530i vs. 550i
07-22-2005, 06:25 AM
#11
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jhav,
I am assuming that you do not have a sports package, am I correct? What do you think about the handling without it?
I am assuming that you do not have a sports package, am I correct? What do you think about the handling without it?
Originally Posted by nbarco' date='Jul 22 2005, 04:50 PM
I am being told that the 540i will not be offered in the US market.? So that is not a choice.? The military sales division here in Germany has information well before the States, so I am going to have to take this as reliable information.? The 550i has a base price of 50,300, but includes the premium package and Step which are an 1800 option and 1275 option.? With that said I would be paying? $5825 for a bigger engine.? Anyone have the fuel consumption info on the 550i?
[quote name='Edlee' date='Jul 22 2005, 04:29 PM']Have you not considered the 540?
[quote name='Edlee' date='Jul 22 2005, 04:29 PM']Have you not considered the 540?
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07-22-2005, 06:37 AM
#12
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My Ride: 2006 530i Sport
Silver Gray - Black Leather - Anthracite Maple
Manual Transmission
Premium Audio
Cold Weather Package
Rear sunshade
Sirius Radio
Autobahnd Roadblock (3M) film kit
There are some differences between the cars. The new 530i is quick, but not brutal or blindingly fast. It all depends on what you are looking for. It has been written by folks here and by the automotive press that the 530i feels more nimble and light than the V8 variant, and I can confirm that it does have these qualities and feels great when being tossed around. I have the sport package the US gets - the dynamic drive. It's superb and I have driven cars with/without.
It is my personal experience that even 545i and 550i speed is generally quite easy to build a tolerance to... In other words, you get bored with it. A car needs to be scary-fast to continue to deliver a huge rush over a long period of ownership. I seem to remember a 545i owner complaining just a week or so ago that he had grown accustom to the speed. So if you're buying it for the rush, I'd argue neither car is a good choice. If you want it for a nice high speed cruiser that does everything well, then both cars would be a good choice.
I have been tracking my mileage on my 530i. It isn't fully broken in yet, but the MPG is improving. I have reached 27MPG average and it is rising. I push mine -hard-, but I have a strong mix of highway driving, pretty similar to what I remember was typical in Germany. Do you have the option of driving them before you buy one?
It is my personal experience that even 545i and 550i speed is generally quite easy to build a tolerance to... In other words, you get bored with it. A car needs to be scary-fast to continue to deliver a huge rush over a long period of ownership. I seem to remember a 545i owner complaining just a week or so ago that he had grown accustom to the speed. So if you're buying it for the rush, I'd argue neither car is a good choice. If you want it for a nice high speed cruiser that does everything well, then both cars would be a good choice.
I have been tracking my mileage on my 530i. It isn't fully broken in yet, but the MPG is improving. I have reached 27MPG average and it is rising. I push mine -hard-, but I have a strong mix of highway driving, pretty similar to what I remember was typical in Germany. Do you have the option of driving them before you buy one?
07-22-2005, 06:44 AM
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My Ride: 2014 550i M-Sport (on order) 2011 335is 6 speed (current) 2005 545i 6 speed (sold)
tomwid --- I said ~15mpg --- at last check, it was 14.6 for this tank of gas. 
I think the best I EVER got on a tank was 21.5 and that was strictly highway driving on a roundtrip from Philly to DC. More often than not, I am just shy of 15mpg/tank.
nbarco --- No sports package here. I think the handling is just fine, but I have nothing to compare it too. I decided against the sports package as I live in suburban Philadelphia and did not want to have performance tires on my car during those few times a year when I have to deal with ice/snow. Also, I happen to like the chrome trim on the outside more than the black trim that comes with the sports package. Having said that, I have heard great things about the active steering that had been included previously with the sports package (not sure on the '06's though) and I would certainly prefer the 18" wheels (included with sports package) to my 17".
My brother-in-law lives in Manhattan and has an Steptronic '04 545 with sports package. During a recent visit, he drove my car and remarked that he thought the ride was smoother than his. I have not driven his since I purchased my car, so I cannot compare the driving experience --- perhaps next time he is in town I'll take his for a spin.
I think the best I EVER got on a tank was 21.5 and that was strictly highway driving on a roundtrip from Philly to DC. More often than not, I am just shy of 15mpg/tank.nbarco --- No sports package here. I think the handling is just fine, but I have nothing to compare it too. I decided against the sports package as I live in suburban Philadelphia and did not want to have performance tires on my car during those few times a year when I have to deal with ice/snow. Also, I happen to like the chrome trim on the outside more than the black trim that comes with the sports package. Having said that, I have heard great things about the active steering that had been included previously with the sports package (not sure on the '06's though) and I would certainly prefer the 18" wheels (included with sports package) to my 17".
My brother-in-law lives in Manhattan and has an Steptronic '04 545 with sports package. During a recent visit, he drove my car and remarked that he thought the ride was smoother than his. I have not driven his since I purchased my car, so I cannot compare the driving experience --- perhaps next time he is in town I'll take his for a spin.
07-22-2005, 06:46 AM
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My Ride: 2007 530i, white/black manual, sports package, nav, PDC, etc.
Are you certain about your math? When I add up the 530i figures, I come out with $47,715. I personally prefer the 530i because it's lighter and handles better. I've driven the 545i (with manual trans) and it felt too bulky and too remote. I may be alone on this, but I prefer the sound of the BMW 6.
This is just me, but had the 545 not been sold in the US I would not be driving an e60. For me, the 530 lacked the necessary grunt, and it did not provide sufficient performance advantage over competitors such as the new Acura RL. I might even have ended up with the Caddy STS V8.
Of course, the 545 is available (soon to be 550), and the rest of the discussion is moot. Go for the 550; it's well worth the cost premium.
Originally Posted by MaxBuck' date='Jul 22 2005, 06:09 AM
[quote name='nbarco' date='Jul 22 2005, 07:53 AM']I am torn between getting a 550i and a 530i.? I am in the US Army currently stationed in Germany for another year and a half.? I just solde a 2002 Volvo S60 AWD and ordered a 2006 530i.? I just saw the price on the 550i and it is roughly a $5000 difference for me.? I can take advantage of the engine while I am here in Germany, but upon return to the States, do I really need this kind of horsepower?? Gas consumption?? Below are the figures with both vehicles, what do you guys think?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 530i? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 550i
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 41400? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 50300
Cold Weather PKG? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 750? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 750
Premium Sound? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1800? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1800
Comfort Seats? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1200? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1200
Navigation? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1600? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1600
PDC? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 700? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 700 (maybe included)
Prep? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 265? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 265
Total? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 50,790? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 56,615 (maybe 55,915)
Which and Why?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 530i? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 550i
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 41400? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 50300
Cold Weather PKG? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 750? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 750
Premium Sound? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1800? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1800
Comfort Seats? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1200? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1200
Navigation? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1600? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1600
PDC? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 700? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 700 (maybe included)
Prep? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 265? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 265
Total? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 50,790? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 56,615 (maybe 55,915)
Which and Why?
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Of course, the 545 is available (soon to be 550), and the rest of the discussion is moot. Go for the 550; it's well worth the cost premium.
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07-22-2005, 06:52 AM
#15
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Robert,
The math is because I did not add the step and the premium to the 530i which I would get, but it is included in the price of the 550i.
This is just me, but had the 545 not been sold in the US I would not be driving an e60. For me, the 530 lacked the necessary grunt, and it did not provide sufficient performance advantage over competitors such as the new Acura RL. I might even have ended up with the Caddy STS V8.
Of course, the 545 is available (soon to be 550), and the rest of the discussion is moot. Go for the 550; it's well worth the cost premium.
The math is because I did not add the step and the premium to the 530i which I would get, but it is included in the price of the 550i.
Originally Posted by Robert A' date='Jul 22 2005, 05:46 PM
Are you certain about your math?? When I add up the 530i figures, I come out with $47,715.? I personally prefer the 530i because it's lighter and handles better.? I've driven the 545i (with manual trans) and it felt too bulky and too remote.? I may be alone on this, but I prefer the sound of the BMW 6.
[quote name='MaxBuck' date='Jul 22 2005, 06:09 AM'][quote name='nbarco' date='Jul 22 2005, 07:53 AM']I am torn between getting a 550i and a 530i.? I am in the US Army currently stationed in Germany for another year and a half.? I just solde a 2002 Volvo S60 AWD and ordered a 2006 530i.? I just saw the price on the 550i and it is roughly a $5000 difference for me.? I can take advantage of the engine while I am here in Germany, but upon return to the States, do I really need this kind of horsepower?? Gas consumption?? Below are the figures with both vehicles, what do you guys think?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 530i? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 550i
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 41400? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 50300
Cold Weather PKG? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 750? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 750
Premium Sound? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 1800? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1800
Comfort Seats? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 1200? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1200
Navigation? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 1600? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1600
PDC? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 700? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 700 (maybe included)
Prep? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 265? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 265
Total? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 50,790? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 56,615 (maybe 55,915)
Which and Why?
[quote name='MaxBuck' date='Jul 22 2005, 06:09 AM'][quote name='nbarco' date='Jul 22 2005, 07:53 AM']I am torn between getting a 550i and a 530i.? I am in the US Army currently stationed in Germany for another year and a half.? I just solde a 2002 Volvo S60 AWD and ordered a 2006 530i.? I just saw the price on the 550i and it is roughly a $5000 difference for me.? I can take advantage of the engine while I am here in Germany, but upon return to the States, do I really need this kind of horsepower?? Gas consumption?? Below are the figures with both vehicles, what do you guys think?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 530i? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 550i
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 41400? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 50300
Cold Weather PKG? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 750? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 750
Premium Sound? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 1800? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1800
Comfort Seats? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 1200? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1200
Navigation? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 1600? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1600
PDC? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 700? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 700 (maybe included)
Prep? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? 265? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 265
Total? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 50,790? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 56,615 (maybe 55,915)
Which and Why?
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Of course, the 545 is available (soon to be 550), and the rest of the discussion is moot. Go for the 550; it's well worth the cost premium.
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07-22-2005, 07:01 AM
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Originally Posted by nbarco' date='Jul 22 2005, 09:50 PM
I am being told that the 540i will not be offered in the US market.? So that is not a choice.? The military sales division here in Germany has information well before the States, so I am going to have to take this as reliable information.? The 550i has a base price of 50,300, but includes the premium package and Step which are an 1800 option and 1275 option.? With that said I would be paying? $5825 for a bigger engine.? Anyone have the fuel consumption info on the 550i?
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07-22-2005, 07:47 AM
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My Ride: 2004 530i, titanium gray, gray interior, NAV, adaptive headlights, window screens, folddown rear seats, PDC
I jsut left Heidelberg in Feb and bought mine through PCS. The 530 was the test car. I thought about the 5K price between the 525 and 530 and then add another 5K for the 545 and wondered where to stop. I wanted a car that had pep but was still comfortable so I went for the 530. The 545 wasn't even a consideration. I didn't get sport. I got a pickup for all sport I need. I honestly believe the 530 has a lot of get up and go. I'm sure the V-8 has even more. But with traffic you can't really get up to speed. I miss the autobahns but that's the difference between Germany and the US. I'd save the 5K.
07-22-2005, 08:26 AM
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Originally Posted by nbarco' date='Jul 22 2005, 08:50 AM
I am being told that the 540i will not be offered in the US market.? So that is not a choice.?
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... still holding my breathe
07-22-2005, 08:37 AM
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Welcome nbarco,
I had a similiar experience while in Germany trying to decide whether to go with the 545 vs 530. I opted to go with the 530 because I knew myself
...if you know what I mean. If I would have gotten the 545, I would have broke the world record for speeding tickets. Just don't have the discipline for all that smooth power of the 545. Although the 545 was a better deal, I'm still happy with the 530 because I put just about every option I could on my vehicle, and added some ACS gear to boot! Plus it's powerful enough for me, and I don't use all of what it has. I would have went with the 545 if I hadn't bought my wife her 325Ci earlier in 2004. Tough decision man, I feel ya!!!
Ruthless 530
I had a similiar experience while in Germany trying to decide whether to go with the 545 vs 530. I opted to go with the 530 because I knew myself
...if you know what I mean. If I would have gotten the 545, I would have broke the world record for speeding tickets. Just don't have the discipline for all that smooth power of the 545. Although the 545 was a better deal, I'm still happy with the 530 because I put just about every option I could on my vehicle, and added some ACS gear to boot! Plus it's powerful enough for me, and I don't use all of what it has. I would have went with the 545 if I hadn't bought my wife her 325Ci earlier in 2004. Tough decision man, I feel ya!!!Ruthless 530