In the next year or so, I am thinking of getting a new car. I have narrowed it down to two choices. I will either get a 2008 550i with the sport package and the sport automatic transmission, or a 2006 M5 with SMG. I would buy either of these cars used. My main concern with the M5 is the maintinence cost. I'm afraid that all of the parts (brake pads,tires etc.) will be signifigantly higher than those of the 550i. I would also like to know if there are any big drawbacks to using the M5 as a daily driver. I know that the M5 will be an absolute hoot to drive, but I don't know if the joy of the drive will outshine the cost of repair and the problems with the drivability. (if there are any)

So, answer this question: 2008 550i, or for slightly more $, 2006 M5?

 

M5, id say one of the major things would be gas mileage for being a daily driven car. youll find much information here, from any info about the M5 that leads to M5board.com to reviews about the 2008 550s with the sport auto. i myself would pick the 550 in my opinion. good luck. and also, welcome and enjoy the forums.

 

Practical side of me says to go with the car with more warranty. Fun side of me says m5.

Worthy of note, I considered an M5 but decided to get the 550i because I thought it was a better daily driver in the New York metro area.

 

I go for the 550i better for day to day drive.
M5 is a weekend car.

 

I'd go for the M5... from what people say, the pleasure outweights the pain. Like all BMW's there is always a pain element when things dont go our way, but when you get behind the wheel and hear the bellow of those exhausts.... nothing compares. Surely you can get a newer one than a 2006?

 

surely Gas is not an issue if you have a wonderous decision between a 5.0 v8 or a 5.0 v10?

 

The practical side of me says 550. In Chicago I rarely use all the power of 550. The 550 Sport with the SAT is a wonderful fun car to drive. Although this is a question best answered on a M5 board.

 

I'd say the 550. The M5 is surely a much more expensive car to have.

 

well fella, i think you can see were this one is going, it looks like the 550i is much more practical friendly, it is of course a everyday car, the M5 Well you got to have a bit of extra $$$s to drive that on a daily basis, but saying that if i had the money to maintain THE M5, then yes i would go fo it, but in the real world, ppl have mortgages, children, insurance etc etc

so my answer would go with the 550i, plus extra warranty as it will likely to be newer

 

I recently traded in my 07 550 Sport for an 07 M5 which I use as my daily driver on an 18 mi suburban/urban commute. No question the M5 is more fun even if you can't unleash it during the commute. There are plenty of other times I drive my car where I can really enjoy the difference. Keep in mind that in addition to more money to purchase and maintain the M5, you will spend about 50% more for gas compared to the 550. It's hard to justify an M5 as a daily driver, but being rational is not what this car is about!