From the late 1970s onward, German car companies decided to solidify their spots in the market. While companies such as Porsche and Mercedes-Benz had already established a name for themselves back in the 1950s, other carmakers such as Volkswagen and BMW were trailing behind. When American cars became less than desirable and the world more globalized, BMW hit the world with several mean machines.

RELATED: 10 German Sports Cars We'd Drive Over A Muscle Car Any Day

Following several successes in the 1970s, BMW and its M division grew exponentially. Going from 35 employees to over 400 in less than 10 years, the sport division of BMW was getting ready to hit the market with some serious sports cars. While the BMW E30 M3 was the main vehicle in the limelight thanks to its innovative aspect and beautiful allure, the BMW M5 was one of the most beautiful German cars ever made during that era.

10 Prelude

BMW M535i E12 2 Cropped

A category 5 hurricane does not appear out of thin air. There is a combination of factors that causes a small depression to turn into a destructive natural disaster that will wreak havoc wherever it lands. The same process sort of happened with BMW and its M5. The M5 did not mushroom in someone's head at the M division. It was a series of events that led to the M5.

RELATED: BMW Celebrates 50 Years Of The M Name

BMW M535i E12 Cropped

There are several facts everyone forgot about BMW, which makes BMW a much more interesting car manufacturer than people may think. The very first M-badged cars trace back to the early '70s, but they were essentially made to race on a track. The very first road car that came out of the M division is the E12 M535i. The M535i packs a potent 3.5-liter straight-six unit that churns out 215 hp at 5,200 rpm and 228 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. When looking at the M535i, it is fair to say that BMW was up to something. Something big.

9 Genesis

1988-BMW-M5-Cropped-(1)-1

The 1980s were good for German cars. Mercedes-Benz and its insane Hammer were on every magazine's front cover. The Hammer was essentially a rich man's toy. The E30 M3 became the more accessible sports car and was regarded as a serious contender to most mid-size sports cars available during that era. On the track, Audi was murdering the competition with its legendary Sport Quattro.

1988 BMW M5 2 Cropped (1)

The E30 M3 is great. The E28 M5 is a beast. Though it is true that the first M5 was reserved to a specific demographic, it is important to underline that it was beyond what anyone could have expected in 1986. Based on the 535i chassis, the M5 comes with a powerful 3.5-liter M88/3 inline-six engine that develops 286 hp at 6,500 rpm and 250 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. With less than 2,500 units ever made, the E28 M5 is one of the rarest BMW sports cars.

8 The Main Course

BMW M5 E28 engine 2 Cropped

Around 1986, the only BMW engine that truly mattered was the M3's high-revving S14. The 2.3-liter DOHC inline-four cylinder engine develops 197 hp at 6,750 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. No wonder every single piston head at the time wanted to get their hands on the mighty engine crate. While the S14 had everybody drooling, other BMW engines were simply put on the back burner.

BMW M5 E28 engine Cropped

The M88/3 is a true masterpiece. The 3.5-liter DOHC inline-six engine was not only found in the E28 M5, but it was also present in the legendary M635CSI. It is well-known that the M88/3 is a variation of the engine found in the M1. Produced only between 1979 and 1989, American drivers were not lucky enough to test the M88/3 since the E28 M5 destined for the North American market came with the S38 motor.

7 Special Edition Galore

1995 BMW M5 Touring Elekta 2 Cropped

While the first M5 was eclipsed by the M3, it did not fail to attract its fair share of wealthy car aficionados. As a matter of fact, the car ended up being so successful that BMW decided to move forward with a 2nd generation in 1988. Based on the BMW E34, the second generation M5 was a much larger luxury sport limousine that meant business.

1995 BMW M5 Touring Elekta Cropped

The E34 M5 must be the M5 with the most special editions. With a total of four special editions released between 1988 and 1995, these limited editions were beyond exciting. For example, the M5 Touring Elekta was ordered by a couple of Italian BMW dealerships. They are still fitted with the 3.8-liter S38B36 inline-six motor that makes 311 hp at 6,900 rpm and 265 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. Only 3,910 E34 M5 came with the S38B36 engine.

6 Naturally Powerful

2003 BMW M5 Cropped

BMW really set the tone with the E34 and its mean inline-six power plant. Looking at what was going on at BMW, other German carmakers did whatever possible to come up with cars that were just as attractive and powerful as the M5. Some of them tried and succeeded, but the vast majority of them simply could not find the right recipe to attract the very people that fell in love with the M5.

RELATED: Ranking The Fastest BMWs Ever Produced

2003 BMW M5 2 Cropped

The E39 M5 is one of the most reliable cars BMW ever produced, but it is also one of the most mind-blowing M5s to ever hit the tarmac. It has been said that the BMW E39 M5 is BMW's best sports sedan ever. The third generation M5 comes stock with a monstrous naturally-aspirated 4.9-liter S62 V8 that makes 395 hp at 6,600 rpm and 369 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm. The M5 was the very first M-vehicle to get close to 400 hp right out of the factory.

5 Competition On Steroids

2003 Audi RS6 Cropped

The E39 M5 was rocking a mean, naturally aspirated 4.9-liter V8 that most gearheads will never forget. Any German car fan will agree that the E39 M5 set the tone for what was to come. Until today, the M5 remains one of the best vehicles made by BMW during the early 2000s. As a matter of fact, the M5 is predicted to increase in value since it is still in high demand among sports cars fans.

2003 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG Cropped

Realizing that the M5 was becoming the best sports saloon of the early 2000s, other German car manufacturers had to find ways to rival the M5. The 2003 Audi RS6 came with a twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter V8, while the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG came with a supercharged and intercooled 5.5-liter V8. The RS6's engine makes 450 hp and the E55's 469 hp. Sure, the two cars were more powerful than the M5. However, the M5's motor is naturally aspirated.

4 Anomaly

2010 BMW M5 Cropped

The early 2000s saw the creation of a wide variety of insane vehicles. Domestically, the outrageous Dodge Ram SRT-10 was destroying muscle cars left and right. Nissan's 350Z was becoming more affordable, thus allowing Japanese car fans to get their hands on Nissan's two-seater. In Germany, BMW was getting ready to release a monster that no one would ever forget.

2010 BMW M5 2 Cropped

In 2004, BMW released another M5 that had every gearhead wondering if this was really happening. The V8 was gone and gave way to a gigantic V10. Needless to say, the E60 annihilated all the Audi and Mercedes-Benz high-end sports sedans available around that time. Launching this beast must be one of the most fun things to do, given the fact that all the power is sent to the back wheels.

3 The Beast Within

BMW M5 E60 Engine Cropped

Names such as the Hemi or the Coyote always ring a bell in the muscle car scene. JDM fans know right off the bat what SR20DET and 2JZ-GTE stand for and where they originated from. Logically, the same thing happens with German cars. The E30 M3's S14 remains one of the most legendary BMW engines ever made, but it is far from being the only one.

BMW M5 E60 Engine 2 Cropped

There are several things everyone forgot about BMW and their cars, such as the fact that the E60 M5 was the world's first sports sedan to come stock with a gasoline-powered V10. The insane 5.0-liter S85 V10 produces 500 hp at a whopping 7,750 rpm and 383 lb-ft of torque at 6,100 rpm. It is fair to say that BMW had every car company out there thinking that it was time to give up on environmentally-friendly engines.

2 Major 180

2013 BMW M5 Cropped (1)

As technology evolves and previous innovations become obsolete, cars change and adopt more efficient elements. One of the prime examples is the Acura NSX. The Japanese supercar went from having a 3.2-liter DOHC V6 that made 290 hp to being equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 combined with an electric engine, bringing the total power output to 573 hp. BMW dropped the V10 for something just as impressive.

RELATED: Here’s How Much a 2013 BMW M5 Costs Today

BMW M5 F10 Engine Cropped

The V10 may have been a bit too much. Starting in 2011, the F10 M5 came with a smaller engine. Instead of the V10, BMW moved ahead with the twin-turbocharged and intercooled 4.4-liter S63 V8 that makes 552 hp at 6,000 rpm and 501 lb-ft of torque at 1,500 rpm. It was the very first time that turbochargers were installed on the M5.

1 Insanity

2022 BMW M5 CS Cropped

The BMW M5 is one remarkable sports sedan that has captivated gearheads for over 35 years. Each and every generation has its fair amount of incredible elements, thus making the M5 one of BMW's best nameplates. However, BMW understood early on that car fans with a serious need for speed may want something extra. Something faster. Something more exclusive.

RELATED: Here’s What We Love About The BMW M5 CS

2022 BMW M5 CS 2 Cropped

It is fair to say that the F90 M5 is an absolute beast. Though equipped with the same engine found on the F10 M5, the F90 M5 produces more power than the previous generation. With 600 hp at the crankshaft, the M5 is nearing super-sedan status. However, the 2022 BMW M5 CS is the type of BMW performance cars that are worth every penny. With a plethora of performance parts both in and out, the M5 CS is essentially a street-legal sports sedan. With 635 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, the M5 CS is the ultimate M5.