Is BMW M5 tuning actually worth the money? To find out, four BMW M5 Competition models go head-to-head, ranging from a completely stock 625 bhp car to a 950 bhp Stage 3 monster.

We compare BMW M5 Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 tuning using real quarter-mile performance, looking at horsepower, modifications, cost and how much faster each setup actually is. The stock F90 M5 Competition sets the benchmark with an 11.07-second quarter mile at 126 mph, while the Stage 1 car costs around £1,700 in modifications and manages a 10.93-second pass at 127 mph.

The Stage 2 M5 makes a much bigger jump, running 10.43 seconds at 135 mph with around £2,950 worth of modifications.

The real question comes when the 950 bhp Stage 3 BMW M5 enters the picture. With around £30,000 worth of modifications, including major hardware upgrades, the Stage 3 car records a 10.28-second quarter mile at 139 mph.

That’s only 0.79 seconds quicker than the stock M5, while costing almost £27,000 more than the Stage 2 setup for an additional 0.15 seconds and 4 mph. We also put all four M5s into real-world drag and roll races to see whether the numbers translate into genuine gaps on the road.

So, when it comes to BMW M5 Stage 1 vs Stage 2 vs Stage 3, which setup offers the best performance for the money? The results might make you think twice before spending big on your F90 M5. For more content like this one follow us also on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram!