M5iT spyshots

1605 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Warot, Apr 4, 2005

Jeff_DML

Discussion Starter · Mar 30, 2005

4

Here is the first solid evidence that BMW has given the green light to what will potentially be the fastest estate car on the planet. That distinctive nose and those M5 alloys would have raised our suspicions, but it is the menacing quad exhaust pipes that mark this BMW Touring out as an 'M-car', the ultimate in performance BMWs. It's a welcome but hardly surprising development, as BMW would have been unlikely to sit still whilst Audi and Mercedes Benz dominated the super-estate market with their 444bhp RS6 Quattro Avant and 476bhp E55 AMG estate. As towering as those V8 powerhouses are, BMW brings no less than 507bhp to the game, courtesy of the sensational V10 powerplant that already resides under the bonnet of the M5 saloon, a car that goes on sale here in a couple of month's time.

A BMW GB spokesman has told 4Car that no decision has been taken on production of an M5 Touring, but coyly added that if such a car were to go into left-hand drive production "we would be asking for a right-hand drive version. After all, more Touring M5s of the previous generation have been sold overall than saloon versions." There has never been a right-hand drive version of the M5 Touring, but BMW "would love to have one for the UK." 4Car believes there'd be a long list of willing customers who'd be as intrigued as we are at the notion of an estate capable of carrying a family (with dog) at up to 205mph (without electronic restriction). Inspired. Mad, but inspired..

http://www.channel4.com/4car/gallery/spyshots-2005/B/bmw-m5-touring/m5-touring.html

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1 - 18 of 18 Posts

The HACK

· #2 · Mar 30, 2005

What are the chances we'd get that in the U.S.? If that ever comes, I may have to scrap my plans on getting the 650Ci and sell my soul to the devil to get an M5 Touring.

Jeff_DML

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 30, 2005 (Edited)

I vote pratically none

no love for the touring in the states, guess we are to blame for that in BMW eyes.

another edit:

they are bringing the E55 estate so maybe there is hope if that sells a bit :dunno: Audi never brought over the RS6 avant so they decided there was no demand but they did offer the S6 avant.

dawgbone

· #4 · Mar 31, 2005

Can anyone make out the exhaust...Surely the production one will sit on a little meatier shoes than this one....

The HACK

· #5 · Mar 31, 2005

dawgbone said:
Can anyone make out the exhaust...Surely the production one will sit on a little meatier shoes than this one....

Snow tires. They don't make them "wide".

Jeff_DML

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 31, 2005

exhaust looks the same as the m5 to me, 4 pipes via 2 exhaust cansisters

dawgbone

· #7 · Apr 1, 2005

The HACK said:
Snow tires. They don't make them "wide".

My bad..I've never shopped for snow tires in my life..It never occured to me that they were snow tires..other than all the small slits along the edge of the tire, I couldn't tell you what a snow tire is...

uter

· #8 · Apr 2, 2005

What if Bimmerfest M5 Touring fanatics staged a protest at BMW-NA headquarters

Something like: First, we all drive our E46 tourings and E39 tourings to Woodcliff Lake, NJ. Then we "circle the wagons" in the parking lot, and then we all honk our horns until BMW-NA brass agrees to bring the M5 Touring to the US.

Who's in?

MG67

· #9 · Apr 2, 2005

uter said:
What if Bimmerfest M5 Touring fanatics staged a protest at BMW-NA headquarters

Something like: First, we all drive our E46 tourings and E39 tourings to Woodcliff Lake, NJ. Then we "circle the wagons" in the parking lot, and then we all honk our horns until BMW-NA brass agrees to bring the M5 Touring to the US.

Who's in?

I'm in :hi:

neurom

· #10 · Apr 2, 2005

mgorgel said:
I'm in :hi:

I would buy one for my wife....she will have problems keeping it to herself, though.

F1Crazy

· #11 · Apr 2, 2005

The HACK said:
What are the chances we'd get that in the U.S.? If that ever comes, I may have to scrap my plans on getting the 650Ci and sell my soul to the devil to get an M5 Touring.

It's not gonna happen. What gets me is that this time it's only marketing reasons that will keep that car off of our shores. When original M5 Touring was introduced in late 1991 and went on sale in 1992 it came with 3.8 liter six that wouldn't meet US emissions. With EDC suspension and bigger engine it would've been very expensive but I think it was more the case of BMW not willing to make any changes to federalize the car here since it was such a limited run. Only 891 M5 Tourings were ever produced and they sold like hot cakes. In Germany from the moment it was introduced about half of all M5s sold were Tourings.

Jeff_DML

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 2, 2005

F1Crazy said:
It's not gonna happen. What gets me is that this time it's only marketing reasons that will keep that car off of our shores. When original M5 Touring was introduced in late 1991 and went on sale in 1992 it came with 3.8 liter six that wouldn't meet US emissions. With EDC suspension and bigger engine it would've been very expensive but I think it was more the case of BMW not willing to make any changes to federalize the car here since it was such a limited run. Only 891 M5 Tourings were ever produced and they sold like hot cakes. In Germany from the moment it was introduced about half of all M5s sold were Tourings.

interesting, didnt know that any M5 touring made it to production. Thought the article was confused

Since they sold so many it is odd they never made any E39 M5 tourings. :thumbdwn: (yeah I know there where some test mules made though).

uter

· #13 · Apr 2, 2005

There's often been mention of the cost of "federalizing" a car to sell in the US. Anyone have any idea as to the actual cost to a manufacturer to do this?

If you figure BMW wouldn't have to spend too much to advertise this limited production car, and that there should be a fair amount of part sharing between the already imported two other models, the regular E61 and the E60 M5, what is required cost-wise to do this?

Crash tests, emission tests, MPG tests...what else? After all, many manufacturers bring expensive cars to the US in limited numbers. Surely the cost can't be that prohibitive.

MG67

· #14 · Apr 4, 2005

neurom said:
I would buy one for my wife....she will have problems keeping it to herself, though.

My wife has that illness too, she can take my car whenever but when I want to take her car, there is a problem...

We were talking about trading both BMW's for a new Range Rover (which she likes) and a beetle cabrio for me, but I'm afraid that I will never EVER drive the Range Rover...:tsk:

TGray5

· #15 · Apr 4, 2005 (Edited)

Since regular e60 tourings aren't scheduled to be sold in the US, I highly doubt that the M5 touring will make it here. Snapped this pic at BMW's European Delivery Center 2 weeks ago

e60 touring

uter

· #16 · Apr 4, 2005

TGray5 said:
Since regular e60 tourings aren't scheduled to be sold in the US, I highly doubt that the M5 touring will make it here. Snapped this pic at BMW's European Delivery Center 2 weeks ago

e60 touring

Um, the 530xit will be sold here.

By "regular E60 touring", did you mean a rear-wheel drive E61?

TGray5

· #17 · Apr 4, 2005

uter said:
Um, the 530xit will be sold here.

By "regular E60 touring", did you mean a rear-wheel drive E61?

Ya I think my recollection may be inaccurate. I heard that there will be no 545 touring in the US...that must be what I was thinking.

uch:

Warot

· #18 · Apr 4, 2005

TGray5 said:
Ya I think my recollection may be inaccurate. I heard that there will be no 545 touring in the US...that must be what I was thinking.
uch:

No 545t, but the 3.0i will make it I think. NIce M5 in the background by the way :thumbup:

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