Without wishing to bleat on about it too much, there are a few not-quite-perfect elements to the latest BMW M5. You’ll probably have your own primary grievance, but sound almost certainly features on more than a few shortlists. While what the driver hears inside the cabin is slightly more convincingly V8 than before, that which leaves the quad exhausts remains a bit plain. To say the least.
It’s always been a bit of an issue for this 4.4-litre twin-turbo, with rivals like Mercedes-AMG often able to create more rousing soundtracks from similarly configured engines. It’s good news at least for the aftermarket, which can offer up something more stimulating to make the V8 sound as good as it goes. Already modifying is underway for plug-in M5s, so now Milltek is joining in the fun with its latest range of exhausts for hybrid performance cars – a market the firm is doubling down on.
Both saloon and Touring can be fitted with the new Axle Back Exhaust System, which Milltek says brings ‘improved airflow and refined sound’. Customers can choose from Burnt Titanium, Brushed Titanium, Polished and Cerakote Black tip finishes for the 80mm outlets. The result, as can be heard in the video, is certainly an improvement, the V8 boasting some extra gurgle and burble even before M Sound is engaged, if still some way from truly exhilarating.
The likely solution to that is to go for a Milltek system that bypasses the OPF and, presumably, really helps the M5 find its voice. We don’t know for certain though, because it hasn’t been filmed. Probably as everyone would then want one, and it’s technically a track-only setup. But it’s there should you want it, and have access to the same sort of private roads so many YouTube folk find themselves on. Prices are TBC, though given a similar system for the old M5 (i.e. from the filters back) will currently set you back around £2,500, somewhere in that region seems likely. With the cars currently available in the classifieds, it looks possible to make a Milltek’d M5 for around about £100,000. Expect the really silly power upgrades along in due course.