Vmax lift to be officially available from BMW - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

scoop · 21st August 2005, 18:42

While I was test driving an E60 M5 at my local dealer in Frankfurt, Germany looking for a possible replacement of my RS6 sedan last week, he was handing me the following tidbit:

BMW will officially announce the availability of a factory Vmax lift from 250kph to 305kph for EUR 2.350,-. The car has to be taken to your local dealer, the ECU has to be unmounted and sent to Munich. The whole treatment takes them 4 business days. As an added gift you'll receive a BMW track training voucher at no cost. While there were initial rumors that you'll have to pass this training *prior* to being allowed to have the Vmax lift installed, this was apparently just that. A rumor.

Hope this isn't totally ancient news for the folks on this forum, I didn't find anything related browsing around.

Gustav · 21st August 2005, 19:03

Nice to hear!

zzzzMD · 21st August 2005, 20:10

They must be joking with that price! For that money, I'd sooner go with the aftermarket tuners. If the factory offers it, how would you encounter warranty issues involving only the speed limiter? Just like Porsche option price gouging, IMO.

Gustav · 21st August 2005, 20:19

BMW Warranty is valid is my guess. Press release will show up soon is my guess.

scoop · 21st August 2005, 21:36

My thoughts exactly. It wouldn't make sense to void the warranty if it's an official option from BMW.

Regarding the value of the track training voucher, the cheapest course available from BMW "M" Driver Training is EUR 795,-, the most expensive one being EUR 2.250,- -- depending on which course they issue a voucher for, this should be a pretty good deal.

More here: http://www.bmw.de/uk/services/Fahrertraining/index.html

asturias · 21st August 2005, 21:39

As the 250 kmh speed limiter kicks in at an indicated 270 kmh, maybe the new one will kick in at an indicated 330 kmh (or somewhere near) instead of 305 kmh. That would be around 205 mph

We`ll have to wait till someone tries it out

Kirium · 22nd August 2005, 12:21

What if you live outside the Germany or Europe??

Sending the ECU to Munich from Australia would take weeks and weeks... Unless BMW Aust sent it air freight overnight... and if it's €2300, it'll be $5000+ AUD... Doesn't seem like the best value... Unless you lived in the N.T.

MEnthusiast · 22nd August 2005, 13:03

Thanks for the info- this is the first I've heard of it. I think its a great idea for them to offer something.

I dont think the price is that outrageous when you are thinking about it from the stand point of BMW looking to make a few extra pennies. Besides, this option has got to appeal more to those who can use a 155+ MPH car. I doubt the majority of US M5 owners would be interested in this except for bragging rights. I have never driven even close to that speed- on public roads

philippe · 31st August 2005, 23:46

I hope we are offered that in the US. Dinan only charges ~$500 to have the limiter removed from most BMWs

Gustav · 6th September 2005, 17:21

Regarding the Hartge top speed limiter:

It showed:

"Head up display: 328 km/h

Speedometer: 330 km/h

Than you can feel the car stops. It's like another limiter. It feels like
the car is reducing the gas pedal. Hard to explain. You need a long
straight line to reach this speed. Sorry, we didn’t measure the top speed by GPS. It was on the way
to the Nordschleife and that Autobahn makes you sweat anyway.
Up and down through the Eifel forest."

SCORPIO · 19th September 2005, 15:10

So, I asked my dealer in Germany about the VMax removal - here is the response I received:

"I found out to get the speed limit removed with the VMax program you have to have a special driver license in Germany. Without proof of
that license they will not release the software to us. I don't think it's a good idea. The car already runs 250 km/h you may have problems
bringing the car into the states. But if you really want this, I will get all the information you need, to get this race car license and prices."

So, it looks like you have to prove that you own a German race car license. I know it won't cause a problem bringing the car into the US.

Just an FYI

StealthBlue · 19th September 2005, 18:20

So the implication is that germans need the special license but anyone that is exporting the car you does not?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCORPIO

So, I asked my dealer in Germany about the VMax removal - here is the response I received:

"I found out to get the speed limit removed with the VMax program you have to have a special driver license in Germany. Without proof of
that license they will not release the software to us. I don't think it's a good idea. The car already runs 250 km/h you may have problems
bringing the car into the states. But if you really want this, I will get all the information you need, to get this race car license and prices."

So, it looks like you have to prove that you own a German race car license. I know it won't cause a problem bringing the car into the US.

Just an FYI