M5 Challenging me, help!

OK, so i've been slapped with the white glove this evening for a french duel with an early 90's BMW-M5.. He said it's got 316hp and 290N torque on a 1650kg weight.. Also says he removed the rev limiter and can do 170mph.. Race is on saturday, 12noon, on open long stretch, smooth curved roads with a group of bikers following (even taping!) to witness.. What chances do i stand with him? Is he really faster than me? I know my driving very well but am really scared here, it's my first challenge with a performance car. INPUT NEEDED, help your fellow P-driver!!! Wael 996 C2 99

prepare to have your *** handed to you......or borrow a TT.

You'll stomp him. My buddy had a '93 w/ a chip, after we raced a few times he got a 2000 and GAVE his old M5 to one of his employees. Now he's more of a challenge, in the dry straight aways at least. Good Luck, not that you'll need it. <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />

I am curious why would you need to pray nor borrow a TT. I think you got nothing to worry about. JUST STAND ON THE GAS AND THEN SEND IN THE VIDEO. Drive safe!

He's quite a bit heavier than you, and has a little more horsepower. But you have an aerodynamic advantage. I would say if you can launch your car properly, you should walk away from him all the way to top speed. Him: 11.62 lb/hp You: about 10.3 lb/hp Good luck. Don't kill anyone. Ken

HAHAHAHAHA!!! You are really non-patriotic!! Remember it's a early 90's M5 not a new 400hp M5... greg greg... let's see some figures,, here i did my searches: M5 996 NEW M5 weight ? 2919lbs 3792lb 0-60 6.1s 4.6s 4.7sec 0-100 ? 11.6s 11.4sec max 155mph 174mph hp 316@6900 296@? 400@? torque 265lb@4750 258lb@4600 360lb@3800 So there you go, even the new M5 has a hard time keeping up.. forgetting about the weight, the lateral accelarations, etc... the 996 must be a winner here!! I think some black *** is going to be splattered on the roads this Saturday and not my soft chubby white one! Wael 996 C2 99 (surely a winner!)

Thanks everyone for replies.. I shall keep you posted. Waz (warrior mood!)

Just win baby-should not have a problem. Regards. Mike

You & your car will pull away from him. I am a bit concerned w/ the "but am really scared here..." remark though. Don't do anything your not prepared to do. If your a amateur behind the wheel, stay under your fear threshold. You will be well ahead of him by then anyhow, no matter how low that threshold may be. Be smart about it.

Tell me where I will take your car and race him for you if you are scared. BTW, why don't you just race him at a strip? -Matt

I haven't run close to a 996 in the wild, but I know they'd be quite a bit quicker than my 951 (right now at least... just wait ). That said, a friend of mine as a 91 E34 M5. We ran pretty dead even and neither of us know which car would be quicker. (We had to expriement, but neither of us are stupid). I can't say which would be better in the twisties as the cars are close enough that the better driver will win the corners. If you can beat a 951S, then you can beat an E34 M5 (305hp he says). It's a damn nice car, and quite the sleeper though

Don't worry my friend. You will beat him no doubt about it! Especially in long straights he has no chance due to aerodynamics - make a note of this. You have the better weight to power ratio, better aerodynamics. Just don't be scared - this would be your only disadvantage. GOOD LUCK <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

The scary part does not emanate from my fear of driving, i've already taken the car to its limits up to its max stretches, cornering abilities, lateral slides, etc.. and i have no fear controlling it whatsoever, the car is indeed a 'big' toy.. (below is the picture of my last sunday rally with a 900CBR, a race that happened on the same roads, speeds reached to 270's) i think the scary bit comes from the 'M5 syndrome' since i've not had a car with enough power as mine to stand by my side.. Given the figures and your comments, i think the M5 is in for a WWF 'hammer move' followed by the suggested 'sleeper'.. count to 10, he's gone! Sorry Matt, there are no strips here.. Wael

Waz, how much money would you normally have to pay the family if you happen to hit and kill some poor little farmer's child during your illegal Nigerian street race? S.

FixedWing, Thanks for your comment but let me tell you what we do.. The roads we 'race' or speed on are very remote out of the city itself. Those roads are used to link Lagos city with the eastern part of the country... They are commonly used by speedy travellers going and coming from the east.. For this reason, some primitive measures have been taken by the locals, let me explain: If you happen to know this country well enough, you will know that it is mainly constituted of Lagoons, water ponds which are non-habitable. Very very little chance you might encounter people on these roads.. Every now and then, look closely in the picture on the left, you get a village.. Look even more closely you will see that the bike is braking and so am I, eventually.. Each village has a flag posted about 1km before you reach it. This is the sign for everbody and where we go down to normal speed until we see the next flag after the village. After some time, the villages get more scarce and we're left with interstate highways.. This is the safest we can do in this country, as i told you we have no tracks here.. WE DONT PLAY STOCKHOLM GETAWAY AND WE DO NOT PUT ANYBODY IN DANGER. As far as the little farmers you were mentionning, we often stop by the villages and the locals are delighted to see us. We help them, talk to them, even take them for the rides of their lives.. They dance and sing everytime we get there. I hope this serves an explanation. Wael

[quote]Originally posted by FixedWing: <strong>Waz, how much money would you normally have to pay the family if you happen to hit and kill some poor little farmer's child during your illegal Nigerian street race? S.</strong><hr></blockquote> I suspect your comment was intended to shock. If that is so my reply would be 'that is what insurance is for'.

Well u're right christen.. it's a reason y i will go to my insurance broker tomorrow and make sure that FixedWing's remark will have a good outcome after all.. Thanks to both of you, Wael

Waz 996: No worries, repeat, no worries! I went head to head with a 94-95 M5 about two years ago, when I had my, slightly modified (chip and intake), 1995 M3. We had two 0-70MPH starts and he had nothing on me, but pretty evenly matched. I now have a 02 996. This car is signifcantly quicker than my m3. NO WORRIES Cheers, <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> DW PS: I have a good friend that works in Lagos. The stories I've heard about "mob rule" frequently taking over are unbelievable. It must not only be a job for you, but an "adventure". Good luck and kick some a_s.

Pilot, Thanks for the cheering! After all, i guess it'll be a peace of cake.. FixedW, I promiss i will be safe all the way, after all i do care about a mere rabbit crossing the street, talkless about a human life.. So there she goes, checklist control procedure,,, Engine,,,ON Flaps,,,Down Tyre Pressure,,,36 Tyre Temp,,,45 Pumps,,,Active Harness,,,Locked PSM,,,On HDU's,,,Active Enemy IR trakcing,,,Active Afterburners,,,100% '..Houston, we have an 'a-ok' status an full perimeter lockon, permission to take off..' Waz

[quote]Originally posted by Christer: <strong> I suspect your comment was intended to shock. </strong><hr></blockquote> Of course. I use to work with an insurer in Cambodia. It would often cost us about US$500 to settle such a claim. In fact, only a few foreigners would carry insurance. Of course the locals didn't. A foreigner could often quickly settle a claim such as that for about $200. The locals for less. $500, or even $200, was quite a bit of money to a local farmer. They would usually be very happy with the outcome. Waz, you flag system sounds very civilised. S.

Thanks Fwing! I will let you know about my insurance cover here, though we dont really take it seriously.. as you said, at the end we tend to settle, God forbids, such accidents.. And as you really presumed, human life here is unfortunately very cheap.. people are very poor here but they are very pathetic and I have pitty for them... Wael

Wael, You would have no problem with a current M5, let alone a '90 M5!! its will actually seem easy too! Driver aside, - his slight power advantage is going to be swallowed by his overweight which along with his longuer gearing, you will actually be able to pull away from him under acceleration - his breaks are going to start to fade on him after a couple hard breakings just wen yours are starting to wake up - but especially your curve speed is going to be so much greater than his you will be able to play with him in the curves I.e. you will be able to creep up on him under braking, accelarate much earlier comming out of the curve and blow pass him after the curve!!! This summer I raced a current model M5 (400HP) in the highway and though not really really easy I was able to catch up to him (after he pulled slightly in the straights) when ever I wanted to when breaking into the curve, maintain higher speed through the bend and be able to accelerate earlier to end up passing him comming out of the curve... and he had 400HP!! after I passed him I could drive much more cleanly through the long curves and he was not able to keep up loosing bit by bit, curve after curve. Its wasn't due to a driver factor, its just that no matter how good he was driving and how much extra HP he had, you just can�t compensate for the lighter, more agile, sportier suspensions, lower center of gravity, greater grip, balance, etc of the 996. If I was on the M5, he would has passed me on the 996 <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" /> Lets us know what happens!

thnx Carlos, very informative.. Wael

[quote]Originally posted by FixedWing: <strong> Of course. I use to work with an insurer in Cambodia. It would often cost us about US$500 to settle such a claim. In fact, only a few foreigners would carry insurance. Of course the locals didn't. A foreigner could often quickly settle a claim such as that for about $200. The locals for less. $500, or even $200, was quite a bit of money to a local farmer. They would usually be very happy with the outcome. Waz, you flag system sounds very civilised. S.</strong><hr></blockquote> F*** you for even suggesting that you can pay $200 for killing some farmer's child, and he would be "very happy with the outcome". If I did something like that I wouldn't be able to live with myself. But that's just me.

[quote]Originally posted by 18000rpm: <strong> F*** you for even suggesting that you can pay $200 for killing some farmer's child, and he would be "very happy with the outcome". </strong><hr></blockquote> I'm not just suggesting it. I'm telling you that it is so. [quote]<strong> If I did something like that I wouldn't be able to live with myself. But that's just me.</strong><hr></blockquote> Me neither. S.

1800, You make it sound as if it's intentional.. I remember the time my wife and I had meetings with my life insurance broker; he started mentioning 'if you die by accident..' 'if you die by cancer..' 'if you get crippled...' 'if you lose and eye or other member..' etc.. my wife almost beat him at the time! but again, these are things we have to go through.. Wael **..thinking about the dozens of children dying every day due to stupid egocentric insane personal opinions and political manipulation, and that include all the parts of our world.. tell me, who's paying their insurances...?** <img src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" border="0" alt="[offtopic]" />

[quote]Originally posted by 18000rpm: <strong> F*** you for even suggesting that you can pay $200 for killing some farmer's child, and he would be "very happy with the outcome". If I did something like that I wouldn't be able to live with myself. But that's just me.</strong><hr></blockquote> Well f**k me - to say there was a slight misunderstanding would have been a f***ing undertstatement! (Disclaimer: I don't normally agree with the word 'f**k' used liberally. In this case I have justified it (to myself) by using it in a f**king humourous way)

Wael, Since I trust you and I know you well and specially as an extreme good driver, I guess you will handle it. But make sure his engine is not tuned or so. I hope you dont get the same results we got when we were racing with the CL55 on that highway full of Radars. fadz-C4S/02 <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

[quote]Originally posted by Carlos from Spain: <strong>your curve speed is going to be so much greater than his you will be able to play with him in the curves </strong><hr></blockquote> I agree with Carlos, No one can handle the curves like the P-drivers especially having a PSM. It happened with me last month when I was racing a BMW M3, he had to think twice when we got into the curve, I never did !!! I need you here Wael next summer. fadz-C4S/02

Fadi, Thanks for the boost man.. your phone call was insinuating (!) that you wont get the turbo next summer.. too bad, we'll have to make do with the X-51 kit then.. <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" /> So far Ayla joins the ride, I wont mind much.. brace yourself and expect the fun to be Defcon-5! <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> Waz

Fadi, Remember well, the chicken AMG55 was taking advantage of us having the discussion with Ayla in the background when he zoomed past at 150mph.. We were already 3ppl at the time in the CS4, werent we? He had reached his terminal speed before we decided to bust him and stayed at the same interval for the next 10mins of race.. I still think he's a chicken not to have started the race in a formal manner. But if you do cross him by any chance, let it be on the some curvy roads and make sure he doesnt forget the smell of CS4 rubber.. And stop playing with the PSM button, will you..? Waz

[quote]Originally posted by Waz996: <strong>Fadi, Remember well, the chicken AMG55 was taking advantage of us having the discussion with Ayla in the background when he zoomed past at 150mph.. We were already 3ppl at the time in the CS4, werent we? He had reached his terminal speed before we decided to bust him and stayed at the same interval for the next 10mins of race.. I still think he's a chicken not to have started the race in a formal manner. But if you do cross him by any chance, let it be on the some curvy roads and make sure he doesnt forget the smell of CS4 rubber.. And stop playing with the PSM button, will you..? Waz</strong><hr></blockquote> AMG55? I should have lost 200 Dhs. that night and killed the beast. By the way we were 2 humans and three machines or you forgot PSM is always ON although Nicky advised to keep it off on long driving. That's a good question??? Any of you guys have an idea if it is recommended to keep the PSM OFF when driving on long highways with no curves??? fadz-C4S/02