BMW M5 с m-power.com

[bmw3s]

BMW M5.
The glorious foursome.
22nd. June 2011


The new BMW M5 has reached the starting blocks, the latest in an extremely successful line of cars. In their time, each of the four generations of the BMW M5 dominated the sporty high-performance sedan segment. The idea of a wolf in sheep’s clothing has a long tradition at BMW. Let’s take a look back...




The engine of the already legendary BMW M1 caused a sensation when it was built into the body of the timelessly elegant BMW 5 Series. The BMW M5 gave people plenty to talk about when it premiered in 1984. With 286 HP under the hood, even by today’s standards the first BMW M5 had a more than adequate engine. This sedan continued a tradition that began in the 1970’s for the strongest single-letter brand in the world.





At that time, customers could already order more powerful engines, lock differentials and corresponding chassis and brake components for their BMW 5 Series from BMW Motorsport GmbH. In 1980 development reached its pinnacle in the form of the BMW M535i, which drew its 218 HP from the engine of the BMW 735i. The changeover of the first BMW 5 Series (E12) to the next generation (E28) involved the further development of the M535i. A total of 1,650 vehicles were built before the model change, followed by a further 9,783 units of the M535i by December 1987. However, this car was a “normal” 535i with M technology package. The BMW M5 then offered a true picture of how the engineers at Garching imagined a genuine BMW M.




BMW M535i (1986)
BMW M535i (1986)


Just how unusual the BMW M5 was for the company is demonstrated by the fact that there was no general certification for the car. This meant that each vehicle was inspected and certified separately by the TÜV Technical Control Association in Munich. Orders were placed via the dealer directly with Motorsport GmbH in Preußenstraße. Apart from the Alpina B7, the first BMW M5 was the fastest 4-door sports sedan in the world of its day.




Exactly 10 years after the birth of the M street vehicles with the BMW M1, the second BMW M5 followed in 1988 as the fifth BMW M model. At its heart lay a further development of the legendary four-valve six-cylinder engine from the BMW M1. Starting with 315 HP and a torque of 360 Nm, the second BMW M5 generation was a genuine underdog. There was almost a certain pride in evidence in the press folder when it was pointed out that the M5 would only be recognized by connoisseurs or at a second glance “because the M insignia is only seen by those driving in front of or behind the car”. This would prove to be an extremely successful strategy: sales figures were five times higher than those of the previous model, something that was also helped along by the revised model launched in 1992.



Starting that autumn, the S38 engine of the BMW M1 was installed in its final version with a cubic capacity of 3.8 litres and 340 HP. For the first time, the BMW M5 could accelerate to 100 kilometres per hour in under 6 seconds. The same year this engine also powered another pearl in the model range - the BMW M5 Touring. It was way ahead of its time.



Between 1988 and 1995, the BMW M5 Sedan attracted 11,363 fans, while the touring version available from 1992 to 1996 brought in an additional 891 buyers. The vehicle’s success resulted in a host of further developments: the second generation BMW M5 is the last M model to be produced in Garching.

In the third model generation, the BMW M5 was powered by an eight-cylinder engine. “When we build a car like this, then we really need to set a benchmark in terms of performance. We really wanted to score maximum points here,” remembers the then project manager Alexander Hildebrandt. This was not possible with a further evolutionary development of the six-cylinder in-line engine from the BMW M1 – the engine had reached the limits of its capabilities in this form.“ 400 HP and a 500 Nm torque catapulted this sports star in a business suit from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds. The acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h takes 4.8 seconds in fourth gear and just 1.1 seconds in fifth.



The benefits did not end in the longitudinal dynamics; bends are still a specialty of every BMW M to this day. Lateral acceleration forces of 1.2 g were regarded as almost utopian for a series-built sedan – until the BMW M5 proved the opposite. This was a concept that also appealed to customers. 20,482 BMW M5 models were built between 1998 and 2003. This was more than any previous BMW M.



The fourth model generation was even more spectacular: a V10 high-speed engine with 507 HP and the sequential M Drivelogic transmission with seven gears and launch control ensured maximum acceleration from a standing start. The competition had nothing to challenge this. The acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is achieved in 4.7 seconds with launch control and M engine dynamic control "P500" or "P500 Sport". The optional M driver's package enabled the maximum speed of up to 305 km/h to be released. The engineers transferred the grandiose driving dynamism of the sedan to the BMW M5 Touring, which provided the perfect alternative for BMW M5 drivers who needed more room.

The engine of the BMW M5 also managed to convince the experts. Thus, in 2005 and 2006, the V10 engine was the overall winner of the renowned “Engine of the Year Award” twice in succession, as well as taking first place the next year in the category for engines with a displacement of over 4.0 litres.

Once again, the current series of the BMW M5 managed almost to double the production figures of its predecessor: 20 548 units of the high-performance sports car were snapped up by enthusiastic customers worldwide. 19 523 of these were BMW M5 Sedans, while a further 1025 units were the BMW M5 Touring version, available since 2007.



It was also the fourth generation of the BMW M5 that celebrated the 25th anniversary of the series in 2009. A special one-off model was produced to celebrate the jubilee. “It has half as much more displacement, ten percent more performance and ten percent more torque,” revealed Albert Biermann, development boss at BMW M GmbH, when he presented the car at the Nürburgring racetrack.



No more official information was provided aboout this car. However this just whetted the appetite for more. This will be satisfied by the fifth generation of the BMW M5, which will soon be available. The success story goes on.


http://m-power.com/_open/b/editorial...9&y=1&&lang=en