Where other executive cars trade on their cosseting ride quality and hushed refinement, BMW's 5-Series makes greater play of its sporting prowess. Even in the standard Five, the suspension is firmer than some world-weary execs would like and even in the latest facelifted form, the unorthodox styling has raised the odd bushy eyebrow. Then there's the 5-Series M Sport, which takes the lively ride and the imposing styling to the next level. Inevitably, characteristics like these will jar with some in what has been a staunchly unadventurous market sector but they should also attract people who had previously viewed executive saloons as being a bit stuffy.

The executive saloon sector is full of cars that will float you up the motorway in eerie silence, encircle you with swathes of leather and astound you with an arsenal of cutting-edge gadgetry. The 5-Series is certainly one of these. When a twisty B-road beckons, however, few of the current executive crop can perform with the agility and sharpness of a Five and none can match the added dynamic dimension that the M Sport trim level brings to the party.

It might seem expensive to some, priced around £3,000 more (depending on the model) than an equivalent SE, but the 5-Series M Sport is a substantial package. Buyers can expect M Aerodynamic body styling, M Sports suspension, a high-gloss shadow line, M Sports steering wheel, sports seats, an M gear knob, M Sports door sill kick plates, M interior trim and anthracite headlining.

The biggest chunk of that additional cost is accounted for by the M Sports suspension. It's a set-up that's not a million miles away from that found in the 507bhp M5 super saloon and it lowers the car by 15mm. Suspension links and bushes are shared with the M5 and they serve to bolster the car's already well-honed handling. It's claimed that ride comfort doesn't suffer as a result of the M Sport pack's implementation but while this may be the case on good road surfaces, any imperfections in tarmac are definitely transmitted more strongly to the driver in an M Sport compared to an SE.

".the 5-Series is a superbly engineered, dynamically excellent car that's a better drive than any other in its class"

The rest of the M Sport model's accoutrements serve a largely cosmetic purpose, although there are, we're told, certain aerodynamic benefits to be gleaned from the restyled front bumper with its wider air-intake. Side sills running the car's length flare out from those 'flame-surfaced' door panels and the window surrounds are divested of their chrome edging. At the back, the rear-bumper takes on a different shape from that on the standard car and includes rear-parking sensors, while the crowning glory is the set of 18-inch M Light alloy wheels that do a good job of packing the 5-Series' arches.

The M Sport package is available with all of the mainstream5-Series Saloon and Touring engine options although the price premium required increases as you descend the range because fewer of the M Sport features are already included as standard. The 5-Series' engines are amongst its strongest suits and they are all capable of living up to the M Sport model's high-performance billing. Buyers who can only just about scrape together the requisite funds to get into a 5-Series will be looking at a 520d M Sport for £30,120 or more likely a 523i M Sport for £32,030. In the past, entry-level Fives have been seriously truncated affairs, designed to tempt the badge snobs who'd rather drive a bargain basement BMW than a fully-loaded Ford but the 523i M Sport is a far more rounded package. With this 190bhp engine 0-60mph takes 8.2 seconds and combined fuel consumption of over 38mpg is very good for a car of this size.

From here on up, we get into the more powerful six cylinder units. The 218bhp 525i has 6.3s acceleration and the 272bhp 530i matches that. This kind of performance married to the upgraded M Sport suspension is a failsafe recipe for fun. The 540i M Sport takes just 6.1s to reach 60mph, returns nearly 27mpg and costs £42,165. The 550i M Sport costs £48,305 and makes sixty in just 5.2s. Both these V8 models are seriously quick executive saloons with that right-hand pedal unleashing wave upon wave of brute power to fire you up the road. Driving them, you have to wonder with some trepidation what the V10 M5 is like.

The most rounded, sensible and, possibly, desirable engines in the 5-Series M Sport range have got to be the diesels. BMW's 3.0-litre oil-burner was widely touted as the world's finest engine a few years back and it's easy to see why. 6.8s is the interval the 235bhp 530d takes to reach 60mph but that's not the whole story given the vast (500Nm) reserves of torque on offer. Then there's the average fuel economy of 44mpg - yes 44mpg. Of course, this star performer has been trumped by the 3.5-litre diesel in the 535d. Here, there's 580Nm of torque to play with resulting in a 6.4s 0-60mph time and scarcely credible in-gear acceleration.

Historically, the Sport models have accounted for over 60% of 5-Series sales, so there's little doubt that the current car will be a popular proposition in M Sport guise. What may be of more concern to BMW is the general appeal of the 5-Series itself - they shouldn't worry. After initially receiving a mixed reception for its groundbreaking styling, the car is rapidly being subsumed into the mainstream. The latest facelifted models have honed the styling themes still further and the introduction of regenerative braking technology have boosted fuel economy across the range.

Then there's the i-Drive control system designed to eliminate the clutter of controls that was spreading across the dashboards of increasingly complex executive cars. There's no doubt that the joystick system is initially daunting but the version in the 5-Series is simpler to master than that in the 7 and with the right amount of perseverance, you'll be whizzing through those menus. The inclusion of eight freely programmable 'favourites' buttons on the dashboard of the latest cars helps further with accessibility.

The M Sport trim level does much to sharpen-up the 5-Series, emphasising the sporting element that continues to set BMW products apart from executive competitors that take a more laid-back comfort-orientated approach. With the M5 apparently destined to assume near-mythical status, a 5-Series M Sport looks an affordable way of accessing some of its style and flavour - something many buyers will want to do.

TOP 5 5 SERIES DEALS

The results below show the top 5 SERIES deals on buyacar

	BMW 5 Series 525d M Sport 4dr Saloon
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £2,203	Price £32,257
	BMW 5 Series 530d M Sport 4dr Saloon
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £2,561	Price £35,864
	BMW 5 Series 535d M Sport 4dr Step Auto Saloon
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £2,970	Price £39,950
	BMW 5 Series 530d M Sport 5dr Step Auto Touring Estate
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £2,884	Price £39,091
	BMW 5 Series 525d M Sport 5dr Step Auto Touring Estate
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £2,528	Price £35,537