M5 BMW M5 (E60): We will never see or hear a car like it again

[martinbo]

The one-an-only super saloon, if you ask me.

I'm saddened by the high percentage of E60s/E63 currently sitting in salvage yards and/or out of commission right now. The powerplant was too complicated for it's own good.

The S85 happened too early to take advantage of a decent automated transmission. The SMG III was the E60 M5's Achilles Heel. Imagine how epic it would've been with a more seamless, smoother-shifting and quicker dual clutch transmission. It's something I thought about often. BMW evidently did too, releasing a one-off prototype to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of the M5.

 

[Zafiro]

But it's available with a manual transmission.

 

[martinbo]

But it's available with a manual transmission.

So what. The world of luxury super saloons moved on from the manual after the E39 M5.

 

[Zafiro]

So what. The world of luxury super saloons moved on from the manual after the E39 M5.

Not for everyone, angry grandpa. Which mean there is an option if the automatic is too harsh for some.

 

[martinbo]

Not for everyone, angry grandpa. Which mean there is an option if the automatic is too harsh for some.

At least I'm not the 40-something teenager living in the 20th century. The six-speed manual didn't make the E60 M5 a better car. On the contrary - the broader spread of ratios meant that the true potential of the S85's amazing ability to rev would not be leveraged to maximum effect.

You're going on like the manual was the salvation for the M5 when it wasn't even made available outside of the 'States.

 

[Zafiro]

At least I'm not the 40-something teenager living in the 20th century. The six-speed manual didn't make the E60 M5 a better car. On the contrary - the broader spread of ratios meant that the true potential of the S85's amazing ability to rev would not be leveraged to maximum effect.

You're going on like the manual was the salvation for the M5 when it wasn't even made available outside of the 'States.

Haha wth, I did not say its a salvation. I said it exists.

PS age 42 in 18th february. I expect a congratulation from you to me that day or I will show up a manual transmission up your buttersmooth mouth.

 

[martinbo]

Haha wth, I did not say its a salvation. I said it exists.

You brought it up as if it meant something. If it didn't why bring it up?

PS age 42 in 18th february. I expect a congratulation from you to me that day or I will show up a manual transmission up your buttersmooth mouth.

I've made an entry for this auspicious event in my calendar.

 

[Zafiro]

Excellent!

 

[dalab]

The S85 happened too early to take advantage of a decent automated transmission. The SMG III was the E60 M5's Achilles Heel. Imagine how epic it would've been with a more seamless, smoother-shifting and quicker dual clutch transmission. It's something I thought about often. BMW evidently did too, releasing a one-off prototype to celebrate the 25 year ann...

Is posible adapt a new BMW transmission?

 

[dalab]

BMW M5 2005-2010 Review (2018) | Autocar

Driving one in the wet the previous week was instrumental in this. It was so brutally, sideways fast. But having driven the new M5 (codenamed E60) for two days, there’s nothing to question. It’s an amazing achievement, largely because it almost never allows you to be drawn into the power debate.

The key is how well realised the whole M5 package has become. Because it now steers better, has such fine mechanical refinement and suspension, because everything surrounding that engine is so competent it feels entirely contained, correctly managed. Perfectly acceptable.
A coded way of saying that it doesn’t actually feel 500 horses-strong? No. Developed and built at the same engine plant used by BMW’s F1 team, this is another demonstration of what BMW knows about power plants. Had Lamborghini not launched a motor so similar in capacity and configuration last year, it would seem far more radical than it does today.

Cast in the same foundry as the F1 motors and using a 90-deg V to join identical five cylinder banks, the M5’s engine produces 500bhp at 7750rpm and 383lb ft of torque at a surprisingly high 6100rpm.

We could dedicate two issues of this magazine just to the engine spec of this car, but these are the highlights: bi-vanos variable valve timing (which allows both exhaust and inlet valves to vary their opening times), the most powerful ECU in the known car world, 10 individual computer-controlled throttle bodies and a full stainless steel exhaust. It’s a powertrain engineer’s dream, one of the finest road car engines yet built.