Ground Clearance compared with 5-series?

nlk10010 · 8th January 2004, 20:19

OK. I know I'm going to catch it for this, but you all were very helpful on my skid plate problem (I got the part and installed it myself, found my body shop had installed the old one incorrectly) that I thought I'd ask.

My car is getting really ratty; during the Summer I can generally find a place to completely hand wash it but in the winter it's tougher and I don't really want to do it myself (doesn't need a complete detail yet). So I thought I'd try a place where the track drags the car on one side only through a tunnel in which the actual washing is done by hand. I understand there are myriad problems with this approach but the place I'm thinking of did well with my old S4 so I thought I'd take a chance, IF I COULD BE SURE I'M NOT TOO LOW (I have my 17" Winter Wheels/Tires on so I'm not too worried about scuffing them). Problem is I don't want to take the word of the owner; I'd rather see a car whose clearance I KNOW is the same as the M5 go through first.

So does anyone know if the regular 5-series has greater clearance than the M5? Or has anyone had (hopefully not but I thought I'd ask) problems with the M5 being too low to be pulled through on a track?

Any info would be greatly appreciated. I'm depressed already and looking at my gritty car (and a dent in the door inflicted by a runaway shopping cart) is not making things any better.

=NLK=

RRoberts · 8th January 2004, 21:15

Even stock the M5 sits a little lower - maybe 1/2 - 3/4 inch lower than the other E39 5 series cars. With the Dinan Stage 3 as I have, other 5 series seem to be 1.5 inches higher than mine when parked alongside. Plus 235-45 x 17 snows are a little smaller. I wouldn't chance it, having once hung up another car in an automated car wash. There are a number of real hand-wash places around here, where you drive it in and they move it as needed. Maybe also where you are.

Regards, Dick Roberts

gra8fuldd ed · 8th January 2004, 22:57

Depending on the tracks at the Wash place ... You might also encounter a problem with the Allowable WIDTH of the track and the width of your Rear Tires. I had a situation where I was watching my friend try to save $10 and have his car washed via machine instead of a Hand Wash. The Double Tracks at the car wash for the Drivers Side wheels ... both front and back ...caused very deep scratches ... almost looked like severere Curb Rash on BOTH Front and rear Drivers side wheels. Instead of saving the $10 ... My friend had to spend the cost (roughly $1200 incl. install) of 2 New M5 Shadow Chrome Wheels.

We both decided that this was the MOST Expensive Car Wash of All-Time!!

nlk10010 · 9th January 2004, 14:38

Yea, thanks to both of you.

After sleeping on it (and after going through my annual physical and some other tests) I decided life's too short. Also, should I rip up the bottom of the car or the tires/rims, that I'll REALLY wish I hadn't tried cutting corners.

I know it seems like it's the money but it's really the difficulty of finding someone to do the hand wash. But I have a few ideas.

This board really proved its worth to me today. Maybe this was a short thread but I'm sure it saved me a LOT of grief.

=NLK=