New BMW M5 - 400hp / 500hp modes

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=02986726


Another new feature is the M5’s power button. At start up, the driver is given access to 400 hp in a default program, dubbed P400. Depressing the button unleashes P500 and the engine’s full 507 hp wallop along with a more responsive throttle. In P500 BMW says the new car will hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and its 155 mph top speed in 14.9 sec. With its speed-limiting chip removed, BMW says its new sedan will reach 205 mph, although company policy prohibits official modification, even at the dealer level.

:think: Of course I believe the 4.7 0-60, but that 0-155 time seems suspect.

From a Car and Driver Test of the 700+ hp Lingenfelter Viper:

On Michelin Pilot Sport street tires, Lingenfelter's beast scampered to 60 mph in only 3.3 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 11 seconds flat at 134 mph. TNT's King Snake Viper (C/D, May 2000) claimed to have 777 horsepower -- 52 more than this Lingenfelter car -- but required 3.6 seconds to reach 60 mph and passed the quarter-mile in 11.4 seconds at 131 mph. Hennessey Motorsports' Venom 650R (C/D, July 1999), which was designed for road racing and ran without catalysts and with grippy Hoosier DOT-legal racing rubber, sprinted to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 11.4 seconds at 129 mph. (Both the TNT and Lingenfelter cars ran cats.)

This Viper even trounces Lingenfelter's own 415-cid Corvette ZR-1 that swept the 0-to-150-to-0-mph contest. The ZR-1 needed 15.6 seconds to reach 150 mph; this Viper did it more than a second quicker at 14.4 seconds. We could gush on forever, but the simple fact is that the LPE Viper is one of the quickest street-legal cars we've ever tested.

So this 4000 lb, 500 hp sedan accelerates as quickly as a 700 hp, 3500 lb Viper? Perhaps they meant it would hit 60 in 4.7, and hit its top speed of 155 14.9 seconds later, not in 14.9 seconds total.

Interesting concept with the power mode button. Kind of like the valet key in the ZR1, except that it sounds like all you have to do is push a button - i.e. a valet could do that, since no key is required... I guess it is to protect you from yourself!

What is the significance of 400 HP vs full 507? I understand if it was around 250 or 300 - valet "key" type of thing.

You can still do horrendous things with 400 HP.

Originally posted by muckz
What is the significance of 400 HP vs full 507? I understand if it was around 250 or 300 - valet "key" type of thing.

You can still do horrendous things with 400 HP.

I know. It seems dumb. If you don't want all 507 horses, simply go easy on the gas pedal. 400hp is just as much as the previous gen M5, and that thing was no slouch either (I think it was as quick as c5's).

probably gas mileage, or just general streetability... maybe if you wanted to have the gas pedal less responsive under normal driving


When the hell are actual camless engines going to be put into cars? ARGH

Well, the old M5 had a revline that would move up as the engine warmed up... so I'd imagine the "p400" mode is for cruising/gas mileage/lower redline etc. Probably vastly effects how fast the smg shifts, how it reacts etc. The 0-155 mph in 14.9seconds is insane but I believe it. I bet that car is light for its size, bmw has always been good at cutting the fat.

Originally posted by shotgun
Well, the old M5 had a revline that would move up as the engine warmed up... so I'd imagine the "p400" mode is for cruising/gas mileage/lower redline etc. Probably vastly effects how fast the smg shifts, how it reacts etc. The 0-155 mph in 14.9seconds is insane but I believe it. I bet that car is light for its size, bmw has always been good at cutting the fat. Did you read my quote from C&D?? NO WAY that car can outrun/run with a Viper with 700+ hp or a 650 hp ZR1. It is a 4000 lb sedan, not a 3500 lb GT. BMW's being light? :think: Maybe back in the day. Look at the current and previous 5 series. Heck, the existing M5 is 100 to 200 lbs heavier than a CTS-V, IIRC. Definitely right around 4000 lbs. Even if they somehow managed to knock 1000 lbs off (which they didn't; an M5 still retains all the luxury features of the 545, just with a lot more power and better suspension/brakes), it would still have more lbs/hp than the Viper...

Lingenfelter Viper: 3500 lbs/ 700 hp = 5 lbs/hp.
Theoretical Lightweight M5: 3000 lbs/ 507 hp = 5.91 lbs/hp
More Realistic M5: 4000 lbs/507 = 7.88 lbs/hp

Current Z06: 3150 / 405 = 7.77
My Miata Sweetness: 2100 / 116 = 18.1 :D

So the new M5 is certainly badass for a sedan, no question, but not 0 to 155 in 15 seconds badass. :)

So maybe I was off... if that car can reach 205mph though and has 500hp its not because of just the engine. The entire drivetrain/aero coefficients would have to be pretty refined since I know people that had to get over 600hp in their fourth gens in order to join the "200mph club." With 100 less hp/more weight etc... Depending on how well this new "launch control" crap is it could cut fast 60' times and be deep in the 12s... that’s still impressive for a sport saloon.

I thought it was coming with a seven speed gearbox? Wouldn't that account for the times seeming a little low?

The engine is mated to a third-generation version of BMW’s sequential manual gearbox (SMG), now boasting seven forward ratios and new electronics to speed shift times 20 percent. With 11 different shift programs, six in manual mode and five in automatic, the driver can tailor the gearbox’s action to suit the conditions. There’s even a launch control function.

Originally posted by shotgun
So maybe I was off... if that car can reach 205mph though and has 500hp its not because of just the engine. The entire drivetrain/aero coefficients would have to be pretty refined since I know people that had to get over 600hp in their fourth gens in order to join the "200mph club." With 100 less hp/more weight etc... Depending on how well this new "launch control" crap is it could cut fast 60' times and be deep in the 12s... that’s still impressive for a sport saloon.

Yea, that thing would have to be as aerodynamic as an Insight with about the same frontal area. For some reason I can't see a full-size sedan from BMW qualifying in that category. Something is definately wrong with these #'s.

Underpinning the new M5 is a modified version of the 5-series’ MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension. While the geometry and pick-up points are the same, the ride height has been reduced and more negative camber added to handle cornering forces BMW claims can top 1.3 g.

That part to me stands out the most. How is it possible for a 4000lb sedan to pull 1.3g's? Pasta rockets, Z06's, and Vipers either pull at or slightly above 1g. 1.3g is near race car grip.

The BMW M cars have had a precedent of being amazing performers. I would wager that these numbers end up legit...why would they release bunk numbers?

If BMW released numbers, they know they'll be subject to independent verification in various car rags etc. What purpose would it serve for them to release bad numbers? It'd just be a bunch of bad press, ala the RX-8's HP fiasco a while back.

You use lingenfelter as an example, that viper ran an 11 second 1/4 mile with 725hp, but the Lingenfelter TT Vette with the same HP rating ran an 8.99 in the 1/4.

Pretty damned big difference from the same HP. The weight difference between a vette and a viper isn't that huge, either. There are a lot more factors than HP/Weight ratios when you're accelerating. Ask any drag racer. ;)