E39 BMW M5 Track Build

I'm finally posting the story of my 2002 BMW M5. I bought this car as a fun weekend toy and that slowly morphed into the track car it is today...really by accident.
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#BMW, #BMWracing, #splitter, #downforce, #aerodynamics, #M5, #E39M5, #E39540i, #E46, #E46M3, #swaybar, #unicornreins, #springrate, #autocross, #SCCA, #prosolo, #racing, #roadcourse, #arizonamotorsportspark #drift #driftbuild #racecar

[@ltethan649]

I have a rough 525 with a seized engine sitting in my yard, and a 5.3 Chevy sitting in my garage. Seeing this on track might inspire me.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

That would be fun. The 525 has the rack n pinion and aluminum subframe so it's a bit lighter up front too.

[@TheNickdut]

great vid man! its an inspiration for me and my 540i project

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Thanks dude. It’s so much fun. Keep building and don’t look back.

[@BritAcrossThePond]

Great build 👍

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Thank you! Appreciate it.

[@pochacco30]

Hello from the FB group. Took me a while but I finally got around to watching your video and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love seeing the potential of this platform and I’m thankful that you’re sharing your experience with all you’ve done. Looking forward to the electric steering mod, good luck with that. I also have a 2002 TiAg (sport with Titan) that I also bought in June of 2017, also for cheap ($12,500) and also high miles (170k). We both immediately refreshed the suspension… and that’s when our paths started to separate. I chose to do the rod bearings and timing chain (and then some) as preventative maintenance, and sometimes I regret it and wonder what I could have done with that money, could have put it towards performance upgrades. Instead I went the opposite route and decided to restore while staying OEM+. I enjoy it but I can only imagine how much fun it must be to drive yours with significantly less weight, more power, and well tuned suspension/steering. I’m just starting to move into more significant performance mods more than 6 years in, but it would have been fun doing that sooner and auto cross this whole time. Keep up the great work and I’ll look out for more of your videos.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Sounds like we share some similar emotions, just inverse. I often wish I could daily the M5, and dream of what it would have been like. But when I do drive it at the limit the smiles are endless. A fitting consolation prize for the work. As far as performance have you done headers and full exhaust? That and the tune were the biggest changes and so absolutely noticeable.

[@pochacco30]

I have ordered Jed’s Unicorn headers as well as his resonated xpipe. I’ve also just received the Eisenmann Race mufflers. Keeping the stock cats. I’m going to wait until I get some of Peter Partee’s magic treatment before I get a tune. That might be a year or so from now. For now it’s got plenty of power for a fun daily. I’m also just ordered the Ground Control coil overs. With over 193k miles I’m about due for a fresh set.

[@JRVBrothers]

@@pochacco30 Wow. That set of mods is going to be incredible. You are building it the right way. 🙂

[@driven_nation]

Nice work! I feel you with being able to fit with a helmet. I have to run my race seat without pads to clear in my e46.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Thanks dude. It’s fun and big, just not very competitive. Lol.

[@prestigeinstruments]

Really liking where this guy's head is at and approach to this project! JUST wish it was not an M5 VIN and a 540i or 530i chassis instead, with a swapped engine. I know its late now, but food for thought since I'm sure people would appreciate them being somewhat preserved!

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

I totally agree on the Vin thing. I’ve for sure had some regrets along those lines. That ultimately is where the project name came from. Thanks for watching and appreciate the comment.

[@Legend57.]

Who cares?? You're gonna die anyways so why would you spend your life preserving sh*t?

[@travisspencer8054]

On today's episode of "how I ruined the best sports sedan ever made"

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

More episodes to come!

[@AnthonyMichael504]

Reminds me of that idiot that took a perfectly good M5 to pull the s62 and drop in a 2JZ and wide body from a bubble gum factory.

[@thankyouinadvance]

Amazing build! I've been looking around for that carbon roof you mentioned without any luck. Would you be able to provide a link? Thanks!

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

It was a custom build by John Kamler at Axis Power Racing. Though I’m told he has has the molds still.

[@TheRiotMakers]

Love the car man! Can you got a little bit more in depth on the power steering cooling?

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

For sure. What I did was cut the ends off the original steel lines that mount into the cooler at the radiator. I had -6an fittings welded on to them so that I could create a loop and add the Setrab cooler in line. So fluid flows into the stock cooler, out and into the Setrab, then back into the system. Does that make sense? If not I could do a video showing more clearly if that helps. speedhavenracing.com/products/bmw-power-steering-an-coil-adapter actually makes a really nice version of what I had made. Let me know.

[@IDontKnowWhatImDoing09]

Awesome build dude!!! I am looking to get an autocross car of my own. Do you have any suggestions?

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

So far my specific experiences have been a Focus ST ( amazing car ), a built gen 2 CTS-V (great at 150mph, not so much 60 mph autocross), and my current M5. A total hoot but not the ideal choice. Autocross is like a drug and once in your system you need more. Honestly drive anything you can afford, get seat time and enjoy the ride.

[@IDontKnowWhatImDoing09]

@@DrivingForwardBuilds Thanks man, I'll look into these cars.

[@ProfDrRandom]

Honestly a great build! Do you plan to upgrade the brake system? Factory one was completely shot after 1 made one trackday. Upgraded to 4 piston Brembo in front and rear. Running an e39 m5 myself as a trackcar and its pretty fast in the corners. 3° camber on front and back together with 265 semis gives it a lot of tracktion. Unfortunately no bigger wheel is possible. How do you fit 275 or bigger in the front housing? Greetings from Germany.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

I would like to upgrade the brakes in the future. I’m currently running a 5mm front spacer on my square setup with BC coilovers. I’ll be going wider in the future when I do the e60 hub swap. Is your build documented anywhere?

[@ProfDrRandom]

​@@DrivingForwardBuilds No unfortunately There is only an Excel spreadsheet for all parts used... For Brake Update I went with 4 Piston Brembo GT 355 mm Front and 345 mm rear. If you use 19" you can also go for 380 in the Front. Endless Brakepads, Brakefluid and your good to go. Coils and Spring I use a KW V3 3 modified to achieve 3° chamber, but for racetrack the car still is to soft. Do you have values for chamber and wheel settings?

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

@@ProfDrRandom My wheels are Apex Arc-8 with the E39 hub. 18x9.5 Et22. Im running around 2.5* camber up front and stock rear camber. I need to push the camber to the max still. Have been looking into home alignment tools but haven't pulled the trigger. Those brakes sound awesome. I'd like to stay with 18" wheels to keep the sidewall and tire availability.

[@ProfDrRandom]

@@DrivingForwardBuilds Great wheel choise. Also look good. For the brakes: Brembo gt 1b2.8010a (front), 2c2.8002a (rear). Can recommend them escpecially if you already lost weight. How did you figured out what cable you still need etc.? I am pretty unsure how to loose weight and still keep allowance to be legal (no cut of airbags etc. allowed in Germany).

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

So as I was thinning all the electrical I pulled up the Schematics on bmwteka.com. From there it was very slow and methodical. I would start by pulling a fuse to see what dies and is tied together. Then remove those components. Thanks for the part numbers!

[@JRVBrothers]

I remember that intro video with Madonna. That's the BMW Film "The Hire" right?

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Yeah. That's right. I was in tech school at the time and that never left my head.

[@samanthasfrugallife]

That’s a lot of blood, sweat & tears right there. Looks really good! How much $ do you think you have in it?

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Way more than I can admit to my wife.....

[@samanthasfrugallife]

@@DrivingForwardBuilds 😮😂😂😂

[@asimpleton2.0]

The purists are crying :))) I love the video bro, as long as you’re happy and content and this beauty brings you lots of smiles … who the F cares man! I find it beautiful and quite frankly quite jelly, but in a good way! Kudos to you my friend 🙌

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Hey Alex, thanks so much for the comment, it means a lot to me. I do really love the car, though often times wish I could still daily it. Now that I’m this far no need to turn back. Keep enjoying it and honing my driving.

[@asimpleton2.0]

@@DrivingForwardBuilds slap some headlights and chase Lambo fan boys on the highway 😁 make it convertible.. paint it pink add polka dots !!! Your car your money your life .. as long as you’re having fun and your wife allows you to live, to what makes you happy! I liked your post on the M5 board, you definitely touched some nerves … thats a win too in my books😁 I had a few E30’s I know how purists get … Nothing but love for your build 🙌🔥🙌

[@Alexgonzalex_98]

Hello, what brand of front discs do you have? I have problems with mine, because it always bends them.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

I’m running stock front discs from FCP Euro with Hawk HPS pads. I also added the 540 brake ducts for a a little cooling.

[@AnthonyMichael504]

You could’ve bought a 525/528 for a grand and dropped an s62 in it and you would’ve had the same result without killing a great car and any amount of value you would’ve had in it. Just an fyi.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

You’re not wrong.

[@j.ianmichel3059]

So where is this now or where did this end up? Do you still have it? Did you do the electric power steering? Did that tirn put how you wanted it to?

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Still have the car. But due to a number of other life circumstances it's on the back burner for awhile.

[@j.ianmichel3059]

Well I wish you the best. Hopefully things will get back to normal for you. I am curious how do you feel about your brakes? Is that something autocross pushes on the current set up? I am more interested in Road racing/endurance/HPDEs.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

@@j.ianmichel3059 The brakes have been more than sufficient, even for the occasional road course and HPDE event. Getting the car down to the 3400lb area really helps though.

[@j.ianmichel3059]

I know the weight reduction is the biggest and hardest to do. Have you also looked into Lexan windows with those Fiberglass/CF parts? It won't be too much more but 4lbs a side and 9-10lbs off the rear. But I hear once it's scratched that's it, you'd need to get another panel. Also lightweight driveshaft and or half shafts? I'd think they might help with response to the power, but I have also heard when they are paired to a ltw flywheel, it changes your power band. Last question alternator and lightweight pulleys or AC? Have you thought about pulling out the heater/AC and swapping in the pulleys? Have you heard from other AutoXers doing so, do they recommend it? I don't think if I am going to drive it, that I'd get rid of AC😂 My state is too hot. Are you kind of waiting for the engine to have a boom and swap in a new one to try those mods? Also if you haven't thought of it due to life being turned upside down, no worries, looking more for input of a like for like car. E36s are too light to be comparable and the new F80 M3 has too different of characteristics as well.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

@@j.ianmichel3059 Fantastic questions. For the windows, I have rear door Lexan that I made, but only ran for half the year because it's so hot here. I've considered pulling the quarter glass but for the size have decided to leave them alone for now, especially since my seals are pristine. I will make a rear window eventually, and at the same time finish cutting out the rear parcel shelf and rear seat backing. The reason I've basically stopped trying to take weight out of the rear is it's already too light. On this car, the rear is really easy to get down in weight, but the front is not. So my balance is off with how much has come out already. I haven't looked into driveshafts or half shafts because I think the bang for the buck would go further with a lightweight BBK, especially considering its unsprung weight. I would like to do a LTW flywheel though. I have removed every bit of the AC/heater system, that was a lot of weight. An alternator would be negligible I think. As far as the engine I plan to do an LS swap and selling my drivetrain as a whole to recoup the cost. I think I can do it lighter and with more power. Considering the car is not a road car I don't have to fuss with emissions or anything, so a standalone system would wire up pretty easy. I may even delete abs and dsc at that point for simplicity and easier maintenance. At this point this car is very competitive with cars you wouldn't normally think. Though still a terrible choice as a "race car" when you think about competing. But I do it for fun, I say it accidentally became a race car because of Covid. LOL. Love the questions, keep em coming. Eventually, this car will be much closer to 3000lbs and 450+ whp. It's an animal now and will be nuts then. My current biggest limitation is traction, even with 275 square and 100tw R compound semi-slicks. Life will get back to normal someday, for now, I am restoring a 02 540i as my new daily.

[@JSquaredCubing]

What was your favorite part of the build?

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

I really enjoyed building the cage. It gave me the opportunity to learn some new skills.

[@Dude_truthteller]

a cool business class car turned into a snag, ruined such a car

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Completely ruined. So sad.