E60 M5?? Called my dealer today...

I got so taken in by the rumors of a 04 E60 M5 I called my guy at the dealer today to put my name on the list and Jerry, my guy, wasn't there. So I got Steve the sales manager and asked if there was a list and if so I'd like to put my name on it. His reply was there was no list and they gave up on lists this early in the game.

He did same some sales people keep tabs for their best customers but not a formal list.

So I asked "when do you think the E60 M5 will be in the show room, he thought and said he was just taking to the factory just yesterday and was told about all the new cars coming out like the 1 series, 6 series and a convertible (not sure which), the new Z5 later this year and so forth.

He said the E60 will be late next year as an 2004 model and explained that the M5 usually comes out in the middle of the model run and concluded that would put it at 2007 model year or late 2006." I said I agree with you I just thought I'd ask.

So, if your waiting for an E60 M5 the wait could be as long as four and a half years from now. Europe may be a year earlier. BMW likes to test new cars there before they come to the pesky and demanding US market. You know, rugged cup holders:)

Anybody for an SL:D

Some info about the E-60, doesn't quite pinpoint the new M5's arrival date, but seems to confirm a V-10.


5-Series Latest


The new look 5-Series is a mixture of 7-Series & Coupe lines, the official UK launch is due September 2003, clothed in a lightweight chassis loaded with high-tech gadgets. Two new power plants will also be joining the range a bi-Turbo 6 cylinder with 380Bhp & a awesome V10 5.5litre with 500Bhp on tap. A 3.0litre six that will produce 380Bhp & performance to closely match today’s M5.

A 530 Bi-Turbo, BMW’s only blown power plant will go head-to-head against Audi’s S6 & Jaguars S-Type R.

The new M5 will feature a 5.5litre V10 that will produce at least 500Bhp with a sub 5.0sec 0-60Mph time & will have a direct link with BMW’s Motorsport programme.

Codenamed the E60, the new 5-Series will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motorshow next year, with the Touring model to follow in 2004. The new look is both modern & aggressive keeping inline with Chris Bangles design strategy, the front end will be all alloy design, the iDrive system will be more user friendly, bigger boot & more rear leg room over the current 5.

Traction control & Stability are to be accessed by conventional controls, simplifying the iDrive system, ground braking new steering system called Active Front Steering is adopted from ZF, the AFS automatically corrects the angle of the front wheels in heavy side winds & heavy braking. The new 5-Series is also featuring the 7-Series automatic damping control & dynamic drive that irons out the body roll. Other features from the 7-Series include the electronic handbrake & air conditioning that takes into account the intensity of the sun.

Suspension is by MacPherson struts up front & multi-link rear, lightweight aluminium space frame is used mainly forward of the front windscreen making weight savings up to 80kg.

The car is almost identical in length to today’s car at 4775mm but with 50mm extended to the wheelbase, boosting rear leg room.

The new 5-Series is to be powered by 2.0litre in-line four not currently on offer in the UK, also joining the range will be the 2.2, 2.5 & 3.0 litre six cylinder engines, while the 3.6litre & 4.4litre will be adopted from the new 7-Series. Both V8’s will be direct-injection & feature the fuel saving Valvetronic technology. Diesel models are to start with a 2.0litre four, 2.5, 3.0, & range topping 4.0litre common-rail diesel engines, although the 2.0 & 4.0 are currently not available in the UK. Transmission is to include a six-speed manual in the smaller engine variants & six-speed auto in the larger models.

Jim the last thing i want to be is dis respectful to your dealer..but i find you can take their info with a pinch of salt..sometimes they are right and sometimes they are waaay off the mark..

all the very best
adam

....and the rumors continue....

I'm hoping that we don't have to wait until 2007 for the new M5, but I do hope that it does turn out to be a V-10. Anything associated with F1 Racing underneath my hood is fine with me.

As far as a blown 530 with 380 HP: don't get me wrong, it sounds great but doesn't that defeat the purpose of the M5? Even if that is on the menu, I feel that if BMW turns to blown engines from the factory, they may get sloppy and not turn the out the highly tuned engines that are in the M3 and M5 currently.

When it comes down to it, I guess time will bring the answer to our questions, but I definitely find it interesting to read these speculations.

:)

Electronic handbrake? I dont like that.

All the dealers here in EUROPE confirm the new M5 for next year. I will have one in my garage next december (03) but, will see.

:cheers:

robert