Maybe this video will give you some idea as to how fast an M5 can be

(Shannon might appreciate it as well):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0iD...eature=related

 

Hey Doug,

As you can see from most of the posts, the M series BMW is a super sedan. Unassuming in it's presense but extremely fast. Especially up against any standard PCAR. However, I agree with Oshin11. Although the M5's are fast, I have yet to have any trouble with them and I drive and old 930 Turbo. Albeit, it's not a completely stock turbo, nontheless, I enjoy watching their headlights disappear in my rear view mirror as my speedo exceeds the 185 mph mark...

TK

 

185 ...and you wunder why it didn't start this morning?

O.k. murphy I'm gonna go see the video. Hey, do you think the cat bypass I picked up today for $55 bucks will help next time I get taken to school?

 

I don't have an M5, but I do have a 750iL, with the V12. It is fast and very smooth, almost like a sewing machine. It also has a tremendous amount of torque. It is a totally different type of fast, as compared to the Cab. A more refined comfort zone as to the brute force of the P-car.

 

not unless you have a big turbo on the end of the bypass! The bypass makes very little real world improvement.

 

You would be hard pressed to stay with an M3 much less an M5 in an 80s Carrera in a straight line.
The car used to do break the transcontinental speed record was done in an M5.
Here is the link.
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...t=n.y.+country

On track weekends the cars you see staying with or passing the Porsches are the BMW Ms.

 

Maybe M3's the M5's are pigs - heavy - but fast in the straights. Of course you can make up those 30 yards pretty easily late braking.

 

Heavy yes, pigs not even close. My E39 handled like a dream and was sooo fast......

 

at 4012 lbs (listed as 2008 curb weight BMW M5 with a manual transmission) that translates to a pig in my book. Maybe not yours. On a race track, weight tends to be amplified. You can not overcome physics, no matter how much power you have or how balanced the ride. Just my opinion.

 

If you cannot overcome physics, then weight cannot be amplified.

You may have weight confused with momentum, which can be amplified by velocity.

BTW, for a few years I raced a Shelby GT350 with about 450 HP vs 3100 lbs. It is on the cover of the Sept 06 issue of Classic Motorsports. My M5 could kick its *** in every conceivable performance dimension.

Steve
84 Carrera 220HP vs 2976 lbs .073
00 M5 400Hp vs 4000 lbs .1
64 356C race 160HP vs 1720 lbs .093
02 G500 292 HP vs 5500 lbs .053

 

I had a very well built '88 M5 with a '91 motor, etc. that estimated 350 crank horsepower. It would do 105 in 3rd gear and 120 just entering the freeway. It's made every other car I've owned feel like slow trash. This from an N/A straight six with bolt on parts. I did a 680 mile trip in 8.5 hours including stops, then sold the car. I knew it was going to kill me!

It was my dream car, I lived to dream, I lived to tell about it and now I don't need to drive fast on the street anymore.

It's been said that the M5 is the best car in the world at any price. I'm a believer.
David

 

O.K. guys, we are all friends here. Could one of you do the math on hourse power per pound on the two cars? I gotta get back to work....When I come back I want someone to have done the math on the M5 vs. the '88 cab. let's say the cab comes in at 3417 lbs and 200 HP. That is about 17 pounds per horse. Now what is it for the pig? (sorry had to)

 

The M5 would be about 10lbs per HP.

 

Shannon: The M cars were not sent to the M division.. they were produced in a completely seperated facility, although everything was strictly in house. Sending one out to Alpina or Hartge would be the equivalent to sending to Ruf. And like Ruf, Alpina is considered a manufacturer by TUV, and they recieve bare shells etc.. to work they're magic on. Believe me, they're almost as expensive as Ruf too!

Dsmith is spot on..

The M5 has been around since 88, DOHC inline 6, indv throttle boddies & 300+ hp. Had a re-design in 91 w/ 370+ hp, discontinued in 93... these car left a lot of room to tune and they were lighter than they appear. Another redesign and
back with a vengence in 2000 (V8)... another redesign in 06 I think and it now has a V10. DOn't sleep on any of them, they're fast and many owners actively modify. I used to work for a dealer in bothe sales and as a service mgr, all the modded cars came to my team because I wouldn't squeal and void your warranty. Not to mention one of the techs and I specialized in up-grades as a sideline.

g-50cab: I agree, they are pretty piggy now and the Bangle design even with body mods has never grwon on me! But with the earlier cars beware.. you might get embarassed!

 

The V10 is a little over 8 lbs/bhp. Sorry Doug, you were as much in a race as a mouse would be in a fight with a cat.