Are you after looks or more performance?

 

Seats first and foremost, as they both dramatically reduce the car's weight and afford the driver a much more connected feeling. Recaro Pole Positions, Sportster CS, etc. are all good candidates.

Monoball bushings for thrust and other suspension arms. Confer much more direct steering inputs and road feel.

Higher rate springs and struts that can handle them. Try a Ground Control setup with 430lb or 550lb fronts and 380lb or 430lb rears.

Replace the shifter. Rogue and UUC make some nice, but relatively tame versions. Go AKG, Bimmerworld or CAE if you want radical.

Oversized lightweight wheels and track-worthy tires. I think the ARC-8 18x10s with 285 35r 18s are a really great setup. For tires, lots of good choices, but I'm partial to Hankook RS3s. Of course, I'm also partial to Volk TE37sls, 18x10 fronts with 285 and 18x10.5 rear s with 295s, Nitto NT05s.

Beyond the foregoing, you need to lighten the car as much as you can. CF hood, fenders, bumper supports, roof, trunk and doors are expensive, but productive options. Beyond the foregoing, one has to start forfeiting creature comforts, which most e39 M5 owners quite reasonably are unwilling to do.

--Peter

 

muffler delete, aftermarket intake/headers/tune, swaybars, coilovers, lightweight aftermarket wheels (apex arc-8 mentioned above)...

 

The words "bang for the buck" and "M5 mods" don't usually go together.

A muffler delete is relatively cheap and while it doesn't really increase the HP, it does drop some weight and the increase in sound level will give the car a whole new feeling. Installing an E60 shifter is also another popular/cheap mod, it gives shorter throws and replacing the old shifter bushing will usually eliminate a lot of slop, at least until it wears out again.

If you want to go the coilover route on a budget, do a search for BC Racing coilovers on this board, a lot of guys have them and they are much cheaper than Ground Control. They're certainly not on the same level as GC, but probably offer a better bang for the buck if all you're doing is street driving.

I also suggest the Evolve Alpha-N tune, if your stock MAFs are bad (a common failure) you will lose HP, the Evolve tune eliminates the need for them and also gives an increase in power over stock, as well as better throttle response.

A search on this board on any of the above items will net you a lot of reviews/feedback.

 

press the sport button.

 

The mod list in my signature below has given my car a much more "raw" feeling, but it's still plenty refined for my standards. Short of ripping the interior out it's hard to make this car overly uncomfortable.

I am putting some Recaro Sportser CS seats in next month and that will likely complete my full package. (.....well, besides the inevitable supercharger install )

 

come drive mine and tell he how raw she serves it

 

Simplest and easiest? As many have stated already: E60 shifter, BC Racing coils with stiffer spring rates, and better tires (ie. Pilot Super Sports). It'll feel like a different animal.

 

Sell it and buy an M3, MCoupe or MRoadster.

 

Muffler delete and you'll love it after.It makes you want to drive it down the block to the deli(30 feet away).

 

Question #1: What's your budget? There's no short supply of mods for the E39 M5, you can start with people's signatures.

 

I appreciate all the feedback so far.

I am trying to determine if I should mod my m5 or throw in the towel and get something smaller and lighter like an M3. I have budgeted around $10k for mods excluding expendables such as tires, brakes and etc, so I am only looking at a modest list of mods. I prefer to buy used parts if possible.

Another possible option is getting a high mileage e90 M3, which I expect is the closest thing to combo of the e39 m5 and e46 m3.

 

If you have the means, go dinan S2. And if you want raw, get an e28 m5

 

Get the E46 M3. You'd have the best of both worlds and two of the greatest driving machines of the past decade.

 

Each to their own here but in my opinion the M5 is a king and M3 is a minion. Get the coilovers, seats, and opt for an evolve alpha-n tune and dinan differential and you will be feeling pretty good. You spend most of your time on the street with the car anyway so why not opt for the better highway and street car. I'm sure when you pull up along side an m3 in your m5, he will either look over and wish he had gotten the m5 (hence the thumbs up), try to race you and loose miserably, or not look over and pretend the M5 isn't there because his ego won't allow it (since he's an m3 driver).

 

I must say, I completely agree. e39 M5 is King.

I have both and e36 M3 and an e39 M5 and they are very different. The e36 is a dream on the track, balanced, poised, and fun. The car is very "manual" which is nice. But! The M5 is a monsterous delight on the track as well. Once you get it dialed in it is amazing what such a big car can do.

 

The diff gearing change does make a huge difference in the feel of the car. Even more so if you change the nature of the diff (ramp angles, clutches, etc.). That and basic go-fast mods (alpha-n tune from Evolve with CAI, headers, race cats and decent cans) or a supercharger (check our the amazingly low cost and high quality RK offerings) should be added to my list above.

The problem is, and don't I know it as well as anyone, this is a slippery slope. If you love the E39 M5 as much as most of us do, you will keep going until you complete the list of mods, only to find that the list has grown. Just like Sisyphus.

--Peter

 

To me, making the e39 more raw means:

1. Louder
2. Less weight
3. Less body roll/more body control/stiffer riding
4. Shorter/stiffer shifting
5. More direct steering

....This can easily, EASILY be accomplished for far less than $10k

1. Muffler delete - saves weight and makes the car loud
2. Dinan rear sway bar - steers better and reduces body roll
3. OEM square wheel setup - Better steering feel, fast steering response, more neutral approaching limits
4. UUC short shifter and ZHP or similar knob
5. Evolve tune where you request an aggressive responsiveness setup

#1-5 can be done for like $3k if carefully done, IMHO

After that:

1. Coilovers
2. Aggressive alignment setup
3. Aggressive diff (3.45 or 3.62)

That's probably another $2-3k for the coilovers/alignment and whatever you want to spend for the diff. The diff is gonna be dramatic difference in feel, but can be pricey.

.........

So I say budget $5-7k for mods. While you are at it make sure you have aggressive brake pads appropriate for your driving needs, fresh brake fluid, and a set of STIFF tires (I like sumitomo htr III z for inexpensive, firm yet not harsh...also like dunlop direzza star spec for raw). Michelin tires are superb handling, probably best tires for street sticky, but they aren't the most raw feeling tire - they are pretty darn comfortable actually.

....

I would not do seats (just my opinion). And you can always do things like strip the rear seat/sound proofing out, etc.....

 

Don't go for the E46 M3. I believe, coming from the E39 M5, you will be disappointed.

Seats, and suspension are absolutely the easiest mods to feel road connection.

Someone said it before and I SERIOUSLY suggest you go take a look at one. Check out the Z3M coupe.

This car is truly RAW. It has amazing power, and amazing handling. And, although some don't like the looks, I think it is one of the sexiest BMWs ever built.

I just picked up a Z3 Coupe 2.8L, with a Mcoupe tranny, shifter, and diff. This car is very fast, handles amazingly, and leaves you feeling really connected. So, I can only imagine how the Mcoupe actually feels with the S54 motor. I just drove my m5 after 2 weeks of just driving the Z, and i sat in the m5 and it is just a completely different feeling. The Z cockpit is snug, whereas the M5 is big and spacious.

Don't get me wrong, I love everything about the M5, but the Z coupe is just a raw car. Plus, it has an excellent ride.

 

Get a supercharger and develop your driving technique.

Former is taking a breather on shelf in my garage. Hopefully be fitted in Jan 2013. The latter will probably take me a lifetime.

Good luck.

 

Subscribed.

 

To get the ball rolling...

1. Muffler delete
2. Alpha-N tune
3. New coils and shocks all around
4. BBK (Stoptech or Brembo)

 

An interesting thing to consider (which others have suggested) is to get a different car. If you think about it, with all of the money that would be spent to make the M5 more raw, you can easily get a crazy raw car (like an E36 M3)

 

Spot on.

 

How does a BBK kit make the car more raw? It's entire premise is greater fade resistance, no? Can you not get "more raw" by simply picking a far more aggressive pad style in stock fitment?

 

First off.... your first mod should be a performance driving school if you have not been to one yet! Attending one of these will show you how raw the e39 M5 really is out if the box.

Second: Don't get rid of a good e39 M5 if you already have one. Trust us, every M owner looks at the e39 and wishes they had one in the stable.

Third: The list people have started is spot on. Coils, muffler delete, alfa-N, tires, performance alignment, seats.

I have waited a long time to do seats and wish I had done them sooner.

Now, what would I add to the list:
BBK - This does make the car feel more raw based on shear braking power... you can really stand the car on its nose.
Powerflex bushings or something similar - Really stiffens the ride
Strut Braces - Additional Chasis stiffness (The M5 is already really good so this would not be a top 5 thing)

 

I'd bet there is no performance benefit to be exploited by a BBK by 99% of the members here. Throw more aggressive pads on the stock brakes with good tires and it will still peel your face off if you stand on the middle pedal.

Funniest thing I love seeing: people rocking cheap/mediocre tires with 5K+ brakes. The tires give out far before their brakes do. Hilarious.