Originally Posted by swajames' post='1084532' date='Jan 5 2010, 09:25 PM

Right, but your old X5 wouldn't have had any of the handling and suspension technology present in the X6 - and that's essentially the same point we're making in relation to the OP's 523i as compared to his friend's X6 50i. I'm not over enamored by some aspects of the the X6's design and styling, but there's no arguing with the performance or the technology that BMW deployed to aid ride and handling.

Originally Posted by Greenberg' post='1084553' date='Jan 5 2010, 11:01 AM

So an X6 3.0i will do my 2008 525i Sport on the same corner you saying...

Now lets take it to a heavy loaded traffic high way, play checkers on the high-way with 525i M-Sport the X6 3.0i should loose just due to its weight. Im sure my car stops quicker or am I wrong...

Originally Posted by swajames' post='1084558' date='Jan 5 2010, 10:06 PM

If you take the time to properly read the thread, you'll see that the original poster has a non-sport car...

It is this which is causing much of the discussion...

Originally Posted by swajames' post='1084558' date='Jan 5 2010, 08:06 PM

If you take the time to properly read the thread, you'll see that the original poster has a non-sport car...

It is this which is causing much of the discussion...

Originally Posted by Rudy' post='1084424' date='Jan 5 2010, 10:06 AM

Bottom line...you like your car and your friend likes his. It'll be hard to change anyone's mind about who's car is "better" since it's all relative and opinion based...

Originally Posted by Shebs' post='1084402' date='Jan 5 2010, 09:10 AM

However, we ended up arguing and me being a mechanical engineer with a masters degree , I kept making fun of him in front of all our friends for the whole trip.

Originally Posted by ipp' post='1084568' date='Jan 5 2010, 11:21 AM

And 'Sport' means? M-Sport package with M-Sport suspension like in Europe and most parts of the world; or ARS, like in the US only?

Originally Posted by cobradav' post='1084483' date='Jan 5 2010, 11:44 AM

You beat me too it. I was also going to add the point that the X6 will have the contact patch advantage so in this case he can carry more speed in this curve face off. And it appears this driver may know how to wring that out of his X6, but then again, maybe not. Although most road courses would also not be a fair test as there would be some straights that certainly the higher HP/torque of the X6 would have the advantage, a road such as the ToD (318 curves in 11 miles) could possibly even things out to the better balanced car. I have seen and run against everything thrown at the the ToD from E24 on up EXCEPT any BMW SUV/SAV (including X5/6M), but including every other M out there. I have to say that it is pretty much a driver difference in all the combos I have seen but the 135i and M3s of any vintage have an inherant advantage in their HP/weight/wheel base ratio compared to everything else as there are some absolutely killer curves of 180 degrees, increasing and decreasing radii, on and off camber turns and more. And speaking to the PS2s, I removed them from my car just because of their poor performance on the ToD. Turn-in was poorer and lost grip earlier than some other tires (hence one of only two spinouts I have had in 54+ spirited runs of the ToD) was on the PS2s.

Please be safe in this test and report the results after you do your face off. Will your friend let you swap vehicles and do the test in each others vehicles? That would be a good way for each of you to test their skill against the vehicle. Will be interested in results.

Originally Posted by swajames' post='1084669' date='Jan 5 2010, 10:48 PM

It's effectively moot, ipp - any BMW sport/M-Sport suspension, particularly when combined with ARS/Dynamic Drive, transforms the car when compared to the stock non-sport base suspension. That's not to say that a non-sport BMW can't handle, but a non-sport BMW is really no better than its MB/Audi/Lexus competitors whereas the sport/ARS cars tend to be significantly better than their typical competitors from a ride and handling perspective.