Top 5 Fastest BMWs of All Time

While there is much talk about BMW becoming soft and not making the kind of performance car that its customers are used to, it’s fair to say that this talk is a bit ill-founded. Sure BMWs may not be the scalpel sharp tools they once were, but there’s no denying that current BMWs are the highest performing of all time. To prove that, we’ll look at the top five fastest BMWs of all time.

One thing you’ll notice about this list is that all of these BMWs are of the modern era. While this is obvious, as engines get more powerful and efficient every year, it’s safe to say that this metric alone proves that BMW still cares very much about performance. So let’s take a look.

5. X5 M/X6 M

These mammoth super SUVs both pack a 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 under hood. Mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic and powering all four wheels, the X5 and X6 M are able to achieve 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds. That’s an incredible feat of engineering, to get these two elephants to dance so well. Top speed is electronically limited to 155, but we suspect it would be a lot higher than that, without the limiter. Either way, these two SUVs are scary quick.

4. BMW i8

Who said hybrids have to be slow and boring. The BMW i8’s combination of a 1.5 liter three-cylinder engine paired to two electric motors, one in the rear aiding the engine drive the rear wheels and one in the front driving the front wheels, might not sound like much but it packs more than enough punch. The i8’s lightweight frame allows its hybrid setup to get from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. That’s Porsche 911 Carrera S fast and it also gets superb fuel economy. It’s top speed is also limited to 155, but I’m not sure how much faster it would go, given its small engine.

3. BMW M6 Gran Coupe Competition Package

The M6 Gran Coupe was already one of BMWs fastest cars. But BMW decided to give it a competition package which bumps power from 560 hp to 600. This power bump, along with a slight weight decrease and some suspension stiffening, allows the M6 Gran Coupe CP to nail 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. That’s blistering for a massively luxurious four-seater. Though it has more power, BMW didn’t raise the electronic limiter of 155 mph. We suspect it can do much more, given the 600 hp and slippery aerodynamic design.

2. BMW M4

The M4 is one of BMW’s fastest cars. This is as it should be. The M3/M4 should always be BMW’s best performing cars. The M4’s 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged I6 engine produces 420 hp and, when mated to BMW’s DCT gearbox, can get from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, according to Car and Driver, and limited 155 mph top speed.. That’s mighty quick for a car starting at $64,200. The M4 is not only one of BMW’s fastest cars, it’s one of the fastest sports cars on the road.

1. BMW M5 30th Anniversary Edition

The 30th Anniversary Jahre Edition M5 is a special car. Packing 600 hp from its 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8, the BMW M5 Jahre can do 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. Now, while this is the same as the lighter and smaller M4, the Jahre is still the fastest BMW ever made. And that has to do with top speed. The Jahre M5 has a “limited” top speed of 199 mph. While the M4 is limited to 155 mph and can probably far exceed that, it most likely can’t touch the Jahre’s 199 mph limit. Plus the Jahre would almost definitely break 200 mph if it was unrestricted. This makes the massively powerful 30th Anniversary Jahre Edition M5 the fastest BMW of all time.