BMW e60 part 05

It is better to be talked about than ignored, they say. If that's true then the last update to the BMW 5 Series, the E60, certainly delivered. Few cars have excited such debate. Some loved it, some hated it. Everyone talked about it. So as we gear up for the sixth generation F10, everyone will be wondering what to expect.

The answer, at first sight, seems to be surprisingly low key. While the E60 was bold, brash and revolutionary, this is smooth, sleek and elegant. Gone are the bold styling updates, such as the eye catching wing headlights, replaced by a something traditionalists will recognise and admire.

It has a classic hunkered down look about it and looks every inch the executive car. In fact, according to several of the major car hire manufacturers, it looks set to become the high level hire car of choice.

However, don't make the mistake of thinking this is a step back to the past. Instead it is simply a continuation of revolution followed by evolution that has served The BMW 5 Series so well for so long.

Ever since its first appearance on the world stage in 1975 we've seen sudden revolutions taking the series onto the next level, knocking down walls and keeping it ahead of the competition. This simply continues that strategy.

The E60 rewrote the rule book - both in terms of appearance and technology - of what the BMW 5 Series could be. It worked. Record breaking sales showed that, makeover or no makeover, plenty of people loved it.

This new launch, then, can afford a more measured approach, but that doesn't make it a step backwards. While the exterior hints at a return to classical values, the interior is all about the future with more technological bells and whistles than you can shake a stick at.

There is self parking, a head up display, intelligent alternator charging and BMW's iDrive control centre which puts everything literally at your fingertips.

It is an incredible piece of eye popping technology and appeals to the primeval geek inside us all. It proves that this sixth generation of the BMW 5 Series will continue with the ideal of combining heritage with innovation.

You're looking for any new model to seem new and familiar at the same time. In other words echoing its predecessors while leaving you with the impression that all of them have simply been a preparation for this new brand new model. That's what has to do: move things on enough to keep it in touch with the competition while retaining the aesthetics that die hard enthusiasts have come to love.

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BMW e60 part 04

As clearly noted in our video review of both the 2003 BMW M5 and the 2010 BMW M5, I have a thing for M5s. I've driven the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG, its closest competitor and I would take the BMW M5 over it any day of the week, especially the weekend. In fact, if I had $150,000 to play with and had my choice of any car, I would take BMW M5 over anything under that price ceiling - although the Mercedes Benz CLS 63 AMG is very tempting.

My point is that I believe the BMW M5 is one of the best purpose built cars on the planet. What exactly is its purpose though? Its primary purpose is to be super fast and yet practical and it does both very well.

That brings me to the new 2012 BMW M5 F10 body style, which has got to be one of the best looking 5-series ever made, in my opinion. That said, this new BMW M5 has both looks that kill and performance that slays!

To be more specific, this sedan has the most powerful engine ever fitted in a series-produced model from BMW M GmbH. The new 2012 BMW M5 F10 power plant is a newly developed, high-revving V8 with M TwinPower Turbo (consisting of Twin Scroll Twin Turbo technology, a cross-bank exhaust manifold, High Precision Injection petrol direct injection and VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control).

If you didn't understand the above, just know this... that the engine produces 560 horsepower at 6,000 - 7,000 rpm and peak torque of 502 lb-ft hits you between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm. The increase in horsepower and torque over the 2010 BMW M5 E60 is 53 hp and 122 lb-ft of torque or approximately 10% and 32% increases, respectively. The biggest difference, however, is in the torque figure which not only increases 32%, but the peaks early on at 1,500 rpm relative to the 2010 BMW M5 E60's peak at 6,100 rpm.

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BMW e60 part 03

Known as the ultimate sport sedan, the BMW M5 was first introduced in 1985 as a high performance version of the standard E28 5-series. In its 4th generation as the E60 M5, the BMW M Division has gone to extensive lengths to ensure this sport sedan lives up to its legendary past. Given the popularity of the E39 M5 and E60 M5, there are a whole host of BMW M5 Parts available to set your sport sedan apart from the rest.

The E39 M5 comes with a naturally aspirated V8 that can be enhanced with a variety of bolt on modifications including the aFe Intake System, Eisenmann Exhaust and Active Autowerke ECU tune. Combined, these performance enhancements make the E39 M5 V8 engine more responsive while maintaining the factory linear feel.

The E60 M5 turned up the competition with a naturally aspirated V10. This 500 horsepower beast is tuned for maximum performance by the M division but there is still room for improvement. The Eisenmann Exhaust for the E60 M5 transforms the high pitch V10 into a F1 sounding machine. In addition, the EvoSport E60 M5 Pulleys and aFe Cold Air Intake for the E60 M5 help the car breath to make it more responsive through the entire range.

Finally, to take advantage of these bolt ons, the BMW M5 software can be tuned to perfection with the Active Autowerke ECU Tuning package for the E60 M5. Designed for cars with or without modifications, this software is done per application to maximize gains based on your specific setup.

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BMW e60 part 02

What looks like a four door sedan, but drives like a sports car? Well... the first car that comes to mind is the BMW M5. The M5 has always been a favorite of mine because it's an excellent mix of luxury and solid performance. This vehicle can transport you and three of your friends comfortably from point A to point B. However, the beauty of the M5 is that you can always choose to throw comfort out the window and give your friends a scare of a lifetime!

In a nutshell, the M5 is one of the most practical race cars ever made, if not the most. It has four doors, all the creature comforts of a BMW, seating for five, a huge engine and handles like a dream. In our video review, we drive two of the more recent generations, the 2003 E39 M5 and the 2010 E60 M5. Both are very fast cars, but the way they carry themselves is very different.

The 2003 E39 M5 is the last year BMW built that generation of the M5 and is the best year for that model. Earlier E39 models had problems with the Vanos timing systems (which were expensive to repair), issues with carbon buildup and a couple of other minor things. However, in 2003 all the wrinkles have been ironed out and the car was near perfection.

The E39 M5 has a 4.9 liter V8 that produces approximately 400 hp at 6,600 rpm and 369 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm and redlines at 7,000 rpm. Despite a curb weight of 4,000 lbs, the E39 M5 can hit 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds according to official performance specs, but some have claimed they could consistently hit 0-60 mph times of 4.5 seconds. Additionally, the car is very well balanced and handles like a dream and gives the driver good feedback. I used to take mine out to the mountains and I was not afraid to push it on the curvy mountain roads following a group of M3s, which is not an easy feat.

The 2010 E60 M5 is also the last year BMW built that generation of the M5 and is likely the best year. Earlier E60 models had issues with the iDrive system and the 7-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) III, but after a series of upgrades, these issues seem to have gone away.

The E60 M5 has a 5.0 liter V10 that produces approximately 500 hp at 7,750 rpm and 383 lb-ft of torque at 6,100 rpm and redlines at 8,250 rpm. Although the E60 M5 also has a curb weight of approximately 4,000 lbs, the massive power upgrade propels it from 0-60 mph in only 4.8 seconds. What's interesting about the two is that, up until 60 mph, both M5s are nearly neck and neck. However, the E60 M5 starts to pull away quickly after the 60 mph mark, and it keeps going and going. What's more interesting is that the E39 M5 feels faster as the car's peak torque is achieved at a much lower rpm (3,800 rpm versus 6,100 rpm for the E60 M5) and hits the driver instantly, whereas with the E60 the driver has to be a little more patient.

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BMW e60

If there was ever a King of cars the BMW M5 would have to be it. Just recently, production ended on the E60 M5 series with just over 20,000 cars produced. This is even more cars than the prior generation of God like autos made by BMW, which was technically known as the E 39 M5.

The E60 M5 is equipped with one of the most amazing engines ever put into a production car-a 10 cylinder 507 hp monster capable of gobbling up road, gasoline and your credit limit faster than you just read this sentence. What is sad about the end of the E60 M5 production run, is that it brings to an end the last of the BMW M cars' naturally aspirated performance engines.

The new engines are a smaller block, which are twin turbocharged 4.4 L V8's rumored to be pumping out somewhere around 560 hp and 530 foot-pounds of mind bending concrete crushing torque.

Regardless of which car you purchase, or dream of purchasing-none of the BMW M5' are your typical grocery -- getters. These are really best described as rabies infected, insane wolves in the proverbial, conservative, German sheep's clothing.

The E60 M5 will remain as one of the most technologically advanced cars ever produced by BMW with features like individual throttle bodies for their V10 S 82 engine-which delivers knife edge sharp throttle response at the flick of your right foot.

Unleashing this car in P 500 sport mode is something you have to experience to understand. But don't expect to buy this car and feel good about your carbon footprint, because with two fuel pumps on tap and something like 11 miles to the gallon average fuel economy you will no doubt be public enemy number one for the green mafia.

But people don't buy these cars to feel good about how much gas they put in, or how many times they have to replace the rear tires -- they want to be able to have the practicality of a beautiful, conservative, classy four-door sedan and world beating supercar performance in one vehicle.

The design of the E60 M5 has been much maligned by the public and automotive journalists. Chris Bangle was the chief designer for BMW and the Mini group for many years, during which of course the E60 was marketed. Many people call the design "Bangled" and you either really love it or you hate it. However with near 4 second 0 to 60 times blowing your mind, somehow the look of the car becomes less important if it was initially off-putting for you.

Although we have already talked about it, the power plant is inspired from BMWs now defunct association with the BMW McLaren F1 race team. It was a relationship built on technical precision and wringing every possible bit of horsepower out of current and technically advanced engine physics.

Is the BMW E60 M5 the ultimate sports sedan? That depends on how you see this fourth-generation of M5 automobile Yes it is the most powerful car that you can buy in the BMW series of automobiles and compared to the prior generation you are looking at close to a 30% gain in power-and let's not forget that this engine has surpassed that ethereal barrier of 100 hp per liter, which is synonymous with that of present day racecars.

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