[SteveP]

Would have posted this on the "road kills" board, but it's pretty quiet over there...

Just another normal commute to work this morning on Route 495 in Massachusetts. This is a three lane highway with the normal complement of commuters driving 65-80. So I'm drafting in the left lane with the rest of the traffic when a white Maxima passes me on the right. Was that a "look" he gave me? Couldn't be serious, could he? So I pulled out behind him, and we're off. I passed him right away, and then it was a typical road battle, with one or the other of us getting jammed behind slower traffic, but I finally got an opening, and blew him and everyone else away. Amazing how quickly you can get up to a buck thirty in this car. When I signaled to get off at my exit (after 15 miles of high speed fun!), I could see him flash his lights (about a mile back), as if to say "Nice Job."

Steve
'00 M5 Avus Blue / Black exclusive
Still undefeated!!

 

[bobafett]

I've yet to meet the blond in the red porsche whom I'm supposed to demoralize with this bad boy. Still looking out tho

--Dan

 

[blue max]

Maxima? they are not worthy. I'd wait for some unsuspecting poseur in a 911, LT5 Mustang GT's (they're always looking for a fight).

Happy hunting!

 

[Roman]

Don't agree with you, Blue Max. Try to remember that if it weren't for cars like the Maxima or similar makes, there wouldn't be any "war stories" to tell. How often do you come across some of the cars that you mentioned? And if you did, you can rest assured that a good portion of them are probably "warmed over" considerably, enough at least to give you quite the challenge. There sure are more Maxima's out there looking for a thrill than you will find the Mustangs.

Too bad you don't have enough respect for some of these cars...they're the ones that make your M5 into the hero.

 

[Roman]

Don't agree with you, Blue Max. Try to remember that if it weren't for cars like the Maxima or similar makes, there wouldn't be any "war stories" to tell. How often do you come across some of the cars that you mentioned? And if you did, you can rest assured that a good portion of them are probably "warmed over" considerably, enough at least to give you quite the challenge. There sure are more Maxima's out there looking for a thrill than you will find the Mustangs.

Too bad you don't have enough respect for some of these cars...they're the ones that make your M5 into the hero.

 

[greg]

OK - I can't keep it in any longer. Last week on my way back to work from lunch I heard some tire screeching and looked in my rear view to see a new silver Mustang 5.0 fishtailing out of my lane and racing up to get next to me. I had already left the stop sign and was in 3rd - probably only 2000 RPM. Didn't even both to downshift - just stood on it.

He never caught up.

Hah!

 

[greg]

OK - I can't keep it in any longer. Last week on my way back to work from lunch I heard some tire screeching and looked in my rear view to see a new silver Mustang 5.0 fishtailing out of my lane and racing up to get next to me. I had already left the stop sign and was in 3rd - probably only 2000 RPM. Didn't even both to downshift - just stood on it.

He never caught up.

Hah!

 

[Roman]

Maybe he wanted to check you out, but you never gave him the opportunity. I know every time I see one I scare the hell out of my passengers trying to get close enough to admire it. Either way, guys like him/cars like that provide you with a great sense of reward that you own a vehicle that is at least 95% ahead of everyone else. What if every car was JUST like the M5? Very likely that this messageboard would be veeeeerrrrry quiet....

 

[Chris Foote]

Yes, we should all admire the 'junk' out there

Haven't we been down this road before? Let us brag here and there, Roman. It doesn't happen that often on this message board. Every other message board or car 'group' does it - why not us? I don't go on the Audi board and say "Gee guys, why don't we give the VWs some respect?"

-Chris

 

[bobafett]

Erm. VW = Audi. I really can't put my story up, b/c it wasn't a real race. Friend of mine his his old '69 GTO. But it was fun. I was just wondering tho. Does this car spoil us? I mean, what are we going to go buy next? A raw racer like the lotus elise, or a ferrari? Or does it mature up to the Red Label Bentley?

Or the E49 m5?

--Dan

 

[Roman]

First of all, nobody is denying anyone the right to brag about their cars. Second of all, where did you see me mentioning anything about Audi or their messageboard? Where's the correlation? That's not even an issue here.

I mean, duhhhhh....of course your M5 is going to beat the **** out of a Maxima and both parties probably even know it, but you have to give the guy some credit for even THINKING of pursuing it. I think it's great to have someone push you and your M5 to get used to its performance capabilities and test out your driving skills.

Not "worthy"? How else would you claim bragging rights for being a winner in a race if some "less worthy" opponent didn't throw the proverbial glove in front of you? You're going to tape a mirror to the side of your car and race yourself?

I truly often wonder how many times one of your M5's has been humbled in a race and that hasn't been discussed. Would that have made you a "less worthy" opponent?

I can tell that a majority of the participants on this board have never before owned anything with 400 horses on tap before. I grew up in the 60's and 70's and had the opportunity to own something with 425 ponies and almost 500 ft lbs of torque, and racing on Friday nights and weekends was a very common occurence. But I never called anyone I beat a "less worthy" opponent, and I did appreciate the effort they made because in the end, it did make me look like the hero. Did I brag about it? You betcha, and I always looked for rematches because I knew that same guy probably did some more work to his engine and the next time would give me a harder time, which always then became a test of driving machine and driver skills.

Personally, I am still waiting to hear a race story of an E39 M5 vs. another E39 M5, or an E34 vs. the E39 M5. Considering that the two like models would have the same capabilities, it would be factually a test of driver skill. Something to think about....hmmmmmm

 

[raymondw]

Roman,

I am still waiting for an E39 ///M5 to meet on the german Autobahn, but have not met one yet. That race should be interesting.

Still waiting,

Raymond

 

[Roman]

Raymond,
I thought you went with Gustav and the other fellows recently. I thought for sure you were with the crowd whose pictures Gustav posted. Too bad.

I would be curious however, to see how the E34 would be against the E39, and what the strong points and weak points are between those two would be. It would be interesting to evaluate how far BMW has gone to perfect the newest edition from its older models.

I would also love to see two E39's pitting against each other, which would be a race of skills moreso than machinery.

By the way, why don't you post some pictures of your beauty with the new "throwing star" wheels?

 

[tfung]

Roman,
Tony and I just had a little race in our cars tonight. Me in my E39 M5 and him in his E34 M5. It was drizzling and the traffic was heavy as usual, even at midnight. We had a lot of fun zipping between cars, Hong Kong style! The run was basically a 500meter stretch on the road next to the Happy Valley racecourse, 1.5km stretch on the harborfront "highway" and another 800 meters uphill towards the peak. As I was saying, it was drizzling so I left DSC on. I was a little faster in terms of acceleration, but not by much. Everytime we stop and go at a stop light, his E34 was able to keep up with me for the 200 meters or so before we hit the traffic in front. Uphill I was again a little stronger, but really not by much. I think on the short roads we have in Hong Kong, the differences in the two cars aren't really that great. The weight of the E39 really shows here though. I have been beaten a few times before by much lighter cars because they're much more nimble around tight corners and acceleration is just as fast. Overall, the E34 and E39 M5s are about the same performance-wise on our roads here in Hong Kong. But I'm sure it'll be different in other countries like Germany and the US.. =)
Oh yeah, Tony and I are going to take the cars out to do a photoshoot sometimes. It should be nice.. two black M5s from different generations.. =)
Terence

 

[Roman]

There probably would be differences in the U.S. between the two models, but I had a feeling in general that the weight of the E39 might not give it that much of an advantage. I also get the impression from reading E34 posts that the E34 is a bit more nimbler and the 6 cylinder engine probably winds up a bit faster although gobs of torque from the V8 will pull away on more challenging hills and such.

Thanks for sharing that---it sounds like you guys had an awesome time. If you get a chance, I'd like to hear the results in dry weather if you so endeavor at some point. I am also wondering if there have been any similar races here in the states or if anyone has ever thought about that. Don't worry---I'm not trying to embarass anyone, it would just be a very interesting point to see exactly how different the two cars are dynamically. As Raymond mentioned, an Autobahn cruise would be interesting as well, maybe to test out the torque of the 6 vs. the 8, or maybe if there is sincerely an aerodynamic advantage there, etc. Raymond, I hope you get lucky and find one soon!

 

[CraigM]

My e39 m5 is alot like my 73 SD455Trans Am I had in high school. My TA was all stock appering thus a sleeper. It also had a 70spec 385hp motor with high compression, anyway it was a fast car not a quick car. I only lost one street race when I didn't control the circumstances. I made it a rule to only race from 30 on and would beat many 427 vettes and 426 Hemi Cudas from 30 to say 100. I suspect the m5 with the wieght and gear ratio is more of a car like this. I will always lure my prey into the strengths of the car. I do the same thing in my Ski Boat with a 330hp engine racing a twin mega horse Fountin, although there the race is from idle to about 45mph at which time I peal off and shut down just as they almost start to catch up they sure get frustrated. I don't call this cheating just using the cards to my advantage. Remember the e39 m5 is a fast car not not necessarily quick. I have only raced one c5 vette so far on a one lane road so only just stayed on his bumper to about 115. I could have made a pass but the wife and kids were in the car.

Craig
00/Black/Black

 

[raymondw]

Hello Roman,

Why don't you look on the ///M5 registry of John's M5 springboard.
www.netspace.net.au/~jrobbo/M5/RaymondWoertman/RaymondWoertman.htm

With best regards,

Raymond

 

[Roman]

SD455?? Did it have the Ram Air? Nice car though. Respectable. Was kind of light though, wasn't it (an advantage)? I had the '68 Hemi RoadRunner, and the car was about 3,800 pounds, and you are right about "rolling races"---I wouldn't be much of a winner, since with a 3.55 rear and a 4 speed it was difficult to fly out from second in a cruise, and I would have to downshift to first to get the peak torque and HP to necessary levels---that's where I would lose---by losing time on the downshifts. Yep, the smaller cars would win that one. Plus the hemi had so much power it was difficult to control the traction sometimes; torque steer would move it into the other lane.

From you are saying about the M5, I am gathering as highly probable, as I have heard pretty much the same from a lot of owners. The E39 I hear is a rocket from around 70mph onwards (not that its slow in all other speeds mind you), but is certainly faster in the latter ranges than anything else out there. I have been with Kelvin on several occasions and I can say that for a fact.

Raymond, I love the throwing star wheels. It makes the car look so much more sportier (than the turbine wheels) without compromising its elegance. And it certainly looks like its in great shape. Engine detail really clean. Spend more time on this one than the family, eh?

 

[tfung]

Hey Roman,
we're going to try to do a M car get together sometime soon. Hopefully we'll get tons of pictures and also a complete write-up on it. I think we're going to have a E39 M5, E34 M5, E36 M3 and a M Roadster... hopefully all of us will be free sometime next week to do it. We'll post it up on the Hong Kong BMW Club website afterwards and let you know! =)
Terence

 

[Roman]

Kelvin, myself, and several other M5 owners are getting together on Sunday for what is referred to as a "Spring Epicurean Road Rally" in upstate New York, sponsored by a famous restaurant called the Depuy Canal House. It's NOT a race, but more of a scenic excursion along some of the most beautiful roads along the Hudson ever experienced. By the way, if anyone wants to join in, I think I may need a navigator, as my better half bagged at the last moment due to family stuff. Blue Max, you wanna come along? I think I might be able to register you as well, but you gotta tell me soon. We can talk bicycles.

I think somewhere along the way, either after or during the rally, Kelvin had suggested we do severaltests of the various cars, if others are willing as well as my S4 (we all know the outcome of that one already, don't we?), so if that happens, we'll be posting pictures, comments, as well as results.

It would be good to see how the other half of the world functions with the M cars, so I would be looking very much forward to your posts. Doesn't anyone own the E28 M5 anymore????? Thanks!