Driving the BMW M5 today $240,000 V10 power oooo yea

[Tez82]

Client of mine has been nice enough to lend me the keys to his M5. Dammm this thing is amazing, although for $240,000 you would expect that. I think specs are 373kw from factory, with several different driving / gearbox setup options all with single click of a button.

Power wise, these things have huge amount of torque / power mid to top end, they really do jump from 80 - 120 in just over a second :p

Confort wise, can't say i have had many cars to compare however compared to the Monaro it made me feel like the Monaro was a car from the 1920's hehehehe The ride confort is amazing, you hear no road noise but also you do still get to hear that v10 work :D

Its always been my dream car, however price tag means its a bit out of reach hehe.. Its amazing how many of these cars are around here, i see about 6 of them on a daily basis hehe good old Kenmore for ya...

If anyone has ever been in one, then they understand where i am coming from :p not many cars I think out there can match the luxary / performace of the M5.. Its perfect performance car designed for the business man :thumbsup:

Tez

[macca33]

Absolutely agree with you there Tez, I've only had the one chance to have a very tame drive of one. BMW make sensational cars, there is no doubting that.

The problem, as you have correctly identified, is the quarter of a million dollar price-tag. Perhaps a win in Lotto would assist!

Cheers,

Macca

[Clubby250]

very nice cars indeed mate but ive allways been wondering at the true power of them.

only reason saying that is our V8's are all about torque and everyone saying that Torque wins races.
power from those cars is a fairly huge 373kw but the torque is only like 520nm which our stock v8's seem to do. which seems to make them sound like an over revving rice car which puts outs heaps or power but wont pull the skin off a rice pudding

anyway let us know how it goes as im interested how they drive as im looking at buying one next yr :P

brett

[Tez82]

Well this is a race with the stock BMW M6 vs Merc with 640hp 900nm torque ;) 50km/h to 250km/h ;)

M6 is the same as M5 same engine / specs etc but is the coupe version... See the top end of the stock BMW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMclwN0uASc

[maloo_]

Mate of mine works at BMW in Mulgrave Head office and Gets to drive them all day.

[harey]

Well this is a race with the stock BMW M6 vs Merc with 640hp 900nm torque ;) 50km/h to 250km/h ;)

M6 is the same as M5 same engine / specs etc but is the coupe version... See the top end of the stock BMW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMclwN0uASc

Thats weird hey, the way the merc launches and the bmw really comes back. To be honest pure hp and nm figures arent the best, you really need to see a dyno sheet of where the power and torque is and whether it hangs around for long etc.

[Dacious]

Last year Drive did a comparo: Merc CL500, BMW M5 and HSV LS2 Senator.

The Senator was not only quicker but faster than the M5 (M5 is speed-limited to 250km/h). No-one appears to be able to match BMWs' claimed 4.7s 0-100, largely because of the engine's high-rpm powerband and ordinary clutchless SMG.

Drive luxury sport comparo (http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=10156&vf=10)

[VZSS250]

As in the 335i thread, I can't believe how good the high performance Bimmers are. They really are completely uncompromised by production cost considerations and their objective doesn't centre around having to cart around a family of four/five - the performance cars focus on performance and everything else comes second. The result is the production of road rockets that make no apologies for being absolute weapons (i.e. exhaust notes in the Bimmer range are amazing).

[NickS]

I have how bought an M5 at the start of the year ... absolute weapon, very, very nice. I reckon it looks a little bit too much like the rest of the range though ... although that is probably the point.

Interesting thing is, he just sold it "because it's boring, it has no character". Speed and luxury aren't everything I guess ...

[SchrgdVSV6]

For a spilt-second I thought I was reading the bimmer forums ;)

Cheers for the review Tez... not many of us will get the chance to get behind the wheel to experience the V10 goodness :)

Oh and some (stock) 1/4 mile times for the drag heads :p
http://www.dragtimes.com/BMW-M5-Timeslip-9886.html

And one with a 100shot only
http://www.dragtimes.com/BMW-M5-Timeslip-7809.html

[Campaign]

Last year Drive did a comparo: Merc CL500, BMW M5 and HSV LS2 Senator.

The Senator was not only quicker but faster than the M5 (M5 is speed-limited to 250km/h). No-one appears to be able to match BMWs' claimed 4.7s 0-100, largely because of the engine's high-rpm powerband and ordinary clutchless SMG.

Drive luxury sport comparo (http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=10156&vf=10)

Both Top Gear and Car have equalled or bettered 4.7 seconds to 100.
Drive ? Well speaks for itself doesn't it.

[Febs]

I reckon it looks a little bit too much like the rest of the range though ... although that is probably the point.

That would definitely be part of it, but I think BMW also made a mistake by making the M5 bodykit available to any "pov pack" 5 series. I'm sure it sells well (every 2nd 5 series seems to have it), but it seriously cheapens the look of the real M5 IMO.

I'd still love one though. :D

Cheers,
- Febs.

[csv rulz]

While i have a lot of respect for the M5 its an awesome car, iv always had a soft spot for Audis, the RS4 is an awesome car, 309kw out of a standard 4.2 thats awesome.:driving:

I remember reading an article in either MOTOR or WHEELS a while back where they compared the M5 with an equivalant Merc and Audi, from memory the audi came up trumps.

[nang3]

Last year Drive did a comparo: Merc CL500, BMW M5 and HSV LS2 Senator.

The Senator was not only quicker but faster than the M5 (M5 is speed-limited to 250km/h). No-one appears to be able to match BMWs' claimed 4.7s 0-100, largely because of the engine's high-rpm powerband and ordinary clutchless SMG.

Drive luxury sport comparo (http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=10156&vf=10)

Drive = theres the problem right there.. they would have to be the most incompetent and least performance orientated bunch out there..

Motor(or was it wheels?) did the same comparo but it was the SV6000, CLS55 AMG and M5 and from memory both beat the HSV so a senator would have no chance

[JNP304]

Sounds nice Tez, although I have never been in an M5.
The CL500 from the comparo would have been the last of the old stokers 225kw. The new 500`s are 285kw. See the wheels comparo for E500 vs 550i vs Calais V 6.0, the E500 was the fastest to 100 and the 1/4 mile. I would have had my money on the Calais though. 5.5 sec to 100 for the E500 and 13.6 1/4. The Calais did 5.8 to 100 and falt 14 quater. Both were quicker than the 550i

[csv rulz]

I remember years ago MOTOR took a brand new VTII GTS with skaife over to the Nurberg (dunno how to spell it) and compared it to the M5 and the merc. The GTS flogged them, but the said the BMW and Merc felt more solid, but peformance wise the GTS. It was the best article i have ever red.

[Gonadman2]

I remember years ago MOTOR took a brand new VTII GTS with skaife over to the Nurberg (dunno how to spell it) and compared it to the M5 and the merc. The GTS flogged them, but the said the BMW and Merc felt more solid, but peformance wise the GTS. It was the best article i have ever red.
I remember that article, sent a shiver down my spine when I read it also. It was very welll written.

[Angeldust]

ahh yes, but that was the old v8 m5. only good for 300kw...;)

[NickS]

I have how bought an M5 at the start of the year ...

:hmmm: the word fairly has been stealing my words again !!! WTF does that mean ???

What I meant to say is ... I have a mate who bought an M5 at the start of the year ...

He had an RS6 before that and he was trying to sell it, decided to keep it and sell the M5 instead, reckons he liked the Audi more.

[HazzaHSV]

The word fairy added a letter that time :stick: :lmao:

the word fairly has been stealing my words again !!!
Probably will never drive one of them M5 bimmers let alone own one and I am sure they are the bees knees, but a GTS just appeals to me more (my wallet would say so anyway).

[VZSS250]

I remember that article, sent a shiver down my spine when I read it also. It was very welll written.

Geez how good was this article? Any idea which edition it was?

[Cosmo Kramer]

Geez how good was this article? Any idea which edition it was?


Motor Magazine August 2000.

GTS300 v BMW M5 v Merc E55 at Nurburgring.

[HazzaHSV]

Would be great if someone can put up a scan. :thumbsup:


Motor Magazine August 2000.

GTS300 v BMW M5 v Merc E55 at Nurburgring.

[NickS]

The word fairy added a letter that time :stick: :lmao:

Ahhh shit ... I give up ... brain no work beer well without !!!

Thanks Hazza :lol:

[Cosmo Kramer]

Would be great if someone can put up a scan. :thumbsup:

Sorry!!

My August 2000 issue is on loan to a mate in Melbourne, I live in QLD. He was keen on reading it also. I got to get it back from him, he's had the darn thing for over a year now.

Perhaps now the issue is narrowed down, a forum member who has that edition closer to hand can scan it for you.

[nikola]

I remember years ago MOTOR took a brand new VTII GTS with skaife over to the Nurberg (dunno how to spell it) and compared it to the M5 and the merc. The GTS flogged them, but the said the BMW and Merc felt more solid, but peformance wise the GTS. It was the best article i have ever red.

I wouldn't take the results of that article as the definitive answer. The British verdict was that the M5 was the best and the HSV finished last.

It only makes sense that our reviewers would be biased towards our product.

[OPPYLOCK]

I found that old issue at my mates house a couple of months back. I had to excuse myself from the gathering to go and have some alone time with the mag.
The GTS didn't quite "flog" the others. They had and old German guy who had done about 10000 laps of the ring assess the three cars. Obviously the E55 was at a disadvantage as a track car with auto only. The M5 was rated very well for pretty much being a good all rounder. Old German guy was very impressed that Australians could build a performance car that handled so well. It was his choice as it was raw and required more from the driver than the others. Pretty good assessment really.
Made me want to trade in the SV8 and go buy a VT GTS.

[seldo]

........They had and old German guy who had done about 10000 laps of the ring assess the three cars... .
I think from memory the "old German guy" was Walter Rorhl - multiple world rally champion for Audi...

[schnoods]

Hehe i saw at Whoop ass Wednesday ( drags at the plex) a Beemer M5 that was givin it a go. Running low 13's most of the night it snared the Top Reaction time ( a triple 0 ) and won himself $500. nice car too and he wouldnt do a burnout so not to ruin the car.

[Red CV8 R]

I was following a near new BMW M5 through Chatswood late last night. Unfortunately it was on the back of a tow truck. :errr: It was being followed by a white 3 series covered in BMW service decals. I must say that its great service to get a trained BMW tech to drive out to your car late at night if you have a problem! :thumbsup:

Personally I liked the E34 and E39 BMW M5 a little bit more then the current model. My neighbour had a Black E39 M5 and it was an awesome car! I have the Motor mag with the test people are refering to and I cant say I would have chosen the VTII GTS over one of these babies and that model GTS is my favourite HSV :D Well that or the Coupe 4.

[awddynotodd]

An owner of a new $310,000 M6 handed over the keys for a couple of dyno runs at Sydney Autosalon on the weekend.
Sounded quite nice revving out 7800RPM, made 296.8RWKW.

Here's a video of the run (3.3meg).
http://users.tpg.com.au/adslmqf3/dyno_vids/M6_small.wmv

[vh-holden]

does the M5 have the power button that actually changes the engine and adds power? i think it lets the throttle butterflies open fully. something like a 100kw increase.

or am i just reading too many magazines and getting my thingys confuzzled.

[vxtreem]

A favourite of mine too.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/91703/bmw_m5/

[OPPYLOCK]

does the M5 have the power button that actually changes the engine and adds power? i think it lets the throttle butterflies open fully. something like a 100kw increase.

or am i just reading too many magazines and getting my thingys confuzzled.

There is a 400 hp mode and a 500hp mode that is operated by a button.

Just for interest sake I found the old Motor article with the SV6000 v M5 v CLS 55. Acceleration times as follows:

M5 400hp mode
0-100 6.15
1/4 mile 14.23
500hp mode
0-100 4.54
1/4 mile 12.54

CLS 55
0-100 4.63
1/4 mile 12.59

SV 6000
0-100 5.35
1/4 mile 13.59

[nang3]

daaaaaaamn i need to be rich... rich enough to have a rolling estate in the hills with about a 50 car garage stocked with whatever the fark i want to drive whenever i feel like on my private racetrack and money is no object... thered be plenty of hamman and gemballa tuned cars sitting there hahaha
Please Bill Gates, give me even 0.01% of your net worth hahaha

[2001 ITR]

daaaaaaamn i need to be rich... rich enough to have a rolling estate in the hills with about a 50 car garage stocked with whatever the fark i want to drive whenever i feel like on my private racetrack and money is no object...

A few Mercedes 300SL's and a helicopter landing pad.
Just be Lyndsay Fox.

[JHamilton]

Kinda off topic, but does anyone know why Bimmers cost so much in Australia? You guys are paying double for what that car cost in the US or Europe......it can all be shipping and trade agreements can it?

[SchrgdVSV6]

Kinda off topic, but does anyone know why Bimmers cost so much in Australia? You guys are paying double for what that car cost in the US or Europe......it can all be shipping and trade agreements can it?

See the other BMW (335) thread...

Luxury car tax, Goods and services tax, and other misc fees/costs.

Plus its a smaller market, so they cant "discount" them as much as in larger markets.

[JimmyXR6T04]

imagine how one of those would go with an edit or something similar.. that would get the torque rising from 520nm

[csv rulz]

I remember watching 5th gear a while ago and they had the worlds fastest blind man. He was in an M5 (speed limiter taken off) and his brother directed him from a car behind, im pretty sure he reached over 180mph

[Tez82]

Ok some are getting confused here.. There are a couple different versions of the M5 the newer E60 is the V10 373kw which runs STOCK nearly 12 sec flat passes... Other M5's are V8 versions which are simular power to the GTS's and so forth.... Just like LS1's cam change and tune in the M5 is crazy, boys over in the UK and States are pulling close to 11 flat with just cam and edit...

Tez

[JHamilton]

See the other BMW (335) thread...

Luxury car tax, Goods and services tax, and other misc fees/costs.

Plus its a smaller market, so they cant "discount" them as much as in larger markets.

Thanks for the answer. You guys aren't missing too much as I see them all the time. It still can't out run ugly.

[csv rulz]

Thanks for the answer. You guys aren't missing too much as I see them all the time. It still can't out run ugly.

I dont think the new M5 looks to bad its ok, no where near as awesome as the E GTS. The standard 5 series is what looks ugly. they look terrible.

[Campaign]

GTS isn't in the same performance ballpark as the M5, and its more boy racer in appearance.

[Sonic_Brew]

if i was spending that much on a peformance vehicle i'd probably look somewhere other than BMW. Its a magnificant car, but for a quater mill you can get better badges like porsche ie the GT3.

would love to drive one though!

[csv rulz]

GTS isn't in the same performance ballpark as the M5, and its more boy racer in appearance.

I bet you the supercharged GTS is in the same peformance as the M5 and probably still under half the price. Weel the senator isnt boy racer and looks better.

Just my opinion tho.

[VZSS250]

My mate bought himself a pissy little 120i the other day. He's a real fussy bloke and complained about everything on the car, taking the car back constantly in the first couple of weeks to have them look at a 3mm bubble in his tinted windows and stuff like that. Each time he'd give them a good verbal serve and each time he'd come away with BMW tshirts, mugs, bags, pens etc. I couldn't believe how keen these guys were to make him happy. Unfortunately for them, he is never happy. He's getting so much merchandise he decided to give me one of the tshirts he got.

Then he had the nerve to ask them if they were keen to bring their business to his consulting firm. They actually said they would consider it.

[nang3]

I bet you the supercharged GTS is in the same peformance as the M5 and probably still under half the price. Weel the senator isnt boy racer and looks better.

Just my opinion tho.

haha i'd still take 1 x latest M5 over 2 x blown GTS's anyday !!!!!

a black or gunmetal M5, lowered with some nice DTM/Hamman rims, dark tint and throaty aftermarket intake and exhaust would be my ideal M5

[csv rulz]

haha i'd still take 1 x latest M5 over 2 x blown GTS's anyday !!!!!

a black or gunmetal M5, lowered with some nice DTM/Hamman rims, dark tint and throaty aftermarket intake and exhaust would be my ideal M5

Each to there own i guess. But if i was spending that kind of money and i needed a 4 door saloon it would have to be an Audi S6.

[VZSS250]

haha i'd still take 1 x latest M5 over 2 x blown GTS's anyday !!!!!

a black or gunmetal M5, lowered with some nice DTM/Hamman rims, dark tint and throaty aftermarket intake and exhaust would be my ideal M5

Agreed...the V10 sets the M5 apart. The GTS needs a serious power hike before you can seriously consider it over an M5. 307kw is SO very 2001 when your competing against the big boys. While the VTII GTS managed to kick some butt with its 300kw 6 years ago, 307kw just doesn't stack up against the M5 6 years later. 6 years = 7kw more? hmmmm.....in the meantime BMW raised the bar by 70+ kw and two cylinders. Thats what I call a KO.

[Holden Man]

Agreed...the V10 sets the M5 apart. The GTS needs a serious power hike before you can seriously consider it over an M5. 307kw is SO very 2001 when your competing against the big boys. While the VTII GTS managed to kick some butt with its 300kw 6 years ago, 307kw just doesn't stack up against the M5 6 years later. 6 years = 7kw more? hmmmm.....in the meantime BMW raised the bar by 70+ kw and two cylinders. Thats what I call a KO.

Agreed that the M5 is more grunty than the latest GTS but I wonder how close they would be lap time wise around a track (depends on style of track I spose).

[csv rulz]

Plus it wouldnt cost that much to get the GTS up to the power level of the M5 if not beyond it.

[mustanger]

Plus it wouldnt cost that much to get the GTS up to the power level of the M5 if not beyond it.

Yes you are right,but the M5`s have gone up 70,80kw and the GTS`s have only gone up 7kw. I think that is the only disappointing aspect of the new GTS. They could have and SHOULD have at least 350kw.


PS.....Coming from a 300 kw GTS owner with a new 307 kw GTS on order.:driving:

[payaya]

theres a video of the M5 going upto 330km/h on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mw54-8CMfo


Yes you are right,but the M5`s have gone up 70,80kw and the GTS`s have only gone up 7kw. I think that is the only disappointing aspect of the new GTS. They could have and SHOULD have at least 350kw.


PS.....Coming from a 300 kw GTS owner with a new 307 kw GTS on order.:driving:


Well if the competition was around you'll see the Holden a lot more powerful.

The reason why the M5 went up so much was because of the SL55 with its 370KW 700NM monster.

[VZSS250]

Yes you are right,but the M5`s have gone up 70,80kw and the GTS`s have only gone up 7kw. I think that is the only disappointing aspect of the new GTS. They could have and SHOULD have at least 350kw.



Its definately a shame cos the GTS has got its iconic status because of its Euro bashing abilities at a very low price. Now HSV is asking us to forget about power, and focus on handling ability. Somehow, the MRC-equipped flagship models in the HSV range are meant to bridge the gap the M5 has created between it and the pre VE-GTSs on handling ability alone?

Well, despite what Motor's David Morley thinks, many people never take their car to a track, and if they do, its at a track that is completely straight and 400m long. Power is king when I am overtaking a caravan on a single lane highway or taking off from the traffice lights, and that means the M5 rules in 2006. Handling is VERY important, but who told HSV that handling was the only thing they needed to upgrade in the VE?

Now what does that leave GTS owners with compared to an M5 owner? I suppose $150k in their pockets and a damn good car, but dammit, its not a Euro basher anymore.

So half the people on this forum will now cry out "what about mods"? Ofcourse a 400kw GTS is not that hard to do, but thats no longer a GTS in my opinion. That is a customised car and the M5's engineers couldn't give a crap what a customised car does compared to their fully certified feral beast, the God-like M5.

[payaya]

Its definately a shame cos the GTS has got its iconic status because of its Euro bashing abilities at a very low price. Now HSV is asking us to forget about power, and focus on handling ability. Somehow, the MRC-equipped flagship models in the HSV range are meant to bridge the gap the M5 has created between it and the pre VE-GTSs on handling ability alone?

Well, despite what Motor's David Morley thinks, many people never take their car to a track, and if they do, its at a track that is completely straight and 400m long. Power is king when I am overtaking a caravan on a single lane highway or taking off from the traffice lights, and that means the M5 rules in 2006. Handling is VERY important, but who told HSV that handling was the only thing they needed to upgrade in the VE?

Now what does that leave GTS owners with compared to an M5 owner? I suppose $150k in their pockets and a damn good car, but dammit, its not a Euro basher anymore.

So half the people on this forum will now cry out "what about mods"? Ofcourse a 400kw GTS is not that hard to do, but thats no longer a GTS in my opinion. That is a customised car and the M5's engineers couldn't give a crap what a customised car does compared to their fully certified feral beast, the God-like M5.

Power was on issue with the VE. Its heavier but also a lot quicker??? Aussie cars were never Euro bashers in a sence of pure performance alone. Bang for your buck yes.

The M5 will always be the quicker car and always will. Why?? It costs way more and engineers can afford to spend more money. BMW could have made their V10 7 litres and create 500kws. But it doesnt work that way.

Ford could easily make their turbo 400kws but again does not work that way.

[nang3]

hahaha i wish ford would make our turbos 400kw, would take SFA.. I wish they would release an ECU 'TSB' that gives some more boost, but it wont happen..

on a side note, my neighbour had an M3 yesterday arvo from one of his mates, an 04 E46 in dark metallic blue and fark me it was horn!! stock as a rock but had such a menacing presence with the pumped guards and front quarter grilles.. build quality was 1000 times my phoon and i would swap my phoon + 50k for it in a heartbeat

[chomper]

Mechanically, the BeeEmms are an awesome package, but they look like shit. The previous models looked like pure horn, but this new range, ewwwwww

[Holden Man]

PCOTY 2006

VE GTS Lap time: 1.42.00

BMW M5 Lap time: 1.41.15

Not that much difference for an extra $150000 !

Does have the BMW badge though (that must count for some) :stick:

[2001 ITR]

Well, despite what Motor's David Morley thinks, many people never take their car to a track, and if they do, its at a track that is completely straight and 400m long.
Dont even think that evil thought!!!! Every car that I've owned has gone out on a track (some only 4 times).

[Avalanche]

Funny i should see this thread today. As i just passed a new m5 getting put on a tilt tray. The owner didnt look too impressed. No panel damage & on his own. Maybe he ran out of fuel.