E60714

Well, a Stage 2 Dinan remapping with the free flow exhaust will give you numbers slightly better than a 550 (348/421), but I doubt that would be enough to take an M5. The torque with the Dinan is incredible though. Thing is, it'll rob you of atleast $4000, and it has to be done in Cali, so those of us in the Midwest and the East are gonna have to make a roadtrip across the country to get it fixed.

Vishnu, I'm not familiar with, but they've popped up alot in talks as well.

Allen

I agree that it might not be as extreme as that...but I most definitely believe that they would NOT be "almost neck-and-neck". Unless of course your talking about like a 0.5 mile or less road course. As an example, on the Barber 2.38 miles track here in Birmingham, there are 17 turns. The extra punch of the M5 coming out of a turn would launch you out in front and you would just continue leaving the 550 from there. Braking for the next turn could possibly gain the 550 a bit of distance, but not nearly enough. Also, I assume we're talking about equally capable drivers...cause on a road course, a good driver in a 535 could kill a bad driver in a M5...for sure.

Richard in NC

On the street where RPMs could be lower, the 550i would be close. On track, no holds barred, keeping the RPMs up in the M5 makes it scream out of turns. I haven't driven one but I've ridden in an M5 at the BMW performance center and an M6 on track (Road Atlanta).

For a comparison of times, at VIR (3.25 miles, 19+ turns), I get the stock 550i around in 2:30-2:35. An M5 driven with my experience level can see 2:20 - 2:25. A pro would knock 5 seconds off each. VIR is a horsepower track where the 550i hits 135 mph but the M5 can hit 155 mph. VIR also demands a well balanced confidence inspiring chassis. Although the 550i seems good, I bet the M5 is better. A properly set up track car (coil-overs, BBK & track pads, etc) even if low HP (such as an E36 M3) would also get a big advantage in the corners and near equal lap times to the M5.

PS: I would venture a guess that a 535i would have to be tuned to 425-450hp and/or coil-overs and big brake kit to have any chance of hanging with a stock M5 at VIR.

John@Motorcepts

depends. in nyc, a 525i and m5 has no difference. gotta love traffic.

radzM

the difference would be like chocolate and milk!

E60714

...They go good together.

C's Bimmer

Yeah, ummmm...NO!

gregg2gs

Honestly, this is not even a realistic conversation and there is ZERO, I mean Z E R O chance that any 5 series can beat the M5.

I am the most qualified to state this as I just raced my girlfriends 2008 M5 and my 550i. Not even in the same ballpark. 0-155mph, the M5 was at least 50 yards ahead, if not more. Both pedals mashed to the floor from a dead stop. Secondly, to disqualify any retort regarding bad driver vs good driver (not expert or worst) the M5 will make up any difference in skill with pure M ability. I am not biased. I do not own an M5. I own the next best, 550i...I have driven the 535i twin turbo and although I think that car is quicker than mine at different speeds, it is zero match for the M5.

Last, but not least, the E63 is a car I just raced with the M5. M5 gets the win by a nose straight ahead and would KILL it in autocross.

I wish my girlfriend would confirm this...please jump in honey...baaahhaaaaa

pinguhk

of couse it cant win 1 is 367hp and other is 507hp

GT Premi

I know it's just semantics, but the M5 is a 5-series, you know; hence the "5" in M5. And nobody said that the "lesser" 5-series would beat the M5, just that a 550i Sport would be neck-and-neck w/ an M5 on a course where ultimate speed is not a factor. All this talk of 2+ mile long tracks obviously doesn't apply. And no, the M5 can't beat an E63 AMG in a straight line. In your "proof," what was it, a half a block?? There has not been one published test where the M5 beat an E63 AMG in a straight line. And when you think about it, in your race w/ the M5, if it was only 50 yards ahead of the 550i when it reach 155MPH, thats not that far at all. At 155MPH, that's probably less than a tenth of a second.

Look, I'm not trying to be difficult or a hater. But when you tear it down to the brass tacks, the M5 is still just a 5-series underneath. They didn't sprinkle magical fairy dust on it at the factory, and it's not unbeatable is all I'm saying. Trying to give some balance to the fanboyism.