Tuned BMW 540i Drag Races M5, Bet on the Factory Engineers

Just think of it this way. A car manufacturer spends tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars, to develop a new model. It takes years and multiple teams to find the right setup. With that in mind, allow me to get to the point. The tuning industry has exploded over the past 20 years. Plenty of companies build or sell visual or performance upgrades.

A quick ECU reflash can significantly increase horsepower if you own a turbocharged vehicle. But it's more complex than that. Once you start growing power figures, the initial balance of the car is lost. You'll need to upgrade the brakes, suspension, cooling, and fueling, and it doesn't stop there. So think twice before assuming a tuned 540i can take on a BMW M5 and win.

Still, if you need solid proof, the following drag race will provide the answer. The 540i is severely underpowered in standard form compared to its sportier sibling. The B58 engine is good for just over 330 horsepower and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque. Despite weighing about 1,760 kg, it can still hit 62 mph (100 kph) in less than five seconds. The M5 is about 100 kilograms heavier but can reach the same speed in just over three seconds.

Meanwhile, the S63 engine has two more cylinders and a larger displacement. That translates to more power and more torque. However, the owners of both these cars opted for additional upgrades. The 540i now has a Turbosystems Stage 2+ Turbo upgrade and a Snow Performance kit, and there's more. Reportedly, performance figures are now up to 690 horsepower and 800 Nm.

The gearbox tune should also help the owner in today's race, but I wouldn't bet on him yet. According to the M5 owner, his car should have slightly more torque but similar power levels. It only needed a light tune to get here, but how much more would you want from an M5 if you had one? In the real world, I understand how people might think the 540i can be as fast as its rival today.

But things will be different when lining up for a timed 1/4-mile battle. The rolling race is up first, and I will say this: they're neck and neck for most of the run. But on both occasions, we get a reminder of two ideas. One, there's no replacement for displacement. And two, it's tough to go up against the work of the factory engineers.

Everyone is free to draw their conclusions after watching this race. Buying the 540i and tuning it will be cheaper at the end of the day, and it might be almost as fun. But it will never be an actual M5. Just like a Skyline GTS-T will never be a genuine GT-R, regardless of how much you spend on modifying it.