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Supercharged the E60 M5

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manimal said:
clearly you have no idea how important a place like this is for branding and image.

clearly you have a problem with Washington DC and all its marble right?


truly epic apex!

I would have probably driven 1200 miles in circles waiting to get legal access to the roads.
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That is exactly my point, it is all branding and imaging to give you the illusion that your getting a good value for your money when that is far from the truth.
 
fstime said:
That is exactly my point, it is all branding and imaging to give you the illusion that your getting a good value for your money when that is far from the truth.
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This is sheer silliness. An experience like Apex's is how BMW builds and maintains brand loyalty. Would you rather take delivery in a dark, shabby warehouse?
 
fstime said:
Wow, to be able to afford a facility like that just shows how much luxury automakers like BMW are raping their buyers in the amount of profit one of these vehicles must be making them.
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Actually, I think a better question might be: why are WE unsophisticated, uneducated, barbaric, ignorant Americans incapable of sacrificing short-term profits for long-term investments that embrace state-of-the-art, sustainable modern architecture that will still look cool 50 years from now and don't depend on foreign oil?

Germany is 30 years ahead of the USA in regards to sustainable practices and BMW WELT is just one small example of both a country's and a company's philosophy.

An elegance of dynamics drives the design of the new BMW Welt – a stunning solar-powered shrine to German auto engineering. Crafted by world renowned architect Wolf Prix of COOP HIMMELB(L)AU, this sculptural, high-performance structure opened in October to serve as BMW’s center for refinement of brand experience and vehicle delivery in Munich.

The architecture is an experiment in fluid spatial encounters. Outside, BMW Welt’s steel and glass façade whirls seamlessly into the Double Cone – a dynamic 48 meter wide helical feature that provides structural support to the building’s floating “Cloud Roof.” Across the 16,500 m2 (177,500 ft2) expanse of roof BMW has installed an impressive flat roof-integrated PV system made up of 3,660 solar modules. Manufactured by SOLARWATT and installed by SunStrom the array delivers a minimum power capacity of 824kWp (kilowatt-peak).

A network of high-grade steel panels between solar modules on the roof captures solar gain which is distributed throughout the building for heating. The building also nets solar energy through the façade which works to moderate conditioned air and provide natural ventilation. Thermally efficient surfaces inside help to maintain constant thermal comfort and control temperature swings. Vegetation near ventilation elements helps cool incoming air in warmer months and filters dust particles year round.
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SOURCE
 
I digress: Unlike the idiots, even in say California, that decide to build their Bay Bridge in China, the Germans are like: No, we want this to look good, be sustainable, and to last. And in order to do this, we need the best shit in our building. So from the PV panels to the champagne flutes (see pic above), BMW invested in "Made in Germany" products to make the building that would display their "Made in Germany" M5s (among others). BMW profits. German companies far and wide profit. Those German companies that hire 17-year-old apprentices profit. The apprentices themselves profit. The youth unemployment rate, one of the lowest in the world, profits. The vocational schools from which those apprentices come profit. The environment profits. Germany's reputation for an industry of building shit that out-innovates the competition profits. Employer contributions to the social welfare state profits. The German government, which posted a deficit surplus last quarter, profits. And so it goes.
 
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It's pretty over the top, but clearly they're doing something right. Germany is pretty much keeping the Euro alive. 😀
 
The dropoff spot near the Munich Airport in front of the Hotel Kempinski for the cars awaiting shipping to the USA. I'm on the left side, the only one who parked please-don't-door-ding-me style:

parking3s.jpg


8 weeks total. 3 weeks across the water, the other time waiting on customs.

parking4s.jpg


Germany parking:

parking1s.jpg


Another look:

parking2s.jpg


That would seriously not work over on this side of the pond.
 
Didn't turbocharge because there's no room in the E60 M5 engine bay. Rear turbo is possible, but no one's done that well on this application. Love turbos though (virtually all of my cars have been turbocharged).

Yeah, still have the E60.
 
GTaudiophile said:
I digress: Unlike the idiots, even in say California, that decide to build their Bay Bridge in China, the Germans are like: No, we want this to look good, be sustainable, and to last. And in order to do this, we need the best shit in our building. So from the PV panels to the champagne flutes (see pic above), BMW invested in "Made in Germany" products to make the building that would display their "Made in Germany" M5s (among others). BMW profits. German companies far and wide profit. Those German companies that hire 17-year-old apprentices profit. The apprentices themselves profit. The youth unemployment rate, one of the lowest in the world, profits. The vocational schools from which those apprentices come profit. The environment profits. Germany's reputation for an industry of building shit that out-innovates the competition profits. Employer contributions to the social welfare state profits. The German government, which posted a deficit surplus last quarter, profits. And so it goes.
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Sad that US Industry and Americans don't have the same philosophy.
 
Part of the problem I think is that German culture is about learning a 'craft' from a young age, and has been since at least the 19th century. While there is no doubt some imperfection in the system, this compared to my own experiences is superior to the attitude of people towards schooling in the United States.

The US idea seems to be that students will learn by being in a classroom, but most public schools seem to share a similar ecosystem as prisons--the participants are there because the rest of society doesn't know what to do with them.


There is no need for adolescence to be such a trying time in terms of trying to integrate with a society that is only superficial--a society created and perpetuated by lack of clarity and vision by its participants, and serious lack of interest in actually communicating value by its stewards.

The students only have a vague notion/interest why they're there, and the teachers/administrators are only interested in perpetuating the system for their own benefit.
 
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For some reason trade schools are looked down here in NA and in Asia.

I respect people that can work a trade, cuz I know I can't.
 
I thought the speed limit for the M5 was limited to 155 mph. So the governor is unlocked for Europe but it will be locked when the car comes to America?
 
Dari said:
I thought the speed limit for the M5 was limited to 155 mph. So the governor is unlocked for Europe but it will be locked when the car comes to America?
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When you are doing this level of modification, removing the speed limiter is understood.
 
Apex said:
Germany parking:

parking1s.jpg


Another look:

parking2s.jpg


That would seriously not work over on this side of the pond.
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Are the people who did that literally professional valets/parkers? I certainly would not be comfortable parking a car (particularly such a large car) that close to another one, even setting aside the question of how I would get out of it, because it would be so tricky to do without touching the other car.
 
Don Vito Corleone said:
You've probably seen this, but this is a Euro delivery diary by your buddy (whose license plate was sequential with yours). Interestingly he too had/has a supercharged E60 M5. He included some very nice pics, and also made a trip to the 'Ring.

http://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=742515
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Yeah, dave went on an epic journey right after delivery. Over 2500 miles before heading back to the US!

He actually doesn't have a supercharged E60 M5. His was still normally aspirated.
 
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