The first BMW M5, based on the
E28The BMW E28 BMW 5-Series was made between 1981 and 1988. It replaced the BMW E12 in 1981 and was replaced by the BMW E34 in 1989.E28 Production started in July 1981 and ended in December 1987...
5 SeriesThe BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
, made its debut at Amsterdam Motor Show in February 1984. It was the product of demand for an automobile with the carrying capacity of a saloon (sedan), but the overall performance of a
sports carA sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
. It utilized the 535i chassis and an evolution of the engine from the
BMW M1The BMW M1 is a sports car that was produced by German automaker BMW from 1978 to 1981.In the late 1970s, Italian manufacturer Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW to build a production racing car in sufficient quantity for homologation. The result was sold to the public, from 1978 to...
. At its launch, the E28 M5 was the fastest production sedan
in the worldJeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
.
The first generation M5 was hand-built in Preußenstrasse/Munich prior to the 1986 Motorsport factory summer vacation. Thereafter, M5 production was moved to Daimlerstraße in Garching where the remainder were built by hand. In May 1987, the keys to the 1000th car were presented to Mr. and Mrs. Krampertz from Eichenau near Munich by Wolfgang Peter Flohr, the director of BMW Motorsport GmbH. It is worth noting that production of the M5 continued until November 1988, well after production of the E28 chassis ended in Germany in December 1987.
The M5 was produced in four different versions based on intended export locations. These were the left-hand drive (LHD) Euro spec, the right-hand drive (RHD) UK spec, the LHD North American (NA) spec for the United States and Canada, and the RHD South African (ZA) spec.
The LHD, RHD Euro Spec M5s and the ZA spec M5s had the
M88/3The BMW M88/3 is an in line 6 cylinder piston engine. It was based on the M88/1 that was used in the BMW M1's street version, with double overhead cam and four valves per cylinder. The M88/1 was in turn based on the M49 engine which was used in the BMW 3.0CSi...
powerplant which delivered 286 PS whereas the North American 1988 M5 was equipped with a variant of the M88/3 called the S38 B35 which was equipped with a
catalytic converterA catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint...
, which, combined with slightly lower compression of 9.8:1 versus 10.5:1 for the M88/3 reduced the power output to 256 hp. The S38 also differed from the M88/3 in that it had a dual-row timing chain as compared to the M88/3's single row timing chain. The S38 B35 was used in the NA-Spec E28 M5 and E24 M6. Late production catalyst equipped versions (117 examples) of the European M635CSi were also equipped with the S38 B35. Initially 500 were to be made for the US Market, BMW later increased production to as many as 1,370 units for the US and Canadian markets, although the generally accepted figure is 1,244 units sold.
The North American spec models are unique, in that technically they were all finished in Schwarz (Black) with Natur (Tan) interiors. The otherwise virtually identical Canadian spec M5s were also available with Black interiors as an option, however a limited number of US Models were also equipped with Black interiors
United States
Vehicle Identification NumberA Vehicle Identification Number, commonly abbreviated to VIN, is a unique serial number used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles. VINs were first used in 1954...
s (VINs) range from 2791000-2792000 and 2875000-2875320. Car # 2791000 is not known to have been built, and not all VINs are known to have been used. The first few cars built in November and December 1986 were issued Federal compliance labels showing a 1/87 build date. As has been speculated earlier, physical confirmation of the VIN of the United States M5 kept in BMW North America's Mobile Tradition collection is a 287 series car, a later 1987 build date car.
While every North American spec E28 M5 was a 1988
model yearThe model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
car, production of North American specification M5s commenced in November 1986 and ended in November 1987. Excepting 96 units that were assembled in kit form at BMW's Plant in
RosslynRosslyn can refer to:* Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland* Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia, United States** Rosslyn , the Washington Metro station serving Rosslyn* Rosslyn, Ontario, Canada...
,
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, all E28 M5s were assembled by hand at
BMW MotorsportBMW Motorsport is the division of BMW responsible for motorsport-related activities, including works-run competition programmes in touring car racing, sportscar racing and Formula One.-See also:* BMW M* BMW in motorsport* BMW Sauber* Schnitzer Motorsport...
in Garching,
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
With a total production of 2,191 units, the E28 M5 remains among the rarest regular production BMW Motorsport cars - after the BMW M1 (456 units), BMW E34 M5 Touring (891 units), and the BMW 850CSi (1510 units).
Specification
- (European) - 286 PS M88/3 Engine with 10.5:1 Compression. European-Spec M5s were available with a myriad of options unavailable on USA-Spec M5s such as Water Buffalo leather and a Glass Moonroof. LHD cars were equipped with 185TR390 Metric Wheels made by Mahle with 220-55VR390 Michelin TRX tires. RHD Cars were equipped with 16x7.5 BBS wheels with 225-50VR16 Tires - these wheels were not shared with any other model. Air Conditioning was standard on UK Supplied M5s and optional on LHD M5s. It is also notable that very early European-Spec LHD M5s had VINs that started with "WBA" instead of the "WBS" designation to indicate BMW Motorsport. it is estimated that no more than 15 M5s were produced with a "WBA" VIN. European-Spec M5s were available in various colors and with or without leather upholstery. At least one UK specification car is known to have been produced with comfort seats.
- (USA/Canada) - (256 bhp in USA/Canada units) S38B35 Engine with 9.8:1 Compression. All US-Specification M5s were comprehensively optioned. Leather Door Panels, Leather Center Console, Full Trunk Carpeting, Air Conditioning, Power Windows, Power Sunroof, Power Seats, Cruise Control, On-Board Computer, Central Locking and Shadowline Trim were standard. The only option on a US-Specification M5 was electrically heated front seats which were standard equipment on Canadian-Market cars. All North American specification M5s were finished in "Schwarz" or Jet Black. Officially US Specification cars were only available with Natur (Tan) leather interiors, however Black was offered in Canada and a handful of US-Bound cars were built with black interiors.
Performance
At the time of sale, BMW quoted the following 0-60 mph times to give the impression that the E28 M5 did not outperform the more expensive and heavier E24 M635csi.
- (Euro) - 282 PS (210 kW) - 0-60 mph - 6.2 s - Top Speed: 153 mi/h
- (USA) - 256 hp (191 kW) - 0-60 mph - 6.5 s - Top Speed: 148 mi/h
Tuners
- Whilst BMW M
BMW M GmbH is a subsidiary of German car manufacturer BMW AG.BMW M, also known as M-Technik or just "M" was initially created to facilitate BMW’s racing program, which was very successful in the 1960s and 1970s...
otorsport did not build any special versions of the E28 M5, the German tuner HartgeHartge is a third party car tuning company specializing in BMW, MINI and Range Rover vehicles. Founded in 1971 in Merzig, Germany, the company moved to its current location in Beckingen in 1974...
produced the Hartge H35S-24, a 330 PS version of the E28 M5. Main modifications over and above the standard E28 M5 were revised cams, a modified exhaust, modified BoschRobert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
MotronicMotronic is the trade name given to a range of digital engine-management systems developed by Robert Bosch GmbH, commonly known as Bosch.-Motronic ML1.x:Motronic ML1.x was one of the first digital engine-management systems developed by Bosch...
ECU programming, and a revised (and lowered) suspension setup.
- Alpina
Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH is an automobile manufacturing company based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany selling their own cars, based on BMW cars....
limited their tuning efforts to the older M30The BMW M30 is an inline-6 cylinder engine built by BMW and was used in many different models since 1968. It was originally developed in the late 1960s as an extended 2.5-liter version of the robust inline four-cylinder BMW M10 first used in the 'Neue Klasse' BMW 1500, with which it shares a...
engine powered models. The Alpina B7 Turbo produced 250 kW with 0-60 mph times of 4.7 sec and a top speed of 270 km/h (168 mph).
E34 M5 (1989–1995)
The
E34The BMW E34 is the version of the BMW 5 Series automobile built from February 1988 to 1995 with the Touring model ending June 1996. It replaced the BMW E28 in 1988 and was replaced by the E39 in 1996....
M5 is a continuation of BMW's M5 series, based on the 5-series. It was produced from 1988 to 1995, although sales in
North AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
started in 1990 and ended in 1993. It was produced at BMW M GmbH in
GarchingGarching bei München or Garching is a city in Bavaria, Germany near Munich. It is the home of several research institutes and university departments. It became a city on 14 September 1990.-Location:...
,
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and like the previous M5, was entirely hand-built. It utilized the 535i chassis which was produced at BMW's
DingolfingDingolfing is a town in Southern Bavaria, Germany. It is the seat of the Landkreis Dingolfing-Landau.- History :The area now called Dingolfing was first mentioned in Tinguluinga in the year 833....
plant. Assembly was done either by a single M employee or a team of M employees and generally took about two weeks. It is rumored that the test drivers of the E34 M5 could determine who or what team made each specific M5, due to characteristic quirks of the handbuilt nature of the E34 M5. The engines were also built by hand by BMW M technicians. All of the E34 M5 powerplants were built to 5% of advertised output.
The early E34 M5 used an evolution of the 24-valve
straight-6The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
found in the E28 M5 and E24 M635CSi/M6. The engine was designated S38B36, with a bore of 93.4 mm (3.677 in) and stroke of 86 mm (3.386 in) for a total capacity of 3535 cc. The added stroke is due to a new forged steel
crankshaftThe crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
, though the
camshaftA camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.-History:An early cam was built into Hellenistic water-driven automata from the 3rd century BC. The camshaft was later described in Iraq by Al-Jazari in 1206. He employed it as part of his automata,...
s were also changed.
Compression ratioThe 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
was up slightly (10:1 versus 9.8:1). Other adjustments made included an electronically controlled butterfly valve in the intake plenum, which provided better low rpm and mid-range power. The engine also featured an improved
flywheelA flywheel is a rotating mechanical device that is used to store rotational energy. Flywheels have a significant moment of inertia, and thus resist changes in rotational speed. The amount of energy stored in a flywheel is proportional to the square of its rotational speed...
,
BoschRobert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
MotronicMotronic is the trade name given to a range of digital engine-management systems developed by Robert Bosch GmbH, commonly known as Bosch.-Motronic ML1.x:Motronic ML1.x was one of the first digital engine-management systems developed by Bosch...
fuel injectionFuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
, equal length stainless steel exhaust headers, and three way ceramic catalysts. Originally it had a
displacementEngine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
of 3.6 litres, and produced 232 kW, and 360 N·m (266 ft·lbf) at 4750
rpmRevolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
. Cars sold in
North AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and
SwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, due to a different
catalytic converterA catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint...
, produced 229 kW.
In second half of 1991, the engine displacement was increased to 3.8 litres with the S38B38, except in North America and South Africa, which continued with the 3.5 litre engine, because that one had emission controls fitted. Power was now increased to 250 kW. Also in 1992, a five-door Touring version (
estate/wagonA station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
) was introduced in LHD form, with 891 cars made.
The E34 M5 Touring was the world's fastest wagon when it was introduced. It was BMW M Division's first wagon, but at the same time the last hand built M car made. Its 3.8L straight six was also the largest displacement six-cylinder engine of BMW's modern era. While none of these wagons were imported to North America, several have been imported since 1995 and have become a cult car among BMW Touring Enthusiasts. Only with the advent of the Audi/ Porsche RS2 Avant would the M5 Touring be challenged by another Q-ship station wagon.
The M5 came with an unusual wheel design. From 1988-1992 the M5 featured the M-System wheels. These wheels were 8Jx17J, but came with directional bolted-on wheel covers. Under the cover was a black 5-spoke alloy wheel. The press was critical of the design, often claiming it gave the M5 the appearance of having "white-wall" tires. In 1992 BMW changed the design and a new cover was produced – the M-System II. The original intent of the M-System cover was to direct more air to the brake assembly to increase cooling. The cover actually integrated a fin assembly behind the cover. The M-System II covers, known as the "throwing stars" did not have as much capability to direct air to the brake assemblies. In May 1994, the M5 came with M Parallel wheels that did away with the cover.
Specification
- HD91 (89-92 LHD Euro) I6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
-24vIn automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design...
3.6 litre - 232 kW (only available with 5-speed manual transmission)
- HD92 (89-91 RHD Euro) I6-24v 3.6 litre - 232 kW (only available with 5-speed manual transmission)
- HD93 (89-93 LHD US) I6-24v 3.6 litre - 232 kW (only available with 5-speed manual transmission)
- HD98 (90-93 RHD SA) I6-24v 3.6 litre - 232 kW (only available with 5-speed manual transmission) made in South Africa from CKD kit supplied from Germany.
- HC91 (91-94 LHD Euro) I6-24v 3.8 litre - 250 kW (available with 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmission)
- HC92 (92-94 RHD Euro) I6-24v 3.8 litre - 250 kW (available with 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmission)
- HJ91 (92-94 LHD Euro Touring) I6-24v 3.8 litre - 250 kW (available with 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmission)
- 89-95 (ECE/GB/USA) - (no automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
available)
Performance
- 89-92 (Euro) I6-24v 3.6 L
- 0-60 mi/h: 6.3 s
- Top speed: 155 mph (250 km/h)(electronic limited)
- 92-95 (Euro) I6-24v 3.8 L
- 0-60 mi/h: 5.9/5.7 sec*
- Top speed: 177 mph (280 km/h)(electronic limited)
- 91-93 (USA) I6-24v 3.5 L
- 0-60 mi/h: 6.4 s
- Top speed: 155 mph (250 km/h)(electronic limited)
* (available only with 6-speed manual transmission)
Special versions
There were four special editions of the E34 M5. The Cecotto, Winkelhock and 20 Jahre editions which were offered as LHD Euro specification models while the RHD UK Limited edition was only sold in the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
E34 M5 Cecotto Edition
In 1991, BMW asked two racing drivers to design their "ideal" version of the E34 M5.
Johnny CecottoAlberto "Johnny" Cecotto is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver...
was one of the drivers and he wanted a host of luxury items fitted on the M5. Including Nappa leather trim for the steering wheel and heated seats.
A total of 22 Cecotto E34 M5s were produced with options of having either Lagoon Green metallic (266) and Mauritius Blue metallic paint (287).
E34 M5 Winkelhock Edition
The other racing driver was
touring carA touring car, or tourer, is an open car seating five or more. Touring cars may have two or four doors. Often, the belt line is lowered in the front doors to give the car a more sportive character. They were often fitted with a folding roof and side curtains. Engines on early models were either in...
ace
Joachim WinkelhockJoachim Winkelhock , is a German motor racing driver.The younger brother of the late Manfred Winkelhock, Winkelhock was born in Waiblingen, near Stuttgart...
. He wanted a lightweight E34 M5 and so some luxury items were removed. His ideal lightweight version M5 featured a smaller battery and the US-spec 81L fuel tank as well as reduced sound deadening and the deletion of some non essential interior items such as rear head rests and vanity mirrors. Recaro front seats and a suede 385 mm M-Technic II steering wheel, shift knob & parking brake lever. The seat design, suede-covered appointments & red seatbelts were similar to those on the Sport Evo E30 M3. A total of 51 Winkelhock E34 M5s were produced with the options of having Jet Black (668) with contrasting lower body panels in Sterling Silver metallic paint (244).
E34 M5 20 Jahre Motorsport Edition
To celebrate BMW Motorsport 20th anniversary, BMW had built 20 specially equipped Euro-spec M5s in late 1992. These, based on the 3.8 L engine were only in Mugello Red (274) and had a number of aesthetic trim upgrades such as carbon fiber dash panels and special rear view mirrors. Unique seat center & door trim fabric was matched with
AlcantaraAlcantara is a tradename given to a composite material used to cover surfaces and forms in a variety of applications. The material was developed in the early 1970s by Miyoshi Okamoto, a scientist working for the Japanese chemical company Toray Industries, as a variation of their other product...
. Alcantara was also used on the steering wheel, shift lever & parking brake lever. Red seatbelts with "BMW Motorsport" were also included.
E34 M5 UK Limited Edition
To commemorate the end of right-hand drive E34 M5 production, 50 examples of the E34 M5 Limited Edition were assembled between March and June 1995 in one of two unique color and trim combinations: Rosso Red metallic (369) with a Champagne extended leather interior and natural poplar wood trim (15 built) or Orinoco metallic (406) with a Bicolor Petrol and Mint extended leather interior and graphite bird's-eye maple wood trim (35 built). Each E34 M5 Limited Edition is equipped with the three-spoke sport steering wheel, Shadowline trim, power sunroof, power front seats, headlight washers and manual air conditioning. A numbered plaque appears on the center console. (
Source: bmwmregistry)
Additionally, 20 M5 Touring models were assembled for distribution in Italy. These were finished in either Sterling Silver over Marine Blue leather, or British Racing Green over Tobacco leather. All were made in 1995. It is debated as to whether or not these cars constitute a true special edition as they were ordered directly by a group of Italian BMW dealers.
These are not to be confused with the
AlpinaAlpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH is an automobile manufacturing company based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany selling their own cars, based on BMW cars....
B10 E34 models which are manufactured by Alpina although there are performance similarities but there are significant differences in approach.
Motorsport
The M5 has never been a popular choice for motorsport due to its size and weight. However, VDS Racing Adventures have used an E34 M5 in endurance racing, where weight and nimbleness is less important than in sprint racing. The car features many one-off components, including a wide-arch fibreglass bodykit, but the engine is based on the 3.8-litre S38 straight-six and is almost standard, producing approximately 350 PS. It has also raced in the Belgium Belcar Championship, where it was runner up in 2001.
An E34 M5 was raced in the Australian
1992 Bathurst 12 HourThe 1992 James Hardie 12 Hour was an endurance race for production cars staged at the Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia on 19 April 1992...
Production Car endurance race, placing 2nd overall, and 1st in its class. It was driven by former F1 champion Alan Jones, Neville Crichton, and BMW Touring car driver
Tony LonghurstTony Longhurst is an Australian former racing driver and Australian Champion water skier. He is most noted for his career in the Australian Touring Car Championship and V8 Supercar series....
.
E39 M5 (1998–2003)
Unlike its predecessors, the
E39 M5 was not handbuilt at the BMW M GmbH factory; in order to increase production, it was produced on the same assembly line as the normal E39 5-series at the
DingolfingDingolfing is a town in Southern Bavaria, Germany. It is the seat of the Landkreis Dingolfing-Landau.- History :The area now called Dingolfing was first mentioned in Tinguluinga in the year 833....
factory in Germany. In fact, the E39 M5 was almost not built at all; BMW believed that the 210 kW 540i was powerful enough, but when Jaguar released the 272 kW XJR, and
Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
introduced the W210 E55, which had over 260 kW
BMWBayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
responded to the competition with a 294 kW M5.
Introduced in 1998 at the Geneva Motor Show, production did not begin until late October of that year. A total of 20,482 E39 M5s were made from 1999 to 2003. BMW M produced three versions of the E39 M5, the European LHD and RHD versions, and the North American specification version.
The E39 M5 had a highly tuned
V8 engineA V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
based on the
M62 engineThe BMW M62 is a V8 piston engine, built in Munich, Germany. It has an aluminum block with 98 mm bore centers and two aluminum DOHC cylinder heads.-M62:...
called the S62, which displaced 4.9 litres and produced 294 kW. The engine featured a 7,000
rpmRevolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
redline, Double-
VANOSVANOS is an automobile variable valve timing technology developed by BMW in close collaboration with Continental Teves. VANOS varies the timing of the valves by moving the position of the camshafts in relation to the drive gear...
, which varies the intake and exhaust valves timings for both cylinder banks, and individual throttle butterflies for each of the cylinders, allowing for a much faster engine response time.
All E39 M5s were equipped with a
GetragGetrag is a leading manufacturer of automobile manual transmissions. The company was founded on 1 May 1935, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, by Hermann Hagenmeyer; as the Getriebe und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG...
Type D six-speed
manual transmissionA manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
which provided the following gearing ratios:
- 1st gear: 4.23
- 2nd gear: 2.53
- 3rd gear: 1.67
- 4th gear: 1.23
- 5th gear: 1.00
- 6th gear: 0.83
It is the same transmission used in the E39 540i, but some changes were made to cope with the extra power the S62 engine produced. A reinforced
clutchA clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
, rear differential utilising a shorter 3.15:1 ratio, and a
limited slip differentialA limited slip differential is a type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in angular velocity of the output shafts, but imposes a mechanical bound on the disparity...
with 25% maximum locking.
The E39 M5 suspension shared its basic
aluminiumAluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
-intensive
MacPherson strutThe MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson, who developed the design.-History:...
/
multi-linkMultilink may refer to:*Multi-link suspension, a type of vehicle suspension design.*Multilink PPP, a type of communications protocal*Multilink Procedure*Multilink striping, a type of data striping used in telecommunications....
design of the
V8 engineA V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
d E39 5 series. However, several changes were made by BMW M. Reduced spring height, 23 mm (0.905511811023622 in) lower. A specific shock valving, thicker front and rear
anti-roll barsA sway bar or anti-roll bar or stabilizer bar is a part of an automobile suspension that helps reduce the roll of a vehicle that is induced by cornering or road irregularities. It connects opposite wheels together through short lever arms linked by a torsion spring...
, polyurethane auxiliary springs, and steel balljoints.
Like all V8-powered E39 models, the E39 M5 was equipped with a
recirculating ballRecirculating ball, also known as recirculating ball and nut or worm and sector, is a steering mechanism commonly found in older automobiles, and some trucks...
steering system. Overall steering ratio was reduced to 14.7 from 17.9. It featured a Servotronic vehicle-speed-sensitive power assist which provides two levels of resistance controlled via console mounted Sport button. The Sport button also adjusted the electronic throttle butterflies for faster throttle response. The E39 M5 is equipped with four-wheel vented
disc brakeThe disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s measuring 345 mm (13.58 in) in diameter in front and 328 mm (12.91 in) in diameter in the rear. On European-specification models, the rotors are of a "floating" two-piece design for reduced risk of cone distortion. Their lower unsprung weight improves ride quality and traction on bumpy surfaces as well. Anti-lock brakes, EML (fly-by-wire) throttle control and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) were standard.
During its five years in production, there were some cosmetic changes in 2001 to include:
- Revised headlights incorporating illuminated "Corona Ring" design (incandescent plastic rings surrounding the headlights, often incorrectly and nonsensically referred to as "Angel Eyes" despite BMW themselves clearly making reference to them as "Corona Rings," named for the outer plasma "atmosphere" of the sun visible during a solar eclipse.)
- Jewel tone Celis tail light design
- Park Distance Control sensors in the front bumper (previously in rear only)
- Thicker three-spoke M steering wheel identical to the one fitted to the E46 M3
- Grey instrument panel
- Improved solar sensor for standard automatic climate control
- Revised navigation/audio unit with larger (6.5-inch) monitor (Standard on US Spec 2001-2003)
- Rear head protection airbag
An Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
s added
- Second-generation M Mobility tyre repair system in place of earlier version
- Available M Audio System with special tweeters, Kevlar/carbon coaxial speakers
A coaxial loudspeaker is a loudspeaker system in which the individual driver units radiate sound from the same point or axis. Two general types exist: one is a compact design using two or three speaker drivers, usually in car audio, and the other is a two-way high-power design for professional...
and two subwooferA subwoofer is a woofer, or a complete loudspeaker, which is dedicated to the reproduction of low-pitched audio frequencies known as the "bass". The typical frequency range for a subwoofer is about 20–200 Hz for consumer products, below 100 Hz for professional live sound, and below...
s behind the rear console
- Alcantara headliner included with Extended Leather interior (previously only included with Complete Leather)
For the subsequent two model years, changes were limited to the addition of new exterior colors (from 9/01 production) and the upgrade to a
DVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
-based navigation system (from 9/02 production).
The official BMW of North America statement (mentioned in the 2003 brochure) for the acceleration time from 0-60 mph is 4.8s. Official statements from BMW are typically conservative and many reviewers claim to have achieved this under 4.5 seconds and the less restricted European version is routinely clocked at 4.2. It is electronically limited to a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), making it the fastest 4-door saloon in the world at the time it was manufactured and just .1 (1/10) of a second off the 0-60 time of the latest M5 model.
E39 M5 Touring
Although an E39 M5
TouringA station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
was considered, and at least one prototype was constructed (in Titanium Silver with a Black Exclusive leather interior), BMW M decided not to produce an E39 M5 Touring due to financial considerations. In February 2010, as part of BMW's 25th Anniversary of the M5, they revealed this prototype M5 touring along with an E34 M5 Cabriolet, which also was never produced.
Flexible electronics design
Since the start of production the entire in-car entertainment system (Radio Function, Navigation System, Television and Telecommunications systems) is based on a very flexible automotive computer system. As a result the E39 models can all be easily upgraded with the newest BMW technologies including BMW's Bluetooth System, the DVD based Navigation system, as well as BMW's CD changers that play MP3s
E60 M5 (2005–2010)
The
E60The BMW E60 is the BMW 5 Series automobile, replacing the BMW E39 in 2003. It was replaced by the BMW F10 from March 2010. The E60 was available in both sedan and station wagon platforms....
M5 was introduced in 2005. It has a 4999 cc BMW
V10A V10 engine is a V engine with 10 cylinders in two banks of five with a distinct exhaust note.- Mechanics :The V10 is essentially the result of mating two even-firing straight-5 engines together. The straight-5 engine shows first and second order rocking motion...
S85 engineThe BMW S85B50 is a DOHC 40-valve V10 automotive piston engine present in the E60 M5 sedan, E61 M5 touring and E63/64 M6 coupé. It was derived directly from BMW's Formula 1 racing division....
redliningRedline refers to the maximum engine speed at which an internal combustion engine or traction motor and its components are designed to operate without causing damage to the components themselves or other parts of the engine...
at 8250
rpmRevolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
, and developing a peak output of 507 PS and 520 newton metre of torque. Unlike some other BMW engines which utilise Valvetronic to infinitely vary valve lift to eliminate the throttle plate, this engine has individual throttle bodies per cylinder. The E60 M5 was the world's first production sedan to feature a V10 petrol engine.
Other key features include a stiffened aluminum chassis and a 7-speed SMG III sequential manual gearbox, also known as a single-clutch
automated manual transmissionA semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...
. Front fog lights are unavailable for the M5, as the amount of air required to cool the brakes under spirited driving applications requires the spaces under the bumper, normally occupied by fog lights in other E60 cars, to be reallocated for air cooling ducts.
Despite the criticism of the
Chris BangleChristopher Edward "Chris" Bangle is an American automobile designer. Bangle is known best for his work as Chief of Design for BMW Group, where he was responsible for the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce motor cars.- Biography :...
-designed chassis, the difficult
iDriveiDrive is a computer system which is used to control most secondary vehicle systems in many current BMW cars. iDrive's user interface consists of a LCD panel mounted in the dashboard and a controller knob mounted on the center console....
interface, and the lack of smoothness of the SMG III transmission, the E60 M5 was the most successful M5, despite being on the market for one year shorter than the E39 M5. During its five year run, 20,548 units were built composing of 19,523 saloons and 1025 wagons. 8800 were sold in the U.S., all of the sedan variety. Great Britain and Ireland claimed 1776 examples, followed by BMW's home market of Germany with 1647 units, and 1357 were sold in Japan. Italian enthusiasts claimed 512 units, and 339 examples were sold in Australia.
Powertrain
The BMW M5, along with the E63/64
BMW M6The BMW M6, also known as the BMW M635CSi, is a high-performance version of the 6-Series automobile, designed by the motorsport division of BMW...
, were designed to use the new Getrag SMG III single-clutch seven speed
semi-automatic transmissionA semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...
. Gerd Richter, the head of BMW M, defended the decision to use a single-clutch sequential manual gearbox rather than a
twin-clutch unitA dual clutch transmission, commonly abbreviated to DCT , is a differing type of semi-automatic or automated manual automotive transmission. It utilises two separate clutches for odd and even gear sets...
, saying "True, the dual-clutch system has a smoother automatic mode, and it performs seamless upshifts. For a
7-seriesThe BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
, this may be the way to go. But an M car should always combine efficiency with emotion. That's why there are six shift speeds to choose from, from velvet glove to iron fist. That's why we cut the torque into seven slices. That's why we added special features like a hill holder, a designated drive program for steep climbs and descents, and a downshift assistant, which briefly dips the clutch to avoid destabilizing wheel spin." The SMG III transmission, while responsive at the track, has been criticized for its general lack of smoothness in everyday driving, and by 2010 it was considered outdated as most manufacturers were using
dual clutch transmissionA dual clutch transmission, commonly abbreviated to DCT , is a differing type of semi-automatic or automated manual automotive transmission. It utilises two separate clutches for odd and even gear sets...
s instead. Based on suggestions from the motoring press, BMW announced in October 2006 that a 6-speed conventional
manual transmissionA manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
would be available in North America, this became the base transmission in these markets while SMG III is an option. The 6-speed manual M5 was marginally slower, since the dynamic stability control could not be disengaged unlike the SMG version. This however, was changed with the release of a Service Bulletin in November of 2007 for a retrofit allowing DSC to be disabled as well as the function being implemented into the introduction of the 2008 model year M5 as well as the M6. The SMG III includes the "Launch Control" feature. However, the US spec vehicles have a reduced RPM to prevent vehicle damage and abuse.
The M5 features several
Formula OneFormula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
inspired engine and transmission controls. There is
launch controlLaunch control typically refers to an electronic aid which is used to assist the drivers of various motorsports at the start of a race.Launch control also refers to an electronic setting on many modern sporting saloons and coupes which help the driver accelerate from a standing start, to gain the...
which allows maximum performance
standing startA standing start is a type of start in auto racing events, in which cars are stationary when the race begins. In a standing start, cars are completely still when a green signal is given to start the race, often preceded by a set of lights...
s automatically. The Getrag SMG III single-clutch
semi-automatic transmissionA semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...
has the option of changing to either automated or manual, as well as the speed at which shifts are completed (there are 11 shift programmes in total forming what BMW calls
Drivelogic). Manual shifting can be done with either a console shifter, or the steering wheel mounted shift paddles, both of which are fitted to all SMG M5s. The console shifter is the type used on manumatic transmissions; tipping it backward (toward the "+") shifts up, while a forward tip (toward the "-") shifts down. The shifter can be moved to the left to access neutral and reverse. The car also features a "power" button on the navigation panel (labeled "M") which offers access to three modes: P400 (limiting the engine to 400 PS for daily driving use), P500 (unleashes the full 507 PS), and P500 S (for full power and sharper throttle response, selectable only from the "M Drive Settings" in the iDrive menu). P400 is the default start-up mode, the P500 modes are preselected using
iDriveiDrive is a computer system which is used to control most secondary vehicle systems in many current BMW cars. iDrive's user interface consists of a LCD panel mounted in the dashboard and a controller knob mounted on the center console....
and then activated from P500 S using the "M" button.
Performance
The E60 M5 took the title of the most powerful midsize sport sedan when released, Along with direct competitors the
Audi RS6The Audi RS6 quattro, commonly referred to as the RS6, is the highest performing version, and top-of-the-line specification of the Audi A6, positioned above the Audi S6...
(C5) and the
Mercedes-Benz E55 AMGThe Mercedes-Benz W211 is a mid-size luxury car–executive car which was produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz from 2002 to 2009, under the E-Class model names. The W211 models replaced the W210 E-Class models and were superseded by the Mercedes-Benz W212 in 2009...
, all three vehicles are quoted by their manufacturers to reach 0-to-62-mph in a time of 4.7 seconds.
The M5 has since then been overtaken by several more powerful rivals, specifically the
Mercedes-Benz E63 AMGThe Mercedes-Benz W211 is a mid-size luxury car–executive car which was produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz from 2002 to 2009, under the E-Class model names. The W211 models replaced the W210 E-Class models and were superseded by the Mercedes-Benz W212 in 2009...
(507 bhp), Audi RS6 (C6) (426 kW), and the second generation Cadillac CTS-V (556 bhp) which bested the M5's Nürburgring lap time.
- 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 4.7s
- (0-100 mph: 10.00, Road & Track [2/06])
- (0-60 mph: 4.1s, Road & Track [2/06])
- Top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph) with electronic speed limiter;only on G.B. models German imports not limited
204 mph (328.3kph)(delimited)
- Power: 373 kW at 7750 rpm
- Torque: 520 N·m (384 ft·lbf) at 6100 rpm
E61 M5 Touring (2007–2010)
The E61 M5 Touring was introduced in 2007, only the second M version of the 5-Series Touring after the
E34The BMW E34 is the version of the BMW 5 Series automobile built from February 1988 to 1995 with the Touring model ending June 1996. It replaced the BMW E28 in 1988 and was replaced by the E39 in 1996....
. It shares the same drivetrain with its saloon sibling, and serves as a rival to the
Audi RS6The Audi RS6 quattro, commonly referred to as the RS6, is the highest performing version, and top-of-the-line specification of the Audi A6, positioned above the Audi S6...
Avant and
Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG EstateThe Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive-size cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. The E initially stood for Einspritzmotor, ; a new feature in volume production vehicles at the time that the E-Class first appeared, with the E as a suffix to the...
. The Touring was never offered for sale in North America.
The E61 M5 Touring weights slightly less than 2000 kg (4,409 lb) and from the factory can reach 175 mi/h, even though the car is electronically limited to 155 mi/h . Jeremy Clarkson, of Top Gear, said of the "M5 is one of the most exciting cars made today. Only now, because this is an estate, your dog can come too.”
F10 M5 (2011 -)
The F10 M5 will first be released to the public in the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, and is expected to go on sale in November 2011.
Prerelease information
The new M5 uses the S63 biturbo 4.4 Litre V8 with twin scroll turbocharging technology that is found in the BMW X5 M and X6 M, and the version in the M5 is expected to have an output of 560 hp and 502 ft·lb (680.6 N·m) of torque. Turbocharging the M5 has not gone unnoticed, with long time fans of the M series being disappointed that BMW seems to be moving away from traditionally high displacement naturally aspirated high-revving engines. Increasingly stringent international CO2 emissions and fuel consumption regulations are cited as the cause of death of the outgoing model's V10 engine, and the F10 M5 will cut CO2 emissions by 25%. The other advantage of turbocharging is that it generates considerably more low-end torque; the
N63The N63 is a family of 4.4L, direct-injected, twin-turbocharged V8 automobile engines produced by BMW since 2008.-Specifications:The N63B44 features a reverse-flow air design in which the turbochargers are mounted in the engine valley and the intake manifolds are located on the sides of the block...
biturbo 4.4 Litre V8 (the base engine from which the S63 is derived is the M62 from the E38 7 series and E39 5 series) has advantages over the S85 V10 engine despite having fewer cylinders.
While the X5 M and X6 M currently have a 6-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic transmission, a
dual clutch transmissionA dual clutch transmission, commonly abbreviated to DCT , is a differing type of semi-automatic or automated manual automotive transmission. It utilises two separate clutches for odd and even gear sets...
will be used on the F10 M5, dropping the Getrag SMG III single-clutch 7-speed
semi-automatic transmissionA semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...
used in the previous E60 M5. A manual gearbox option has been confirmed for the US market only.
The F10 M5 will be further influenced by BMW's EfficientDynamics program to lower the weight of the car. This will improve fuel consumption and enhance performance. BMW has partnered with carbon fiber manufacturers SGL group and Biermann has further speculated that carbon fiber will be employed substantially in the structure and shell to vastly reduce weight from the previous E60 model. Hybrid systems have been ruled out of the F10 M5's line up of gadgets because of the extra weight they will add to the car.
Official information
On June 15. 2011. BMW released official press informations about new M5.
official info
Most of internet unofficial informations are correct, car is powered by upgraded
S63The N63 is a family of 4.4L, direct-injected, twin-turbocharged V8 automobile engines produced by BMW since 2008.-Specifications:The N63B44 features a reverse-flow air design in which the turbochargers are mounted in the engine valley and the intake manifolds are located on the sides of the block...
engine which produces 560 hp and 680 Nm of torque. The high-revving V8 produces its 560 hp from 6000 to 7000 rpm, and redlines at 7200 rpm. Maximum torque is available from 1500 to 5750 rpm. Despite this, BMW confirms that there's no turbo lag. Acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) is 4.4 seconds and top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155 mph), however it can be 305 km/h (190 mph) with M-Drivers-Package. Car weight is 1945 kg which is 90 kilograms more than previous model. Average fuel consumption is claimed to be 9.9 litres which is 31% less compared to 14.4 litres from V10 powered M5. Car is built on a modified F10 platform, wheelbase is shorter while body is 11 millimeters longer than standard 5 series. Other details mentioned in the report include an Active M-Differential with torque vectoring between the rear wheels and optional 20-inch light alloy wheels fitted with 265/35/20 front and 295/30/20 rear Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. While the car’s official world debut isn’t set to occur until September at the Frankfurt Auto Show and later in North America at the LA Autoshow on November 18, the new 2012 BMW M5 has already made an appearance at the M Festival at the Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race in Germany on June 23, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and has been shown to select members of the M Driving Experience at the Salzburg Ring in Austria. The new M5 was reported a lap time of 7:55 around the
NurburgringThe Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
race track which matches the ’Ring time of the Ferrari F430.
Engine is officially dubbed the S63tu. It has revised compression, higher lift camshafts, valvetronic intake technology for added response and higher boost at 22PSI compared to the S63 unit found in the X5/X6M. The compression has also been raised and the pistons have been strengthened to cope with the added boost and compression. Redline has been raised to 7200 and continues to build power up to redline, compared to other turbo cars that tend to die on the top end. The brake calipers will be colored blue and standard for all M5s at release. 19 inch multi spoke wheels are standard and 20 inch spilt 5 spoke wheels will also be available at launch.
First reviews
The F10 M5 is praised by journalists, admiring the car's performace and handling. Day-to-day driving is also supposedly much better than the E60 M5, with the gearbox and fuel economy cited specifically for their improvements over the old model. Concerns have been raised regarding the steering feel and weight, however the car has, once again, received overall praise for being the best performing super saloon currently on the market; an accolade retained throughout the five model generations.
External links