photography of luxury & sports cars Test Drives: 2001 BMW M5 This 6-speed sport sedan was a fabulous car to drive. This particular M5 was equipped with a wood-trimmed interior instead of the (easily-damageable) aluminum trim. For 2001, the steering wheel was changed, as well as a larger navigation HVAC screen, and front headlights & rear taillights. The manual transmission is crisp and precise while the clutch is a little difficult to get used to. The suspension is firm but not overly tight. An interesting feature of the M5 is the self-adjusting [orange-] redline which is based on engine temperature. I could continue describing the many other features of this car but there are far too many. One surprise, not many fellow motorists or pedestrians could tell the difference between a 540i and the M5. Oh well, anyone who wants to drag will have to find out the hard way! All photos are copyrighted by David Lee 1998-2006. Use of photos for commercial purposes is prohibited without prior approval.