BMW reaches new heights with next-generation M5

**idrivemyself** · 07-04-2004 09:24 PM

When we gave you details on BMWâ€™s new M5 due here next summer (Cover, April 26), we had to read between the lines to get the full picture. Now BMW has released the first official photos and more details.

At the new M5â€™s heart is a purpose-built 5.0-liter V10 delivering 507 hp. With individual throttle butterflies, BMWâ€™s bi-Vanos variable valve timing, dual-flow stainless steel exhaust system and a stratospheric 8250-rpm redline, the BMW delivers its 507 hp at 7750 rpm and 383 lb-ft 6100 rpm. This is up 107 hp and 15 lb-ft on the outgoing modelâ€™s 4.9-liter V8 engine, making the new M5 is the most powerful road-going BMW ever.

The engine is mated to a third-generation version of BMWâ€™s sequential manual gearbox (SMG), now boasting seven forward ratios and new electronics to speed shift times 20 percent. With 11 different shift programs, six in manual mode and five in automatic, the driver can tailor the gearboxâ€™s action to suit the conditions. Thereâ€™s even a launch control function.

Another new feature is the M5â€™s power button. At start up, the driver is given access to 400 hp in a default program, dubbed P400. Depressing the button unleashes P500 and the engineâ€™s full 507 hp wallop along with a more responsive throttle. In P500 BMW says the new car will hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and its 155 mph top speed in 14.9 sec. With its speed-limiting chip removed, BMW says its new sedan will reach 205 mph, although company policy prohibits official modification, even at the dealer level.

Underpinning the new M5 is a modified version of the 5-seriesâ€™ MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension. While the geometry and pick-up points are the same, the ride height has been reduced and more negative camber added to handle cornering forces BMW claims can top 1.3 g.

The new car also adopts electronic damping control (EDC), providing the driver with three stiffness levels: comfort, normal and sport. The EDC is linked to the M5â€™s power steering system, which provides the driver two assistance levels.

Thereâ€™s also two-stage dynamic stability control (DSC); the first stage with grip levels corresponding to a standard 5-series, the second stage, dubbed M Dynamic, allowing what BMW describes as â€œgreater levels of slip.â€ Helping to rein the new M5 in are impressive looking 14.75-inch (front) and 14.5-inch (rear) ventilated and cross-drilled steel discs with twin-piston aluminum calipers. BMW says 62 to 0 mph takes less than 118 ft and 124 to 0 mph less than 460 ft.

BMW claims the new M5 can lap the NÃ¼rburgring, where much of its development was done, in 8 minutes, 25 seconds less than the outgoing M5.

*By Greg Kable, AutoWeek

**DRA4** · 07-04-2004 09:33 PM

Nice but the next RS6 will eat it.

**foofighter** · 07-04-2004 10:02 PM

let it have its time in the lime light for the monster will be coming

**///s50** · 07-04-2004 11:10 PM

HOTT!!!

**Imperial** · 07-05-2004 12:15 AM

Mechanically impressive, but an aesthetic atrocity. Look at it. The interior looks like crap, imo, and the exterior? Well, aside from the hawkman look from the front, the rear has a face now, too, and that looks like it's got an extra chromosome 21, too. The E55 AMG and RS6 are way hotter, even if they might not be as fast.

Totally destroyed a fine heritage indeed, BMW...

**idrivemyself** · 07-05-2004 12:32 AM

i'd like to hear it at it's "stratospheric 8250-rpm redline" but that would be all. the rest of the car i don't like. especially that steering wheel....

**SoleMate** · 07-05-2004 02:00 AM

The next E65 AMG will eat both RS6 and M5

**DRA4** · 07-05-2004 06:32 AM

RS6 has more power in the long run, cause of the many mods you can do to the engine, much more than the E55 and M5. So eat that.

**aborchew** · 07-05-2004 09:24 AM

Originally posted by idrivemyself

8250-rpm redline

11 different shift programs

60 mph in 4.7

BMW says its new sedan will reach 205 mph

BMW claims can top 1.3 g.

14.75-inch (front) and 14.5-inch (rear) ventilated and cross-drilled steel discs with twin-piston aluminum calipers.

Uhm...

**OverSpun** · 07-05-2004 10:22 AM

Originally posted by DRA4
RS6 has more power in the long run, cause of the many mods you can do to the engine, much more than the E55 and M5. So eat that.

eh, yea, but your gonna have to replace a lot. the transmission on the rs6 can only handle about 516hp before it needs to be upgraded because of the awd. the E55 however is a monster, even though the rs6 is technically more modable, doing so safely would have to be the E55. the M5 lacks modability except for a supercharger or a few engine mods that wont do as much as pulleys and chips for the other two.

**DRA4** · 07-05-2004 11:34 AM

APR is running an RS6 with 520hp with just a chip.

**I am armed** · 07-05-2004 12:09 PM

I'd rather take the RS6 and be a complete bad ass. On second thought, I'd rather take the RS6 Avant from overseas and be a complete mad man at the track. People hate getting beat by wagons ;-)

**I am armed** · 07-05-2004 12:26 PM

The choice is clear....

Vs.

**SEXICÄN** · 07-05-2004 02:21 PM

I hate the exterior and interior on the New M5 look ugly.

**Ultrasport-Sal** · 07-05-2004 02:57 PM

Underpinning the new M5 is a modified version of the 5-seriesâ€™ MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension. While the geometry and pick-up points are the same, the ride height has been reduced and more negative camber added to handle cornering forces BMW claims can top 1.3 g.

Yeah right. They said the last gen M5 was like 1.1g. Find me any magazine that hit that number.

**Act of God** · 07-05-2004 03:30 PM

that interior is so beat. All the new BMW interiors are hurtin (z4, 5 series, etc)

**audispeed** · 07-05-2004 04:41 PM

Originally posted by Ultrasport-Sal
Yeah right. They said the last gen M5 was like 1.1g. Find me any magazine that hit that number.

Agreed. I would like to see a car that can hit 1.3 g on a standard skidpad. Maybee they are talking about larger radius turns on a track where aerodynamics can somehow come into play. Then that number might be achievable.

**minira** · 07-06-2004 01:18 AM

wow, sooo ugly, and a 5.0 v10 with only that much torque? hmmm...they should bump the torque up.

hopefully the rs6 will have a more menacing look to it instead of being so happy. i'd love me an rs6 any day.

**EVIL-AUDI** · 07-06-2004 05:28 AM

All that power and it still looks like a POS.

**I am armed** · 07-06-2004 08:46 AM

Originally posted by minira
wow, sooo ugly, and a 5.0 v10 with only that much torque? hmmm...they should bump the torque up.

hopefully the rs6 will have a more menacing look to it instead of being so happy. i'd love me an rs6 any day.

I agree....the RS6, as bad ass as it is, doesn't look very mean. I mean, if 'I" saw one behind me, i'd shit, because I know how awesome it is. But the average person would just say "sweet". I want them to say "SHIT WE NEED TO GET THE **** OUT OF THIS THINGS WAY!"

**JetBlue** · 07-06-2004 12:30 PM

I saw the owner of Callaway Golf in his RS6 yesterday. He has the exterior completely blacked out and the thing looks MEAN. My buddy and I both almost got whiplash as he went the other way. I saw the car when is was originally at the dealership and the thing was nice. The only chrome is the lower grill on the front end.

As a note the dealership offered me $7K off sticker for an RS6 when I picked up the S4 two months ago. I almost jumped, but could not justify the difference with the new body style coming.

MO