THE NEW BMW M5

1. World premiere of the new BMW M5. (Short story) 3 2. The new V10 engine in the BMW M5: A masterpiece in engine construction. 10 3. The new sequential M transmission: Shifting gears even faster with the seven-speed SMG gearbox. 21 4. The BMW M5 engine production: Engine construction at its best. 25 5. The suspension of the BMW M5: Ensuring a high degree of agility. 28 6. Bodywork, design, equipment: Safe, challenging, luxurious. 35 7. Production of the BMW M5: Exclusivity off the Line. 42 8. Market Position of the BMW M5: The Executive Express. 45 9. The History of the BMW M5: Opening up a New Class. 46 10.Technical Specifications. 49

1.World premiere of the new BMW M5.
(Short story)

The ultimate in sports saloon motoring has got a name: M5. This finest 5 Series
vehicle is the most powerful of all time: five litres of cubic capacity,
ten cylinders, a maximum output of 507 bhp (373 kW), a peak torque
of 520 Newton metres and engine speeds redlining at 8,000 rpm, these are
figures that speak for themselves. In an unprecedented way, these figures
blur the lines between a car for everyday use and a vehicle for ambitious motor
sport racing.

A successful recipe for two decades: power without overstatement.
With its performance figures, the fourth-generation M5 once again sets the
benchmark in the segment of powerful sports saloons, a niche which the first M5
carved for itself back in 1984. During the last 20 years, this first M5 and all
its successors have made their mark, always setting the standard as a perfect
symbiosis of a comfortable, elegant saloon for everyday use,
abundant output delivered by a powerful engine and ultimate sportiness.
With sales figures exceeding 20,000, the M5 has proved to be an economically
successful concept which combines prodigious performance with understatement, a
basic feature of all M automobiles.

This principle reaches its culmination in the new M5: this "extreme athlete"
with its subtle appearance and the seemingly endless power of its ten-cylinder
high-revving engine, which interacts perfectly with the seven-speed SMG
gearbox, introduces the driver to completely new dimensions of effortlessness.
To put it in a nutshell: in its class, which it shares with top-class
competitors, the M5 excels due to the most innovative drive concept, the best
power-to-weight ratio, supreme handling and excellent everyday driving
qualities. It is a fully roadworthy saloon with the heart of an athlete, a
sports car which is perfectly suited for everyday motoring. The new M5
skilfully combines these two virtues.

First high-revving V10 engine to be featured in
a regular-production saloon.
The V10 is the only high-revving power unit to be featured in a
series-production car. Featured in the most powerful production car within the
BMW model family, this new engine once again sets the benchmark in its class.

There is, however, more to it than pure performance. What is important for M
automobiles is acceleration and driving dynamics, the latter which is dependent
on the actual forward thrust and the vehicle's weight. The drive forces at the
driven wheels are significantly influenced by the engine torque and the total
ratio. The high-revving concept caters for an optimum transmission and
rear-axle ratio, thus guaranteeing an impressive forward thrust.

The perfect choice: high-revving concept.
For the BMW M engineers the compact, high-revving normally aspirated engine was
the ideal choice. With a red line of 8,250 rpm, the ten-cylinder engine has
ventured into terrain which has so far been reserved for red-blooded racing
cars. Compared to the previous M5 eight-cylinder engine, performance has
increased by more than 25 percent. The M5 has also surpassed the magical 100
bhp per litre limit, its specific output being on
par with that of racing cars.

A masterpiece in engine construction.
The two five-cylinder banks of the V10 are arranged at an angle of 90° to
achieve a mass balance of the crankshaft drive, which is optimised for low
vibration and increased comfort. For reasons of stiffness and due to the high
loads resulting from combustion pressure, engine speed and vibrations, a
bedplate design has been chosen for the crankcase, the first-ever
application in a production V engine by BMW. For an optimum alignment of the
crankshaft, grey-cast iron inserts have been integrated into the aluminium
bedplate, which also serve to enhance acoustics, increase vibrational comfort
and ensure a high oil supply rate. The extremely stiff crankshaft is supported
by six bearings.

High-pressure bi-VANOS and individual throttle butterflies.
The bi-VANOS variable valve timing featured in the new M5 engine ensures
an optimum charge cycle, thus helping to achieve extremely short adjustment
times. This means in practice: increased performance, an improved torque curve,
optimum responsiveness, lower consumption and fewer emissions. Each cylinder
has its own throttle, a feature typical of racing cars. Throttle control is
fully electronic and cylinder bank specific.

Dual exhaust system made of stainless steel.
The exhaust system is made of seamless stainless steel and has a dual-flow
design all the way to the silencers. The exhaust gases finally leave the system
through four tailpipes which are what make the rear end of the M vehicles so
unmistakable. The exhaust system complies with the European EU4 and the US LEV2
emission standards.

The engine control module: the first of its kind in the world.
The MS S65 engine management system is the central factor behind the V10's
outstanding performance and emission data. This engine management system is
unparalleled in its package density. Its processors are the most powerful ones
which are currently approved for use in automobiles, as high engine speeds and
comprehensive management and control tasks demand the utmost from this system.

Highlight in engine management: ionic current technology.
The ionic current technology featured by the engine management unit is
a technological highlight which serves to detect engine knock, misfiring and
combustion misses. Utilising the spark plug in each cylinder, this system
helps to pinpoint engine knock, to check for correct ignition and to detect any
ignition misses. Thus, the spark plug has a dual function - as an actuator
for the ignition and as a sensor for monitoring the combustion process.

Seven-speed SMG gearbox conveys M power to the tarmac.
The high-revving concept only succeeds in combination with a gearbox
which translates the torque available to the engine, by means of a short
overall transmission ratio, into optimised forward thrust.

The seven-speed SMG gearbox is precisely the right transmission to ideally
convey the V10 engine's power via the drive train to the wheels. BMW M is the
first manufacturer worldwide to offer a seven-speed sequential gearbox with
drivelogic function. Even more highly perfected than the previous six-speed
transmission, the seven-speed SMG gearbox enables manual gear selection with
ultra-short shifting times as well as comfortable cruising thanks to automated
gear selection. The purpose of the additional seventh gear is to reduce engine
speed and torque gaps
.
New SMG gearbox's speed up by 20 percent.
With the seven-speed SMG gearbox, gears can be changed using the gearshift
lever on the centre console or the paddles on the steering wheel. Compared to
the previous SMG transmission, changing gears is 20 percent faster with the new
SMG generation. Never before has it been quicker to change gears with a
transmission of this kind. The advantage for the M5 driver: Gear change is
smooth and accomplished at a speed impossible to
reach even by the most proficient driver, thus making the inevitable power flow
interruptions when changing gears hardly noticeable. The M5 delivers an almost
jerk-free performance when accelerating from a standstill to its top speed.

Drivelogic: the driver determines the SMG's characteristics for changing gears.
Thanks to the SMG's drivelogic function, the driver can choose from eleven gear
change options, which enable him to adapt the SMG's characteristics to his very
own style of motoring.

Six of these programs can be pre-selected in the sequential manual
gearbox mode (S mode), the spectrum ranging from balanced dynamic to very
sporty. With the gearbox in the S mode, the driver always shifts gears
manually. Whenever the driver activates the Launch Control function, the SMG
Drivelogic shifts gears shortly before the maximum engine speed is reached at
precisely the right moment and with optimum slip until the M5 reaches its top
speed.

In the Drive (D mode) automatic gearshift mode, the transmission shifts
the seven gears automatically, depending on the program selected,
the driving situation, the road speed and the position of the accelerator pedal.

SMG for increased safety and comfort.
The seven-speed SMG gearbox not only supports the driver in achieving motor
sports performance, but also offers scores of safety features. In critical
situations, when the driver shifts down on a slippery surface, for example, the
gearbox opens the clutch in the fraction of a second in order to prevent the M5
from swerving out of control in the event of excessive drag torque at the
driven wheels. Further functions are the climbing, which prevents the car from
rolling backwards during hill starts as well as the hill detection, which
adjusts the shift points on gradients and descents. This prevents gear hunting
when going uphill. When driving downhill, the hill detection holds the lower
gears for longer in order to make effective use of the engine's braking power.

Maximum driving pleasure.
The interaction of the V10 engine and the seven-speed SMG gearbox results in a
level of performance, which has so far been inconceivable for series-production
saloons. Above all, there is one thing the M5 gives to its driver: driving
pleasure at its best. Compared to the previous M5, the current model comes up
trumps in all performance and fun disciplines: it accomplishes the 0 to 62 mph
sprint in 4,7 seconds and reaches the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark after a mere 15
seconds to go on to the electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).
A glance at the speedometer reveals where this power package would head for if
maximum speed was not electronically limited: an awe-inspiring 330 km/h (205
mph).

The Nürburgring serves as a test track.
Compared to all direct competitors, the interaction of actual forward thrust
and a low vehicle weight is a strong argument in favour of the new M5. Also in
this respect, the M5 sets the benchmark and leaves its competitors far behind.

An undisputed gauge of driving dynamics is the northern loop of the legendary
Nürburgring race track. For decades, the world's most demanding race track has
been the perfect place of separating the wheat from the chaff. There is no
other place where the interaction of vehicle components when taken to the
limits can be observed as well as on the Nürburgring's northern loop. With lap
times of approximately eight minutes, the M5 can hold its own and is a worthy
competitor of thoroughbred sports cars, leaving its competitors far behind. By
the way: traditionally, all M vehicles are tested there.

M suspension based on the 5 Series: the icing on the cake.
The aforementioned lap time demonstrates that the M5 can be extremely sporty.
Although the suspension of the basic 5 Series model is undoubtedly very good,
such a record performance with respect to dynamics would not be possible. This
is why the M5 is also totally unique with regard to its suspension.

Many detail solutions and changes turn the 5 Series into an M5.
Consequently, the suspension and its electronic assistants have been either
exclusively developed for the new M5, undergone extensive modifications or
adapted to the special M performance. For example, the M5's running gear is by
no means a lowered 5 Series suspension. Instead, it is an optimised design
created from scratch. The suspension assisting systems, some of which have the
same name as those of the 5 Series, have been optimised for this vehicle. On
the one hand, this suspension contributes greatly to the M5 being the
technological culmination of the successful BMW 5 Series. On the other hand, it
clearly demonstrates that the M5 is a unique model with a distinctive
appearance.

Variable M differential lock.
The M5 has a variable, torque-sensing differential lock bestowing the vehicle
with a high level of driving stability and optimum traction, above all when
accelerating out of bends. Even in extremely demanding driving situations, i.e.
when there are major differences in the coefficients of friction at the driven
wheels, it offers a decisive advantage in terms of traction. A further
advantage is that it instantly builds up an increasing locking power if the
speed
difference between the driven wheels rises, thus guaranteeing optimum forward
progress at all times.

Only featured in the M5: DSC with two selectable driving dynamics programs.
A new generation of the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) has been especially
developed for the M5. The DSC system can be deactivated by pressing a button on
the selector lever cover. The driving dynamics programs are pre-selected in the
so-called MDrive and can be called up using the MDrive button on the steering
wheel. Whilst the first DSC mode by and large corresponds to that of the 5
Series, the second mode - the M Dynamic Mode - is highly appreciated by
sports-minded drivers.

EDC: the spectrum ranges from sportingly firm to comfortable.
The M5's Electronic Damper Control (EDC) enables the driver to choose from
three programs (comfort, normal and sport), thereby adjusting the suspension
characteristics accordingly. The driver can operate the EDC function via the
MDrive button on the steering wheel or the push button next to the SMG selector
lever.

Power button activates engine characteristics "on demand".
The driver often does not need the M5's full performance and maximum agility,
for example in city traffic. This is why the markedly comfortable P400
performance program with an engine output of 400 bhp is automatically activated
whenever the engine is started. At the push of a button (the so-called Power
button on the selector lever cover), the ten-cylinder powerplant's full power
is at the driver's disposal. The accelerator pedal kinematics
adopt spontaneous characteristics, giving free rein, in the P500 program, to
the sporty driver and eliciting, in the P500 sport program, uncompromising
racing pleasure.

High-performance brakes derived from motor sport.
To complement its immense power output, the M5 is equipped with a generously
sized high-performance braking system with perforated, weight-optimised
compound brake discs. The aluminium twin-piston sliding callipers (analogous to
the BMW 7 Series), which have been optimised for minimum weight and maximum
stiffness, help the M5 to achieve stopping distances similar to those of
red-blooded sports cars: deceleration from 62 mph to 0 is accomplished in under
36 metres, the braking distance from 124 mph to a standstill is less than 140
metres.

The high-performance business express.
A wolf in sheep's clothing - this description would fit if the basic 5 Series,
and particularly the new M5, looked "tame" when viewed from outside. In fact,
the 5 Series already looks sporty, elegant and athletic. It is no coincidence
that this 5 Series represents BMW's dynamic business class. The M5 is set apart
from the basic model by a host of striking and hidden details, which further
add to its powerful, sporty and dynamic looks. An athlete in business attire
would be an apt description of the new M5.

Exterior with understatement.
The differences in design versus the basic 5 Series are discreet but
consistent, giving the M5 a surprisingly high level of uniqueness in terms of
looks, without questioning the common genes with the BMW model series. The
modified front and rear aprons are instant eye catchers. Another difference is
the modified side sills and the somewhat more prominent wheel arches.
Traditionally, the M differs from the "normal" BMW in its exclusive exterior
mirror design, the four tailpipes, which have also become an unmistakable
feature of all M vehicles, and the exclusive wheel design.
For the first time, the M5 sports very attractive gills which are incorporated
into the front side panel.

An even sportier interior.
The M5 comes with a leather interior in three different colours, which makes
it look even more sophisticated than the lavishly equipped basic model or - for
an extra price - with a full leather interior, which looks absolutely stunning.
Further important differences versus the 5 Series are the instrument cluster,
the optional M-specific head-up display, the steering wheel with MDrive buttons
and the redesigned centre console.

Business express for everyday use.
All vehicles made by BMW M GmbH are very convenient for everyday motoring. This
particularly applies to the M5: despite its awe-inspiring performance which is
reminiscent of that of a racing car, it has remained an elegant and comfortable
saloon perfectly suitable for longer journeys, an integral characteristic of
BMW 5 Series cars. Thus, one can say that the M5's racing ambitions neither
impair driving comfort, active and passive safety,
nor do they reduce the space available for passengers and luggage. Even in
terms of consumption and environmental compatibility, the M5 is a real paragon
- just like all BMW automobiles.