Some celebrity cars are easier to judge than others when crossing the auction block. And in the case of Chris Harris’ BMW M5 CS, which is currently listed on Collecting Cars, it all looks like smooth sailing, as much as you can say that about the thunderstorm of a car this Bimmer is.
The British motoring journalist and Top Gear presenter has been enjoying this 2022 BMW M5 CS since March last year. And, after 11,123 miles—sure, it’s a coincidence—the time has come for the super-sedan to find a new owner.
Chris Harris’ BMW M5 CS is an invitation to hooning
Given the stellar reputation of the first-ever M5 Competition Sport and the limited mileage of the machine, there’s not much to discuss in this area. And since Harris has been educating the world on the art of drifting for more years than I can remember, it’s fair to say you know what to expect from this example. That and proper care, I figure.
In fact, here’s the description of this M5 CS: “This car has been driven and enjoyed rather than tucked away in a collection, so it now represents a very usable example of the landmark super saloon,“
Not least thanks to an extensive carbon fiber treatment, Chris Harris’ Frozen Deep Green Metallic BMW M5 CS—like any of its kind—is 256 lb (116 kg) lighter than a normal M5, tipping the scales at (4,114 lb) 1,866 kg.
Other key Competition Sport features include a 9 hp bump to 626 hp (635 PS), while the max torque sits at 553 lb-ft (750 Nm).
You can add the pair of heat extractors on the hood, the Gold Bronze exterior trim, and the interior featuring four bucket seats sporting the Nurburgring logo on the headrests. Top speed remains unchanged compared to the standard F90 M5, sitting at 190 mph (305 km/h), while the 0 to 60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint is covered in 2.6s.
The M5 CS does the quarter-mile in 10.7 seconds, so triple-digit EV monsters like the Tesla Model S Plaid (and even dual motors ones) will leave it in the dust. However, its electric rivals push this German machine under the spotlights for its emotional driving experience (that’s not to say Harris has ever steered clear of performance EVs like Porsche’s GT4 ePerformance). And, even with all its ICE character and track savviness, the M5 CS remains highly usable.
Given that Chris Harris is a co-founder of Collecting Cars, that’s where you’ll find his BMW M5 CS. At the time of press, the auction had two days left, with the highest bid sitting at GBP99,000 ($126,180 at the current exchange rates). Of course, this is a right-hand drive example.
For the record, in the US, a used BMW M5 CS has an average price of $160,000, which can naturally vary with the mileage.
Chris Harris is technically still Top Gear’s leading presenter
Many enthusiasts will point to Chris Harris as the most entertaining Top Gear presenter in the post-Clarkson-Hammond-and-May era.
Harris joined TG in 2016 and he’s technically still the leading presenter, but the BBC stopped filming the latest season (#34) back in December after presenter Freddie Flintoff was injured at the Dunsfold Park Aerodrome.
And while the BBC says that an inquiry done by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) didn’t meet the threshold for further investigation, an official update on the future of Top Gear will arrive later this year. Meanwhile, on the Collecting Cars Podcast, Harris only hints about not having a future at Top Gear.
Getting back to Chris Harris’ M5 CS going away, you may say this is a vote of confidence for the 2024 G90 BMW M5 Plug-In Hybrid, which will debut in July 2024.
