We did talk to three BMW M representatives with one working directly on the BMW M5 project. Here is some of the information we got:

The "Concept M5" is a 95% complete fourth-generation BMW M5.

The upcoming M5 will be SMGIII only. BMW is going to SMG / automatic gearboxes in the 15 to 25 year future. BMW M pioneered the sequential gearbox in an everyday car as well as pioneered the class started by the M5. A SMG-only Formula One derived SMG-gearbox will pioneer this class again.

A BMW M5 Touring is not planned as of now, but it is not decided yet. The USA market is the main influencer for this decision and it does not look like we will see an M5 Touring. The former experience with the second-generation BMW M5 only sold in 891 examples does add to this decision.

Audi RS6 Avant and Mercedes E55 AMG Estate may just made for marketing-purposes. They are not sold in the USA.

A straight 6 is the most harmonices but the a V-10 will be more harmonized than the current V-8.

The BMW M5 follows the philosophy of BMW M's high-revving concept. Forced injection is not at all planned for the future.

The power delivery will be increase gradually more with revolutions, a bit more like the E46 M3 than the third generation E39 BMW M5.

The new director of BMW M -Ulrich Bruhnke- came directly from Mercedes-AMG and did change employeer because the direction of the former company. Unconfirmed rumours are saying that Mercedes-AMG is leaving the forced induction concept annd heading for a 6 liter V-12 for some of their future cars.

The former BMW M director Adolf Prommesberger did not approve a M-version of the Z4 Roadster. The impression was that the Z4 is as good as it is. The board of directors have not decided yet wether to produce an M-version of the Z4 Roadster.

Carbon fibre parts as on the M3 CSL will be difficult to fit on the upcoming M5 since the M5 will be produced in so many more examples than the limited M3 CSL. Although a carbon roof is very tempting since it is at the worst possible place concerning center of gravity. But on the other hand a sunroof adds 39 kilograms to the worst possible place.

BMW M have considered magnesium and aluminum wheels for the M5 but they are either too soft or to expensive for everyday use.

Although the new M5 will have larger (and consequently higher) wheels than the regular 5-series the center of gravity will be lower on the M5 than on the standard 5-series.

There will be certain options for either the wheels or the tyres on the upcoming M5.

The weight will be around what the 545i weights and the weight distribution 50 / 50 over the front and rear axles.

The sequential gearbox will be the best on the market. As a BMW M representative asnwered when I asked "What will the purists say that really want a manual gearbox?":

"What is purer than Formula One?"

There is currently around 50 E60 M5 running around in Munich.

The M Differential from the M5 does not affect grip on dry roads.

BMW M philosophy includes having good handling and good performance also on small country roads and racetrack and not only in the straigh line. The car most true to this consept is the M3 CSL that can compete directly with the Porsche 911GT3 and Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale.

The BMW M5 is rumoured to do the Nordschleife under 8 minutes.

Regarding a less intrusive DSC and have the Sport button on by default for the upcoming M5 BMW M responds that these are safety features and therefore it must be activated when you start the car.

Porsche's equivalent ot DSC -the PSM- may seem it allows more skid when engaged but it can as well has to do with how aggressive the driver is on the clutch, which also is decided by how fast engine responds to the gaspedal which in the M5 E39 case is very fast thanks to individual throttle bodies and drive-by-wire.

There won't be a raised 250 km/h limiter on request.

An SMGII-gearbox for the last year of the BMW M5 E39 -the 2003 model- was not possible since the decision to start the BMW M5 E39 project was decided in July 1996 that allowed only two years for test-driving. It takes one year to adapt an SMG-gearbox to an engine this case the M5 engine.

It was the customers who convinced BMW M to produce the E39 M5 between 1995 and 1996.

An answer to if they saw any different direction of the company with the new executive for BMW M: "It would be strange if a new person as director would not have some new ideas...It is good for the company, fresh ideas and new thoughts. Every idea have to be discussed."

The rev-limiter on the M3 E46 is 8000 rpms but if you shift very fast the revs can go up to 8500 rpms. This is because it is alot of fuel in the injection system and when you press the clutch this moment the revs go up to 8500 rpm. So if a tuner raises the limit to 8200 rpm it will blow the first time the customer does a fast shift.