wolverine

[/quote]
Essentially a 10% increase in power should result in the square root of 10% increase in acceleration, right? So 3%. It seems most road tests have measured the 545i at around 5.5 to 60 (5.8 is too high). Minus 3% brings us to around 5.3. Not a huge deal, but not insignificant either.
[/quote]

5.3 sounds about right, although I bet the car mags get close to 5 flat. The HP/weight ratio of the 550 should be the same, maybe even a little better than the current E46 M3, but the 550 is some 400 lbs heavier. This means the 0-60 sprint will take a little longer than the M3, but once rolling it will more than hold it's own. Performance should be very close to the E39 M5.

Cyclist

Essentially a 10% increase in power should result in the square root of 10% increase in acceleration, right? So 3%. It seems most road tests have measured the 545i at around 5.5 to 60 (5.8 is too high). Minus 3% brings us to around 5.3. Not a huge deal, but not insignificant either.
[/quote]

5.3 sounds about right, although I bet the car mags get close to 5 flat. The HP/weight ratio of the 550 should be the same, maybe even a little better than the current E46 M3, but the 550 is some 400 lbs heavier. This means the 0-60 sprint will take a little longer than the M3, but once rolling it will more than hold it's own. Performance should be very close to the E39 M5.
[/quote]


Hi Wolverine In your signature, I assume "comfort" stands for the comfort seats. I havent tried them and I ahve been wondering about them. I'm 6ft 175lbs and durung test drives (short ones), I kept fiddling with the seat trying to find the most comfrtable position. I've also heard that on long drives the sport suspension may get a little tiring on the body.

do the comfort seats help? Anyone else have an opinion on them?

Thanks

Cyclist

Cyclist

Wolverine, was also wondering about the v1 hardwired. Have you been able to hide/disguise the power cord? Want to get one myself as I've heard they are the best.

thanks again

wolverine

Essentially a 10% increase in power should result in the square root of 10% increase in acceleration, right? So 3%. It seems most road tests have measured the 545i at around 5.5 to 60 (5.8 is too high). Minus 3% brings us to around 5.3. Not a huge deal, but not insignificant either.
[/quote]

5.3 sounds about right, although I bet the car mags get close to 5 flat. The HP/weight ratio of the 550 should be the same, maybe even a little better than the current E46 M3, but the 550 is some 400 lbs heavier. This means the 0-60 sprint will take a little longer than the M3, but once rolling it will more than hold it's own. Performance should be very close to the E39 M5.
[/quote]


Hi Wolverine In your signature, I assume "comfort" stands for the comfort seats. I havent tried them and I ahve been wondering about them. I'm 6ft 175lbs and durung test drives (short ones), I kept fiddling with the seat trying to find the most comfrtable position. I've also heard that on long drives the sport suspension may get a little tiring on the body.

do the comfort seats help? Anyone else have an opinion on them?

Thanks

Cyclist
[/quote]

The Comfort seats are the best seats I've ever experienced in any car. They are worth every penny. Long rides with the sport suspension are no problems whatsoever. These seats are the one thing I will miss when I get my new M5 (hopefully late this year)!

To hardwire the valentine radar detector, follow the instructions by Don Juan in this link:

http://forums.roadfly.org/show.php?toshow=...findpost&p=5525

It works really well, no wires exposed, and the detector is hidden above the mirror.

Analogs

Essentially a 10% increase in power should result in the square root of 10% increase in acceleration, right? So 3%. It seems most road tests have measured the 545i at around 5.5 to 60 (5.8 is too high). Minus 3% brings us to around 5.3. Not a huge deal, but not insignificant either.
[/quote]

5.3 sounds about right, although I bet the car mags get close to 5 flat. The HP/weight ratio of the 550 should be the same, maybe even a little better than the current E46 M3, but the 550 is some 400 lbs heavier. This means the 0-60 sprint will take a little longer than the M3, but once rolling it will more than hold it's own. Performance should be very close to the E39 M5.
[/quote]


Hi Wolverine In your signature, I assume "comfort" stands for the comfort seats. I havent tried them and I ahve been wondering about them. I'm 6ft 175lbs and durung test drives (short ones), I kept fiddling with the seat trying to find the most comfrtable position. I've also heard that on long drives the sport suspension may get a little tiring on the body.

do the comfort seats help? Anyone else have an opinion on them?

Thanks

Cyclist


Just completed a 1000 mile trip to Southern Californa and back to the Bay Area with comfort seats - I have done this trip before in my previos E39 530i and the E60 545i sport was smoother, less tiring than a standard suspension setup in the 2002 530i. The comfort seats are terrific and the suspension smoother at high speeds than the old standard suspension on previous e39 530i.
The only thing I would add next order is rear shades that would help with rear seat heat build-up.



[/quote]

Cyclist

Hi Wolverine

Thanks bu when I follow your link I get the following

The image ?http://forums.roadfly.org/show.php?t...ndpost&p=5525? cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

any other suggestions?

thanks again

Cyclist

Never mind, I tried

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=...findpost&p=5525

and got it. Dont know what my browser was doing!

SveaRike

Ventilated seats are allready available in the US. They are a priority one option.
[/quote]

Unless they changed things in the last few months, you cannot get ventilated seats with the 20 way comfort seat option here in the US. I mulled over whether or not to get ventilated sport seats or the 20 way comfort seats. If I was in South Florida, my decision would have been tougher, but I love my 20 way comforts They are an essential!

SveaRike

CVTBenhogan

Hi all,

Been away from the board for awhile, but I'm back. Seems like 550 vs 545 debate is gathering steam. I'm doing ED this year and now the clock is ticking on either 550 or 545. What do you guys think?


550 Pros

Faster and slightly lighter (0-60 in 5.0 flat assuming the recent 750 test results)
Further refinement and less electronics glitches
Better option packages -order AS separately, get intelligent key
Less depreciation - a 05 545 will have a big value drop in the fall
Cost will be similar because of the competition from Infinity and Lexus


550 Cons

Performance only marginally better
Much higher lease rates
Higher price
Potential new alloys (current ones look great)
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
C'omn is 30 hp really worth it?


Just my three cents

CVT Benhogan
[/quote]


I can't see how the 550i will do 0 - 60 MPH in 5.0 secs. We discussed the 0 - 60 times a while back in another thread, and given that the 545i is 5.7 secs (5.8 w/ step), and BMW is quoting the 750i 0.1 sec faster than the 745i, I don't see how the 550i would be 0.7 - 0.8 sec faster than the 545i. Am I missing something?
[/quote]


My mistake. I looked at the test on Edmunds and your right its only 1/10 of second faster in the 0-60.

I'd agree with the poster saying around 3/10s faster, which is nominal. But, the broader torque might be feel better.

That said, the attractive lease on a 545 is likely to seal the deal and many report its faster than spec'd.

Really wish an intelligent key was offered and it would be nice to get my first BMW with thier latest and greatess motor - short of the V10.


CVT Benhogan

my530i

From 545 to 550, 0-60 is not my issue, but increasing torque is a plus which makes you feel the car faster. That really counts. I don't do drag racing, but I do like to punch hard to get the feeling of fast acceleration. That's make you have a grin on your face.