[snoep]

Today, I took my still completely stock E60 M5 to BR Performance for a custom tune. Although an increase of about 30 hp was expected, that wasn’t my main reason for the visit. What I really wanted was to get rid of the generic factory settings that, by definition, aren’t tailored to the unique characteristics of my engine. With a custom tune, the engine should run even better—and any extra horsepower would just be a welcome bonus.

The entire process was surprising, starting right from the initial measurement. To my astonishment, the 20-year-old V10 with over 150,000 km on the clock still delivered 2.5 hp more than the factory specs! That was a pleasant surprise.

After the tuning, the naturally aspirated engine produced well over 556 hp—almost a 50 hp gain! What makes this gain even more special is that the extra power became available at a significantly higher rpm. This results in fiercer acceleration and a noticeably higher top speed. I should have done this sooner! 😄

Another noteworthy aspect of the power and torque curves is the typical race-engine characteristic of the BMW V10: torque increases as the rpm goes up. This underscores the engine’s race-oriented nature. For engines designed for track performance, it’s essential that they deliver their maximum torque and power at higher revs. This ensures the engine keeps pulling eagerly, perfectly suiting the dynamic and sporty character of the E60 M5.

[pbonsalb]

I have always liked the E60 M5. A little more power rarely hurts. V10s are rarer and rarer. They make great sounds. I would probably get one if I had room for more older cars.

Had an E90 M3 for 10 years with the S85’s little brother engine, the S65 and that was fun. I modded mine for more power.

[Davidnguyen204]

Very nice! Gotta love that v10!

[snoep]

Originally Posted by Davidnguyen204

Very nice! Gotta love that v10!

Me too :-). It’s incredible how much of a difference the tune makes. It feels like I have a completely different engine now! The V10 seemed so restricted before, and now it finally feels like it’s reaching its full potential. The way it pulls through the revs and feels more powerful makes the driving experience so much better. I should have done this a long time ago!

I’d definitely recommend a similar tune to any BMW V10 owner – it really transforms the car.