Do you perhaps recall the E85 Z4 with an S85 V10 from the BMW M5/6 shoehorned into its long bonnet? Or the 470 kW M2 with six-piston callipers upfront? Tuning legend Manhart is the party responsible for being this irresponsible, and it would seem as though they’ve done it once again…
The BMW M5 is the original super saloon, and there’s no arguing that. In 1985, the E28 M5 outperformed its contemporary 911, yet had room for your dog, cat, children, and a large lunchbox. The wife could be shoehorned in, too, granted she came to terms with the then preposterous 210 kW M88 powerplant, in a time where Ferrari’s had 180 kW and a sub nine-second 0-100 km/h was considered quick…
40 years on, the M5 still offers eye-watering performance in a significantly larger package than its great great great grandfather, aided by an extra two-cylinders and two large turbochargers, as well as drive to the front wheels for the first time in the model’s history.
But it would seem as though hurtling the family to 100 km/h in less than 3,5 seconds and a top speed of 305 km/h just wasn’t enough for the team just outside of Düsseldorf, Germany…
Enter the Manhart MH5 800 – yes, the numbers hint at the amount of horsepower. Thanks to a Manhart turbo performance kit, a Manhart intercooler, and a Manhart carbon intake, along with appropriate ones and zeros uploaded to the car’s ECU and rounded off with a complete Manhart exhaust system, the MH5 800 boasts a stonking 607 kW and 1 050 N.m. No performance figures are quoted, but thanks to BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel-drive system and ZF’s rather slick eight-speed torque converter transmission, one can most certainly expect a sub three second 0-100 km/h sprint – goodness.
Manhart also offers some visual tweaks to the M5 such as H&R lowering springs and a set of Manhart Concave One light-alloy wheels which reduce unsprung weight by 25 kg. MH5’s are also adorned with a black Manhart sticker set for an extra 5 kW (not really).
Hop into the MH5 800 and you’ll notice a chintzy starlight headliner a la Rolls-Royce, as well as a smattering of carbon fibre here and there over the M5’s standard trim offering.
