Discussion
Are you talking E60 or E39? Both should do more than that, but the E60 should fly past it without an issue.
There is a lot to consider when hitting a top speed (like being on a unrestricted autobahn for a start) - but a head-wind and a heavy load will pretty much chop any car down. So its not out of the realms of possibility that it could be for real.
But have to say that an E60 that fails to beat that figure wont be derestricted. They have 7 gears and they are long-legged enough as standard to push 190. An E39 should crack 175 when on top form but a MAF failure or similar will cap that much lower at around the 160-170 mark - so its possible.
If its really derestricted then suggest getting it to a specialist / dealer pronto - either it isnt (they have "soft" speed limiters which give you some extra beyond 155), or there is a fault.
Didnt derestrictor have an ABS problem which kept the top speed on a recent VMAX down? Might be worth dropping him an email
Oh, and if it was an E60 then you did have the full 500BHP rather than 400BHP? School boy error?
There is a lot to consider when hitting a top speed (like being on a unrestricted autobahn for a start) - but a head-wind and a heavy load will pretty much chop any car down. So its not out of the realms of possibility that it could be for real.
But have to say that an E60 that fails to beat that figure wont be derestricted. They have 7 gears and they are long-legged enough as standard to push 190. An E39 should crack 175 when on top form but a MAF failure or similar will cap that much lower at around the 160-170 mark - so its possible.
If its really derestricted then suggest getting it to a specialist / dealer pronto - either it isnt (they have "soft" speed limiters which give you some extra beyond 155), or there is a fault.
Didnt derestrictor have an ABS problem which kept the top speed on a recent VMAX down? Might be worth dropping him an email
Oh, and if it was an E60 then you did have the full 500BHP rather than 400BHP? School boy error?
It isn't derestricted then.......
A non derestricted E60 M5 hit the limiter at 164 gps/speedtrap verified at , so seeing 168 on the clock would imply the restrictor hasn't been taken off. Even in P400 mode the car should hit at least 175.
Derestrictor's E39's problems at the last VMAX were caused by MAF issues. Subsequently replaced.
A non derestricted E60 M5 hit the limiter at 164 gps/speedtrap verified at , so seeing 168 on the clock would imply the restrictor hasn't been taken off. Even in P400 mode the car should hit at least 175.
Derestrictor's E39's problems at the last VMAX were caused by MAF issues. Subsequently replaced.
Edited by dazren on Tuesday 3rd October 07:58
It is one of first new new shape M5's and he tried both. With the power button on and the full 500bhp, and with it off. Which ever gear he tried 168mph was the vmax. He took a piccie of the head up display on a camera phone but looking at it on the phone it was to blurred to see properly. As you say they seem to have left some sort of soft limiter on the car.
I know that. I regularly drive both types! I'm guesssing if your mate had a GPS unit in the car as the speedo read 168 mph the GPS unit would be indicating 164 mph. Which would tie in with our experiments with standard E60 M5s at previous VMAX events. The DMS derestricted E60 cracked 180+ in the same ballpark as Lambo Gallardo and 996TT X50.
DAZ
BTW, get your mate to check with his dealership if his car needs the modified SZL (Steering angle sensor. Nothing to do with top speed)
DAZ
BTW, get your mate to check with his dealership if his car needs the modified SZL (Steering angle sensor. Nothing to do with top speed)
Edited by dazren on Tuesday 3rd October 08:07
graeme73s said:
Yep Si can be a little nuts on occasions.
Well that's one word for it. A guy got caught doing 156.7mph in his M3 (i.e. on the limiter) in Scotland and got a four year ban and five months in the clink. So if your mate fancies vmaxing his E60 M5 on public roads in Britain (rather than a private airstip, as I'm sure was the case in this instance), make sure he packs a toothbrush and soap on a rope.
My belief is each to their own. I trust Si's judgement implicitly and if he felt that it was safe to do so thats good enough for me. Please don't turn this into a righteous thread about speeding. After all I am not sure but I think he might have been on a derestricted piece of autobahn at the time
graeme73s said:
My belief is each to their own. I trust Si's judgement implicitly and if he felt that it was safe to do so thats good enough for me. Please don't turn this into a righteous thread about speeding. After all I am not sure but I think he might have been on a derestricted piece of autobahn at the time
< was more related to the 'taking a picture' part, rather than the actualy doing of the speed 
I've driven an E60 M5 and have a pretty thorough knowledge of just how easily it'll do these speeds, and how stable 
dazren said:
I know that. I regularly drive both types! I'm guesssing if your mate had a GPS unit in the car as the speedo read 168 mph the GPS unit would be indicating 164 mph. Which would tie in with our experiments with standard E60 M5s at previous VMAX events. The DMS derestricted E60 cracked 180+ in the same ballpark as Lambo Gallardo and 996TT X50.
DAZ
BTW, get your mate to check with his dealership if his car needs the modified SZL (Steering angle sensor. Nothing to do with top speed)
DAZ
BTW, get your mate to check with his dealership if his car needs the modified SZL (Steering angle sensor. Nothing to do with top speed)
Edited by dazren on Tuesday 3rd October 08:07
Lets hope i can repeat that at the next VMAX in my DMS M5.
As for the limiters, BMW can (although in the UK they're not keen) move the limiter up to 168 or 170 IIRC so perhaps your friends car had the soft limiter extended to the higher figure. If it was fully de-limited it should have been cracking 200MPH. The highest speed i've had out of my DMS M5 which was on a German Autobahn en-route to The Ring, was 186MPH on the GPS & i had plenty of revs to go past 200MPH, just not enough clear road.
thanks for all the feedback, very much appreciated. When Si gets a moment he'll get onto BMW on behalf of his father. The M5 is his fathers car. Ed's a great guy nearly 70 and totally nuts. Still wants me to take him out in the M5 on a track day so he can get a better handle on it. Ed made me laugh. When he first got the car he said to me look at the back of the car. Si made me get it debadged and then buys me a number plate with M5 and then his initials. Whats the bloody point of that he said. I have not driven the M5 at speed. I got to drive it whilst it was still ruuning in. As Si says the problem with the M5 same as my Brabus that it does not feel fast until your well into three figures. In fact the Brabus feels very twitchy below 100mph but at 100mph plus it comes into its own. After all it was built for the autobahns. When I picked the car up from Germany a mate came with to do the map reading. He summed it all up when he said its like being in a video game. As you join another motorway the traffic is wizzing away from you then all of a sudden they are wizzing back at you. Very surreal
W8PMC said:
derestrictor said:
My God, Paul - that E60 M5 of yours looks stunning.
Can't wait to pump it's quadrovulvacity this w/end...
Can't wait to pump it's quadrovulvacity this w/end...
Cheers Buddy,
Looking forward to the pumping (i think)
Make sure you remember to switch off the TC round bottom bend
Stupendous drift machine, the M5....trackdemon said:
W8PMC said:
derestrictor said:
My God, Paul - that E60 M5 of yours looks stunning.
Can't wait to pump it's quadrovulvacity this w/end...
Can't wait to pump it's quadrovulvacity this w/end...
Cheers Buddy,
Looking forward to the pumping (i think)
Make sure you remember to switch off the TC round bottom bend
Stupendous drift machine, the M5....We'll see. I'm off to Spa & Nurburgring very soon, so really want to keep some rubber for that trip. I may when things get quieter have a little play down their. Defo want to try out some proper launches. I've still not tried one on public roads as i'm scared i'll wipe out some other cars/pedestrians but i'll try a few at Brunters.
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