Fun fact: Worldwide production of Hartge H50s was less than ten.
Names like AC Schnitzer and Hamman are the top choices for German tuners, especially those who are proficient with BMW vehicles. Hartge, a German tuner, is arguably the most underrated.
Hartge has been tuning BMWs from the 1970s. They specialize in engine swaps and have made some crazy setups in the 1990s and 2000s. This BMW Hartge H50V10 is a 3 Series sedan with a 5.0-liter M5 engine. Yes, it’s a 3 Series with an engine M5. I just had to reiterate that to make it clear that it was not a typo.
As we have mentioned twice, the BMW Hartge H50 V10 is powered by a 550-hp S85 V10 motor from the M5, which allows it to accelerate from standstill to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. Why did the company choose an M5 engine over the M3’s V8 motor? They can.
All parts of the M5 powerplant are included as well, including the radiator, exhaust headers and sport catalytic convertors. Hartge also provided engine mapping that was bespoke to eliminate the top speed limiter. Other parts include a seven speed SMG transmission, limited slip differential and coil over suspension (30mm lower), six-piston front brake calipers with crossdrilled rotors and four-piston rear brakes calipers.
The car isn’t quite as striking as you might have thought. It’s a 3 Series sedan with subtle upgrades such as fenders, front spoiler, carbon fiber mirror caps and rear wings. For crying out loud, it even comes with halogen headlights.
The enormous engine that powers the car’s hood is enough to draw your attention. Hartge may have focused too much effort on fitting that huge powerplant inside the bonnet. We’ll never know but that engine swap is insane.