550i versus 535
06-09-2007, 11:22 AM
#121
Members
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by NC23' post='433947' date='Jun 9 2007, 01:58 PM
Man the day has certainly come that BMW's are ricers now? BMW's purpose has always been to be great cars as built that do not need and did not need tampering. This is why so many are blowing up, figuratively speaking. The only upgrades that should ever be considered to a BMW fanatic is a M-series!!!!
Since when did BMW's get purchased for potential like they belong in the fast and the furious?
Don't tell me we are going to start painting our cars hot yellow and mandarin orange now too w/ big stickers all over the car.
Just expressing my tiredness with all this Vishnu chip and all these other stupid upgrades that people keep using to justify 535/335 power "potential".
Key word: potential
Since when did BMW's get purchased for potential like they belong in the fast and the furious?
Don't tell me we are going to start painting our cars hot yellow and mandarin orange now too w/ big stickers all over the car.
Just expressing my tiredness with all this Vishnu chip and all these other stupid upgrades that people keep using to justify 535/335 power "potential".
Key word: potential
Quite frankly people should be thrilled to bits that their cars are built so well that they can do this if they so choose.
06-09-2007, 11:39 AM
#122
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: St. Louis, MO USA
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 550i ZSP with Style 167 wheels
Originally Posted by pharding' post='433945' date='Jun 9 2007, 01:51 PM
I have test driven the 08 550 sport and an 08 535 non-sport. I currently lease a 545 sport. I was amazed today at how well the 535 engine performed and it was not even broken in. The difference in sheer engine performance between the 08 535 and the 08 550 is very slight. The 535 has a wonderful torquey engine that is fun to drive. In terms of sheer value and what you get for the price, in my opinion the 535 is the better value. I can afford either car, but for me value is an important consideration. That is why I am going to change my Euro Delivery 550 sport to a Euro Delivery 535 Sport.
I finally was able to test drive a 535i Sport, and after putting 70 miles on the car and comparing it to the 550i Sport, completed my order for a 535i Sport (specifics noted in my signature).
The car should be here toward the latter part of July. Now the hard part begins: waiting. 
I found the 535i to be tossable, quick, comfortable and powerful. The 550i was a heavier feeling car compared to the 535. Not bad, far from it. Just different.
Was the 550i faster? Maybe. It didn't feel like it. The 535 was very impressive, and accelerated strongly throughout its power band. Did the 550i handle better? Perhaps, but the 535i made me smile just as broadly as the 550 when I accelerated through the curves, cut through traffic and hugged the road. Both felt and drove like BMW's should.
I could easily have afforded the 550, but after my long test drive decided that the 535 was a great car, a great value, and perfect for me. So BMW #7 (for me; #8 for my family as my wife drives an '03 330xi) is on its way.
Lou
06-09-2007, 01:34 PM
#124
Members
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by idunno' post='433953' date='Jun 9 2007, 02:12 PM
Wow, you sure assume a lot don't you. You'll notice that I removed the affect of aftermarket exhaust because I don't like it, I prefer to be low-key. In fact I'm quite happy with 18" wheels because I think they're nicely understated, weigh less and have less rotational mass. I don't quite see how that puts me in this boy racer category you're so convinced I'm in. Hell, I don't even tint my windows! I do however like my cars to look stock, be quick, quiet and handle well. If that makes me a 'boy racer' then so be it.
I did not put you in any category. I generalized your statement about after market upgrades, which is the calling card for rice racers!!!
06-09-2007, 01:46 PM
#125
Members
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by NC23' post='433987' date='Jun 9 2007, 04:34 PM
I did not put you in any category. I generalized your statement about after market upgrades, which is the calling card for rice racers!!!
06-09-2007, 01:59 PM
#126
Members
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by idunno' post='433991' date='Jun 9 2007, 04:46 PM
Ok, fair enough, the mod potential could bring an undesirable element into the fold but then I've never cared much what other people do. If all we have to argue about is which BMW model we like better, I'd say BMW is doing a pretty good job.
+1
06-09-2007, 03:21 PM
#127
Members
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: New York
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by BMWSTL' post='433957' date='Jun 9 2007, 03:39 PM
+1.
I finally was able to test drive a 535i Sport, and after putting 70 miles on the car and comparing it to the 550i Sport, completed my order for a 535i Sport (specifics noted in my signature). The car should be here toward the latter part of July. Now the hard part begins: waiting.
I found the 535i to be tossable, quick, comfortable and powerful. The 550i was a heavier feeling car compared to the 535. Not bad, far from it. Just different.
Was the 550i faster? Maybe. It didn't feel like it. The 535 was very impressive, and accelerated strongly throughout its power band. Did the 550i handle better? Perhaps, but the 535i made me smile just as broadly as the 550 when I accelerated through the curves, cut through traffic and hugged the road. Both felt and drove like BMW's should.
I could easily have afforded the 550, but after my long test drive decided that the 535 was a great car, a great value, and perfect for me. So BMW #7 (for me; #8 for my family as my wife drives an '03 330xi) is on its way.
Lou
I finally was able to test drive a 535i Sport, and after putting 70 miles on the car and comparing it to the 550i Sport, completed my order for a 535i Sport (specifics noted in my signature).
The car should be here toward the latter part of July. Now the hard part begins: waiting. I found the 535i to be tossable, quick, comfortable and powerful. The 550i was a heavier feeling car compared to the 535. Not bad, far from it. Just different.
Was the 550i faster? Maybe. It didn't feel like it. The 535 was very impressive, and accelerated strongly throughout its power band. Did the 550i handle better? Perhaps, but the 535i made me smile just as broadly as the 550 when I accelerated through the curves, cut through traffic and hugged the road. Both felt and drove like BMW's should.
I could easily have afforded the 550, but after my long test drive decided that the 535 was a great car, a great value, and perfect for me. So BMW #7 (for me; #8 for my family as my wife drives an '03 330xi) is on its way.
Lou
Regards
06-10-2007, 09:27 PM
#129
Contributors
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 BMW 545i, Silver Grey, Sport Package, R. Shades, Cold Pkg, Sat. Rad., Prem. Sound.
Originally Posted by zen68' post='434379' date='Jun 10 2007, 11:29 PM
Man, this thread is nuts! It's like Republicans and Democrats try to argue who has better policy.
Shame on you all. Now time out and each go to your corners. . . .
06-14-2007, 06:10 AM
#130
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Los Angeles. CA
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 545i 6 spd Sports Package | NAV | PDC | Logic 7 | BT retrofit | SW V13.3
I hate to bump this thread, but looking at it for information and not an argument, I must post after 2 days of ownership in my new car.
The main difference in the two cars is the suspension, ride and handling. I understand that in Europe and even Canada the Msport suspension has been available for a while. In the US it was not available pre-LCI and is only available on the 550.
For US buyers this suspension makes the main difference between the two cars. The handdling comfort and ride is far superior to what I used to drive and better than that of an LCI no Msport car. In countries where you can can get a 535 with the Msport suspension, buy it.
My car is my daily driver. I drive my family on weekends and myself during the week. I love to drive, enjoy an open road, the occasional spurt over 100mph.
Like the majority of E60 buyers I will not:
Chip it
Blow it
Mod it
Track it
Dyno it
The power of both cars is adequate, but the ride is different. For this reason alone, I am glad I got the 550i SP.
The main difference in the two cars is the suspension, ride and handling. I understand that in Europe and even Canada the Msport suspension has been available for a while. In the US it was not available pre-LCI and is only available on the 550.
For US buyers this suspension makes the main difference between the two cars. The handdling comfort and ride is far superior to what I used to drive and better than that of an LCI no Msport car. In countries where you can can get a 535 with the Msport suspension, buy it.
My car is my daily driver. I drive my family on weekends and myself during the week. I love to drive, enjoy an open road, the occasional spurt over 100mph.
Like the majority of E60 buyers I will not:
Chip it
Blow it
Mod it
Track it
Dyno it
The power of both cars is adequate, but the ride is different. For this reason alone, I am glad I got the 550i SP.