E39 M5 & 540i Sport differences?

[The Stiglet]

Apart from the engine, gearbox, front spoiler and rear exhausts, what other differences are there between a 540i sport and M5? e.g. suspension components, chassis, anti-roll bars etc

Apart from the significant extra power, how much of a difference is there in the twisty bits and in general driving?

(This is not a troll post, I have an E39 540i sport and I'm very happy with it but I'm curious about the engineering in the M5).

Thanks

[Schermerhorn]

The steering rack is the same. As is the interior and most of the bodywork.

Things that are different:

Brakes
Suspension
Engine
Gearbox
Exhaust system
Engine management

Everything related to performance is either lighter, stronger or more powerful.

[BriC175]

Schermerhorn said:

The steering rack is the same. As is the interior and most of the bodywork.

Things that are different:

Brakes
Suspension
Engine
Gearbox
Exhaust system
Engine management

Everything related to performance is either lighter, stronger or more powerful.

You mean steering box? As far as I'm aware, they are different - less turns for full lock on the M5.

Interior is the same in terms of style, but the M5 has different seats, leather in places there aren't ordinarily, alcantara headlining, etc.

I also thought the gearboxes in the 540i manual and M5 were near enough the same

The actual bodyshell of an M5 is different to normal E39's too, in that they don't have a spare wheel well. This is to make way for the exhaust.

Edited by BriC175 on Thursday 13th January 23:50

[Marto]

The Stiglet said:

Apart from the engine, gearbox, front spoiler and rear exhausts, what other differences are there between a 540i sport and M5? e.g. suspension components, chassis, anti-roll bars etc

Apart from the significant extra power, how much of a difference is there in the twisty bits and in general driving?

(This is not a troll post, I have an E39 540i sport and I'm very happy with it but I'm curious about the engineering in the M5).

Thanks

Owned a 540i and currently have an M5. 540i will induce a polite grin, the M5 will make you laugh like a crazed beast. The cost of Castrol TWS (M5's engine drinkie of choice, it does not like anything else) is bonker compared with ave synth stuff...
If you have a big wallet to keep in top of it, you will have big fun in the 'M'

[The Stiglet]

Thanks for the replies.

I imagine that a quicker steering rack would liven up the drive a bit and make the E39 a little more precise. But when you say the suspension is different, in what way? I have M-tech II suspension and I wonder how this differs from the M5's? Did BMW stiffen up the chassis or remove weight?

[BriC175]

The Stiglet said:

Thanks for the replies.

I imagine that a quicker steering rack would liven up the drive a bit and make the E39 a little more precise. But when you say the suspension is different, in what way? I have M-tech II suspension and I wonder how this differs from the M5's? Did BMW stiffen up the chassis or remove weight?

I believe it's just uprated shockers and springs, to make it more serious than a sport. I have M5 shocks and springs on my 535i sport. It's a firm ride, but by no means uncomfortable and handles very well!

[I-Mac]

Quite simply the biggest difference between a M and non M car.......The Diff. (sadly due to the BMW marketing dept...)

[CarbonM5]

Other significant mods are the rear diffuser which sits between the exhaust(Big plastic thing).
.Battery in boot
.Underbody bracing on the rear chassis
.Better weight distribution
.rear wheel offset and geometry
.shocks,springs,roll bars.

[BriC175]

CarbonM5 said:

Other significant mods are the rear diffuser which sits between the exhaust(Big plastic thing).
.Battery in boot
.Underbody bracing on the rear chassis
.Better weight distribution
.rear wheel offset and geometry
.shocks,springs,roll bars.

The battery is in the boot on every E39!

[CarbonM5]

BriC175 said:

CarbonM5 said:

Other significant mods are the rear diffuser which sits between the exhaust(Big plastic thing).
.Battery in boot
.Underbody bracing on the rear chassis
.Better weight distribution
.rear wheel offset and geometry
.shocks,springs,roll bars.

The battery is in the boot on every E39!

Its not in the same place as the M5 though!

[BriC175]

Fair enough. Out of interest - where is it on the m5?

[derestrictor]

M5's spooky dearth of understeer.

[neil_bolton]

derestrictor said:

M5's spooky dearth of understeer.

Too right comrade. I've not induced any in mine, although if you're a complete hamfisted tool at the wheel it can happen, but very rarely.

It tracks like a hungry fattie watching the pizza delivery man walk up the drive.

[derestrictor]

[neil_bolton]

Oh. And I forgot.

The capability to do 185mph plus.

You don't get many of them to the pound with 540i's blud.

Edited by neil_bolton on Monday 17th January 10:46

[Digger]

BriC175 said:

Fair enough. Out of interest - where is it on the m5?

It is in the wheel well. My 540i had its battery on the drivers side in the boot and had a full-sized spare. My brother's M5 has the battery in the wheel well and I assume utilises a compressor/getuhomefoam widget in place of a tyre-saver etc. M5 also has 275 rear rubber whereas 540i wears 265.

Edited by Digger on Monday 17th January 10:50

[tdm34ds]

neil_bolton said:

Oh. And I forgot.

The capability to do 185mph plus.

You don't get many of them to the pound with 540i's blud.

Edited by neil_bolton on Monday 17th January 10:46

And the ability to gap a 996TT-X50 on a twisty motorway! and the ability to put THE biggest
grin on your face after you dispatch another Ingolstat TDi that comes up behind you in the
outside lane of the Motorway with the fogs on, you know the look Hair Gel, Jacket on a hanger
Pacoraban on the boatrace! massive torque's all well and good but if it runs out at 4500 rpm
you're toast!

Oh! did anyone mention the noise?

[puntograle]

Talking about noise, I have a Tubi on mine.....can't remember the last time I listened to the stereo!
The Tubi is sweeter sounding than most other more expensive supercars

BTW, I've had my 2002 model car for ~5 years in which time apart from routine servicing and consumables (pads, tyres), it has only needed 1x reversing sensor, 1x O2 sensor, 1x leaking power steering hose pipe - none of which is expensive..all in all one of the most reliable and (ignoring fuel) low maintenance cost cars I've ever had! I know, it sounds like I am making it up...

[The Stiglet]

tdm34ds said:

neil_bolton said:

And the ability to gap a 996TT-X50 on a twisty motorway! and the ability to put THE biggest
grin on your face after you dispatch another Ingolstat TDi that comes up behind you in the
outside lane of the Motorway with the fogs on, you know the look Hair Gel, Jacket on a hanger
Pacoraban on the boatrace! massive torque's all well and good but if it runs out at 4500 rpm
you're toast!

Oh! did anyone mention the noise?

Thanks for all your replies, some good examples of the technical differences between the two vehicles. However, I simply cannot possibly believe the above because I've driven a 996 TT-X50 and I really can't see how a 5 series is going to keep up with it, 400 bhp or not...

And I've never had a problem saying bye bye to Ingolstat TDi's on the motorway with my 540i but a 335/535 might be another story.

[tdm34ds]

The Stiglet said:

tdm34ds said:

neil_bolton said:

And the ability to gap a 996TT-X50 on a twisty motorway! and the ability to put THE biggest
grin on your face after you dispatch another Ingolstat TDi that comes up behind you in the
outside lane of the Motorway with the fogs on, you know the look Hair Gel, Jacket on a hanger
Pacoraban on the boatrace! massive torque's all well and good but if it runs out at 4500 rpm
you're toast!

Oh! did anyone mention the noise?

Thanks for all your replies, some good examples of the technical differences between the two vehicles. However, I simply cannot possibly believe the above because I've driven a 996 TT-X50 and I really can't see how a 5 series is going to keep up with it, 400 bhp or not...

And I've never had a problem saying bye bye to Ingolstat TDi's on the motorway with my 540i but a 335/535 might be another story.

Stiglet! it happened! a Delimited ffunf will pull to the end of the velocity meter and at those
speeds the M6toll is quite twisty at the north end it's the pure Panzer like stability that makes
the M5 so good, in a straight line the Pork would just dissapear over the horizon without breaking sweat!