I have raced one M5 E39 in an M5 and up to around 100 mph or 160-170 km/h an healthy E39 M5 can follow pretty closely but after that it is bye bye, especially at speeds over 200 km/h.
e39 m5 236 bhp per ton 369 lbs torque
e60 m5 280 bhp per ton 385 lbs torque
Figures like these dont really convey the acceleration differences between the two cars.
E39 has its peak torque at 3800 or something where the E60 is up @ over 6k rpm,in give and take situations the E39 will hold its own againt the E60 up to 100mph.
The low down performance is more important in the UK for our driving.
I remember reading evo where they stated the M3 CS could give the M6 a seeing to on the twisty french mountain roads.
Thats another debate though.
those figures show that the e60 m5 is faster than the e39 m5 pure and simple, 44bhp per ton is a huge amount, at no point will an e39 get ahead of an e60 m5.
in the twistys yea cars of lower torque and horse power can be faster than others ie bmw m3 csl 7.50 sec on the nurburgring vs the mclaren merc slr 7.52 sec but that like you say is a different story.
Last edited by eljockvis; 3rd January 2007 at 21:19.
if you read my original thread, i asked about the two racing over uk b roads full of tight twists and bends and narrow and no visibility beyond the apex... still think an e39 would win due to it's low down torque... i've driven an e60, and you need rev's for anything to happen...
still think an e39 would win due to it's low down torque... i've driven an e60, and you need rev's for anything to happen...
I agree about the torque at low speeds, but if you are driving hard, why can't the E60 driver just keep the revs above 4500-5000 (or whatever the torque peak is) on the way to the 8200 redline? Close ratio 7 speed is designed to do just that, since the V10 does not have a lot of low end torque. It helps compensate with the extra gear.
Regards,
Jerry
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I have seen a striaght line haul between an E60 and E39..... the E39 pulls to start off (up to 60ish) with but after that the E60 reels the E39 in and then
pulls away
If we believe the quoted 0-60 times of about 4.3 for E60 and 4.8 for E39, then how can the E39 be faster to 60?? I would expect it to be faster to 20 or maybe 30, but I can't understand how it could be faster to 60 under similar conditions based on gnerally accepted posted results.
Regards,
Jerry
Let's not forget the other aspects such as handling, where the E60 M5 is probably superior than the E39 IMHO. My M6, same suspension as M5, on sport setting, was light years better than the E39's. Breaking? I was not too impressed with the E39s breaking perormance although it is good. Not sure how that compares to the E60
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Probably not a fair comparison given the lead time in aftermarket component development, but I'd guess in an 'unlimited' class comparo, a modified e39 would spank a modified e60 in most, if not all, categories. Certainly in a straight line...but it would be interesting to see some head-to-head road course comparos of modified beasts with aftermarket suspension set ups...
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rev's for anything to happen...
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