M Power Experience: 2013 BMW M5 from Ascari Race Resort
Nov 8, 2011 | 02:34 PM
#12
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,879
From: Bellevue, WA
Trust me, I plan to share my thoughts on that soon along with many more pictures. Stay tuned, my friends.
Nov 9, 2011 | 11:00 AM
#18
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,879
From: Bellevue, WA
BMW M5 impressions
My observations after driving the new M5 as a former owner of a E39 M5 was that the F10 M5 comes very close to recapturing the "magic" of the older platform. I never had a chance to drive the E60 M5 but I've heard from many who have. I found that the new M5, on paper has much more torque but in the real world, it doesn't feel as "immediate" when you press the gas. I feels almost lazy but that could very well have been because I was in the wrong gear. In the old M5 I'd have to downshift to 3rd gear and punch it. I'd say that the new M5 is more like a slingshot with a bit of a cannon thrown in for good measure.
The shifting action is absolutely sublime, just lightning fast and overwhelming positive. Just a sense of "blip blip blip" as you either upshift or downshift. I only wish that BMW had the foresight to make the paddles fixed onto the columns or perhaps even bigger. It was a bit difficult to find the paddles quickly. Of course you could shift using the shifter knob too but it just would feel much more natural if they had made the paddles bigger. Maybe at some point someone will develop an aftermarket set of paddles.
I also feel that although the new M5 is much larger than the older M5, you don't feel the added size from the driver's seat. It almost feels smaller than it's actual size especially considering the fact that it also feels well balanced. If you were to put a pivot point within the exact center of the interior space, you'd find that it neither leans too much in any given direction. BMW has done a good job creating a balance between too much of a lean vs too little. There's just enough feedback tactial feedback to give the driver information about what to expect. I was very impressed. My favorite "mode" for enthusiastic driving was the "sport" not the "sport plus" because I felt the latter was a bit too harsh on both the streets and the track. I didn't get a chance to try driving with the DSC (traction control) turned off but I didn't feel that it was too intrusive at all. It was "soft" in keeping the car under control. I was able to see just what the M5 could do with the DSC defeated during the hot lap ride. I was very impressed by how controllable the M5 was. Overalll, I feel that BMW has finally managed to recapture the spirit of the old M5 in their latest iteration.
And now...more pictures
Driver change
His turn now
A bunch of hard core riders braving the elements
The nav actually shoes the elevation changes too!
Our lead vehicle was a X6M
A very wet track that would quickly dry up once the sun came out
The staff were ready for us with ///M umbrellas too
7 speed dual clutch trans
Look at those huge brake discs!
Explaining the passing procedures. The car following the leader would move off to the side allowing everyone behind to pass before falling
in as the last car. We would make this change with every lap.
The twin turbocharged heart of the new beast
Our "fleet"
The white M5 was used for the hot lap rides
The new rear differential that senses/predicts and reacts based on your driving style
The internals of the rear differential
The new M5 uses valvetronics for the cylinder banks for the first time eliminating the need for individual butterfly throttle controllers
but I believe it's still there as a "backup"
The 1M is a true track machine!
Look at the size differences between the two
The "M5" fleet
Can you tell, I'm ready to go!
Ready!
Between sessions each driver would get a "hot lap" ride
We're moving!
There would be two caravans, the M5 group followed by the M3/1M group led by a "lead" instructor car
It was WET!
An observation I made is that the DSC system did a good job keeping the cars in check despite the fact that it was wet
All the corners had "corner workers" keeping things in check
My observations after driving the new M5 as a former owner of a E39 M5 was that the F10 M5 comes very close to recapturing the "magic" of the older platform. I never had a chance to drive the E60 M5 but I've heard from many who have. I found that the new M5, on paper has much more torque but in the real world, it doesn't feel as "immediate" when you press the gas. I feels almost lazy but that could very well have been because I was in the wrong gear. In the old M5 I'd have to downshift to 3rd gear and punch it. I'd say that the new M5 is more like a slingshot with a bit of a cannon thrown in for good measure.
The shifting action is absolutely sublime, just lightning fast and overwhelming positive. Just a sense of "blip blip blip" as you either upshift or downshift. I only wish that BMW had the foresight to make the paddles fixed onto the columns or perhaps even bigger. It was a bit difficult to find the paddles quickly. Of course you could shift using the shifter knob too but it just would feel much more natural if they had made the paddles bigger. Maybe at some point someone will develop an aftermarket set of paddles.
I also feel that although the new M5 is much larger than the older M5, you don't feel the added size from the driver's seat. It almost feels smaller than it's actual size especially considering the fact that it also feels well balanced. If you were to put a pivot point within the exact center of the interior space, you'd find that it neither leans too much in any given direction. BMW has done a good job creating a balance between too much of a lean vs too little. There's just enough feedback tactial feedback to give the driver information about what to expect. I was very impressed. My favorite "mode" for enthusiastic driving was the "sport" not the "sport plus" because I felt the latter was a bit too harsh on both the streets and the track. I didn't get a chance to try driving with the DSC (traction control) turned off but I didn't feel that it was too intrusive at all. It was "soft" in keeping the car under control. I was able to see just what the M5 could do with the DSC defeated during the hot lap ride. I was very impressed by how controllable the M5 was. Overalll, I feel that BMW has finally managed to recapture the spirit of the old M5 in their latest iteration.
And now...more pictures
Driver change
His turn now
A bunch of hard core riders braving the elements
The nav actually shoes the elevation changes too!
Our lead vehicle was a X6M
A very wet track that would quickly dry up once the sun came out
The staff were ready for us with ///M umbrellas too
7 speed dual clutch trans
Look at those huge brake discs!
Explaining the passing procedures. The car following the leader would move off to the side allowing everyone behind to pass before falling
in as the last car. We would make this change with every lap.
The twin turbocharged heart of the new beast
Our "fleet"
The white M5 was used for the hot lap rides
The new rear differential that senses/predicts and reacts based on your driving style
The internals of the rear differential
The new M5 uses valvetronics for the cylinder banks for the first time eliminating the need for individual butterfly throttle controllers
but I believe it's still there as a "backup"
The 1M is a true track machine!
Look at the size differences between the two
The "M5" fleet
Can you tell, I'm ready to go!
Ready!
Between sessions each driver would get a "hot lap" ride
We're moving!
There would be two caravans, the M5 group followed by the M3/1M group led by a "lead" instructor car
It was WET!
An observation I made is that the DSC system did a good job keeping the cars in check despite the fact that it was wet
All the corners had "corner workers" keeping things in check
Last edited by atomic80; Nov 9, 2011 at 11:02 AM.
Nov 9, 2011 | 11:25 AM
#20
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,879
From: Bellevue, WA
I didn't get a chance to ask about that or did I hear of anyone else who asked as well.