M5 Touring 2nd Take; PNW Trip Report; CA Tire Update

The BMW M5 Touring is a high-performance wagon version of the BMW 5 Series, built by BMW M for enthusiasts who want real daily usability plus serious power. It’s notable because the M5 name is tied to BMW’s performance-tuned engines and chassis, and the “Touring” body style is the wagon variant.

Vespa is the scooter brand known for small, step-through scooters that are popular for city commuting and easy riding. In this episode, the host is talking about a new Vespa model he received, emphasizing the excitement around the purchase.

Vans is a footwear brand best known for casual skate shoes. The host contrasts his shoes with Vans to emphasize the different, more “California” style.

“Mexico blue” is a specific paint color reference used by enthusiasts to describe a particular blue shade. The host says it’s close to “Mexico blue” and compares it to the richer blue seen in person.

“Smurf blue” is a color description comparing the paint to the bright blue associated with Smurfs. It’s used as a vivid, non-technical way to communicate how saturated and friendly the blue looks.

Vespa refers to the Italian scooter brand known for step-through styling and small-displacement, city-friendly engines. In this segment, the host talks about break-in and service intervals for a Vespa he plans to ride long-term.

Break-in is the early running period where a new engine is operated gently to help internal components seat and wear in properly. The host mentions that Vespas shouldn’t be “ripped” immediately, then gives a first-service mileage to follow.

The first service is the early scheduled maintenance after the initial break-in period. Here, the host cites a first-service interval at 625 miles, then a recurring interval every 3000 miles.

The phrase is describing how a car’s value typically drops immediately after purchase. “Off the lot” means when the vehicle is delivered and you’re no longer buying it as a new inventory item, so depreciation can be steep early on.

Portland International Raceway is a motorsports facility in the Portland area that hosts track days and racing events. It’s known for being a fun, approachable circuit for drivers because it’s not as dominated by big elevation changes as some tracks.

A track day is an organized event where drivers take their own cars onto a closed circuit for timed laps or open sessions. It’s different from racing because the focus is usually driver practice and car testing rather than competition.

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is a hybrid car that has a battery large enough to be charged from an external power source. That lets it run on electric power for a while and then switch to the engine when the battery is depleted.

A chicane is a sequence of alternating turns that forces cars to slow down and change direction within a short distance. It’s often used to reduce speed before a straighter section or to manage safety and overtaking.

Tarmac is paved asphalt track surface. The host contrasts it with grass/rocks to explain what happens if you miss a corner—staying on pavement is more predictable than hitting loose surfaces.

The Toyota Supra is a sports coupe known for its straight-line speed and driver-focused layout. It comes up in conversations about handling and cornering because it’s often used to test how well a car can manage tight turns and braking. In this episode, it’s referenced in the context of discussing corner speeds and driving lines.

“Bus stop” is a common racing-track nickname for a tight, slow corner—often a near-90-degree turn—usually placed near the end of a long straight. Because it’s so slow and abrupt, braking and exit speed matter a lot.

“Standing on it” is racing slang meaning to apply full throttle. In this context it’s describing how the driver prioritizes exit speed after braking into a tight corner.

The National Corvette Museum (NCM) is a Corvette-focused museum in the U.S. The host mentions it as an example of a track safety feature used at the end of a straight to help drivers learn without turning a mistake into a bigger problem.

An apex is the point in a corner where the driver aims to be closest to the inside of the turn. The hosts talk about “throw away the first apex” and “three apexes,” meaning the line they’re using has multiple planned closest-points through a complex sequence.

Drifting is a driving technique where the car intentionally over-rotates so the rear slides while the driver maintains control and angle through the corner. The hosts mention a section “very nice for drifting” and talk about starting a slide early and then tidying it up, describing how the track’s shape supports that kind of controlled slip.

Downforce is the aerodynamic force that pushes the car’s tires harder into the road, improving grip at speed. The hosts contrast “a car with no downforce” (hairy) with an Indy car that has so much downforce that a section “is not even a turn.”

Off-camber means the road surface tilts so the outside or inside of the corner is higher, changing tire grip. The hosts say the curve is “just enough off camber” to make the car drift toward the outside, which is a common way to describe how the chassis will want to slide or load the tires unevenly.

Pit road is the controlled lane on a circuit where teams enter for pit stops and where cars follow strict speed limits. The hosts describe using the pit road exit/entrance to change the geometry of the last corner—essentially describing how the track layout affects the racing line.

In the podcast context, “M5” refers to the BMW M5, a performance-focused version of the 5 Series. The speaker discusses how it behaves in a driving scenario, including how it can be used in a way that’s “not considered a turn” in an M5 wagon—meaning the car’s dynamics and traction are central to the conversation. It’s essentially a driving-impression reference rather than a general overview.

Mount Rainier is a prominent volcanic mountain in Washington state, and it’s a major visual landmark when driving the Pacific Northwest. The hosts mention it as a distraction while cornering, highlighting how the road trip route frames the driving experience.

The Ford F-150 Lightning is an electric version of the F-150 pickup, designed to bring EV power and torque to a familiar truck platform. It’s mentioned in the episode through a “black lightning” reference, indicating the conversation is about naming/branding and possibly a specific vehicle the speaker saw or discussed. The Lightning is typically discussed as an EV that still functions like a pickup.

Steve Rimmer is described as the owner of DirtFish Rally School. In this segment, he’s also presented as having a unique rally-car collection and a background in airplane financing, which drives the conversation away from cars and into aviation finance.

Airplane financing is the specialized business of funding aircraft purchases and operations, often involving loans and ownership structures that can be complicated when aircraft are located in politically unstable regions. The host describes Steve Rimmer’s work as owning the money for plane purchases and dealing with repossession when things go wrong.

Group A was another rally homologation class, generally associated with production-based cars compared with the more extreme Group B rules. In this segment, it’s used alongside Group B to describe the breadth of rally cars in the collection.

The Porsche 959 is a landmark late-1980s performance car known for its advanced all-wheel-drive system and twin-turbo setup. In the segment, it’s referenced as part of a collection of rally cars, highlighting how rare and special the 959 is compared with other rally-era machines.

Group B was a high-performance rally class (especially in the early 1980s) that allowed very extreme, lightly homologated cars. The hosts are debating whether the Porsche 959 ever actually competed in Group B, and they mention the series being canceled before it could be entered.

The Dakar rally is a long-distance off-road race in which manufacturers have historically entered specialized vehicles. Here, the hosts connect the Porsche 959’s limited racing presence to Dakar, suggesting some 959 race-spec cars were used there rather than in Group B.

Homologation is the process of meeting a racing rule that requires a minimum number of road-legal cars to be built so the race car is based on something real. The hosts use this idea to explain why there were so many street-legal Porsche 959s compared to the number of race cars.

Vinbidders is a service that helps owners sell high-end enthusiast cars by matching them with independent dealers willing to buy remotely. In this segment, they’re positioned as a way to get a better price and reduce the hassle of selling privately.

The Porsche Carrera GT (often referred to as the Carrera GT) is a rare, track-capable supercar known for its extreme performance and collectible status. It’s discussed in the episode in the context of dealer networks and how certain dealers acquire high-end cars. That kind of mention usually signals how scarce and valuable the model is in the market.

The Lamborghini 350 GT is a classic, early-generation Lamborghini grand tourer known for its historical significance and collector value. It’s brought up in the episode alongside other rare cars in the context of dealer networks acquiring vehicles. That framing emphasizes its rarity and desirability rather than everyday usability.

A reserve is the minimum price a seller is willing to accept. In the Vinbidders flow described here, the seller sets a desired reserve as part of the listing so the deal won’t go below that threshold.

A manual swap is the conversion of a car originally built with an automatic (or another drivetrain setup) to use a manual transmission. It’s a major modification because it typically requires fitting the transmission, shifter linkage, and integrating the controls so the car behaves correctly.

The shifter mechanism is the set of parts that physically connect the driver’s gear lever to the transmission’s internal selector. The speaker is describing how the mechanism is sometimes awkwardly packaged—like a “box” that sits in the cabin—until someone integrates it cleanly into the console.

In manual-shift conversions, “cables” are the mechanical linkages that transmit your shifter movement to the transmission. Cable shifters are common when packaging or mounting makes a direct rod linkage impractical.

A “real shifter” means an actual manual gear lever connected to the transmission, rather than a fake/placeholder setup. In this context, it’s being discussed as a cable-and-bracket conversion to make a manual-style shifter work in a car that wasn’t originally designed for one.

A “bracket” here is the fabricated mounting piece that holds and positions the shifter in a location that wasn’t originally designed for one. Proper bracket design matters because it affects shifter alignment, feel, and how reliably the cables/links move the transmission.

“Shock rebuild costs” refers to the expense of having suspension dampers (shocks) disassembled, inspected, and reconditioned. Performance cars and track-focused setups often need more frequent service, and rebuild pricing can be a major part of ownership cost.

KW is a suspension brand best known for performance dampers and coilover kits. The host is suggesting KW as an upgrade to improve ride/handling on the Alfa Romeo 8C.

A “coil” in this context means the coil spring used in a coilover suspension setup. Coilovers combine springs and dampers so you can tune ride height and damping behavior for better control.

“Valving” shocks means tuning the internal flow restrictions so the damper resists compression and rebound in a specific way. That tuning is often tailored to a car’s weight, tire setup, and intended use (street vs rally/track).

“Olin’s” is almost certainly referring to Öhlins, a well-known Swedish suspension brand. The host is calling for Öhlins to supply or valve shocks for a custom setup.

A “custom set made” implies the suspension components are built or tuned specifically for this car and its use case, rather than using a generic off-the-shelf kit. In rally/street hybrids, custom tuning can significantly change how the car feels and controls body motion.

“Real set of breaks” is a colloquial way of saying the car needs proper braking hardware, likely upgraded beyond what it currently has. The context is rally-style driving, where stronger brakes and better components help resist fade and improve pedal feel.

“Safari” in car culture usually refers to building a rugged, adventure-oriented setup—often with off-road-capable tires, suspension changes, and durability-focused choices. Here, the host is contrasting a “safari” approach with the idea of making the 8C into a good street car.

A “stage” is a timed section in rallying where drivers race against the clock on a specific route. The host is describing the event format they experienced—whether it was a stage or an open/intro drive.

“Yumps” is slang for small jumps or bumps that unsettle the car’s suspension and traction. In rally training, they’re used to teach how to stay composed when the surface suddenly changes.

The Nürburgring is a famous motorsport venue in Germany, best known for the Nordschleife circuit with big elevation changes and complex corners. It’s often used as a benchmark for performance cars and driver skill.

Lime Rock Park is a road course in Connecticut known for its short, tight layout and high cornering demands. It’s popular for driving events because it emphasizes braking, turn-in, and maintaining momentum.

Wayne Corini is mentioned as a host/connection for the trip, with the group going to his house. The name is relevant because it anchors the itinerary around a specific person’s location.

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a performance sedan known for its driver-focused chassis tuning and strong track manners. In this comparison, the host says the Blackwing feels better than the M5 because it’s lighter and the front/rear balance changes noticeably.

“All-wheel drive sport” is a drive-mode setting that biases the car toward more aggressive throttle response and stronger traction management when AWD is active. The host uses it to explain how the M5 can heat all four tires quickly and still stay mostly composed on track.

MDM (in BMW terminology) is a traction-control/drivetrain intervention mode that allows more slip than full stability control while still managing wheelspin. Here, the host credits MDM with keeping the M5 from getting too sideways, even though it will still show some understeer/oversteer as tires heat up.

Understeer and oversteer describe how a car responds when you turn while accelerating or braking. Understeer means the car doesn’t rotate enough (front washes out), while oversteer means the rear steps out more than you expect—both are strongly influenced by tires, weight transfer, and traction-control strategy.

“Rear-drive mode” is a selectable drivetrain setting that limits power delivery primarily to the rear axle. The host describes it as especially “silly” and fun because it changes the car’s balance and rotation, but also accelerates front-tire overheating during repeated laps.

Engine braking is the deceleration effect you get when you lift off the throttle and the engine resists being driven by the wheels. In a rear-drive car, that sudden resistance can shift weight and traction enough to upset the chassis and help the rear rotate.

The BMW M2 is a smaller, sportier BMW coupe designed to deliver M-car driving dynamics in a more compact package. The episode mentions the M2CS and discusses how it can rotate the rear under braking—an important handling trait for track driving. It’s included as part of a comparison of how different M models behave.

Throttle here refers to the driver’s small changes in engine torque request via the accelerator pedal. The host emphasizes that tiny throttle percentages (around 1–2%) can hold a stable slide, while a bit more (around 3%) can cause an immediate spin.

Sport Plus is a drive-mode setting that typically sharpens throttle response and other vehicle behaviors to make the car feel more aggressive. The host says the car’s slide sensitivity is tied to being in Sport Plus.

“Performance Car of the Year” is an award category used by automotive publications to recognize standout performance cars. The host references it to explain that once they learned the technique, they could repeat it more easily.

Front tires are the tires on the front axle, and they can overheat when you repeatedly induce slides and weight transfer during laps. The host notes that after a couple laps, tire heat makes the car less effective at the trick.

“Active ride” refers to an electronically controlled suspension system that adjusts damping and/or suspension behavior in real time. The goal is to change how the car absorbs bumps and how it responds to steering and braking. In this segment, the host says it can feel different between comfort and sport modes.

A “damper” is the shock absorber component that controls how quickly the suspension moves after hitting a bump. Softer damping lets the car move more freely, while firmer damping reduces body motion. The host notes that in comfort the system “takes all the damper out,” making the car feel more unsettled.

Torque is the twisting force an engine produces, and it strongly influences acceleration and how easily a car can break traction. The host ties torque to the car’s long wheelbase and weight transfer behavior, and later discusses how the car’s traction systems manage it. In this context, torque is the key quantity being “moved around” by the electronics.

“Electronic controls” refers to the car’s computer-managed systems like traction control and stability/torque management. The host claims you can feel these systems “pulling power” and “moving torque around,” which is how the car maintains grip during hard driving. This is a dynamic, real-time intervention rather than a one-time mechanical change.

“Traction off” means the car’s traction control system is disabled or reduced, allowing more wheel slip. The host says that with traction off, even very small throttle input can quickly light up the tires. That’s a direct description of how traction control normally intervenes to prevent spin.

The Audi Allroad is a wagon-style vehicle designed for comfort on regular roads with added capability for rougher conditions. It’s mentioned as an alternative look or direction compared with the M5 “train,” suggesting the conversation is about what kind of body style people prefer. The episode references “new all-road pictures,” indicating it’s tied to recent updates or a new reveal.

The Audi A6 all-road is an A6 wagon variant tuned for rougher roads, typically with a more rugged look and suspension setup than a standard A6 Avant. In this segment, they specifically discuss the new A6 all-road pictures and note it has a wide-body treatment and fender flares. That’s the key design change they’re reacting to.

Fender flares are extended panels around the wheel openings that cover the tire and help create a wider stance. They’re common on off-road-inspired vehicles and performance “wide body” builds. Here, the hosts specifically discuss whether they want the wide stance wagon look and call out the fender flares as the part they’re unsure about.

The Audi RS6 is the performance flagship wagon/estate in Audi’s lineup, known for its high-output power and aggressive styling. Here, they compare the A6 all-road’s wide fender look to the “RS6 body” and call out the RS-style fender flares. It’s a visual reference to how the RS6’s proportions look.

The Audi SQ5 is the sportier, performance-oriented version of the Q5 crossover, typically with a more aggressive stance and styling than the standard Q5. In this segment, they describe the A6 all-road’s look as “a lowered SQ5,” using it as a shorthand for the proportions and fender/stance vibe. It’s a design comparison rather than a technical one.

BBS is a well-known wheel brand (Bayerische BBS) famous for lightweight, high-quality alloy wheels. When someone says a car has “BBSs,” they’re usually referring to BBS aftermarket wheels that can improve the look and sometimes reduce unsprung weight. In this segment, they’re describing a pearlescent white car on BBS wheels and how it looked.

The Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV known for practicality, comfort, and broad mainstream appeal. In the episode, it’s referenced as having an angular design that’s compared to the look of the new M5, implying the conversation is about styling cues. The RAV4 is used as a reference point for how certain design shapes can influence how other cars look.

The Audi A6 is a mid-size luxury sedan used as a baseline for comparing dimensions. Here, the host says the new BMW M5 is four inches wider than an A6, which is a concrete way to talk about stance and visual width.

Road America is a major road course in the United States, known for long straights and fast, flowing corners. The host references it as the location where they saw a purple E92, tying the car examples to a real track setting.

“718” refers to the Porsche 718 model line, which includes cars like the 718 Spider mentioned in the episode. It’s discussed because the speaker notices a specific color and the car’s presence at a track event, suggesting it’s part of a lineup of performance cars being observed. The 718 line is often associated with Porsche’s mid-engine sports-car feel.

The Genesis GV80 is a luxury SUV from Genesis, positioned as a more upscale alternative in the SUV market. In the episode, it’s mentioned alongside driving context (“Zach is driving the GV80 gas right now”), indicating it’s part of a set of cars being evaluated. The “gas” wording suggests they’re discussing the internal-combustion version rather than an electric variant.

The Porsche Taycan is Porsche’s all-electric performance sedan, and its key fob design is part of the day-to-day ownership experience. In this segment, the hosts compare the Taycan key size to other Porsche keys, implying Porsche changed the fob hardware over time. Key fob size can correlate with electronics needed for range and security features.

A “fob” is the keyless-entry remote (the handheld transmitter) that communicates with the car to lock/unlock and often to start the vehicle. The host focuses on why the fob size is increasing even when the number of buttons stays the same. Bigger fobs can indicate different internal electronics, antennas, or power sources for range and security.

The Porsche Macan is a compact luxury SUV, and the host notes the Macan they’re driving has an even larger key fob. They connect the bigger fob to possible internal reasons like battery size, range, or security changes. The segment specifically raises the idea that Porsche had to adjust key production due to an RFID-related security situation.

RFID (radio-frequency identification) is the wireless tech used for keyless entry, where the key communicates with the car using radio signals. The host suggests Porsche had a security issue tied to RFID, leading to changes in key production and compatibility. In practice, RFID security problems can force manufacturers to update key hardware and/or software.

Run-flat tires are designed to keep working even after a puncture, so you can drive to a safe location without immediately changing the tire. They typically use reinforced sidewalls, which can make them feel harsher and louder than conventional tires. The host is discussing whether modern run-flats still have the reputation for being bad.

Tire “life” refers to how much usable tread and remaining wear a tire has before it’s unsafe or ineffective. Enthusiasts often try to stretch tire replacement until they’re truly worn out, balancing grip, safety, and cost.

A puncture is when something sharp creates a hole in the tire, causing air loss. In tire discussions, it matters because it determines whether you can safely drive on the tire (especially with run-flats) or need immediate replacement.

Bushings are rubber or elastomer components that isolate vibration and allow controlled movement between suspension or chassis parts. The host says his Taycan needed dealer service for a set of bushings that creaked, and they were fixed.

A firmware update updates the car’s embedded control software—code that runs on the car’s electronic modules (like infotainment, control units, and other systems). The host distinguishes firmware updates from general software updates and mentions that some firmware updates may require a wired connection.

This is the concept of “end of software support” for connected cars: manufacturers may stop issuing updates when development resources are moved on. The host compares it to parts availability (like hoses) and suggests that while older cars may still function, they may stop getting new optimizations or feature updates.

In a repair context, “normal operation” means how a component behaves when it’s healthy and functioning as designed. The host is discussing how customers often don’t know what noises, vibrations, or behaviors are expected versus signs of a problem.

A single-mass flywheel is a clutch/engine component that doesn’t use a multi-part design to absorb driveline vibration. Compared with dual-mass setups, it can transmit more vibration and produce a more “chattery” or rattly feel and sound, especially at idle or during clutch engagement.