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M5 Kicks Butt at Kyalami BMW track day

2K views 12 replies 8 participants last post by  Shotoverhill 
#1 ·
On Saturday the 20th of April I took my stock standard Beast to the South African BMW track day at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. Arriving there I was quite intimidated by the number of tricked out beemers and their seriously competitive-looking owners. All in all there was at least 120 entrants and at least 5 E39 M5's and a whole lotta new M3's.
We were all placed into groups and went out onto the track for 15 minute sessions.
After the first session I was second in group B (2:14:560) and was promptly moved up into group A where there were numerous highly-modified BMW's with turbos, suspension mods, superchargers - you name it.
At the end of the second session I was clocking 2:12's and clearly at the front of the field. All the M3's and other M5's were doing 2:16's to 2:19's and I was well chuffed about how well I was doing.
At the end of the day my stock Beast (seriously not one tweak!) was fastest BMW of the day, beating every M3 by well over 2 seconds a lap and all the other M5's (including a modded Schnitzer M5). I took the trophy and a lotta guys just couldn't believe that the 2-ton sedan had whipped all their modified and lightweight jimmies!
Further proof of what a great car the M5 really is. Outta the box and onto the track, no tweaks and lightning quick.

Respect!mmmmmm
 
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#2 ·
great story! Do you have any pictures of the event? I would love to see all the different BMWs that were there....
 
#4 ·
Sometime ago I also posted a comment that I am basically wondering if BMW still needs Alpina (no longer a separate tuning company) except to maintain historical relations. With an annual sales of close to a million vehicles, and high profitability, BMW can afford the necessary research work to come up with well-designed cars.

Perhaps when it was smaller, outsourcing to a third party for specialised tuning works made sense, IMHO.
 
#8 ·
I had a similar experience at the BMW Club Race at Virginia International Raceway this past weekend ... the Tarheel chapter sponsored a few laps on the track for local club members ... I was keeping up with M coupes very well thru the turns and could have passed them on the straights , but it was a friendly outing ... the M5 belies its size with power and agility ...

steve
'02 titianium/silverstone (stock)
 
#9 ·
Haha Nice... :thumbsup: Congrats!
 
#12 ·
Shotoverhill said:
Richard,

What tyre pressures did you use - I'm off to a track day next week for the first time in my M5.
Hi - I used 37.5psi in the fronts and 38.5psi in the rears.

A lotta guys were battling with pressures but I just took a gamble and it seemed to work. The front still understeered a bit too much for my liking though.
 
#13 ·
richardk said:


Hi - I used 37.5psi in the fronts and 38.5psi in the rears.

A lotta guys were battling with pressures but I just took a gamble and it seemed to work. The front still understeered a bit too much for my liking though.
Thanks - to try and lose a little of that understeer I'll go 38.5 all round.

Am I right to assume that was hot tyre pressures (as and I'm guessing they would be pushing 42 psi + if set cold).

Thanks
 
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