 Buyer beware: Theres a reason for all those mediocre reviews out there in the automotive press. In truth, many of the reviews sound as though the writers think even less of the car than what they actually write, but are reluctant to bash a car with the reputation of the M5. Well that reputation was built from the first three US models. This one is fundamentally different.  This is a Mercedes posing as a BMW. Its all about speed and comfort and lacks the handling of the earlier cars. Its very heavy and you feel every pound. It about cruising; not about flogging down a twisty road in the countryside. You feel disconnected from the road, there is no sense of immediacy on turn in. 