I’m one of those people who does not like the new BMW M5, and I have some arguments to back it up. I’ve always preferred the previous generation car, based on the E60 body, simply because it feels and sounds like more special, from the crazy styling it shares with all its 5-Series brethren to the unique, F1-inspired five-liter V10.
One reason some may have cited in favor of the new, larger and heavier M5 is the extra power brought along by forced induction. However, you can now pretty much match those figure in the E60 with a few modifications, such as the package offered from UK-based tuner Evolve. They take a stock M5 and boost its power to over 560 hp (they say 568, but results could vary slightly, depending on wear and the general state of the vehicle, mileage etc).
All one needs to achieve this is a redesigned exhaust manifold, coupled with new software for the ECU. The mod also does away with the air flow meter and the catalytic converter (which is built into the manifold that is removed), and some louder exhaust tips are added for good measure.
The E60 M5 is a special car, and extracting over 60hp without the need for forced induction makes it even more so, right?
By Andrei Nedelea
VIDEO