A 2008 BMW M5 equipped with the desirable six-speed manual transmission sold for $156,800 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction, including the buyer’s premium. The result puts this low-mileage E60 well above its original price and even beyond the starting price of today’s considerably more powerful M5.
Low-Mileage 2008 BMW M5 Draws a $156,800 Bid
The Silverstone Metallic M5 had covered just 13,329 miles when it was cataloged for the auction. Its black Merino leather interior was similarly well preserved, while the car reportedly remained with its second owner from 2009 until 2023.
That owner added approximately 7,000 miles over 14 years, helping explain the unusually low odometer reading. RM Sotheby’s noted that the car rides on a lowered suspension, meaning it is not completely factory original.
The M5 was accompanied by its owner’s books, service invoices, and documentation covering a 2023 power-steering service as well as a fluid and filter change.
The auction house also specified that the car had to be sold to a dealer or an out-of-state buyer because of California emissions requirements. Those conditions did not prevent bidders from pushing the final price to $156,800.
Why the Manual Transmission Matters
The E60 M5 came equipped with BMW M’s ambitious naturally aspirated 5.0-liter S85 V10. The engine produced 500 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque while revving beyond 8,000 rpm.
Inspired partly by BMW’s Formula 1 involvement, the V10 gave the sedan a distinctive character. Most markets received the seven-speed SMG automated manual transmission exclusively, but pressure from American customers led BMW to develop a traditional six-speed manual for North America.
The six-speed manual was offered as a no-cost alternative. It sacrificed some straight-line speed in exchange for a clutch pedal and a more personal connection with the V10.
The manual transmission also eliminates the complicated SMG system from the ownership equation. That does not make the E60 M5 inexpensive to maintain, however, as the S85 remains known for potentially costly rod-bearing, throttle-actuator, and electronic issues.
For many collectors, the combination of the V10, manual transmission and low mileage makes an example like this particularly desirable.
The E60 M5 Is Showing Strong Collector Demand
BMW listed the 2008 M5 at roughly $84,000 when new, including destination. The Monterey sale therefore produced approximately $72,000 more than its original price, even without adjusting for inflation.
The $156,800 result also exceeded the prices of several ostensibly similar E60 M5s. In January, a 3,400-mile SMG-equipped car sold for $150,555 on Bring a Trailer.
Another 2008 M5 with 11,000 miles sold for $132,000 on the same platform in June. That example is particularly notable because it had a manual transmission, fewer miles than the Monterey car and a Black Sapphire Metallic finish. It was also a re-list after previously selling for $127,500 four years earlier.
Low-Mileage Manual E60 M5s Are Becoming Collectible
Whether another manual E60 M5 can match the $156,800 result remains uncertain. This particular car combined extremely low mileage, desirable colors, limited ownership, extensive documentation and the sought-after manual transmission with the high-energy, “bid-friendly” environment of Monterey Car Week.
Still, the result provides a clear indication of where the best examples of the E60 M5 now stand. The 2008 BMW M5 has graduated into legitimate collector-car territory, with the strongest examples commanding prices far beyond their original cost.
