Things that make you go ....mmmm?

[ricky-b]

Last Sunday I took delivery of my M5. I say "took delivery" because the previous owner/builder brought it to me in an enclosed 2-place racecar trailer. The previous devote is Steve from Fall line Motorsports in Round Lake, IL. They build racecars from BMW's, Porshes and Vettes. Good dudes BTW. Every neighborhood kid and a # of adults stared as the scene unfolded.

Needless to say I f'n cherish this car.

But to my question,
I need to do a dyno tune, but in the meantime it consumes my thoughts to ponder, about how much power is this car putting out?

I lie awake until the dyno fairy slaps me in the face with a truth cream pie.

(to those who have read any other posts of mine regarding this car, please excuse my gushing)

The car is heavily modifed, by my standards anyway. The motor was rebuilt about 20k ago including bottom end and rebuilt head to a very high standard by Chuck Stickley.
It's got a Dinan cam gear, Lightweight flywheel, Split second MAS conversion with ARC2 ECU control for air/fuel. K&N Filter with sheet metal air box. Upgraded injectors & all 3" mandrel bent exhaust through a new race-spec cat and a stock muffler.
The Split Second website list the MAS/ARC2 conversion paired with a free flowing exhaust at 315HP. And Dinan puts their camgear and ECU together at about the same. But what about those mods together with
My thoughts just drift and drift......
I'll get on some pics soon but I've been elbow deep in M5 for the past week getting the Gremlins and cosmetic issues ousted & underway. The car does have 212k on it in total, but the mileage count is softened by the Dinan S3 suspension and 17" BBS RK's! 8)

[ekdemos]

You live in indiana and Stickley built your engine. Did you send him the engine or car to have this done? I am going to send him my m5 to repair the head. How much did all that cost if you dont mind me asking. You are probably putting down around 350 hp. I want the split second MAF as well. You car must really rip.

[ricky-b]

The previous owner had done all the mods before I owned it. I've only had the car for a week and and a half. Thank the Lord too, I don't think I could have afforded to!
The previous owner sent the head-only to Stickley for a complete re-do, and the bottom end was rebuilt in-house at Fall Line Motorsports in Illinois. I think they use Stickley for engines in the racecars they build.
As far as cost, the headwork appearently ran about $4,500 and I'm not sure how much he spent on the bottom end. But the block was cleaned and honed just a bit, and then got new seals bearings and rings.
The MAS conversion is very cool, although it intimidated the hell out of me at first. But the ARM1 Air/Fuel LED meter that it comes with shows a real-time display of how rich or lean the car is running. Now that I'm more familiar with it, it actually make me more comfortable knowing exactly how the car is running. I also got a nice surprise last night when I was cleaning and re-oiling the air filter, it was'nt a K&N like I thought but a Dinan one instead. The hits just keep comin'!

Thanks for the power estimate. I can't wait to dyno tune it. I do know this is the fastest car I've driven or owned. The car really wants to go, you really have to keep up with it. And I've really yet to put the wood to it.
The previous owner reccomended that my next upgrade should be Euro Headers and to replace the race cat with a straight pipe. Seeing how we don't have emmisions testing in good ol' Indiana.

sorry about the ranting, I'm still a new M5 owner!

[ekdemos]

I would not go for the euro headers. It is a pain to get them hooked up to the s38 and they are a 3 bolt flang compared to the 2 on the us models. They will cost you 900+ a piece. You are looking at 1800 for euro headers. Not worth the small gain. Ok here is what i want you to do. On a nice day take the car on a open road and put her in 2nd gear and cruise about 40mph. When you get to 40 put the pedal to the floor and hold on. Next put her in 3rd and get to about 75mph. Again once you get there floor it. You will love it. When you are on the highway keep her in 4th and just drive the hell out of her. I hardly use fifth in my m5 because 4th goes up to 120ish. Too bad you are not near me I would love to see the split second set up. stickly gets my head in about one month. Good luch with her and do not forget to get the valves adjusted every 25k or so.

[ricky-b]

Thanks for the tip. For $1800 I can do alot of things. Euro bumpers come to mind! The car already has plenty of power.
This weekend I plan to take her on a long drive and I'll take your advice.
Are you coming to 5-er Fest? I'll have the car there and you could check the Split Sec. then.

[ekdemos]

I am not going to 5er Fest. I wish I could. Did you try getting on it at those speeds. I can not wiat to get my head rebuilt.

[ricky-b]

Sorry to hear you're not coming to 5er Fest, I really lucked out living in the same town.
I did hammer on it like you said. It feels pretty amazing but the car needed a tune up badly. I just got the plugs in last night and the dist. cap and rotor go in tonight.
I can already feel a major difference just from the plugs.
I'll try it again sunday and let you know. I'm sure I was being robbed alot of power from the old plugs. I noticed this morning that I went from 9mpg average to 13-14mpg!
Another thing I'd like to do soon is get a track pipe made and ditch the high flow cat. The previous owner said that getting rid of the cat would let the Split Sec. stuff operate and tune better.