Verdict
The BMW M5 costs RM1,200,800 against the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL’s RM999,888, but its RM8,408 annual road tax is a substantial Malaysian ownership penalty beside RM376. The M5 earns its extra outlay with five seats, a 466-litre boot and 67 km of EV range from its 22.1-kWh battery, while 3.5-second 0-100 km/h pace also clears the SL’s 4.9 seconds. Pick the AMG SL for open-top grand touring, 275 km/h maximum speed and a four-year factory warranty; its 240-litre boot makes it less convincing as the only car.
Pick the BMW M5 if you need five seats, 466 litres of luggage room, all-wheel drive and a 67 km electric range alongside 3.5-second acceleration.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL if an open-top two-door, lower RM376 road tax, 275 km/h top speed and four-year factory warranty matter more than rear-seat and boot space.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M5 RM1,200,800; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL RM999,888.
- Annual road tax: BMW M5 RM8,408; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL RM376.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW M5 3.5 seconds; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 4.9 seconds.
- Top speed: BMW M5 250 km/h; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 275 km/h.
- Practicality: BMW M5 has five seats and a 466-litre boot; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL has four seats and a 240-litre boot.
- Electrification: BMW M5 has a 22.1-kWh battery and 67 km EV range; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL has no battery capacity or EV range listed.
M5
- 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time and all-wheel drive.
- Five seats, four doors and a 466-litre boot.
- 22.1-kWh battery delivers 67 km of EV range.
- RM200,912 dearer to buy.
- RM8,408 annual road tax versus RM376.
- 250 km/h top speed is 25 km/h below the AMG SL.
AMG SL
- RM200,912 lower purchase price and RM376 annual road tax.
- 275 km/h top speed.
- Four-year unlimited-mileage factory warranty.
- 4.9-second 0-100 km/h time trails the M5 by 1.4 seconds.
- 240-litre boot is 226 litres smaller.
- Four seats and two doors versus the M5’s five seats and four doors.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,200,800 | RM999,888✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Segment | Executive | Grand Tourer |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM8,408 | RM376✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection, Variable Valve Timing and Lift, plug-in hybrid assistance | 12-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing with Mild Hybrid Assistance |
| Capacity | 4,395 cc | 1,991 cc |
| Horsepower | 591 hp at 6,000 rpm✓ | 375 hp at 6,750 rpm |
| Torque | 750 Nm at 1,800 rpm✓ | 480 Nm at 3,250 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V 8 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 194 hp✓ | 13 hp |
| Motor Torque | 280 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 22.1 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 67 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7.4 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | M Steptronic | AMG Speedshift MCT 9G |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Daimler |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.5 seconds✓ | 4.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 275 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,096 mm | 4,705 mm |
| Width | 1,970 mm | 1,915 mm |
| Height | 1,510 mm | 1,359 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 2,700 mm |
| Weight | 2,510 kg | 1,810 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 60 litres | 70 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 466 litres✓ | 240 litres |
| Front Tyre | 265/40R20 | 275/35R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 295/35R21 | 305/30R21 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook S1 evo Z | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-Link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 20" M Alloys | 21" AMG 10-Twin-Spoke Forged Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 21" M Alloys | 21" AMG 10-Twin-Spoke Forged Alloys |
| Steering | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | M Adaptive Suspension | Sports Suspension |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver & Front Passenger, Side Airbags, Curtain Airbags and Driver's Knee Airbag) | 5 (Driver and Front Passenger, Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for outer two rear passenger seats | Available on Front Passenger Seat |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Both Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | Digital Light LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Dynamic Light Design and Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 50:50 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front |
| Sun Shade | Rear Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 17-Speaker Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Two Windows, Driver Side Auto Up & Down |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation with Pop-out Door Handles |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | Yes | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used M5 & AMG SL for sale
M5 vs AMG SL FAQ
Is the BMW M5 or Mercedes-Benz AMG SL better?
The BMW M5 is better as a fast everyday car: it has five seats, a 466-litre boot, all-wheel drive and a 67 km EV range. The Mercedes-Benz AMG SL suits buyers prioritising a convertible body, lower road tax and 275 km/h top speed.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M5 costs RM200,912 more than the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL. The annual road-tax difference is even larger: RM8,408 for the M5 against RM376 for the AMG SL.
Which is faster, the BMW M5 or Mercedes-Benz AMG SL?
The BMW M5 reaches 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, 1.4 seconds ahead of the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL’s 4.9 seconds. The AMG SL has the higher top speed, at 275 km/h versus 250 km/h.
