A quiet legend that’s aware of its strength
This 2006 BMW M5 comes from a time when BMW wasn’t playing it safe. It’s the E60 generation—the one with that naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10 under the hood, back when M cars still did things the hard way.
2006 BMW M5 Source: Exotic Car Trader
You won’t find turbochargers or all-wheel drive here. Just high-revving, rear-driven fun with room for groceries or passengers. This particular M5 shows 63,215 miles, and it’s finished in Silverstone II Metallic over a gray leather interior. It’s clean, proper, and still low-key enough to blend in—until you press the pedal. You can view the full listing for this 2006 BMW M5 on Exotic Car Trader by clicking here.
2006 BMW M5 Source: Exotic Car Trader
Thinking about selling your car?
Get a value estimate and list it online with Exotic Car Trader. Click here to learn more.
Understated outside, old-school inside
Visually, this M5 still holds up. The Silverstone II paint isn’t flashy, but it catches light in a way that suits the car’s dual personality. The design doesn’t lean on flash. The spoiler, the factory 19-inch wheels, and the lack of chrome are deliberate and dialed back just enough to keep it interesting without being loud.
2006 BMW M5 Source: Exotic Car Trader
Inside, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a mid-2000s M car: clean layout, gray leather, no-nonsense ergonomics. Power seats, nav, and Bluetooth round things out, but nothing feels overworked. It’s not the most modern layout by today’s standards, but it still feels like a proper driver’s cockpit. You get iDrive, but the older version—just enough to feel premium without getting in the way of the drive.
That memorable V10
The reason anyone seeks out an E60 M5 is the engine. It’s a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V10, one of the few road-legal V10s ever made, and possibly the best-sounding one. This generation of the M5 came with a V10 that revs all the way up to 8,250 rpm and made about 500 horsepower when it was new. That kind of engine is rare these days; no turbos, no gimmicks, just old-school power that builds as you push it.
2006 BMW M5 Source: Exotic Car Trader
It doesn’t build power with a turbo surge—it climbs, howls, and pushes all the way to the top. And while the 7-speed SMG gearbox can be a little clunky around town, once you’re on a backroad or open highway, it comes alive. Shifts are sharp and purposeful—nothing artificial about the feedback here.
Daily-driver friendly
One of the E60 M5’s more unusual strengths is its ability to be docile when desired. It’ll cruise quietly in traffic and soak up highway miles like a proper executive sedan. But let your right foot get curious, and the car changes personalities entirely. You get full M performance without giving up basic daily livability. That’s what made this car such a standout in its day, and why people continue to chase clean examples.
2006 BMW M5 Source: Exotic Car Trader
Final thoughts
The 2006 BMW M5 isn’t trying to keep up with modern luxury sedans; it’s from a different era, when revs mattered more than touchscreens and every M badge meant something. With just over 63,000 miles, this example still has plenty of life left in it. It’s a real-deal M5 with a legendary V10, classic looks, and just enough edge to keep you on your toes.
About the author
Michelle Nati
Contributing Writer, Autoblog