Seth's BMW M5
I used to read the Motor Trend magazine with the BMW M5, when I was a teenager, and I remember thinking, “Why would you buy an M5, when the M3 is smaller and better?!”
Fast forward to today, with a two-year-old kid in the mix, and now, I'm thinking, “Why would you buy an M3, when the M5 is bigger and better?!”
Seth's 2002 BMW M5 Dinan S2+ is proof that you can make a family hauler into a fun hauler. Since he garages it, this car only has 51k. You can imagine his big smile, when he had the chance to drive out for our photo shoot.
With a 15-year-old car, I expected to clean up a lot of imperfections, but I was wrong. Seth takes great care and attention to detail with his car. The eye-catching Carbon Works GTR style carbon fiber hood, along with the carbon fiber front splinters, are the first details I noticed.
Peeking out from behind the black mesh hints, it’s easy to see that there's something more to this BMW V8. The mesh hides an intercooler that's piped to a Rk Autowerks Stage 2 Supercharger. A pair of Supersprint headers funnel exhaust gases into a Tubi catback exhaust, and this creates a symphony of rumble.
The M5's sway and strut bars were swapped for Dinan models, which were also paired up with JRZ shocks and springs. What also wears the Dinan badge? Let’s not forget to include the 3.45 rear differential and short shifter. Nineteen inch Forged Emotion wheels are what keep the M5 spinning, while the Dinan 6-pot Brembos all around, with stainless steel brake lines, are in charge of bringing them to a stop.
When Seth doesn't want to hear the charger whining or the exhaust rumbling, he turns to his Dynavin Nav unit. Alpine and Rockford Fosgate Amos power the BSW speakers and sub that surround him.
When I asked Seth for a spec sheet of the cars, his replied, "I've got a screenshot of the list, when I was crazy and said I might sell." I'm glad you came to your senses and decided to keep the car.
