swajames

I have no idea what some of you guys are smoking - the E60 M5 is one of the least compromised high performance sedans on the market. It is truly an awesome vehicle combining ALL of the practical benefits of the 550 with the unique performance benefits of the V10 and the M Division's focus on sport and handling. The ride isn't at all rough, and the steering is the most accurate BMW makes. The 550 is a great car, I owned one, but it's really not in the same league as the M5. It's not even close. The only potential downside is higher gas consumption, but in fairness the 550 is no Prius in that respect. Reliability aside I was happy with my 550, but the M5 truly is the ultimate E60 - and by some margin.

GT Premi

It is when comparing to the M5. When you see M5 threads titled "How many miles are you getting to a tank?", that should tell you something.

EuroCarFan

I've personally never come to understand why someone would buy an M5, costing about $100K new (and even at used prices, they have a ton of other options), with a 500hp V10, high revving engine and go and worry about gas mileage.

GT Premi

Well, there's a point where some things should be reasonable and/or customary. And the M5's fuel economy isn't. And when you look at other cars on the market that make just as much (or more) HP with larger displacement, I can see how it would make a current/potential M5 owner go "Hmmm..."

EuroCarFan

Seems like people who make those comparisons would focus on a lot of other things such as performance and handling, options..etc...rather than gas mileage. But of course this is only my personal opinion and I'm sure it ain't going to change anyone's mind. My wife has told me that for years but I guess she couldn't change my mind either. hahaha

Lamont

I don't have a problem with the ride quality of either car for daily driving. My biggest concern is owning the car with 60,000, 70,000 or 80,000 miles on it. My 2002 530 had 64,000 miles and I didn't have any major problems (the tumbler in the steering column wouldn't read my key which I had fixed about two weeks before the car was totaled). It would seem a 550 is a good compromise, but it's hard to let the prospect of owning an M5 go. I was pretty much all set on an 07 M5 until I drove the 550. Part of me says the 550 is the more practical choice (if a $60k+ car is practical) and part of me says screw it and get the racecar.

JeffNNJ

I completely disagree. After driving both cars back to back I enjoyed the 550 way more. The 500 HP was nice but in reality I would normally keep it at 400 and there, the 550 is a much friendlier and easier car. As for steering, the clear advantage goes to the 550. Like all M cars I thought the M5's steering was way over boosted. The SA in the 550 is also a huge improvement over SMG. The shifts we smoother and way more crisp. I did love the active seats in the M5 and thought that soft close doors were kind of cool, not to mention the tach reading in heads up but I prefer the 550. When the numbers were done, the M5 would have cost me less then $300 a month more so the money is not at all the issue. Seems like most of you agree. Also, for the record, both my SA and my CA agreed.

TX Buzzard

Also, for the record, both my SA and my CA agreed.

Same here. I am not regretting I picked the 550 at all. I tend to keep my vehicles 8 - 10 years, and who in their right mind would consider a M5 out of warrenty?

swajames

If I had asked, I suspect that my CA and SA would have told me that I was doing the right thing when they were selling me my 550 too. Were their next customer to be looking to buy an M5, however, those very same SA's and CA's would be agreeing with the customer that they were right to buy the M5 over the 550

I think the 550 is an incredible car. My point is simply that the M5 is not as compromised as some here are suggesting.

studavis

I had to trade my buddy the new cab for an afternoon, but I had the chance to drive them both, my 550i and the M5, and I have to say that I was struck at home much is similar, between the two, rather than different. Albeit non scientific, perish the thought but I did not even record temps or note the density altitudes, but I found the 550i has a little more low end grunt off the line, but the M5 just sits down and goes and goes. I will have to look at the torque curves later and do some more investigation on this to see if the science bears out the observation. The M5's steering was different, but I cannot pin point how. Sometimes it felt heavier, but more precise. I also found the car to be just as drivable around town as the 550i, so the real question on my mind is the extra energy in the front, and the more consumptive energy in the back worth the extra coin.... Hell yes baby, bring on the power!