German AMS magazine tests M5 suspension kits - Page 3 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Hamann7 · 19th November 2001, 09:04

Wow... just the thought of that makes me salivate

If you do the same conversion as our friend Apples with the 530 hp N500 conversion, add some Movit/Porsche twin turbo brakes, and that awesome ACS DFC suspension... sounds to me like you have a 8 minute or UNDER car on the Nurburgring Nordschleife!

Do you guys realize the implications of this? With 8 minutes or UNDER, you are clearly kicking the sh*t out of Ferrari 355, 360 and even the Porsche 993 turbos. At 8:13 with just the DFC suspension and no engine mods, the M5 would be running the same time as a 993 GT2!

With the engine mods, you would be equal to or faster than the 996 TT. The only thing that could beat you is a GT2 (or super supercars like Mac F1, F40, F50, etc.), BUT the M5 is so much comfortable, with full climate control, GPS, a better sound system, and 4 doors unlike the stripped down racer that the GT2 is!

Considering this difference in performance, I think the DFC is looking like one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can buy!

By the way, was this test done with or without the ACS sway bars?

MIB · 14th March 2004, 01:49

Wow,

What a great thread.

Tfung,Hamann7 and Johan all got ACS DFC.

and now TIN and MIB is still waiting for his to arrive.

It should be here next week.

smknjoe M5 · 12th July 2007, 20:25

Just bought my M5 in september and looking to buy new suspension. This was very informative. Thanks everyone. I installed my first mod last night with a UUC short shift kit.

Gustav · 10th April 2008, 20:38

Very good post

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Blitz

Guys here is a recap of that article in AMS, a very respectable German car mag.

They tested the ACS DFC and the KW variant III, which is not for sale yet. It is being introduced at the Essen Tuning Show at the end of November. Price for the ACS DFC is 7779 DEM, the KW variant III is at 4084 DEM, fitting not included !

The M5's were tested on the Nürburgring, the quickest M5 was the one with the ACS DFC suspension on board. They measured the Km/h through some sections of the Nürburgring, here are the numbers:

Quiddelbacher Höhe
M5 serie => 164,5
M5 with KW => 172,1
M5 with ACS DFC SPORT => 168,2
M5 with ACS DFC INTERMEDIATE => 175,4
M5 with ACS DFC RACE TRACK => 181,0

Schwedenkreuz
M5 serie => 167,7
M5 with KW => 169,8
M5 with ACS DFC SPORT => 170,7
M5 with ACS DFC INTERMEDIATE => 173,1
M5 with ACS DFC RACE TRACK => 184,9

Aremberg
M5 serie => 90,9
M5 with KW => 92,5
M5 with ACS DFC SPORT => 91,6
M5 with ACS DFC INTERMEDIATE => 93,6
M5 with ACS DFC RACE TRACK => 96,2

Wehrseifen
M5 serie => 101,3
M5 with KW => 114,2
M5 with ACS DFC SPORT => 112,3
M5 with ACS DFC INTERMEDIATE => 115,6
M5 with ACS DFC RACE TRACK => 114,3

Eiskurve
M5 serie => 89,2
M5 with KW => 98,3
M5 with ACS DFC SPORT => 98,8
M5 with ACS DFC INTERMEDIATE => 100,4
M5 with ACS DFC RACE TRACK => 100,1

Then they took the comfort in account !
M5 serie => good
M5 with KW => satisfying
M5 with ACS DFC SPORT => satisfying
M5 with ACS DFC INTERMEDIATE => satisfying
M5 with ACS DFC RACE TRACK => not so good
short bumps
M5 serie => very good
M5 with KW => satisfying
M5 with ACS DFC SPORT => satisfying
M5 with ACS DFC INTERMEDIATE => not so good
M5 with ACS DFC RACE TRACK => not so good
long bumps
M5 serie => good
M5 with KW => good
M5 with ACS DFC SPORT => not so good
M5 with ACS DFC INTERMEDIATE => satisfying
M5 with ACS DFC RACE TRACK => satifying

Taking everything into account.... here is the "final verdict"......

The M5 with the ACS DFC Suspension is unbeatable on the Ring when in "Race track" mode ! The OEM M5 suspension is sure and comfortable, but not really suited for the race track. The best compromise for "every day use" is the KW Variant III !!!

Mr Blitz

noxcape · 11th April 2008, 06:29

Great!
I'm a lucky one with ACS DFC on my Beast! I love it!

nerio02 · 11th April 2008, 13:24

great data, but i am little sceptic about those data points..

sounds more like a ac schnitzer commercial

KW is known for his suspensions to be on the edge of almost perfect when performing hard. i mean, they are very very good suspensions but under hard work out they tend to be not handeling up.they are in theorie a bit to soft in rebound/compression, so they lose some minnor carcontrol.especially on our(read heavy front ends) beasts.other point is that iff you track your car frequentlly on the ring with the kw suspensions , it wont last for long...3 years and you can replace the dampers.what only confirms that they are to stressed out on hard load.

i dont say that they are bad at all, but iff you want the real deal and a objective test, then you have to buy/test the kw v3, where you can set the in and outgoing rebound and compression harder.

the problem with the KW v2 for instance, is that it rebounds 2-3 times after you hit a bump/pocket or so on the road before its level again, where i can understand that acs suspensions illiminates that electronically.the asc i never seen in my life, so i wont make a argument on those.going from the numbers , they work like they should,so its not a aftermarket brand poser thing, but functional equipment.whats good for sure.

my opinion is that they had to test the bilsteins pss9 to , then they would have a whole other outcome (i think). bilsteins can cope better with rebound because they are made stiffer originally.
check the spring rates on kw and bilstein..... theres your answer.

KW Coilovers:

Front spring rate: 400 lbs/inch (linear rate springs).
Rear spring rate: not available (progressive rate springs).
V1 is only height-adjustable (damping has been pre-set by KW).
V2 is height-adjustable and rebound damping-adjustable.
V3 is height-adjustable, rebound damping-adjustable and compression-adjustable.
Rear rebound damping adjustment requires the removal of the parcel shelf behind the rear seats (an adjustment that can take a few hours).
Rear compression adjustment (V3 only) is simple, and does not require removal of the rear parcel shelf.
Good for aggressive street driving and some track use.
Maintains ride-quality that is similar to stock.
Good for lowering.

Bilstein PSS 9 Coilovers:

Front spring rate: 490 lbs/inch (linear rate springs).
Rear spring rate: 275 to 315 lbs/inch (progressive rate springs).
Adjustment via a single knob.
Front can be adjusted by just turning a knob.
Rear adjustment requires jacking-up the car.
Possible clearance problems with wide front wheels.
Good for aggressive street driving and some track use.
Maintains ride-quality that is similar to stock.
Good for lowering .

but in the end , its cool that they even bother still on our cars, after all these years..