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RD's High Five

By Brendan Lopez

Several months ago in the review of a Racing Dynamics-prepped 5er, Les Bidrawn remarked that this vehicle was every bit the M5 and had an air of exclusivity lacking in the factory motorsport offering. In March of this year, Racing Dynamics took the next logical step and built a new 5er, in this instance using the M5 as the basis.


The firm starts out with the factory 5-liter 32-valve V8 found in both the Z8 and M5, and tweaks it to an incredible 515 bhp and 446 lb-ft of torque, up from the factory figures of 394 and 369 for bhp and torque, respectively. Improving on the factory is no small feat and to meet its goals, Racing Dynamics engineers reworked the cylinder heads, replaced the pistons to increase compression, added sport camshafts and reworked the engine management system.

To facilitate breathing, the intake features a ram-air in the front apron and a high-performance exhaust manifold to evacuate gasses. While most forced air intakes are of dubious nature, I suspect that at 192 mph (the top speed is 310 km/h upped from 250 km/h), opening the ingress air to the front spoiler has particular merit.

For those who aren't necessarily interested in 310 km/h travel, RD offers an M5 kit with reprogrammed ECU (that eliminates the top-speed limiter), stainless-steel exhaust and RD Speed Shift System (short shifter.) The RD-developed M5 also features a high-performance brake system with 380mm and 322mm vented discs for the front and rear respectively.

Racing Dynamics, along with Sachs Race Engineering, developed a Super Production Sport Suspension that offers the driver a wide range of adjustability with 35 individual adjustment steps and separate reservoirs. The suspension is also height-adjustable down to 60mm drop (over 2 in.) from the M5s already-aggressive stance. As an option, buyers can get RD front and rear anti-roll bars to reduces body lean.

While not a performance option, Racing Dynamics offers a number of interior enhancements, including aluminum pedals, aluminum handbrake handle and full leather.

Racing Dynamics parts are imported to the U.S. via Electrodyne Inc. and RD Sport Inc. for the East and West Coasts, respectively.

Racing Dynamics GmbH
Koelner Strasse 18
D-40885 Ratingen
Germany
Phone: 49-(0)2102/9910-0
Fax: 49-(0)2102/9910-20
www.racing-dynamics.de


RD Sport Inc.
11397 Slater Ave.
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 540-5100
E-mail: sales@racdyn.com


Electrodyne Inc.
4750 Eisenhower Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22304-1403
(703) 822-0200
E-mail: sales@racdyn-usa.com

Sarlacc

Now that is hot! I would take that over a new anyday!

BEETROOT

need more money


must buy

that

car

Gilgamesh

Hot...but I don't like the slammed look...go with stock height and I'm there...and how can they change out those beautiful M wheels?

ApocalypseCL

I would wait for the new one if i had the money mod that beast and your gonna have one insanely fast sedan!

danny25

sweet car, it's so subtle.

darrinb

gawd damn, what a killer ride

Chaptorial

How could you not say the older generation isn't 10X better looking then the new.

cmark

i'd pimp that car in a heartrbeat

Katies99CL

I also would take that one over a new one anyday...I like the new M5's also, but sometimes you shouldnt mess with perfection.

pimpscls

omg perfect that car is flawless

Joe5.0

The current generation M5 is still the best looking sedan on the planet. It just happens to be very fast. :P

darrinb

i cant wait for the new one