I think BMW marketing restricted the 540... (archive)

I'm not speaking with any mechanical background, but I personally feel like BMW wanted to keep the 540 performance at a certain level so that people would still desire to pay the extra $$$ for the M5. The goal was probably to keep the 540 at a perfect balance of performance & luxury, whereas the M5, although just as luxurious, is more focused upon total all out performance.

The 540 however has the "infamous" CDV and longer throws on the shifter. The M5 has goodies that help improve it's performance (ie. individual throttles) that are not included on the 540. I would be curious to see a M5 and a 540 (sans CDV, w/ short shifter kit, and the same rear wheels)go at it in the 0-60, 5-60, 1/4 mile. Anyone out there got some times to compare? I figure that maybe BMW felt the performance difference was getting too close, not to mention that the 540 is more suited as an everyday car (or so I've been told many times by the dealerships).

Obviously there are many other factors to a performance car than the outright straightline speed, but that seems to be what most people in the U.S. first look at.

So to answer your question, I think the 540 has more potential for performance improvements than the M5 because the M5 is pretty tweaked out.

the M5 car? I noticed the various postings on horse power gains and it seems to me that Dinan mods give the M5 minimal power gain at the most! The BIG $$$ money spent on the mods for the M5 car seem a waste compare to juicing up the 540 with Dinan mods. Any thoughts on this? thanks in advance.

Follow Ups:

540 more suited as "everyday car" JJV 00:15 8/20/2001 (0)

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