adamrogers

Ok.. I've got almost 8000 miles on my 550. I really like but I'm itching for just a bit more speed.. a bit tighter handling, etc..

Plus I'm tired of getting beat by SL55's... so help me do some math...

How much is my car worth (see sig below)?
How much could I get a 2006 slightly used M5 for?
I'm getting 18+ mpg in my 550, what can I expect in an M5 (80 miles/day mostly highway)?
I'm putting about 30k miles/year on the car - what's the depreciation of a 550 vs an M5?

What else am I missing?

Insurance differences?

Oh yeah.. anyone have an M5 they'd like to sell???

soc_fans

A loaded used m5 is going for low 80's right now. And you probably need another 30k max to swap ur 550i for an m5..

JDN

There's gotta be a cheaper way to get an ego fix.

tachyon

I think soc fans has it about right .... $30,000 to swap the 2006 550i for an M5. (But if someone is selling theirs now it likely has had a bunch of SMG problems).

Expect 12 mpg in the M5.

Depreciation for the M5 should be a lot less. For example, a used old model M5 probably goes for about $12-15,000 more than a same-year same-mileage 7 series, while they both where priced about the same originally.

I've thought about the same upgrade too, but every time I drive the 550i I am so totally happy with it I cannot rationalize the change.

If you keep the 550i, you can tighten up the ride and hanlding of the 550i with aggressive springs, sway bars, and strut braces. Mount some light weight wheels. Then add some engine performance enhancements (cold air intake, free flow exhaust, EMS remap) and maybe gain 25-30HP (and some more torque too).

But you will never get much back for those investments in the 550i. You just have to rationalize those toys for your own fun only.

So if you look at the financials between enhancing the 550 or buying an M5, I don't think the net investment in the M5 is all that much: maybe less than $10,000.

I say if you really like the M5 - go for it.

my530i

You can sell your 550 for $50K
A used M5 is $80K
Tax on $80K is ~$6K
=> Out the door is just another $36K => An excellent down payment for 335i

Please don't bother thinking about M5. It's not practical for daily commute like yours. I'm sure you'll visit gas station every other morning that that kind of commute and racing with SL55.

If I could make $30K/month net, I'd go for it. If I made $30K/quarter, I'd not do it

gasterus

Why not drop a supercharger into your engine? You could be pumping out close to 450hp...I think it will bring you much closer to the SL55 Cost: +/-$12,000 includes installation.

big_ipaq

Are there so many SL55 around you?

soc_fans

Fly over to S. Cal and you can see the city is flooded with SL.

xexyus

I saw a used one at the dealer with 3k on it going for 91,000$


As for the guy wanting an M5, I take it someone you dont like owns an SL55?

adamrogers

Boca Raton, FL - it's a scary place.

Sad but an SL55 is a poor-man's car in this city. There are more Bentley's around here than E60's... SL55's are everywhere.

I'm over the M5 thing for now. The 550 is a perfect car for my commute - I really love it. This was a fun thread though.