What did BMW do to improve handling on the M5

[duncan-uk]

The E28 M5 had a reputation as a great handling car - WITHOUT the tendency for the back of the car to flick out with no warning in the wet - unlike the standard M535, 535, 528, or the even worse 520.

What did M GmbH do to make it handle so well ?

Improved the Weight Distribution  (making the rear of the car heavier).  Specifically distribution was changed from the 535's original 54.3F/45.7R to 52F/48R according to "Automobile" Mag which included Driver and full tank of Gas. This was a mere 1% improvement. In fact the standard 535's weight distribution without driver or full tank of gas was an front heavy 65/35 and was widely criticise for causing the tail happy ride E28's suffered from - especially in the wet.

They achieved this through:

1. Moving the battery into the boot. 

2. Installing Self-Levelling Rear Suspension US models? (which also removed excessive negative camber when heavy or lowered, and increased the tyre contact area.

3. Installed heavier and stronger diff from 735i.

Other Suspension Improvements

4. Installed standard 535 springs (front) with 20% stiffer Struts (with progressive rate rear springs) 

5. Installed Gas pressure Shocks (20% stiffer)

6. Installed thicker anti rol bars. (25mm/18mm) (the 25mm/19mm combo is popular)

7. Installed Pirelli P700 225/50/16 Tyres all round on BBS 7.5x16 Rims w- 20mm offset

8. Rolled the rear arches to fit wider tyres. 

 

[Steve VH]

Everything that happened to the 528i, 535i, handling wise was broadly the same with the M5, just the improvements made it happen much later on at a faster speed, watching Chris Harris drive his E28 M5, you can still see some tail happiness in the handling.

Saying that, bmw are to be commended for making saloon cars handle like sports cars, they have probably been doing it since the 2002ti?

[duncan-uk]

The biggest change is ditching the TRX and going for a 16" and normal tyre - the TRX were a liability!