[Video] Car-to-car footage through a Purpose-built BMW E39 M5

Ever seen a gripping capture of car-to-car footage? Check out this purpose-built 2002 BMW E39 M5 called the “Ranch Hand”. The customized BMW car was transformed with speed rail, an Alexa Mini setup, joined with a 3-axis dampening system called Flowcine Black Arm and Ronin 2.

Jeremy Heslup, Valkyr Productions’ director and executive producer, has made the project become possible. Fiddling with gimbals, triangulation kits, suction, and shock mounts, whatever car was around, Heslup stated that he was strapping it all in for the last ten years or so.

One of the results of his decade in tinkering was the Black Arm, ready to be given a trial at Willow Springs and was fully set up on a Toyota FJ Cruiser. However, Heslup and his team instantly realized that an SUV was a significantly unsafe chase car when placed on a track. Even though everything worked out fine, this realization led them to find a car that is much faster.

This resulted into finding an E39 M5 that has 205,000 miles on the clock, recognizing that BMW is popular for being perfectly flexible. Heslup quickly remodeled the car after finding and retrieving it in Colorado. Their next shoot was at Tejon Ranch where a Mclaren 720S was waiting for the remodeled BMW with its speed rail.

Spunning in and out of the trees at the ranch, the cars flew along the road and even hit 120mph with a proximity that is within reach. Heslup further mentioned that the BMW was “perfect” to contend through the corners and run full speed at past 130 mph down the track. This was possible even though they used a Russian Arm for their Hollywood shoot.

A short history on how the Bavarian Ranch Hand was built can be shown on the video below.