Why is the BMW M5 Touring cheaper than the BMW M3?

More power, more cylinders, more space, more performance, and more cutting-edge technology. Surely the BMW M5 Touring has to be more expensive than the BMW M3 Touring? That’s certainly the case in Germany, where you pay around €40,000 more for the larger Tourer. In the Netherlands, the BMW M5 Touring costs around €10,000 less than the BMW M3 Touring. You can thank our tax system for that.

The BMW M3 Touring costs no less than €156,581 in the Netherlands. Then you get a 530 hp six-cylinder engine that is good for a sprint to 100 in 3.6 seconds. The BMW M5 has a V8 engine with no less than 727 hp and 1,000 Nm. Despite the extra power, it reaches 100 just as quickly, since it weighs around 2,500 kg. Also remarkable is the luggage space with the rear seats up, which is 500 liters for both cars.

BMW M5 Touring price lower due to emissions

But the price of a BMW M5 Touring or M3 Touring does not depend on the power or the 0-100 time. In the Netherlands, the price depends on what the manufacturer wants and what the emissions are. And because the BMW M5 Touring is a hybrid, the emissions during the official WLTP test are significantly lower.

According to the official measurement, the BMW M3 Touring emits 233 grams. For every gram of emissions over 62 grams per kilometre, you pay 549 euros. In other cases, you pay between 2 euros and 274 euros per gram. In the Netherlands, you pay 156,580 euros for the M3 Touring, of which at least 53,000 euros are BPM. The tax authorities are grateful to you.

The BMW M5 Touring emits just 61 grams per kilometre. That’s good news because it’s within the €2 per gram CO2 limit. Then there’s the €440 flat rate, but you’re paying €1,000 less in BPM for the new Touring. With the small BPM of the BMW M5 Touring, the Dutch price is €146,600, which is around €10,000 less.