HarvE55

I read in The Car Connection that BMW is going to discontinue the M5. Has anybody heard any more rumors??

mikE55

It's only until the new M5 is introduced. If you like the E39 body style, get yours now!

MN-E55

The current E39 body is being phased out in favor of Chris Bangle's new 5 Series design (think Pontiac Grand Prix). The last M5's are currently being produced until the introduction of the next generation M5 which may feature a 500 h.p. V10.

Whatever power plant they choose you can bet it will have more than 469 h.p.

Aren't horsepower wars fun??

Rennteam

Check this link: M5 Production Stop

mikE55

Ahh, but this is where MB's marketing strategy will pay off. We all know the E 55 is really 493 hp (as verified by AMG's own dyno results shown in an earlier thread), but for marketing reasons is advertised at 469 hp. Well, MB is known to provide upgrades to their models about every 2 years, and that's just about when the new M5 will likely hit the US. But this time, they don't even need to do a thing. Just a nice little marketing blurb like "a new tuned exhaust and upgraded ECU has led to 493 hp." If the M5 hits the 550 hp mark, then AMG has some real work to do. Of course they could just make an E 65 with 600+ hp v12 turbo power. Yes, I'm love'n the HP wars!!! It's just too bad the next M5 & M3 will look ugly, but who knows the 7 series has started to grow on me a little.

pocholin

I love this HP war!
I din't think M5 will be discontinued for ever, they'll have the V10 out there sooner than later.

RS-Kicker

M5 V10 ~530 hp and probably less weight than anyone else.

Rennteam

Sounds good to me but why should the M5 be lighter than the other new 5series models? Using lightweight material would make the car too expensive and the E55 is already almost a bargain compared to the SL55, even the SL500 and other top class Mercedes models.
I still think that a V10 with 500 HP (and not one HP more) is more likely on the new M5 because with normally aspirated engines, you don't get a HP gain that easy without compromising reliability, emissions output, etc. . Look at the new M3 CSL: they lowered weight by more than 100 kg but increased power by a tiny margin only. Not to speak about the price, ouch.

RS-Kicker

I mean lighter than E55 AMG and RS 6 - the main competitors.

We're not talking M5 CSL though.

Check bmwm5.com for some spypics on the new M5.

E55 KEV

mikE55, do you mean "2 years into new chassis production"? If so, I agree.

I speculate the current W211 E55 engine configuration will only be around for 2003 & 2004 model years. Remember, the current engines are carry-over ones from the W210.

The 2005 E55 model will likely see the all new Direct Injection Gas (DIG) Engines with perhaps an increase in HP to compete with the Next 2005 M5 with V10 and 500+HP. After that all W211 models will receive the "Mid-Model" upgrades for 2006 model year.

The new DIG engines look slated to also start in the all new SLK R171 for the 2005 models.

Take a look at this spy article. All engines sizes look like DIG engines because the displacements are smaller than current and the HP ratings are all much higher. Mercedes may be dropping the current 3.2L and 3.7L for higher output 3.0L and perhaps 3.5L DGI engines:

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6001

I also speculate the reason they named the ML350 and the upcoming E350 instead of ML370 & E370 is because the DGI engine displacement will be smaller around 3.5L. MBZ may not want to have a 2004 E370 being replaced by a 2005 E350.

They did this type of marketing with the 2002 C230 Coupe with 2.3L engine. The 2003 C230 has 1.8L engine so they could not replace the 2002 C230 with a 2003 C180.

The current 3.2L engine is being relegated down to the Chrysler Crossfire with 221HP. Doubt Mercedes would have the 3.2L with 221 in both 2004 CrossFire and 2004 E-Class. 2004 E-Class should be E350 with 3.7L and 240HP.

Eurosport

If you like the E39 body style M5, get yours not now, but when the new M5's come out, there will be a ton of people wanting to "upgrade" and prices will be pretty low on E39, and they are pretty low already considering what you get for the $.

As far as hp wars, they are great, competition is always good for the consumer. But there will be a time when too much is too much as far as hp. I mean, do you really need 550 hp? 469 hp is too low??? how effective will you use the hp? etc. I think they should stick to one engine like they have been doing with the 55 and putting it in a lot more chassis and improving other aspects of the car.

FrankW

the production of the E39 M5 and the Z8 will end in June. The E60 M5 is expected for 2005. The 500 hp V10 awaits...

steve s

i think it is because the v8 engine on the m5 is about to run out its certification.... no point in recertifying if there's gonna be another v10 m5 on the horizon