E60 – Automobiles Review

Comparing the very best family touring and estate cars

Growing families that need a little more room than a standard hatchback or saloon will usually turn their attention to estate and touring cars. Along with a bigger boot, estate and touring car owners still benefit from impressive styling, great refinement and plenty of equipment.

In addition, running costs are much cheaper than bigger MPVs and crossovers. Simply by adding some roof bars on top, from Tesco or other retailers, the same functionality can be enjoyed.

But what are the very best family touring and estate cars currently available? Here’s a quick comparison.

BMW 5 Series Touring

Possibly the best estate car around, the BMW 5 Series Touring ticks all the right boxes. The build quality is second to none, so you won’t have to deal with many surprise breakdowns. At the same time, owners are treated to a powerful yet controlled drive behind the wheel.

Self-levelling rear suspension allows you to transport heavy loads with the greatest of ease, while the ample safety and security kit means passengers will always stay free from harm.

Ford Focus Estate

If the 5 Series Touring is too expensive, consider the Ford Focus Estate instead. Not only does this option handle just as well as the BMW, it also boasts a number of powerful yet economical engines.

Space and practicality are also best in class, while all versions come with air conditioning, a digital radio, and Bluetooth.

Audi A6 Avant

Going back to the executive market, the Audi A6 Avant provides stiff competition for the BMW 5 Series. Handling isn’t quite as sharp but the beautiful cabin is a thoroughly pleasant place to be.

You won’t need to spend much on additional extras either, as nearly every piece of equipment you could want is included as standard. Competitive running costs and strong engine performance only add to the Audi A6 Avant’s strong points.

Kia Cee’d Sportswagon

Budget-conscious buyers that don’t want to break the bank with a purchase should look no further than the Kia Cee’d Sportswagon. With lots of space, a high quality cabin, and an abundance of equipment, you can’t go far wrong.

It is probably a bit noisier than the Ford Focus Estate and won’t deliver an equally impressive drive, but if value for money is your key concern, pick the Kia Cee’d Sportswagon.

Verdict

Personal preference in terms of handling and equipment is the only way to separate top of the range estate cars like the BMW 5 Series Touring and Audi A6 Avant. However, if your budget doesn’t stretch to these options, there are some commendable alternatives available.

The Ford Focus might not be as refined, but it can’t be beaten when it comes to space and practicality. And for the ultimate in cost-effective motoring, try the Kia Cee’d Sportswagon for size.

September 4, 2015

2005 BMW E60 ///M5 – The Last Naturally Aspirated M5

BMW has started production of M5 back in 1986 and since then all sports premium saloons have been powered by a powerful naturally aspirated engines. The E28 M5 had 3.5 liter I6 with 286HP (210 kW), the E34 M5 had 3.6 or 3.8 liter I6 with 315HP (232 kW) and 340HP (250 kW) respectively, the E39 M5 had a mighty 5.0 liter V8 with massive 400HP (294 kW) and the 2005 BMW E60 M5 is powered by a 5.0 liter V10 with 507HP (373 kW). The M5 F10, which was presented in 2011 is powered by a 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 with 560HP (412 kW).

2005 BMW E60 M5 is probably the last naturally aspirated M5 ever produced. Due to ECO and noise regulations, the future M5 cars will have downsized turbocharged engine and ever hybrid powertrains. This is a huge loss for the real motorsport fans, who adore everything in E60 M5 and especially the impressive engine.

Speaking about it, the S85B50 powering E60 M5 is a 5.0 liter 90-degree V10 producing 507HP (378 kW) at 7,750RPM and 520Nm (384 lb-ft) of torque at 6,100RPM. It has cast aluminum block with bed plate design split at the crankshaft axis, cast aluminum heads with 4 valves per cylinder and CNC machined ports and combustion chambers. The valves are actuated through non-rotating inverted bucket cam followers. It also features oil-cooled, forged aluminum pistons from Mahle Motorsport and forged steel crankshaft with counterweights, shared crankpins producing an uneven firing interval of 90 or 54 degrees. The double VANOS system varies both intake and exhaust cam phasing. Last, but not least are the ten individual electronically controlled throttle butterflies and Quasi-dry sump lubricating system. The firing order for the S85B50 is 1-6-5-10-2-7-3-8-4-9.

The engine is connected to an all-new Getrag SMG III single-clutch 7-speed semi-automatic transmission, which can change gears in impressive 65 milliseconds.

The performance is simply impressive for a family saloon – 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds (there are records ranging between 4.1 to 4.5 seconds), 0-200 km/h in 14.0 seconds and an absolute top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph), which is unreachable for most of the supercars produced nowadays. The E60 M5 weighs 1,855 kg, so it has a power-to-weight ratio of 3.66 kg / HP.

Other interesting figures for the E60 M5 are a Nurburgring lap in 7 minutes and 52 seconds and a Top Gear lap in 1 minute and 26.2 seconds.

We sorry, so much that BMW won’t ever produce such epic naturally aspirated engines, but life goes on!

Enjoy the video published by our friend Zender Motorsport owning an impressive, black E60 M5!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ESDd12UQ0

March 28, 2014

Prior Design Widebody Kit BMW 5 Series E60

Proper E60 nostalgia coming from Prior Design. It’s a complete “Widebody Aerodynamic-Kit” for the previous BMW 5 Series. Willing to add some character to your old bimmer?

We are talking high grade materials here that are easy to fit, flex and paint. The kit consists of a front bumper, hood air-scoops (which are more like vents), two front fenders, side skirts, rear fenders, a rear bumper and finally a trunk spoiler as optional. All is TÜV certified so you know it’s Prior – quality is their signature. Must say, the end result is rather pleasant. Fattening, but pleasant.

It will cost you however. A price shy of 4000 Euros or in other words around 5000 Dollars. That’s a lot of character we think.

Source: Prior Design

June 22, 2012

G-Power Hurricane BMW M5 RRs

Back in 2010, G-Power created this monster of a thing. It had 800 hp, 780 Nm and held a high-speed record of 372 km/h which was previously owned again by G-Power. Apparently, a great interest has boomed from this and today G-Power are delivering their 100th BMW Hurricane M5 RR. So why not make it special? They have – it’s the Hurricane M5 RRs with even more power and spunk.

Based on the E60, this performance beast harbors a BI-Kompressor „Sporty Drive” system. In other words, two superchargers that are now even bigger than before – a move from ASA T1-313 to ASA T1-316 (clearly visible with that orange cover over them). For the optimum performance, further down the line, that compressed air is efficiently cooled by an intercooler prior to ignition. But it’s not just the lungs that had undergone an operation. The heart has been tweaked as well: All ten pistons (good old E60s were still produced with V10 engines) have been replaced with lighter, more durable and more balanced MAHLE ones. That includes the connecting rods and the piston pins – all heavy duty stuff. Add a little engine management fiddling and you get an end result of 830 hp that get conjured up within the 7,500 and 8,000 rpm range.

With the help of some peripherals like the G-POWER SPEEDFLOW exhaust system that incorporates two, back-pressure reducing racing catalysts and the buffed fuel injectors and pump, the Hurricane RRs is said to reach the 100 km/h threshold in just 4.3 seconds. By the time the stopwatch reaches 9.1, this light blue beast would be doing 200 km/h. Want to hear another bonkers claim? 300 km/h for 25,2 seconds from a standstill!

It should be good on the curves as well – a G-Power RS coilover suspension with nine settings for the compression and rebound can achieve miracles if one knows how to use it. Then there are the brakes which are expected to comply with the new found power – six-piston calipers at the front gripping 396 mm steel brake disks. At the back, you get the slightly less impressive 380 mm ones operated by four-piston calipers. You can get the carbon-ceramic set which will be significantly more expensive but essentially non-fading alternative.

It’s not all stop and go with this jubilee M5 though. The stainless steel muffler with deeptone technology and four 83 mm tail pipes will provide the much needed thunder to shatter glass. The alloy wheels, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires, are equally impressive with their ten double-spoke design. Think in numbers: 255/35 ZR19 tires at the front and 305/30 ZR19 ones at the back.

Source: G-Power

May 16, 2012

BMW recalls 1 300 000 cars

Usually, we don’t report anything related to manufacturers, but this is very important and potentially dangerous. BMW AG is the world’s largest premium car manufacturer and one of the most expensive brands in the world. It is reccaling around 1.3 million cars for repair due to a possible problem with a battery cable cover in the trunk. Because of this, the car can catch fire, which is extremely dangerous and hard to cope with.

This can happen with all models from 5- and 6-Series BMWs built between 2003 and 2010. This includes all E60, E61, F10 and F11 from the 5-Series and E63 and E64 from the 6-Series.

BMW stated: “In some remote cases, the battery cable cover inside the boot of these vehicles may be incorrectly mounted, This can result in the electrical system malfunctioning, the vehicle failing to start and, in some cases, to charring or fire.”

Still, less than 1% of the problematic vehicles have exhibited the problem and there are no reports of fires. The repairing procedure is really easy and would take around 30 minutes to an hour. Of course, It would be free of charge to customers.

However, the recall affects more than 368 000 car in the US, 293 000 cars in Germany and another 109 000 cars in UK.

So, if you have such car, be hurry and check your local dealer to eliminate possible problem.

Source: Reuters

March 27, 2012

SR Auto Exkalaber BMW M5 E60

New stuff from SR Auto. Well, actually it’s the BMW M5, the E60 one. A project called the “Excalaber” – the strange misspelling trend continues – aims to provide a refreshing look on a generation of BMWs that is on the verge of being overshadowed by its current successor.

The idea here is that, SR Auto do not provide any parts of their own, but rather mash together what they can find and see if it works out as an art piece. That’s why we have here a Hamann aero kit (front lip, side skirts, and rear lip). Top priority for it was to be a perfect fit. Four matte black exhaust ends give away a Dinan exhaust system that apparently helps with the performance.

The alteration that sticks out the most however, are the PUR 4OUR DEPTH wheels that are usually seen on Lamborghinis and Ferarris. In fact these 21-inch wheels have been originally made for Lamborghini with bolt patterns of 5×112. That’s why the SR people started drilling until they got a size of 5×120. So there you go, PURs on an M5. Neat!

Overall, the job is not really that extensive. But SR Auto take it very personal when it comes to aftermarket changes. To them, observing a customization of a car is like watching a child growing up – endearing, rejoicing and contentful. Besides, too much flash makes the onlooker dash.

Source: SR Auto

March 16, 2012

Edo BMW M5 E60 Dark Edition

Edo Competition has announced BMW M5 E60 Dark Edition. The tuned vehicle comes with styling and performance upgrades.

The exterior package includes new rear skirt housing four chromed exhaust tips. There are also rear wing and new 20” light alloy wheels with painted centers and Dunlop tires in dimensions 255/35 R20 front and 285/30 R20 rear.

The performance upgrade consists of a sport exhaust system, ECU re-map, high-flow air filters and catalytic converters. The overall power is boosted to 555PS (408 kW) and 560Nm (413 lb-ft). Furthermore, the top speed limiter has been removed, so the new top speed is 305 km/h (190 mph). 0 to 100 km/h takes 4.2 seconds and 100 to 200 km/h takes just 10 seconds. Very good results for a family touring car.

The interior boasts a lot of carbon fiber and precious leather. The high-performance wagon had its speedometer extended to 360 km/h and white dials with a backlit logo were installed as a finishing touch.

All modifications are carried out exclusively at edo competition Motorsport GmbH in Ahlen.

Source: Edo Competition

July 4, 2011

Tag: E60