530i vs. 550i
07-24-2005, 12:45 PM
#32
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 530i Steptronic, Premium Pkg, Cold Weather Pkg, Sport Pkg, Comfort Seats, Navigation, Logic 7, Sapphire Black, Black Leather, Anthracite Trim, IPOD Integration
Produced Sept 5, 2005 CIP 24
Thanks for all the responses.....The decision is still a hard one, especially since I cannot drive either. I have only been able to drive a 525i w/sports pkg and a 525i w/o but 124 wheel/tire combo. I could not really tell too much difference in the hadling. Except that they were better than my 2002 Volvo S60 AWD.
My wife is insisting on 530i....now the ? is sports pack or not?
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.
My wife is insisting on 530i....now the ? is sports pack or not?
Originally Posted by nbarco' date='Jul 22 2005, 05:52 PM
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.
[quote name='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?
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.
[quote name='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?
[snapback]151849[/snapback]
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.
[snapback]151865[/snapback]
[/quote][snapback]151891[/snapback]
[/quote][snapback]151893[/snapback]
[/quote]
07-25-2005, 11:57 AM
#33
Members
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by nbarco' date='Jul 24 2005, 02:45 PM
Thanks for all the responses.....The decision is still a hard one, especially since I cannot drive either.? I have only been able to drive a 525i w/sports pkg and a 525i w/o but 124 wheel/tire combo.? I could not really tell too much difference in the hadling.? Except that they were better than my 2002 Volvo S60 AWD.?
My wife is insisting on 530i....now the ? is sports pack or not?
My wife is insisting on 530i....now the ? is sports pack or not?
07-25-2005, 12:02 PM
#34
Contributors
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 7,790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: My ex-ride: EU '08 LCI 520dA. Space Grey, Sport Seats in Black Leather/Fabric Anthracite, Sport Steering Wheel, A/C with Extended Features, Hi-Fi Speakers, Cup Holders, Cruise with Braking function, Folding Rear Seats, Xenons, Park Distance Control.
Volvo S60? :bashwall:
Get a life!
Get a life!
07-25-2005, 03:15 PM
#35
Contributors
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Silicon Valley Area
Posts: 601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 M5 -- Exterior: Silverstone, Interior: Black. Fully Loaded. That just about sums it up! :-)
Originally Posted by Ricracing' date='Jul 25 2005, 01:02 PM
Volvo S60? :bashwall:
Get a life!
Get a life!
[snapback]152979[/snapback]
Ouch! There are those who "say" it, and others who just "think" it....
07-25-2005, 03:39 PM
#36
Contributors
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: So Cal
Posts: 2,097
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Does the 530i handle that much better? Can someone list the weights of the car.
I don't doubt the 530 will be more nimble in the tight stuff, but I doubt a difference will be noticed with regular driving. With long fast sweepers, the e60 does just fine, but with tight 2nd gear stuff, the size and weight of the e60 has no where to hide.
As for the original poster, for me the new 530 is more than enough car, but for just a $5000 delta, the 550 seems a bit of a no brainer. Just drop the NAV and make sure to get the sports package and you're set.
I don't doubt the 530 will be more nimble in the tight stuff, but I doubt a difference will be noticed with regular driving. With long fast sweepers, the e60 does just fine, but with tight 2nd gear stuff, the size and weight of the e60 has no where to hide.
As for the original poster, for me the new 530 is more than enough car, but for just a $5000 delta, the 550 seems a bit of a no brainer. Just drop the NAV and make sure to get the sports package and you're set.
07-25-2005, 03:46 PM
#37
Contributors
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: So Cal
Posts: 2,097
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by pennetta' date='Jul 22 2005, 06:37 PM
If you can swing the extra $5K get the 550. If you drive your cars hard then the gas mileage will not be much different. I had a 2002 525 which got 19 miles per gallon and my 2004 545 gets 18 mpg. I think its because when I drove the 525 I brought the revs up much higher in every gear, all the time. With the 545 you don't have to unless you really want to boogie.
I am in the States and I use the power everyday, everyone here drives 80 mph on the Parkways/Expressways so 100-150 mph blasts are not out of the question. I love blowing off Porsche Boxsters and the like on my drive to work, can't do that with the 530. On the twisties you can leave behind almost any other car, the sport package is awesome.
....I read the magazines as well and I know what cars not to race on a straight but I will race anything in the turns.
I am in the States and I use the power everyday, everyone here drives 80 mph on the Parkways/Expressways so 100-150 mph blasts are not out of the question. I love blowing off Porsche Boxsters and the like on my drive to work, can't do that with the 530. On the twisties you can leave behind almost any other car, the sport package is awesome.
....I read the magazines as well and I know what cars not to race on a straight but I will race anything in the turns.
[snapback]152090[/snapback]
The 545 is a monster on the highway, but power isn't everything. The sports package equipped e60 is great, but let's be honest, in the twisties, the more fun to drive boxster should leave us in their dust.
07-25-2005, 04:20 PM
#38
Contributors
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
My Ride: 2008 535i: June 6th start build, complete June 17th, at NY Port July 5th, at dealer July 10th, took delivery Friday July 13- Plantimum Bronze/Natural Brown Leather/Light Poplar, Sport Package, Sport Auto, Active Steering, Premium Package, CWP & PDC. Dinan Performance Software 384hp & 421 ft/lbs.
Don't get me wrong, I like the Boxster. I just like my 545 better and I also need four doors and room for four sets of golf clubs. But you must admit with active steering and suspension the 545 feels like it sheds 750 lbs.
I can go into a power drift and at all times the 545 is very communicative. I have driven the Boxster, but not the S, and I remember it was good but no better in the twisties. The 545 has a 50/50 weight distribution the Boxster is 46/54, the 545 has a wider track, wider rubber, quicker steering. Don't under estimate the 545.
BTW, I raced a M3 convertible this morning which started entering a radiused left turn, continuing on an entrance ramp and ending on a straight. I started right behind him and he could not lose me. He gave me a long confused look and was looking up and down my car to see why he could not shake me, when we slowed down for a light. I think he was looking for a M5 emblem.
I can go into a power drift and at all times the 545 is very communicative. I have driven the Boxster, but not the S, and I remember it was good but no better in the twisties. The 545 has a 50/50 weight distribution the Boxster is 46/54, the 545 has a wider track, wider rubber, quicker steering. Don't under estimate the 545.
BTW, I raced a M3 convertible this morning which started entering a radiused left turn, continuing on an entrance ramp and ending on a straight. I started right behind him and he could not lose me. He gave me a long confused look and was looking up and down my car to see why he could not shake me, when we slowed down for a light. I think he was looking for a M5 emblem.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
UltimatePeter
DIY: Do It Yourself
5
09-28-2015 09:12 AM