Weight savings for the beast - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Black M5 · 21st August 2007, 09:36

I was reading the Thread posted by Wilsodh (dave) regarding weight loss on the e39 section and thought what can we get/do for our beloved beast?

here are some of his notes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilsodh

So a conservative list thus far might be:

cf hood, trunk lid - 40-50 lbs
Recaro Toplines - 62 lbs
Lightweight battery - 15-20 lbs (maybe more?)
SS exhaust - 70 lbs (incl headers)
Brembos - 48 lbs (similar for Stoptechs?)
Lightweight wheels - 24 lbs

Total: 259-274 lbs.

Quote:

Jenny Craig's weight loss!

Stock rims are = 26 lbs each.
I upgraded to Fikse Profil 5S rims = 19 lbs each.
Weights savings = 28lbs.

Stock exhaust = 96 lbs.
Tubi Rumore Plus exhaust = 51 lbs.
Weight savings = 45 lbs.

Stock brakes 28 lbs ea.
StopTech = 18 lbs ea.
Weight savings = 40 lbs.

Stock headers = 45 lbs.
Supersprint headers = 25 lbs.
Weight savings = 20 lbs.

Total = my beast is now 133 lbs lighter.
(That's way more than what my wife weighs!)

So the question is what can we do to reduce the weight of our beast and what is the total expected?

NobleM400 · 21st August 2007, 10:06

Dymag wheels: 16 lbs vs 29 lbs each
Titanium Exhaust: Dixis saves 51 lbs.
Section 1: not positive about weight savings, but there definitely are some

Headers, CF hood, lightweight battery (East-Penn Deka is probably one of the better choices), etc.

The Gooch · 21st August 2007, 10:44

I could lose 25 lbs

M5DAL · 21st August 2007, 13:29

Ill see ya 25 and raise ya 25... next!

Black M5 · 21st August 2007, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by NobleM400

Titanium Exhaust: Dixis saves 51 lbs.

You mean from the full cat back exhaust? not just mufflers right ?

How much do the rest save ?

unfoundhorsepower · 21st August 2007, 14:10

I'm Keeping mine the PIG it is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leaving the lite weight stuff to more agile autos......That don't seat "5"....

NobleM400 · 22nd August 2007, 04:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black M5

You mean from the full cat back exhaust? not just mufflers right ?

How much do the rest save ?

Sections 2 & 3, which is the X section and the mufflers.

In other words, just this:

Dixis Titanium Exhaust and H Pipe

Headers, and section 1 would both save weight as well.

Black M5 · 22nd August 2007, 12:43

I got you but then whats a section 1 which isnt headers ? You surely cant add it to the racing cats say from supersprint can you ? on evosport's website it seems you can add it to their headers but no cats?

Eisenmann - e60 M5 - Meisterschaft Section 1 (Secondary Cat Delete)

p.s. the stock mufflers look ugly and heavy. It looks like quite abit of weight there

wilsodh · 22nd August 2007, 19:28

Hey Black et al,

I think this is a worthy discussion for the e60 crowd. Here is where we are today on the weight loss list for the e39:

Item / weight saving / finished cost:

cf hood / 19.1-30.1 lb (GTR, E6) / ~$2,000, ~$2,500
cf trunk lid / 21.1 lb (ViS or CA) /~$1000, ~$2,500
Recaro full function Topline seats / 62 lbs / ~$3,000
Ultra lightweight battery (Voltphreaks, assume 8 lb'r) / 53.5 lbs / ~$400
SS exhaust (incl headers) / 70 lbs / ~$7,000
Brembos / 48 lbs (similar for Stoptechs) / ~$9,000, ~$5,000
Lightweight wheels / 24 lbs ~$2,500
Lightweight flywheel (UUC clutch pkg) / 13.5 lbs / ~$2,600
Dump the usless tire goo / 6 lb / $0

Total weight loss: 317.2-328.2 lbs.

Over three hundred pounds of weight loss ain't trivial. I dunno about you guys, but I can definitely feel a difference in my car when it is carrying three adults vs. one adult!

Alot of the discussion recently has been around the new LiPO4 dry battery from Voltphreaks. We've been working with Voltphreaks to come up with a higher capacity, ultra-lightweight battery suitable for use in the M5. A 6.5 lb battery has been successfully tested in several M5's (including stress testing) and we put together a group buy.

It is hard to believe that a 6.5 lb battery will get the job done. Consider that the OEM battery weighs in at a monstrous ~62 lbs! That's a 55.5 lb weight loss (equivalent to 5 hp gain). The battery comes with a 5 year warranty. Here's more about it:

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=102021

For guys that are serious about shedding some weight from our porky sedans, you might want to check it out.

Dave

ModBargains · 22nd August 2007, 20:25

I can get you guys either the Vorsteiner hood or the MA Shaw hood.

Big savings there. It isn't easy to remove weight from the front of the car, so most people try to do it when possible.

Also getting suspension could help lighten things up as well.

Lighter wheels are also important.

-Don