News in brief (400bhp X5) - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

HIPAD · 10th March 2003, 22:22

Autocar magazine:

"Fancy M5 power in an X5 body shell? Hartge has dropped the hot saloon's 400bhp V8 lump into an X5 to create an £84,426 super SUV. More details at www.birds.uk.com"

Apparently it’s a 2WD, the 4WD system cannot cope with the power it seems!

MAVERICK · 12th March 2003, 00:29

Does it come with the 6-speed manual?

HIPAD · 12th March 2003, 01:05

Quote:

Originally posted by MAVERICK
Does it come with the 6-speed manual?

I have no idea, It doesn't say in the article, but you can always e-mail Hartge.

Lonman · 12th March 2003, 13:11

Just spoke to them, I am very interseted in this car!!

6 speed manual, two wheel drive. They take a 3.0 X5, and add the brakes from the 4.6i. They then take the M5 engine, gearbox and running gear (not the clutch, they have an uprated clutch) and put it all together. The top speed will be "around 175mph" and 0-100mph will be in "around 13secs". Not too bad for a big car....

On top of that you get all the possible extras and 22" wheels, with 295 25 22's all round......

I mentioned that i was interested in getting this or the Cayenne Turbo later on this year, and he said " It's no Cayenne Turbo (I took that to mean that it was no way as fast) but it is hand made"

Hmmm............

Adam · 12th March 2003, 15:53

Rob sounds great,

Why dont you go for a bit more bhp...get them to tune it up a bit

all the best
adam

KRM · 12th March 2003, 17:09

X5 with the M5 engine sounds interesting. Or how about a Cayenne Turbo massaged by Ruf (if available)? both are equally tempting

HIPAD · 12th March 2003, 20:43

Quote:

Originally posted by Lonman

I mentioned that i was interested in getting this or the Cayenne Turbo later on this year, and he said " It's no Cayenne Turbo (I took that to mean that it was no way as fast) but it is hand made"

Hmmm............ [/b]

I think you should wait for the face lifted X5 (later this year). It will have the updated engine and transmission from the 745. Plus the new 6 speed auto trans can handle more torque than the outgoing one (that’s way many tuners could not add more power to the current X5), which means you can fit a more powerful engine to the X5, and you would end up having a much better looking car/SUV than the Cayenne Turbo. Alpina already modified the new 4.4 Valvetronic engine, it is developing around 470bhp with the help of a supercharger.

KRM · 12th March 2003, 21:35

I understand that starting in Sep/Oct the X5 4.4 will have the same engine as the E65 745i. Any idea of what the the succesor to the 4.6is unit will be or will it simply cease production?

HIPAD · 13th March 2003, 20:17

I don't know what's going to happen to the 4.6is after the facelifted model is due.
What I know is you can get a 450 bhp V12 X5 from Mutec. I don't know if it's 2WD or 4WD, not much info on their web site (very exclusive tuner $$$)

Semibeast · 18th March 2003, 19:48

According to my dealer the X5 4,6is will be X5 4,8is after the facelift and have 370-380hp. Maybe it's the same engine as in the Alpina Z8?

He also said that the 4,4 will be 4,5 after the facelift.

HIPAD · 26th March 2003, 00:46

According to Autocar (19 March), the new X5 will have a 333bhp a 47bhp hike over the existing model (that's for the 4.4 V8)

ALX · 27th March 2003, 00:09

All I want to know is: will there be a manuel tranny available or not?!!???

POW!

ALX