Setup 900HP bmw F10

Hi,

I’m planning a 900 hp build on a BMW F10, and I’ve got a few questions.

My first question is: for a project like this, can I use a BMW F10 520 or 528 as the base, or do I absolutely need an F10 M5? Since I’m planning to do a full engine swap, the engine, transmission, and many other components will all be replaced and reinforced anyway. I haven’t chosen the exact engine yet, but it will most likely be either a HEMI or an LS platform. For the transmission, I’m planning to use a ZF 8HP70.

I have much better access to 520 and 528 models, and their prices make far more sense for me.

Are the frame/chassis of these models shared with the M5?

By “chassis,” I specifically mean the body shell/frame itself — not the suspension, brakes, or other bolt-on components.

My second question is: how should I reinforce the chassis so it can reliably handle around 900 hp and approximately 900–1000 Nm of torque? What exactly needs to be done structurally?

Also, are there any courses, technical resources, or books you’d recommend for a project like this? Anything related to chassis reinforcement, fabrication, or high-horsepower builds would be really helpful.

I'm not sure how much help I can be on this topic as I know very little about BMW in general, and less so with the newer models. The base you choose is a little less relevant if you're throwing the engine in the bin, however I'd be pretty confident the M5 will come with better brakes and suspension, as well as interior trim level. I'm reasonably confident the base chassis are the same though so on that basis you wouldn't be at a disadvantage. Nothing that couldn't be dealt with in the aftermarket though so you would need to weigh up the difference in price for the M5 vs the cost of those upgrades in the aftermarket.

It's not usual with late model cars to reinforce the chassis to support 900 hp unless there was a known issue with the chassis cracking or similar. Again I don't have that specific level of knowledge here sorry. I'd find some BMW specific forums and ask there as there will likely be enthusiasts who know that platform inside out. Obviously if the car is going to be used for motorsport things could be very different and a roll cage is not only a safety structure, but it also strengthens the chassis massively.

As far as courses go, we have our motorsport fabrication courses including fabrication fundamentals, mig and tig welding, and we have a roll cage course coming out in the next few months. Our practical transmission course will also have an 8hp / Turbo Lamik worked example added shortly.