"M-specific chassis, electronically controlled dampers, M Dynamic Mode": BMW Official Press Release

Gustav · 16th June 2011, 16:22

M-specific chassis, electronically controlled dampers, M Dynamic Mode. All High Resolution pics here: http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/f10...tion-pics.html

The new BMW M5 comes with bespoke chassis technology whose construction and set-up are defined by extensive expertise from the race track. Specially developed axle kinematics and newly developed components boasting impressive strength and minimised weight meet both the requirements of everyday road driving and the specialised demands of track use. Chassis mountings using large panels at the front and rear axle ensures dynamic forces are passed evenly through to the body. The chassis transfers the potential wrapped up in the engine’s remarkable output onto the asphalt with assurance and a finely-honed sense of dynamic drama. All of which allows the BMW M5 to set new benchmarks in its segment not only in terms of sprinting power and elasticity, but also lateral acceleration, handling properties and braking performance. As with every BMW M car, the engineers carried out the fine-tuning that underpins the perfect M experience during extensive testing on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit.

The new BMW M5 is equipped as standard with electronically controlled dampers. Dynamic Damper Control uses electrohydraulic damping force adjustment to provide a set-up suited to the driving situation or the wishes of the driver. The damper settings can be adjusted at the touch of a button. In “Comfort” mode the dampers respond adaptively to the condition of the road surface and the driver’s style. “Sport” mode activates a noticeably stiffer damper set-up, while “Sport Plus” allows further stiffening of the suspension to achieve maximum longitudinal and lateral acceleration in ultra-dynamic driving situations.

At the touch of a button the driver can also select from three settings for the Servotronic speed-sensitive power steering system, which has been fitted in the M5 in an M-specific configuration. “Comfort” mode requires only a small amount of steering force when parking or manoeuvring, but still provides the brand’s hallmark direction-changing precision at higher speeds. “Sport” ensures the driver enjoys more intensive feedback across all speed ranges. This steps up another notch in “Sport Plus”. With this mode selected, the driver is called on to use greater force with the steering wheel.

In addition to applying brake impulses and reducing engine output to stabilise the car, the DSC system in the new BMW M5 also employs the services of the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Brake Assistant, Fading Compensation, Brake Drying function and Start-Off Assistant. M Dynamic Mode (MDM) can be activated to override the basic setting by pressing the DSC button on the centre console. This mode generates the familiar M self-steering response by raising the intervention thresholds of DSC. “DSC Off” mode can also be activated at the touch of a button.