MD13 508 Report post Posted February 12 Never heard of n500... Search results give mixed opinions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topnotchrally 127 Report post Posted February 12 The description is hard to read and makes little sense to me. It's a 530 shell with slightly modified M5 engine and brakes. What the heck does n500 have to do with it? 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bandit 196 Report post Posted February 12 (edited) NC500 is a fast road around the north of scotland. Well publicised in various magazines, Evo Octane and suchlike. Much loved by various owners clubs too, I'd suggest the seller is suggesting some link to the area, given the McAlpine heritage. What happened to the original shell, hmm no guessing here two choices here, rusted out beyond repair or simply fell to bits 😀 Update: I'm wrong above, Oliver Nowack is a German M5 specialist tuner see link below, ref the Nowack N500 (503bhp) https://www.m5board.com/threads/nowack-tuning-report-the-truth-long-version.13288/ Edited February 12 by Bandit addendum 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ssbmw 235 Report post Posted February 12 (edited) There was an article on Nowack tuning many years ago in BMW car magazine- the now defunct British magazine. Nowack hailed from Germany and at the time created a name for their modified E39 M5’s. The gentleman selling his car here sourced his Nowack M5 in the UK. Crazy fast in its day and super rare. His car failed on compliance due to corrosion upon arriving in NZ- hence the car getting a new shell. Never seen one in the flesh. Edited February 12 by ssbmw 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30 325i Rag-Top 2971 Report post Posted February 12 So to summarise.. it’s a re-shelled slightly modified M5? I love the way it’s all about being a “sleeper” and then it’s got great big drifter Rota wheels on it.. kind of blows the cover really? Cool car though. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ssbmw 235 Report post Posted February 12 (edited) From what recall, Nowack tuned their E39 M5’s to increase bhp to 500. However it was very costly and there were complaints with quality. Not sure if they exist today. This car was a British M5 that had ‘Nowack treatment.’ Unfortunately, from what I know had corrosion issues when being imported to NZ- hence needed a new body - so the vins won’t correlate with the original Nowack M5. Edited February 12 by ssbmw Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deedub 57 Report post Posted February 12 The cream/biscuit/black interior with oxford green is nice. Don't like the wheels. 19" BBS LMs would completer the look. Looking at what bad condition M5s are going for at the moment it doesn't look too bad a deal (has an interesting history). 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HELLBM 1616 Report post Posted February 12 Both the origional M5 and the donor came to us for the conversion. The Trade Me discription is accurate. Well priced. 3 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vass 925 Report post Posted February 12 Were the plastic bumpers corroded too? Why would you not swap those over while you're at it, especially since they were the same color? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Driftit 2124 Report post Posted February 12 What's with the manky airboxes? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topnotchrally 127 Report post Posted February 12 33 minutes ago, Driftit said: What's with the manky airboxes? That must be the Nowack thing. It looks like the standard airboxes have been modified to fit larger intake pipes. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HELLBM 1616 Report post Posted February 12 2 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KwS 2433 Report post Posted February 12 12 hours ago, deedub said: The cream/biscuit/black interior with oxford green is nice. Don't like the wheels. 19" BBS LMs would completer the look. Looking at what bad condition M5s are going for at the moment it doesn't look too bad a deal (has an interesting history). I think those wheels are some of the worst i've seen on an E39 recently. Eww. I feel like it'll be a hard sell for anyone wanting an M5. Its not numbers matching original, and a pieced together bitsa of dubious origin. The colour combo is one of the best offered, but the standard bumpers really let the whole look down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HELLBM 1616 Report post Posted February 12 M5 Bumpers and Original Style Style 65 wheels available @HELLBM (square or staggered) 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Driftit 2124 Report post Posted February 12 I feel like this running gear should have been dropped into something cool when the M5 shell was deemed a loss. Like what Ray has done in the past with the E46 or E87's. The 530 body is just not attractive. Especially at that price. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MD13 508 Report post Posted February 12 I think it makes sense. e39 body is great. I imagine the owner wasn't looking for a major project - just had to replace the shell due to failed wof or something. Interior looks beautiful also. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topnotchrally 127 Report post Posted February 12 (edited) I'm curious about the exhaust. It's making lots of power but seems to NOT have dual M5 exhaust... it doesn't because it says it still has a spare tire holder, which M5s don't have because the exhaust is taking up that space. Edited February 12 by topnotchrally 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topnotchrally 127 Report post Posted February 12 Also, it does say in the ad the milage but it's a bit convoluted. It would seem the modified S62 engine has more than 146k MILES on. Great motor but that's a big number of miles for a modified engine. (235k kms) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
balancerider 797 Report post Posted February 13 asking to be put back to original spec and cut out the spare wheel well. colour combo is lovely, would be so nice with OEM wheels probably not worthwhile from a financial standpoint currently. this would be a fantastic receptacle for the running gear and interior if someone was to part out (even better if resprayed to Oxford Green!) 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ssbmw 235 Report post Posted February 13 Some of you anoraks may find this interesting- an old thread on the M5 board that showcases a Brit’s experience doing the Nowack thing with his e39 20 odd years ago… https://www.m5board.com/threads/nowack-tuning-report-the-truth-long-version.13288/ 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1702 Report post Posted February 13 8 hours ago, MD13 said: I think it makes sense. e39 body is great. I imagine the owner wasn't looking for a major project - just had to replace the shell due to failed wof or something. Interior looks beautiful also. Exactly. The cost to drop into another chassis wouldn't be very economical. Just should of used an msport car. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deedub 57 Report post Posted February 13 2 hours ago, ssbmw said: Some of you anoraks may find this interesting- an old thread on the M5 board that showcases a Brit’s experience doing the Nowack thing with his e39 20 odd years ago… https://www.m5board.com/threads/nowack-tuning-report-the-truth-long-version.13288/ Rough. £33,960 in 2001 for the Nowack tune and handling. Sounds like they did some dodgy work (in that case at least). He did get the extra 100hp he was looking for though... Crazy to think someone would spend that kinda money on tuning an e39 M5 (only a year or so out of the factory). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turboray82 3 Report post Posted February 13 (edited) 16 hours ago, balancerider said: Asking to be put back to original spec and cut out the spare wheel well. colour combo is lovely, would be so nice with OEM wheels probably not worthwhile from a financial standpoint currently. this would be a fantastic receptacle for the running gear and interior if someone was to part out (even better if resprayed to Oxford Green!) BalanceRider i like the way you think! Could wrangle both cars for 40k. Send to HellBM and give them another.. 40k 🤣 to swap everything into a black wagon Edited February 13 by turboray82 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
balancerider 797 Report post Posted February 13 @turboray82 Shouldn’t be 40k for the swap! I’ve just realised the rear seats from the green sedan won’t work in a touring though so would have to budget for reupholstering the minging red / black ones. if I win powerball I’ll do it…feels inappropriate parting out a proper m5 for the engine but as this one is already a mongrel so to speak I reckon it would be ok. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1972550 here’s the protocol to follow 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turboray82 3 Report post Posted February 13 Well thats gonna be 2 hours on the couch reading that tonight lol. Supposed to be working on the mustang Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
