00 E39 M5 V12 LMR Conversion in IL?

[SC E38 M7]

I was hoping someone could source some information on this car. I read further in the post and found out part of it was proven untrue. My curiosity and hopefulness that at least part of it is true leads me to bring it to the attention of the members here. Allegedly the car is serviced at Knauz BMW in Illinois where it is registered with a plate that reads WOW WEE. I do know while it is near impossible for a civilian to attain the V12 LMR engine, a 6.1 L V12 conversion for the M5 is possible through Hamann. Also could SMG II be retrofitted to a E39 M5 engine? As I said curiosity is killin me hoping there is some sort of truth to the story. Anyone here know anything?

Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 05:02:07 -0500
From: "Christopher J. N. Kolaitis"
Subject: 00 M5 ACS V12 LMR

ACS completed the transformation from the S62 V8 to the V12 LMR last July.

Here is a summary of the 00 M5 conversion:

The 2000 M5 transformation was a major project at AC Schnitzer with BMW AG Motorsport partnering and providing major cooperation. It could not have been done with out BMW AG Motorsport's assistance. The transaction from BMW AG Motorsport to ACS was handled as a technology transfer.

Installed was the V12 LMR engine provided by BMW AG. The engine is 6.1 liter's, developing 600 hp and 595 ft. lbs. of torque. Red line is 9,500 rpm. Top speed is programmable, and is set to match up with whatever set of speed rated tires I'm running. Currently set at 187 mph to match up with Bridgestone SO-3 PP tires for the street. The V12 LMR engine is a hand built and blue printed engine. A really neat work of design and engineering that has proven in its reliability, both on the track and in the McLaren F1 GTR and the street edition. The M5 chassis was strengthened and stiffened. ACS did a complete change out of the suspension system, including a redesign of the geometry. The braking system utilizes the new Porsche performance braking system at all four corners with composite ceramic rotors. The drive train uses the new and improved SMG II sequential shifter (6-speed transmission) with up/down paddles on each side of the steering wheel. The shifting was incredibly quick on the track at Hockinheim and includes launch control.

A Quaife diff with 75% LSD was specified and installed for quick and sure traction in gears 1 through 4. Custom carbon fiber and Kevlar aerodynamics are used to provide superior down force and improved traction and handling in corners and on the straights. Under body carbon fiber and Kevlar panels are also used to help create a vacuum under the car to assist in holding the car to the road at speed. Road hugging is what it feels like. There was a considerable amount of time in a wind tunnel perfecting the aerodynamics.

Typical Schnitzer black and red suede interior, with new Recaro seats being recovered to match. I opted for the BMW red Carbon fiber trim that glitters and sparkles when the sun shines on it. Same BMW carbon fiber I have in my M3. The BMW paint color is anthracite. On the front hood, Jenny Holzer contributed and executed in silver, her signature artwork and design of "PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT." Jenny also signed her design. The BMW sedan is co branded M5 and ACS V12. USA, Illinois plate is WOW WEE. Bill Auberlin was my instructor at Hockinheim; we had about five hours a day on the track for four days. Bill is currently a LMR driver in ALMS racing and was an E36 M3 driver with PTG.

The straight-line timings at Hockinheim were: 3.1 seconds to 60 mph and 8.7 seconds at the quarter mile with a speed of 157.9 mph. The timings were consistent and repeatable with Bill Auberlin as the principle driver and drivers from both ACS and BMW AG Motorsport. Although these are typical US straight line drag times, the handling on the track had eye popping exit speeds out of the corners, with well balanced and highly predictable handling into the turns and the exits. The BMW M5 ACS V12 suspension system set up, established It's self with stunning performance and handling in rotating thru the corners at speed on the track at Hockinheim.

Hockenheim is not set up for straight-line timings, so we had to improvise. A portable electronic system of start/end was initially set up, but too many other cars on the track interfered with the trigger lights. As we had picked up a caravan of bikes, VW's, MB and Porsches and Ferrari's all attempting to run with the M5 sedan. The timings were then done manually with a stopwatch, not the most accurate for the 1/4-mile timings. The shorter 0-60 mph runs were a more accurate and consistent as it was more of a controlled event. There had been some ongoing, general disagreement among the Drivers and engineers regarding the quarter mile timings.

The timings are not presented here as a definitive set of performance measurement data for publishing, but rather as a good and acceptable measurement of performance for our internal goals and metrics that we had established going into the conversion project. During our early discussions in the spring of 2000, when it was mentioned that the base "V12 LMR was 700 hp." I had requested if it was possible for more then 600 hp in the M5 and Herr Dieter Lamb, principle of ACS, smiles, laughs and tells me "600 hp is plenty fast enough for the M5 sedan, you will see"

During the four days at Hockinheim, not one other car on the track was able to out perform the M5, anywhere on the track. Every time a new and fresh car appeared to challenge, we had a scramble as to who would drive and take it on to help us gauge and determine our competitive performance results and standing. We have two Performance car dealers in town and I get to see a range of Porsche's, Ferrari's and Lotus's. Last fall on the road, I did have the opportunity to embarrass several high price performance cars and drivers, who had no clue about the set up of the M5 "sedan". Currently, my clutch is being replaced for the 2nd time at Knauz BMW. The SMG 2 Launch control function is awfully had on my clutch. Too many fookin demonstrations. The US version will not have the launch control function.

The M5 was returned back to the US as a special interest category, limited to 1,500 miles annually. BMW AG took forever to provide the necessary documentation for Customs and EPA for emissions testing, until I hired a Lawyer in Munich to get it done. This past September my M5 passed US Emissions testing in Illinois. Although I had to down load the appropriate software to get it done and then download the performance software after testing. All said and done I have a special bonding with my 97 M3/4.

Source of alleged Info

[MIB]

I know they did put that motor in an X5 and called it the X5 Lemans.

That Quarter Mile time is total B.S. No way does a 600 HP car run 8.7 seconds in a 4000lb body shell. Even if it were 3000Lbs I'd still doubt the 8.7.

Now if they said 10.7 I might be more convinced.

[DrJimM5]

I second MIB's remark as the 0-60 jumped out as total BS, unless of course they underestimated the HP and Torque. Even at that for a car with the weight of the M5 and on street tires, I doubt it could ever see 3.1 unless someone strapped a booster rocket to the top!

[Teutonaddict]

Originally posted by SC E38 M7
I was hoping someone could source some information on this car. I read further in the post and found out part of it was proven untrue.

Justin-

Precisely which part of this story did you figure out was not true? Rather, what of this tale do you think to be even remotely true?

The very link you provided has Bill Auberlin reported as saying I never met this guy, and there's no way he'd get his hands on the LMR motor.... Oh yeah, and "PS Did you know I also flew to the moon in 1991. Just kidding."

While it does appear to be well written (for an English-as-Secondary-Language author), I'd bet dollars to doughnuts it is 100% fiction. Wishing it to be true does not make it so!

Hope you find otherwise!

-Dave

[Finality]

I have my doubts about the motor for one thing...


The McLaren motor pumps out about 600-650 bhp with roughly 500 pounds of torque.

Like MIB pointed out no way a car that ways MORE than 4500 pounds (weight of the motor + other added components) would run a quater mile that fast.

[Bmxbikergtss]

but it probally dosnt weight more than a stock M5 its all carbon fiber and kevlar

I think its sounds resonable the timing may be off but as far as this thing roaming around i can believe it.

Ferrari what now

[Sydude]

This is such a load of crap.

[phillym5]

i think its believable. they did it to the x5 and it was sooooooo fast. as far as the quarter mile time, i doubt that. but they (hamman) has been putting the 850 v12 in 540's for a long time. if i had the money, i would put the lmv12 in an m5. that would be the BEST car of ALL time. dang, just the thought is making me feel all funny. what about the e60's v10 in the e39? now thats something to really think about.

josh.

[ernie]

the story is a fake. it was posted on dtmpower.net over a year ago and someone emailed bill auberlen (who was supposed;y this guys driving instructor) and he actuaally replied and said he had never seen such a car....

ernie

[DiscoFish]

I doubt it could ever see 3.1 unless someone strapped a booster rocket to the top!

That's Enzo territory!

This sounds like a BMW urban legend, to me.

[M5Phil]

(600*5252)/9000 = 325 ft/lb Torque

Ummm yeah this is really a real document ummm yeah
whoever wrote this must have been smoking something
very very strong