F10 M5 on track
Discussion
A mate of mine took his M5 to Bedford on Saturday. I passengered with him a couple of times and then had a quick go. My god the car is fast! On the back straight it got upto 155mph, I could only manage 135mph in my Cayman R. I have to say that it felt good on track too! Needs a bit of muscling around because of the weight, but it's still a huge amount of fun! I'd love one if I could also keep mine!
I've had mine round Anglesey, Donington, Nordschleife & Spa & they're exceptionally capable cars on track. Never going to be quite as quick through the twisties as a Caterham or Exige, but can muller them on gentler bends & the straights. Very little the car can't play with on track, excluding full on race cars of course.
Best lap of Spa last year was just under 3.05 & over 160mph (GPS) down Kemmel & that was with worn tyres & my 1st time round Spa in the M5. Will be back in October & expect to break the 3min mark. Donington (without Melbourne Hairpin) i managed a 1.25.
This is made even better when the drive to/from the track is so much more pleasurable than it would be in more track focused cars.
Best lap of Spa last year was just under 3.05 & over 160mph (GPS) down Kemmel & that was with worn tyres & my 1st time round Spa in the M5. Will be back in October & expect to break the 3min mark. Donington (without Melbourne Hairpin) i managed a 1.25.
This is made even better when the drive to/from the track is so much more pleasurable than it would be in more track focused cars.
W8PMC said:
I've had mine round Anglesey, Donington, Nordschleife & Spa & they're exceptionally capable cars on track. Never going to be quite as quick through the twisties as a Caterham or Exige, but can muller them on gentler bends & the straights. Very little the car can't play with on track, excluding full on race cars of course.
Best lap of Spa last year was just under 3.05 & over 160mph (GPS) down Kemmel & that was with worn tyres & my 1st time round Spa in the M5. Will be back in October & expect to break the 3min mark. Donington (without Melbourne Hairpin) i managed a 1.25.
This is made even better when the drive to/from the track is so much more pleasurable than it would be in more track focused cars.
Wow - very impressive times. I've not driven Spa, would love to give it a go one day. Cayman R felt great on track, it was probably the most fun Ive had in some time. Wasn't trying too hard either, which helped make it more fun.Best lap of Spa last year was just under 3.05 & over 160mph (GPS) down Kemmel & that was with worn tyres & my 1st time round Spa in the M5. Will be back in October & expect to break the 3min mark. Donington (without Melbourne Hairpin) i managed a 1.25.
This is made even better when the drive to/from the track is so much more pleasurable than it would be in more track focused cars.
W8PMC said:
I've had mine round Anglesey, Donington, Nordschleife & Spa & they're exceptionally capable cars on track. Never going to be quite as quick through the twisties as a Caterham or Exige, but can muller them on gentler bends & the straights. Very little the car can't play with on track, excluding full on race cars of course.
Best lap of Spa last year was just under 3.05 & over 160mph (GPS) down Kemmel & that was with worn tyres & my 1st time round Spa in the M5. Will be back in October & expect to break the 3min mark. Donington (without Melbourne Hairpin) i managed a 1.25.
This is made even better when the drive to/from the track is so much more pleasurable than it would be in more track focused cars.
Very interesting and impressive for a big comfortable old barge. I managed a 2:56 in a 125 bhp Caterham at Spa, which shows the difference weight makes. That was topping out at 112 mph, so no way near the 160 mph+ you are managing.Best lap of Spa last year was just under 3.05 & over 160mph (GPS) down Kemmel & that was with worn tyres & my 1st time round Spa in the M5. Will be back in October & expect to break the 3min mark. Donington (without Melbourne Hairpin) i managed a 1.25.
This is made even better when the drive to/from the track is so much more pleasurable than it would be in more track focused cars.
I love an M5....they cant be beaten....mine is my tow car :-)
Alex Gurr said:
Very interesting and impressive for a big comfortable old barge. I managed a 2:56 in a 125 bhp Caterham at Spa, which shows the difference weight makes. That was topping out at 112 mph, so no way near the 160 mph+ you are managing.
I love an M5....they cant be beaten....mine is my tow car :-)
Is a lot of fun, but i bet it cost me more in consumables too as the brakes took a pounding & i killed the front tyres & drank a good few tanks of fuel.I love an M5....they cant be beaten....mine is my tow car :-)
Expecting to be very close to that time in October as will have uprated the springs, pads & tyres. How come only 112 down Kemmel as that seems a little slow even with 125bhp. Difficult to tell what the variety of Caterhams & Westfields i encounter are running power wise, but most were quite a bit quicker than 112mph down Kemmel. That's probably the only section where the M5 can muller or at the very least play most things, however braking for Les Combes is a bit of challenge so 160 wasn't representative of most laps, probably a 150 average down Kemmel.
My old Nissan R35 GT-R with circa 640bhp that was there with me last September managed a 2:58.
W8PMC said:
Is a lot of fun, but i bet it cost me more in consumables too as the brakes took a pounding & i killed the front tyres & drank a good few tanks of fuel.
Expecting to be very close to that time in October as will have uprated the springs, pads & tyres. How come only 112 down Kemmel as that seems a little slow even with 125bhp. Difficult to tell what the variety of Caterhams & Westfields i encounter are running power wise, but most were quite a bit quicker than 112mph down Kemmel. That's probably the only section where the M5 can muller or at the very least play most things, however braking for Les Combes is a bit of challenge so 160 wasn't representative of most laps, probably a 150 average down Kemmel.
My old Nissan R35 GT-R with circa 640bhp that was there with me last September managed a 2:58.
Why only 112mph?.....shaped like a brick :-) That is top end of 4th and it wont really pull 5th unless you are in a slipstream. They really are terrible in a straight line. You have a lot of time down the Kemmel to sit and watch the scenery go by :-)Expecting to be very close to that time in October as will have uprated the springs, pads & tyres. How come only 112 down Kemmel as that seems a little slow even with 125bhp. Difficult to tell what the variety of Caterhams & Westfields i encounter are running power wise, but most were quite a bit quicker than 112mph down Kemmel. That's probably the only section where the M5 can muller or at the very least play most things, however braking for Les Combes is a bit of challenge so 160 wasn't representative of most laps, probably a 150 average down Kemmel.
My old Nissan R35 GT-R with circa 640bhp that was there with me last September managed a 2:58.
It is an awesome track though isn't it?
Alex Gurr said:
Why only 112mph?.....shaped like a brick :-) That is top end of 4th and it wont really pull 5th unless you are in a slipstream. They really are terrible in a straight line. You have a lot of time down the Kemmel to sit and watch the scenery go by :-)
It is an awesome track though isn't it?
Lol. Certainly is an awesome place. By far & away my favourite track.It is an awesome track though isn't it?
I guess it's really hard to tell the difference between Caterhams (power wise) to the uneducated (me) so i've seen many pulling a considerable straight line speed, so just assumed a higher top speed. I guess even a lightweight 125bhp is gonna struggle a little in the grunt dept. but i bet it more than makes up for it on the brakes & in the corners?
Can't wait until i'm back in October. Doing a 4 day track fest of Nordschleife then 2 days at Spa & 1 day at Circuit Jules Tachemy (never driven this one before).
shim said:
certainly is, its had to imagine how slow the M5 must have been going around the bends to do such a slow laptime with sunch high striaght line speed
csl will beat it by 10+ secs around Spa and 7+ around Donny lookin at those times
Really? You're of course jokingcsl will beat it by 10+ secs around Spa and 7+ around Donny lookin at those times
I'd say 6secs slower than a well modified R35 GT-R is a fairly respectable time. Anything within spitting distance of 3mins in a road car is a good effort. When factoring in the greater straight line speed, corner speed is not the killer, it's having to brake considerably earlier to even attempt the corner. The physics of stopping 2 ton from 150 is no mean feet.
With the same driver, a CSL would at best post a similar time, although i'd hazard a guess with the higher straight line speed around Spa the F10 M5 would just about stay ahead. I like to drive my car home in one piece so won't push it even close to it's limits. The few minor changes (suspension & brakes) this year should drop me just below 3mins.
Edited by W8PMC on Saturday 30th May 13:33
W8PMC said:
Really? You're of course joking
I'd say 6secs slower than a well modified R35 GT-R is a fairly respectable time. Anything within spitting distance of 3mins in a road car is a good effort. When factoring in the greater straight line speed, corner speed is not the killer, it's having to brake considerably earlier to even attempt the corner. The physics of stopping 2 ton from 150 is no mean feet.
With the same driver, a CSL would at best post a similar time, although i'd hazard a guess with the higher straight line speed around Spa the F10 M5 would just about stay ahead. I like to drive my car home in one piece so won't push it even close to it's limits. The few minor changes (suspension & brakes) this year should drop me just below 3mins.
Your hoping...I'd say 6secs slower than a well modified R35 GT-R is a fairly respectable time. Anything within spitting distance of 3mins in a road car is a good effort. When factoring in the greater straight line speed, corner speed is not the killer, it's having to brake considerably earlier to even attempt the corner. The physics of stopping 2 ton from 150 is no mean feet.
With the same driver, a CSL would at best post a similar time, although i'd hazard a guess with the higher straight line speed around Spa the F10 M5 would just about stay ahead. I like to drive my car home in one piece so won't push it even close to it's limits. The few minor changes (suspension & brakes) this year should drop me just below 3mins.
Edited by W8PMC on Saturday 30th May 13:33
Wills2 said:
High praise indeed for the M5 considering your coming from a Cayman R, the M5 is probably the best M car at the moment all things considered.
Isn't the M6 better as it weighs a bit less? Ian sure a few tests have said the new M4 is quicker round the track. I know this doesn't make it a better car as M cars aren't exactly track focused. bigtime said:
Wills2 said:
High praise indeed for the M5 considering your coming from a Cayman R, the M5 is probably the best M car at the moment all things considered.
Isn't the M6 better as it weighs a bit less? Ian sure a few tests have said the new M4 is quicker round the track. I know this doesn't make it a better car as M cars aren't exactly track focused. Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff