New M5

[RacingManiac]

So someone has to make a thread, might as well be me....

2011 BMW M5: Yes, this is it

Twin-Turbo V8, 552bhp...blah blah....

More interesting just as an observation, this is the first M car IIRC with a multi-piston, fixed caliper brake.....something I always find oddball about the BMW M cars....

I supposed they don't really "lack" braking power before, but floating calipers are typically steel, and have more potential for braking system compliance...not to mention they don't look as nice...lol

[pimento]

Actually I heard a few times about various M cars that the brakes weren't as good as maybe they should be, and that they'd put racing pads in the press cars. That was always a bit [citation needed] but I guess this one might address that.

Autoblog's version. Talk of US version having proper manual option again.

[Ferrer]

It is indeed ironic that the US may get the manual and Europe doesn't. Seems like the world is upside down.

Bah, who cares. Everyone knows that sports saloon perfection was achieved with the E39 M5.

[Commodore GS/E]

This is the E39 with more power. Looks nicely understated and has bags of power. Maybe not as much as the CTS-V, but it's enough in my eyes.
The only thing I'll miss here is the V10.

[Badsight]

only M5 ive had a ride in was an E34 that was getting on in k's. i thought the 6 cylinder was great

[Ferrer]

This is the E39 with more power.

Nah, it's far too powerful, complex, showy and ugly.

[thebrochureman]

I'm kind of pleased that the new M5 will be a Twin Turbo V8, I'll miss the V10 but the BMW M engines were getting to big. The M3 are V8 and i missed the I6's. I think it's good that the next gen M5 will be a V8 and the New M3 will be a Twin Turbo I6. Like other car magazines said the M cars engine size has been restored.

[Badsight]

I'll miss the V10 but the BMW M engines were getting to big.

ok so its not the older 5.0 v8 - but with the turbos & intercoolers it probablly weighs more & takes up more room

without them there was only a 20 kg differance

[thebrochureman]

^^^ When i mean too big i mean the number of cylinders, not weight. I can't weight for the next gen M3 because that will be a Twin Turbo I6, The V8 M3 was good but i'd rather have the V8 in the M5 form.

[pimento]

Given this engine is a 4.4 it shouldn't be too much heavier than the old 5.0s if it is at all. Google-fu is failing me on finding engine masses at the moment, but it's worth pursuing if someone can find them.

Personally I always felt the S85 had too little torque for the old M5. It was a heavy car with a power biased engine, and from all reports it suffered for that. This should bring it back to a more grunty setup that seems to me to suit the M5's nature. In saying that, the M3 suits a rev happy screamer so I was happy to see the S65 in there.

[culver]

I don't quite know what to think of the new car. It's OK looking but still a step down from the E39 M5. Is the engine that unique or just a turbo version of the current V8? The V10 was cool because it wasn't just an uprated version of another 5 series engine.

Floating vs fixed calipers, floating from what I've read had a few advantages beyond just cost. I don't recall them and even then my reference was somewhat fuzzy on the subject. It would be interesting to talk to an expert in the area.

I'm curious if the CTS-V's engine affected BMW's decision making. I can't imagine they were happy that a Caddy was proving faster than their V10 car.

[ScionDriver]

I quite like it. It's closer to the E39 with it's understated presence. I think it'll be a good car. I like the idea of a proper manual option too, to me the last one was too tech savvy and complicated. I remember asking a BMW rep at the Chicago Auto Show if it was really necessary for a car to have 8 gear changing options, I finally got him to admit it probably didn't.

[RacingManiac]

I quite like it. It's closer to the E39 with it's understated presence. I think it'll be a good car. I like the idea of a proper manual option too, to me the last one was too tech savvy and complicated. I remember asking a BMW rep at the Chicago Auto Show if it was really necessary for a car to have 8 gear changing options, I finally got him to admit it probably didn't.

Gear shift option doesn't add weight, they are just codes....although it is as you say, adds unnecessary complication...

[kingofthering]

It's not as awful as I thought it would look, but it still looks like somebody's punched it in the face a few times.

[NSXType-R]

It's okay I guess. No crazy eyebrows of the older 5 series. Definitely a step in the right direction, but I'm not sure if I like it either.