+10million.... I have a serious thing for wagons, especially if it was a manual tranny.... drool....

 

I'm already in discussions with several people about a 'Stage 2' RSC Supercharged package. With a relatively minor build-out on the engine we could probably delivery 750HP at the flywheel for around $40K. Beyond that, drivetrain is going to become a very limiting factor.

 

Waste of money, honestly a properly modified v8v will be way better than an M5 motor anyways. It will also ruine the car. This is a fun exercise in wild ideas, nothing more.

Stick to the 4.7L V8 and just go to town on it, that will be MORE than enough. If you want an M5, buy an M5

 

Ok, so how about a variant on the OP's idea.

Would it be easier to fit an AM-like body to an M5?

I know its not an original idea, Ford just did it with one of their mainstream cars , but the mechanics would then be straightforward, it would just need some work with metal cutters, welders, and bodyfiller.

Put some AM badges over the BMW ones inside the car, some double-sided stickytape would work there, and its done, an M5-engined Aston Martin

 

Dehnert --- I happen to have a 535xi Touring and it did occur to me to tear both it and the M5 down and swap everything during the brief time I had them both.

Sunir --- I don't think Mr Norwood was taking out good engines, but rather using good shells that had blown motors. Mostly the older 308/328/Testarossa bodies if memory serves. Car and Driver did some write-ups that you might be able to find back when they still sponsored the high speed shootouts.

And Msizzle is correct about the code and the tranny. No dual clutch in the V10 cars. In fact the transmissions in both the V8V and M5/SMG cars were very similar in feel to me. Both cars suffer around town in low speed stop-and-go, but the V10's lack of low end torque made it more noticeable.

Which brings me back on topic....since the gen 6 Vettes used a transaxle, that drivetrain might be a better option if someone were serious about a swap. Plus, it wouldn't change the character of the car quite so much. That would put you more in the category of a Carroll Shelby than a Bob Norwood.

 

respectfully, no vantage motor will ever be as good as the m5 motor, and that includes the one in the v12 vantage. the m5 motor is incredible. it was cast in the same foundry as the f1 engines. 10 throttle butterflys, electronically actuated, forged and oil cooled Mahle pistons, forged crank, ionic knock sensing, etc. It runs an incredibly high compression ratio, has a specific output of over 100 bhp per litre, and revs past 8200 rpm. It is a supercar motor.

 

that doesn't mean it belongs in a Vantage. that would be financial suicide. the problem with the s85 is the fact that it came with a subpar tranny for daily driving and the manual that was offered was out of the old m5, so it's a weak point.

 

It's not a DCT, it's SMG - huge difference.