Update on the drag beast - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Ice M · 17th July 2001, 20:10

Well, I was in Europe this week-end, partly for business but above all to see where they were standing on my beast.

A quick reminder for those who are not aware of the story :
In June, my car was shipped back to Switzerland (it was a euro delivery) in order to undergo a very special surgery. "She" was not ill at all but I came to the conclusion the V8 was not fully exploited at this stage by BMW and I wanted to squeeze out all the power available until the very last hp here in the corner

You will ask me why ? Just because I want to play in the big yard with supercars. I always loved the idea of pulling ahead a Ferrari seated in a Sedan while listening to my favorite CD. Maybe I am a crazy man... but that the way it is.
But playing with big boys, I mean F50, Diablo, Porsche TT means improved drag racing capabilities of my beast. I do not plan to race them over 200mph (it is not only dangerous but forbidden -> good reason isn't it

) but want to kill them in acceleration time. If you can prove to a Ferrari driver that his car is 2 car length behind yours from 40 to 70mph, no need to go further he would have already see who is the master

So, I sent my car to a Swiss sorcerer (recommanded by a few people) with the following specification : less than 3.5sec from 0 to 60 and the 1/4 mile in 11.5 maximum. I don't care to know how he will achieve that result (I only want to keep the body 100% stock) but I want the beast become a true drag machine.
When I visited him on saturday, he engine was taken off the car (uh it is really big -> the gearbox is enormous :-) and mods have started.

I know you would know what kind of mods but I cannot tell you because it is not yet fully definitive. The guy is not a well-known tuner (no, it is neither Nowack nor AC Schnitzer or Hartge) but I have been told that he was a former chief mechanical engineer at BMW Motorsport and knows the engine like his pocket.
I'll get it back mid-August and I should be more able to give you details by this date.

Anyway, I start experiencing withdrawal symptoms... Hopefully I have the Z8, the wait is more affordable

EBMCS03 · 17th July 2001, 20:21

Heheh Sounds like its going to be the Beast of the Beast... 0 to 60 in 3.5

Cant wait till you get the car back...

MEnthusiast · 17th July 2001, 20:54

if this works well- will you make changes to the Z8?

ME

MAVERICK · 17th July 2001, 21:01

I can't wait either!

Hutzal · 17th July 2001, 21:02

Hehe, after your done your mods, go out and find a MacF1 to play with!!

Mattar · 17th July 2001, 21:48

all I can tell you is WOOOW !

Sean · 17th July 2001, 21:51

Ice....do keep us posted!

JetBoy · 17th July 2001, 22:09

Very interesting...

Mr. 5 · 17th July 2001, 23:29

The numbers you have stated are consistent with a power to weight ratio of 6 lbs/hp., so you would need over 600 hp. I doubt if that's possible without super/turbo charging this engine.

Just as a reference: The 500 hp Nowack car goes 0-200 kph in 14.6 sec. That puts it in the same league as the Porsche 911 tt, which means it would do the 1/4 mile in the low to mid 12s.

Another option would be to gear the car for acceleration only ...

Ice M · 17th July 2001, 23:46

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. 5
The numbers you have stated are consistent with a power to weight ratio of 6 lbs/hp., so you would need over 600 hp. I doubt if that's possible without super/turbo charging this engine.

Yeah, you're right but the programm also includes a slimming cure based on carbon fiver parts remplacing heavy steal pieces. For example, the catalyst (which is particularly heavy) will be changed for a lighter alloy model.

However, I think the overall power needed will be close to 600hp. We'll see