M5 gets turbocharged. Twice.

[mikeyb]

California-based tuner Currency Motors pulled out all the stops when putting its own take on the BMW M5. The shop added a pair of rear-mounted turbos, hand built intercooler system, and fully custom exhaust to turn the M5 into an 810 horsepower machine that Currency says can reach 240 mph. Despite the extra 310 horses, Currency didn't have to touch the seven-speed SMG.


In addition to the substantial powertrain revamp, Currency threw out the car's leather upholstery in favor of a black Florida crocodile skin and gray suede motif that will definitely get people talking.

All this will cost a whopping $350,000 and Currency will only build 10 of these. That's a lot of green, but its a lot of power and exclusivity. Besides, nobody ever said that twin turbos and croc-skin seats are cheap.

 

[Kansei]

Those turbos look like they could be little GT25Rs... weird

 

[Newf]

sexy but not worth it.

 

[Rainman]

It seems that more and more people are building rear-mounted turbo kits as viable performance options for increasing horsepower. I have not seen any discussion on this topic, but I wonder whether this type of setup has improved emissions characteristics when compared to conventional turbo setups. If not, the only major benefit I can see is that there is easier packaging since you don't have to make room in the engine bay. Piping would be onerous though.

R

 

[Donas64]

Too expensive, not very good looking but my goodness I still love it.

 

[mikeyb]

Too expensive, not very good looking but my goodness I still love it.

WOW!!!!!

 

[Donas64]

WOW!!!!!

Yeah I know right. My usual disgust with BMW over their betrayal is somehow set aside for this one.

Maybe because black on black looks nice on almost any car

Maybe the croc skin interior piques my interest

Or maybe its the unique turbo setup.

It just all sorta works for me........except for the rims.

 

[16902]

Wow, this car should have a sound clip. V10 + rear mount turbos = Mean

Seems like a good way to make my favorite Bimmer better. I love how pissed off this car looks.

 

[.paul]

the only thing you'd hear is t3rb0 spool. That's so strange!!!!! It does not compute.

I dunno, I think you would really have to be desperate to be the cool guy on the cul de sac to pay for that.

 

[mikeyb]

 

[jred321]

i like the results but i don't think i'll ever like rear mounted turbos

 

[Blackrose]

For 350K I would be kinda pissed they used header wrap as in place of a nice shinny ceramic coating. Probably cause its under the car and the ceramics would get destroyed but still. It should be a bit more asthetically pleasing. Other then that though its awsome. Remote turboed cars are the most wicked sounding cars there are. They sound like a 747 taking off.

 

[daonly1around]

It seems that more and more people are building rear-mounted turbo kits as viable performance options for increasing horsepower. I have not seen any discussion on this topic, but I wonder whether this type of setup has improved emissions characteristics when compared to conventional turbo setups. If not, the only major benefit I can see is that there is easier packaging since you don't have to make room in the engine bay. Piping would be onerous though.

R

i saw a horsepower episode when they mounted rear turbos on a vette, they say it does loose some PSI, but the extra distance the air travels cools it just that much more allowing for a denser charge

 

[Blackrose]

i saw a horsepower episode when they mounted rear turbos on a vette, they say it does loose some PSI, but the extra distance the air travels cools it just that much more allowing for a denser charge

Actually we discussed this in another thread. Your average turbo setup with a front mount has anywere between 6 and 10 feet of pipe. The remot mounts use almost the same amount of pipe. The reason it loses power or "PSI" is because a turbo relys on heat and velocity to work. By the time the exhaust makes it to the remote turbos it loses alot of heat. Thats why they tend to lag. But the advantage is that the turbo is not connected to a 1200 degree mani that is super heating the air charge. It has its ups and downs. Like I said though they sound awsome and do produce nice numbers. Easy and cheap to install also.

 

[B1GHAM]

cool car and all.... but where exactly is the 350k going? interior, wheels, and a twin turbo setup? I just dont see it....

 

[daonly1around]

Actually we discussed this in another thread. Your average turbo setup with a front mount has anywere between 6 and 10 feet of pipe. The remot mounts use almost the same amount of pipe. The reason it loses power or "PSI" is because a turbo relys on heat and velocity to work. By the time the exhaust makes it to the remote turbos it loses alot of heat. Thats why they tend to lag. But the advantage is that the turbo is not connected to a 1200 degree mani that is super heating the air charge. It has its ups and downs. Like I said though they sound awsome and do produce nice numbers. Easy and cheap to install also.

gotcha... makes sense..

 

[Roywhitep5]

for the price of an m5 and that setup, you could buy a carerra gt or a nice house

 

[Kansei]

Or a mint FD, a full complete restoration with new engine and turbo.. and a spare engine.. oh and make that 10 FDs.

 

[Rainman]

i saw a horsepower episode when they mounted rear turbos on a vette, they say it does loose some PSI, but the extra distance the air travels cools it just that much more allowing for a denser charge

Saw the same episode, but I have only really heard about rear-mounted turbos there and not elsewhere. Consequently, I wasn't really sure that many people were taking it seriously as an option.

R

 

[kurfgator]

It seems that more and more people are building rear-mounted turbo kits as viable performance options for increasing horsepower. I have not seen any discussion on this topic, but I wonder whether this type of setup has improved emissions characteristics when compared to conventional turbo setups. If not, the only major benefit I can see is that there is easier packaging since you don't have to make room in the engine bay. Piping would be onerous though.

R

The rear mounted turbos are a sweet way to turbo a car that didn't come with one stock. The advantages are numerous: 1. Doesn't increase the underhood temperature. 2. Allows the turbo to run cooler (read: more efficient) because it is not confined and is exposed to passing air. 3. The oil is exposed to such outrageous temps because of the cooler running turbo and the oil has a large amount of line to pass through and dissipate heat. 4. The long piping allows the pressurized air to cool down a lot so an intersooler isn't always necessary on low boost applications. 5. They allow a turbo to be added to a car with no room left under the hood, which is most modern cars.
6. The turbo can be added with out removing any emissions systems so in a lot of cases these turbo kits are legal. 7. THEY SOUND LIKE A PISSED OF JET FIGHTER!!

Disadvantages: 1. Can have more lag thn a conventional setup, but not always. 2. Turbo is exposed to the elements. 3. I dunno any others but I'm sure there are.