RE: Driven: BMW M5
Discussion
Well Autocar report (not sure if this qualifies as real reporting but I'll call it that) this about the new M:
"the new BMW M5 shares just 20 per cent of its components with the standard 5-series."
And they couldn't make it a bit lighter? Not good.
I just hope that BMW makes the new 1m that "shares 20 per cent of its components with the standard 1-series." Its the enthusiasts only choice now from bmw. j
"the new BMW M5 shares just 20 per cent of its components with the standard 5-series."
And they couldn't make it a bit lighter? Not good.
I just hope that BMW makes the new 1m that "shares 20 per cent of its components with the standard 1-series." Its the enthusiasts only choice now from bmw. j
This weight talk is just nonsense. It's again hardly heavier than teh previous model and it's almost impossible to make a lightweight large saloon these days, given all the regulations, plus the equipment needed. Why on Earth would you want a stripped-out lighweight four door saloon anyway?
s m said:
MarkM3Evoplus said:
Turbo cars can sound good, look at F40, GTR32,33,34 , Flat 4 Subarus, Audi urQuattro - all great sounds coming out of the exhaust pipes!
Sounds alright doesn't it 
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/bmw-m5-video-re...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiunTQUegfI
Zod said:
This weight talk is just nonsense. It's again hardly heavier than teh previous model and it's almost impossible to make a lightweight large saloon these days, given all the regulations, plus the equipment needed. Why on Earth would you want a stripped-out lighweight four door saloon anyway?
You make some good points, and the suggestion is not for a stripped out executive saloon. But use of technology to reduce the weight of the car like Audi did with the A8 & Porsche has done with the 991 -"All-new lightweight body
Principle among the innovative steps forwards is the all-new, lightweight body, featuring intelligent aluminium-steel composite construction. It is responsible for a significant proportion of the vehicle weight reduction of up to 45 kg. The body structure also delivers significantly greater rigidity."
I don't know what to make of the new M5. I am sure it is incredibly quick and I like the looks but I still find it hard to deal with the power of today's mega saloons. Growing up in the seventies anything with more than 200 bhp was special and there was hardly anything with more than 300 bhp. So 550 bhp in a family saloon seems bonkers and - dare I say - a bit over the top? Still, will look forward to a test drive. Unfortunately will be in the confines of Switzerland. Really need to test it in Germany. Just drove back from a meeting in Munich today (pure coincidence that every year we have a meeting in Munich during the Oktoberfest......) and driving on the Autobahn is just so much fun, even in a 330d. An M5 would have been better though.
The problem for me with cars like the M5 and XFR and the like is that they are a compromise as no 4 door saloon is going to handle as well as a sports car so what you end up with is an executive car that goes like stink when you press the loud pedal which you won't do very often as its not as good as a sports car on a country lane and on the motorway its no fun anyway. A well specced M5 is nearly 90k and for that you could buy a decent exec saloon and a proper sports car, no compromise required.
Verde said:
Trying to build a car that is all things to all people ultimately breaks down. Such is this new M5. Supercar? 4-person hauler? More efficient? Comfortable ride? Differentiated good looks? Seating designed to fit those who, um, can afford it?
Sorry, but the older M5's made choices, biased toward the performance set and thus less of a fit for the masses. BMW would be wise (IMHO) to reconsider the positioning of this beastie and build accordingly. Or just stop (which they quite understandably could never do).
All of the M's have become too heavy, too average (again, all things to all people) and less and less interesting. They are the performance cars for people who do not know what they want!
What older M5's? an E39 M5 weighed 1800kg's...just because this car rides softer doesn't mean it won't corner as well..the only concession this car is making is the turbo's..M5's have always been big heavy cars..all of them relative to the time. Sorry, but the older M5's made choices, biased toward the performance set and thus less of a fit for the masses. BMW would be wise (IMHO) to reconsider the positioning of this beastie and build accordingly. Or just stop (which they quite understandably could never do).
All of the M's have become too heavy, too average (again, all things to all people) and less and less interesting. They are the performance cars for people who do not know what they want!
How are BMW expected to compete with Merc and Audi if the produce a 4 door saloon which rides like a CSL, does 15mpg and this is now 6 years on from the E90. The e46 M3 isn't particularly light weight or stiff..infact it's quite heavy for it's size and dimensions..same with the E36 M3..so what M cars exactly are you comparing it with?..ones from the 80's?
Zod said:
Why on Earth would you want a stripped-out lighweight four door saloon anyway?
this. people are being ridiculous on here. the M5 has always been a big heavy 4 door saloon for its time. it's always been oriented towards comfort as well as performance. this M5 is no different and by what autocar say is still the best to drive upon release date.i bet 99% of the people who could afford these cars would happily take one over an E28 M5. i've been in one, as lovely as they are they aren't as refined, as safe, or as full of creature comforts of the modern cars.
it's all good and well lots of people on here moaning about it, but lots of people on here aren't in the position to buy an M5. those who want what the M5 represents....and always has represented i might add, are seemingly not going to be disappointed.
Verde said:
Sorry, but the older M5's made choices, biased toward the performance set and thus less of a fit for the masses.
That is simply untrue. Every M5 has had all of the creature comforts available on a 5 Series. There has never been a model in which they've left out the luxuries to save weight. I've spent time with the people who design, engineer and sell these cars on several occasions over the last decade and they've always been clear about what the M5 is: a luxury car engineered with a chassis and powertrain to make it perform like a sports car. Edited by Zod on Friday 23 September 10:23
Zod]erde said:
Sorry, but the older M5's made choices, biased toward the performance set and thus less of a fit for the masses.[quote]That is simply untrue. Every M5 has had all of the creature comoforts available on a 5 Series. There has never been a model in which they've left out the luxuries to save weight. I've spent time with the people who design, engineer and sell these cars on several occasions over the last decade and they've always been clear about what the M5 is: a luxury car engineered with a chassis and powertrain to make it perform like a sports car.
Yes, I think even back 20 years ago the E34 weighed well over 1600kgZod said:
Verde said:
Sorry, but the older M5's made choices, biased toward the performance set and thus less of a fit for the masses.
That is simply untrue. Every M5 has had all of the creature comforts available on a 5 Series. There has never been a model in which they've left out the luxuries to save weight. I've spent time with the people who design, engineer and sell these cars on several occasions over the last decade and they've always been clear about what the M5 is: a luxury car engineered with a chassis and powertrain to make it perform like a sports car. Edited by Zod on Friday 23 September 10:23
king years and you still get people saying it should be stripped out to deserve to be called an M5 like the previous models.Zod said:
Verde said:
Sorry, but the older M5's made choices, biased toward the performance set and thus less of a fit for the masses.
That is simply untrue. Every M5 has had all of the creature comforts available on a 5 Series. There has never been a model in which they've left out the luxuries to save weight. I've spent time with the people who design, engineer and sell these cars on several occasions over the last decade and they've always been clear about what the M5 is: a luxury car engineered with a chassis and powertrain to make it perform like a sports car. Edited by Zod on Friday 23 September 10:23
I wanted to like the E60, and for 5% of the time I loved it. The other 95% of the time I was happier with the E39 and its manual box. Its all about personal preferences.
I will drive this new M5, but initial thoughts are the E63 AMG is more fun and probably the old E39 M5, at least for road driving.
Once the M3 goes turbocharged, there may never be another NA or manual M car - Very sad me thinks.
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